by Debra Lee
By the time they reached the airport, the excitement of going to America had her walking on air.
Fear touched that excitement when she went ahead of Desmond through customs. Desmond had used his camera to photograph her on the yacht before he went ashore on Capri to purchase the phony passport. Jackie glanced at the documentation that had her listed as an American, then handed it to the gentleman at the counter.
It wasn’t until the uniformed man stamped her passport and handed it back to her that she released the hold on her breath.
From Rome they flew to England. A country Jackie had only the slightest desire to see. There was no real disappointment when they had no time to explore before boarding the jet destined for America.
Desmond reached for her hand from his aisle seat to the window seat where she sat. He slid his fingers between hers. “You still have time to change your mind.” She tossed him a smile he could understand. “I just wanted to double check.”
Once the jet climbed above the clouds, Jackie wiggled her fingers away from Desmond’s. She didn’t understand why. Just that an uncomfortable feeling had swept over her. Was she having second thoughts?
“Is everything okay, Jackie?”
“I guess so. It’s just we haven’t talked about what happens once we get to America. I know no one. Do you think I’ll be able to get a job, Desmond? I guess everything happened so quickly that I forgot I have no money.”
“Easy does it, girl. You really don’t think I’m going to leave you stranded at the airport the minute we touch down, do you?”
Jackie shrugged. “I guess not.”
He smiled. “You guessed right. Now I want you to stop worrying. We have a long trip ahead of us. Why don’t you just settle back and get some rest.”
She looked at him strangely as she laid her head back against the headrest. She didn’t know how he knew, but felt certain he knew she had gotten very little sleep the night before. A combination of excitement and fear had tortured her the entire night. One minute Marcus haunted her thoughts when the very next she became overwhelmed with thoughts of America. Now, it took only a few minutes before sleep stole over her.
Desmond twisted out of his jacket and draped it over the front of her before sitting back in his seat to watch her sleep.
Chapter Twenty Two
Jackie stirred in her seat as the wheels touched ground. When she became still again, she opened her eyes to see Desmond’s smile.
“I was beginning to worry.”
“Because I dozed off?”
“I don’t consider hours dozing.”
Jackie bolted upright, nearly plastering her nose to the window before bouncing around to Desmond. “We’re here! Are we here, Desmond? Is this America?”
Desmond chuckled. “Yes, Jackie. We are in America. Los Angeles to be more precise.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, she glanced over at him, then sat tall in her seat. “I’m in complete control.”
“Hell girl, that’s no fun.” He took her hand and guided her into the aisle. “No one on their first trip to America is expected to be in complete control.”
It was like Desmond pulled her inside a tornado that swirled them through the airport crowd until they felt the warmth of the California sun on their faces. But the stop was only temporary. Before Jackie had a chance to catch her breath she was swirling again and landed in the back seat of a limousine. By the time she caught her breath, the sleek automobile was already nosing its way into the bumper to bumper traffic.
“So, this is America,” she commented as she leaned her head back against the soft leather.
It took Desmond a few seconds to normalize his breathing. “This is America. The land of opportunity.” A few deep breaths before adding, “What do you think so far?”
Jackie let her fingers tiptoe over the leather seat before looking at Desmond and smiling wickedly. “I think I like the fringe benefits of the movie making business. We are riding in a limousine, aren’t we?”
Desmond chuckled. “That it is. And I agree with you. The movie industry can make you very wealthy. But the darker side is it can bankrupt you in an instant.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“The advice. By the way, where are we going?”
Desmond took hold of her hand. “Home.”
“Oh.”
Through the tinted glass Jackie got a glimpse of the country she had fallen in love with through pictures and books she’d read in school.
She found it difficult to focus on any one thing as they sped along the freeway. But she did see enough to know her expectations were not exaggerated.
She immediately recognized the differences between the two countries. Italy had all those ancient buildings with their years of history like where she’d lived. America was not stuck in the past. The architectural design of the sprawling homes she saw as they traveled through the suburb were new and a refreshing sight. She also noticed the streets were absent people, unlike back home where the neighborhood was littered with folks milling about.
Jackie focused on the mansion they approached. “Someday I’m going to live in a house like that.”
“Anything wrong with today?” Desmond asked.
When she first glanced over at him, she was unable to speak. She saw the man who once reminded her of Papa. But Desmond looked nothing like Papa. He was much taller, much grayer. But mostly, he was a man with principles. A man Jackie was feeling much more comfortable to be with.
She turned away from him to get a closer look at the uniquely designed home ablaze with beveled and stained glass. Before she could get out the question, Desmond was answering like he had read her mind.
“This is where I call home.” Her eyes met his. His hand squeezed hers a little tighter. “It’s yours too for as long as you like.”
Too stunned to speak, Jackie leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
When the chauffeur stepped out of the car and opened the rear door for his passengers, Jackie felt her insides once again flood with excitement. She stepped out of the sleek automobile feeling like Cinderella on her way to the ball.
“As long as I like, you say?”
Desmond stood next to her and draped his arm around her waist. “That’s what I said.” He began walking her to the front door. “I have a live-in housekeeper who will be available to you day or night. And of course, my chauffeur Charles will drive you wherever you like until you become familiar with the area.”
Jackie’s eyes widened. “Then what?”
Desmond grinned. “My garages hold a variety of automobiles. I’m assuming you’ll prefer the sports models. But then, you can have your pick.”
“Welcome home, Mr. Sinclair,” a woman in a black and white uniform said as they entered the home.
“Sara, this is Miss Bertoni. She will be staying with us.”
Jackie smiled a hello to the older woman’s pleasant greeting, only because she was so overwhelmed by her surroundings that she had forgotten the English pronunciation for the word.
“Jackie, I’m afraid I’m going to have to cut out on you. I really must go to the studio for a while. Sara will see to it you are made comfortable.”
It happened so fast Jackie barely remembered telling him, “Go ahead. I’ll be just fine.”
From the front door, she watched him duck back inside the limousine then turned toward the housekeeper who looked a lot like her mama.
“You must be exhausted from the trip. Would you like me to show you to your room so you can rest before Mr. Sinclair returns?”
“I’m too excited to rest. But I would like a bath and change of clothes.”
“Of course you would.”
Jackie followed the plump little woman to the spiral staircase. Halfway up she stopped to take advantage of the magnificent view offered through the wall of glass to her left. Beyond the patio decorated with potted red and white carnations, the sun reflected ag
ainst the sparkling blue waters that filled the kidney shaped swimming pool.
Not wanting to keep Sara waiting at the top of the stairs, Jackie forced herself to continue the climb. She followed the woman to the one end of the open hallway that if she took time to look she’d see the sprawling living room nearly thirty feet below.
Sara seemed to freeze outside the closed door and Jackie automatically asked, “Is something wrong?”
The modest woman hesitated before she questioned, “It is the guest room you will be staying in?”
Jackie paused before nodding a yes.
Inside, Sara went straight to the windows and began opening blinds before going up the three carpeted steps and pushing open the French doors.
Jackie stumbled up the stairs behind her, trying to take in every detail of her lavish surroundings.
“Would you like me to draw your bath before I go?”
Jackie watched the woman take a peach colored towel from the closet shelf and put it next to the sunken oval shaped tub.
“I think I can manage. Thank you, Sara.”
“Then I will go bring up your things. If you should need something, just call.”
Once again, Jackie’s mind drew a blank to the pronunciation of a single word of English and she used her smile as a substitute.
Raspberry, blueberry, lavender and many more varieties of scented bath oil lined the tile along the tub. Jackie decided on the peach to match her towel.
She undressed while the tub filled, then tested the water with her big toe before easing into it. As the warm water washed over her, she felt herself go limp.
She closed her eyes and began nodding off when his voice weaseled its way inside her head. “This is how you will earn your keep.”
Her eyelids flew open. She glanced around the room as a cold chill wormed its way through her. Shivering, she eased her shoulders beneath the water.
His voice came at her again. Only this time her eyes were wide open and her shoulders were covered with warm water when she shivered.
Her vow to bury the past in Italy reached across an ocean to haunt her. Or was it bringing a message of warning? Was she being naïve again?
Desmond offered his home to her for as long as she liked. He mentioned only wanting her friendship in return. But how long could that last?
At some point, she’d be expected to return his generosity. The minute she let down her guard, he’d have her earning her keep the only way she knew how. The way Papa had taught her.
She dressed with thoughts of what Desmond might like to see her wear. The dress was plain. The snug fit is what would appeal to Desmond. He’d surely appreciate the way it accentuated her hour glass figure.
Jackie heard the car door slam while stretched out on the living room sofa reading. She quickly closed the book and sprang to her feet. She used her palms to iron out the wrinkles down the front of her dress then raced to the front door.
A brisk kiss on Desmond’s cheek followed her warm welcome home smile.
“I thought you’d be in bed by now,” he said, stepping around her and heading for the living room.
Jackie watched him go to the bar and pour himself a double shot of bourbon. “I wasn’t tired.”
“Can I pour you one?”
“No thank you,” she answered with a forced smile.
He let himself down on the sofa with a heavy sigh. After a sip of his drink his eyes fixed on her from where she’d taken root in front of him.
“Tomorrow Sara will help you shop for some new clothes.”
Jackie took a quick look down the front of her dress before glaring at him. “I just got new clothes.”
“Blue jeans and a tee shirt is what most girls your age are wearing.”
“I have a pair of jeans. But they’re not—”
“Revealing enough,” he finished for her and emptied his glass.
It took Jackie a moment to gather her thoughts. “Isn’t this what men like to see?”
“I suppose the one’s looking for a quick roll between the sheets. You’re dressed like the whore Marcus set you up to be.”
Reminded of Marcus a stabbing pain cut up the center of her heart. Her face flared red. Anger, then embarrassment brought her to the brink of tears.
When Desmond extended open arms, she found herself rushing into them. “I wore this dress for you.”
He hugged her tight to him until the tears eased and all that remained were soft sobs.
“If I still thought you were twenty one, I’d probably have you out of that skimpy dress by now. Five years isn’t that big a deal once you reach my age. But the five years between sixteen and twenty one is a big deal to me.”
Jackie drew back and stared into his eyes. “I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
“When I look at you I see my daughter. I see what she’d be wearing and doing if she were still alive. She’d be in high school and probably dating boys. Already picking out the college she’d attend.”
“I’m not your daughter.” Jackie had cut into his babbling because she thought he lost sight of her completely when he began to stare off into space.
He finally looked at her. “I’ve not gone mad, Jackie. I know my daughter is dead. Well, maybe I have gone mad because I’d really like to do all the things for you I would be doing for her if she were here.”
“Why me?”
“You need me. You need the guidance and financial resources I can give. So will you let me do this for you?”
Instinct convinced Jackie the man might be sincere. If not, she really had nothing of substantial value left anyway. Papa and Marcus stripped her of the two things that mattered most. With her virginity taken by Papa and her heart by Marcus, only one thing remained. And she believed not even Desmond had a reason to take her life, only guide it. Maybe that’s exactly what she needed at this stage in her life.
Chapter Twenty Three
“Hello, Charles,” Jackie greeted the chauffeur the instant she entered the limousine.
“Good afternoon, Miss. And how was your last day of school?” He showed his coffee stained teeth when he smiled over at his front seat passenger.
“Too long.”
Charles’s hoarse chuckle let her know he remembered the feeling.
“Don’t get me wrong. Learning is very important to me, Charles. But I think I can get a better education in the real world. Did you know Desmond is letting me help out at the studio this summer?”
“Oh?”
Jackie shrugged. “Not exactly in the studio. The reading department. I guess they get a lot of scripts from agents that they’re obligated to read. Most of them are sent back. That’s where I come in. Sort of secretarial stuff.”
“Either times have changed or the kids have. When I was your age summer vacation meant hanging out with my buddies. We did a lot of swimming.” He cut himself off and looked over at Jackie, then smiled wickedly. “A lot of girl chasing too.”
“I don’t have time for that nonsense, Charles.”
This time when he glanced over at his passenger he frowned. “We all need a little fun from time to time.”
Jackie knew where he was leading the conversation, which is precisely why she stopped herself from commenting. Over the past year she had grown fond of the man who hauled her to and from school and anywhere else she went. But when he got on one of his kicks where he’d go on and on about the good old days when he was her age, that is where she drew the line.
She didn’t like to be reminded that she didn’t have friends. Girls her age she could, as Charles would put it, pal around with. Have fun. Maybe even date a boy or two from school. She heard enough of that from Desmond. But what neither knew was the boys at school thought she was conceited and not one of them had the courage to ask her on a date for fear he’d get turned down. And he would.
Jackie had no desire to date or befriend anyone. The only friend she needed was Desmond. She still wasn’t one hundred percent certain she could trust him
. He’d taken the role of father figure. Yet, there was a part of her that would sometimes be touched by the fear that one night he would tiptoe into her bedroom and demand she earn her keep like Papa had done.
She grabbed the mail on her way inside the front door.
As she flipped through envelops, she called out to Sara. “I’m home.”
Sara came around the archway wearing her usual welcome home smile until she saw Jackie. Fear radiated from her eyes as she glared at her.
“What’s wrong, Miss Jackie?”
“Where is Desmond?”
“I would imagine he’s still at the studio.”
“Thank you, Sara,” she managed and swept past the woman and raced up the stairs to her room.
Trembling, she tossed the mail on the desk, except for the one piece. She used her fingernail to open the envelope addressed to Desmond. Before she removed the contents, she eased onto the edge of her bed. As she did, she once again read the return address in the upper left hand corner of the envelope.
*
At six o’clock Desmond jumped out of the limousine and ran up the three steps to his front door where Sara stood waiting.
“I’m sorry to call you home like this, Mr. Sinclair, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You did the right thing, Sara. Is she still locked in her room?”
When Sara nodded him a yes Desmond shot up the stairs two at a time. He motored down the hallway until he stood outside her bedroom door. Once he caught his breath, he hesitated before his knuckles tapped on the door.
“Jackie, it’s me, honey. I want to talk to you.” The lock clicked seconds later.
Desmond turned the knob and let himself inside. Jackie stood at the window with her back to him.
He kept his distance when he broke into the unnerving silence. “Sara tells me you locked yourself in here when you arrived home from school. She thought it had to do with something you received in the mail.” He left a few seconds slip by. When she offered nothing, he proceeded. “Has something happened to one of your family? Did you get a letter from home, Jackie?”
She took her time turning around to face him. Her eyes were bloodshot and the area around them swollen from crying. But there were no more tears. Even the sobs had stopped. “I hope you’ll forgive me,” she said.
