Fae Second Chance

Chapter 14 - Jessica

Chapter 14

We exited the terminal in Boston and the snow had already started falling even though it was only late November.  It looked like it was going to be a White Christmas here.  John was busy scrolling through his phone.  He occasionally looked up willing the town car he ordered to arrive.

“Sorry the town car hasn’t arrived, babe.  I told them to be here as soon as we landed.”  He looked back down at his phone and grumbled, “Stupid incompetence.  I am going to have to call them and complain.”  It didn’t matter that our flight got in early, and John never called to update them when we landed.  He just expected them to arrive on his schedule.

I looked around the terminal and wondered if there was a way, I could subtly call the car company myself.  Just then a long black car pulled up to us.  The driver rolled down the window and asked if he was Mr. Smith.  John grumbled and said that it was about time and ushered me into the car leaving our bags on the curb.  The driver hopped out and put the bags into the trunk. 

The drive was shorter than I expected and instead of pulling into his parent house we pulled up to a swanky hotel.  “I thought we were staying with your parents?”  I asked totally confused.

“I decided it would be best if we stayed in a hotel.  You know I can only take my parent in short intervals.”

“Are we still having Thanksgiving with them?”

He groaned and stated, “Yes, I could not convince my mother that dinner at a restaurant would be preferable.  She got really offended at that request.”

I bet she did.  That would ruin her vision of the perfect holiday meal. I nod and follow him into the hotel.  This man was really trying to mess up my plans.  We checked in and was shown to our room.  It was a nice expensive hotel suite.  John barely looked up from his phone as he entered the room.  I turned and tipped the bellhop who brought up our bags.  John finally put his phone in his pocket and walked over to the pile of bags and grabbed his laptop.  He then started towards the table set up in the living room area.  He stopped momentarily and turn back towards me.  “You can put all of our bags away?”

“Yes, dear,” I stated.  There was no reason to argue with him. 

“Wait,” he says, and I stopped lugging our bags to the room.  “I meant to tell you earlier that I will be going out tonight and tomorrow to meet with some old college friends.  You will be fine here.  You can order so room service and relax.”  He smiled up at me and went to the table to set up his laptop.

I nearly slammed the hotel bedroom door close. s**t, how was I supposed to ply his dad with alcohol to find out the truth if I could not be there when John was gone.  He was making sure that I was never left alone with his parents.  I had to think of something else or this whole trip was going to ruin.  As I finished hanging up John’s suits, I pulled out my phone.  I shot a quick email off to John’s mother.  I expressed how sad I was to find out we were staying in a hotel and that I had hoped to spend some time with her. Maybe Christmas shopping or something.  But that I couldn’t wait to see her for Thanksgiving dinner and how wonderful it was going to be.  I put my phone away and finished off unpacking all our clothes.

John strolled in a few minutes later and walked over to the closet and puts his laptop in it.  He locked it up and started pulling out some different clothes to change into.  He left the suit he was wearing on the flight on the floor and walked to the bathroom.  A few minutes later he was ready to go meet his friends.  I was sitting in the living room flipping through a magazine.  I had already picked up his suit and rehung it in the closet with the dry clean bag hooked on the hanger to remind me to put it out tonight to be cleaned.  John paused in the kitchenette area to hook his watch on.  He was dressed in dress slacks and a causal polo shirt.  He had a sport jacket hung over his arm.

“I won’t be out too late.”  He tells me as he finishes hooking up his watch.

“Go have fun.  I’ll be fine here.”

He puts on his jackets and walks over to me and kisses my forehead and then he turns and leave the room.  I check my phone to see if his mom replied to me or not.  There were no new emails and I slump back into the couch pouting.  I had hopes that his mom would volunteer to take me shopping or something.  Anything would work.  Any reason that I would need to be around either of his parents without him there.  I hoped that even if I can’t talk to David, maybe Marie will know something. It would at least be better than nothing and she is always chatty during shopping trips. 

Frustrated that nothing is working I call room service and order a pizza with some red wine.  John can kiss my ass when he sees the bill.  I know I will hear about making sure I eat properly so I keep my ‘girlish figure’.  But right now, I am annoyed and could care less if I gain 20 pounds on this trip. After I order I get up and head to the bedroom to change out of my traveling clothes.  John insists that we dress up for travel.  Nice suits, he prefers me to wear skirts.  He says pantsuits are too masculine.  I humor him because arguing over this takes way too much time.

I am changing into a pair of yoga pants and a tee shirt when I notice the safe.  Why would John lock up his laptop from me?  I hum wondering if there is anything interesting on the computer.  Does John have any security on the laptop?  Probably.  There is probably some type of software that turns on the camera so he can see who accesses his computer.  He is paranoid enough to do that kind of thing.   I am sure I can access the safe.  The man uses the same password for everything.  I did not notice him adding anything other than the laptop to the safe.  I walk over to the laptop case and rummage through it.  There is nothing interesting in the case.  Some files on what he has found out about Border City.  There is a map of the city and a list of potential companies considering setting up there.  But nothing that is not common knowledge.  There is absolutely nothing about his research project. Then I remembered him saying he is meeting with some college friends.  Maybe these ‘friends’ have something to do with all this.  Maybe I should try to get him to take me along tomorrow night and see if anyone says anything about Border City and his research. 

I am deciding on my next step when there is knock at the door.  My dinner must have arrived.  I place John’s briefcase back where I found it and walk up to the door.  As I open it, I see a young teenage boy in the hotel uniform pushing a rolling cart.  On the cart is a large bottle of red wine, thank God and a very yummy looking personal pizza.  There is also a salad.  I figured after dinner I can leave a few pieces of lettuce on the plate and John will be satisfied with my dinner until he sees the bill.  But I am hoping that after spending the day with his parents he won’t really look at and just sign the receipt so we can escape Boston.

I am awakened at the ungodly hour of 5 am by John’s Phone ringing like crazy.  I look over at my past-out husband.  He must have come in really late since I was already asleep when he arrived.  He didn’t even change out of his pants and shirt.  The only saving grace is that he took off his shoes.  I reach over him and answer his phone.

“Hello?”

“Who is this?” Answers an unfamiliar woman voice.

“Amelia, John’s wife,” I hear her take in a quick breath and I start to fume. “And who is this?”

“Just tell John Jessica called.” The click of the phone tells me she has hung up.

I stare down at the phone and then look to my husband.  He shuffles in his sleeps and rolls to get more comfortable.  I set his phone down pick up my pillow and beat him is the head with it.  He wakes up groggy and hung-over shouting, “What are you doing?!”

“Whose Jessica, John?”

“Jessica?”

“Yes, the woman who just called looking for you.  She seemed surprised that you had a wife.”

He looks to the phone and back at me. “Did you answer my phone?”

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”

“It’s my work phone.”  He tells me like that is an explanation and then he notices how truly angry I am.  “I work with her.”  He is glaring at me as I clutch my pillow and I am still considering hitting him with it again.

“Why would she call you at 5 am?”  I get up from the bed and storm towards the bathroom.  “While you are on vacation, during the holidays?”

I am standing in the bathroom doorway now.  He is staring at me, and I can see the wheels in his head turning.  “It is about work, babe.  I swear.”

“Sure John, and if it is about work why was she surprised I answered?”

“Because it is my work phone!”

I stare at him like he is crazy.  “Why haven’t I ever met her?  I know all your Washington staff and you don’t have any staff in Border City except for that group that was brought in to help with your project.  Is she one of those people?”

I am giving him an out and John shakes his head.  I know he is thinking if he takes my out there may be a way I can find out if she is or is not in Border City.  “No, she works for a different congressman.”

“Who?”  I cross my arms.

“Clark.”

“Why would one of Clark staff call you?”

“It’s about the project I am working on for Clark.  She probably just getting an update for him.”

“Un-huh”

“I swear I am telling the truth.”  John and the truth are not best friends.  I am pretty sure I do not believe him.  Whether he is cheating on me or she has something to do with his secret project (the one Clark is not involved with) I don’t know.

“Whatever.”  I state and turn and walk into the bathroom slamming and locking the door.  I hear him bang a few times on the bathroom door demanding I open up.  I start the shower and ignore him.  I take a really long hot shower and wrap myself in a towel. 

I exit the bathroom and go straight to the closet ignoring John as I do.  He gets up from the bed and goes into the bathroom and slams the door as well.  The only difference is he does not lock it.  I do not see his phone anywhere in the room.  He either took it with him or put it into the safe with his laptop.  I dress in a very causal outfit; nothing fancy I am pretty sure we are not seeing his family today.  I stand in front of the mirror and start to brush out my hair.  John finishes his shower and comes out with the towel slug low on his hips.  He is running his hand through his dark wavy hair and looking very contrite.  He sees me on the other side of the room dressed and brushing out my hair.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”  He says as he walks up to me.  He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me to him.  “I am not cheating on you.  She is someone I work with.  I do not know why she acted surprise to hear my wife answering the phone.”

He is nuzzling my neck with his nose and lips.  He whispers into my ear, “No woman can ever hold a candle to you.  Please don’t be mad at me.”  He is kissing my neck now and hugging me tighter.  I am stiff as a board and tempted to relax into him but that would signal that I believe him, and I am not sure I do.

“I want to meet her,” I tell him.  I feel him pause on the kisses and pull back away from me.  I meet his eyes in the mirror.

“That would be a little hard to do, since she is in DC.”

“A phone call then.”  He blinks a couple of times and then finally nods.

“Fine, I will see what I can do.”  He says and releases me and turns to the closet to go ahead and get dressed. He then turns and looks me up and down. “You are not wearing that today, are you?”

“I don’t see why not.  We are not going to see your family and you will probably be working all day.” He nods and starts to fidget with his shirts.  “Plus, you don’t like me exploring on my own.”

He pauses land turns towards me, “I can call my mom and see if she can take you shopping.  You would enjoy that, instead being stuck here with me working all day.”

“Fine, John.  If she wants to go out today, I will change into something more appropriate.”  I finish braiding my hair and walk out of the bedroom to go call room service and order breakfast.