My Savior Forever

by Vicki Green

  “Allie! This is perfect! I love it!” I exclaimed.

  Allie looks at the picture then up at me with a big smile on her face.

  Once Sabrina comes back and I show her what I have chosen we make the arrangements to begin on the babies’ room in a couple of weeks. No sense in hurrying at this point.

  ~*~*~*~

  A few weeks later I awake to see Jesse setting down a tray on the night stand by me full of breakfast foods, orange juice and a single handmade rose hand in a vase.

  He leans over kissing me softly. “Happy Birthday, baby,” he says into my lips. He helps me sit up and puts the tray across my lap and then sits down by my legs.

  “Thank you, babe. You went to so much trouble,” I say sniffling. He reaches across the tray and rubs some tears off that are already on my face. “Aw, no tears baby. Unless they are happy tears.”

  I sniff and nod. “They are. Immensely happy tears. I. I’ve never had any-anyone do something like, like this for me.” I cry.

  He gets up taking the tray and setting it back down on the table. He sits with me now and pulls me into a hug, rubbing my back.

  “Shhhh. Its ok, baby. You deserve this and more,” he says lovingly.

  Once I have calmed down, hiccupping a bit, I share my lovely breakfast with him. We talk about that evening’s festivities at the Café.

  Later, walking into the Café holding hands with my love, I stop right inside the door and gasp. I pull my hand from Jesse’s and cover my mouth. “Oh, my God!” My yell is muffled.

  Looking around the Café, I see decorations of balloons and streamers. They had pushed a couple of the tables together and on them is a ton of food, drinks and a huge birthday cake.

  Stella walks over and grabs both of my hands and holds them. “Pumpkin! Happy Birthday!” She leans over and kisses me on my cheek. I look into her eyes, tears in mine. “Oh, Stella! This is amazing. I don’t know what to say.”

  Jesse puts an arm around my shoulders, pulling me to him. “Baby, this is all for you. You are so special to everyone here, don’t you know that?” He kisses me on the side on my head.

  “Go on, you two. Go join the fun,” Stella says shoving us into the room.

  I received so many great presents and the food was out of this world. They even provided sparkling cider, since I can’t drink alcohol. They turned on the jukebox and some even danced in the middle of the Café. I had the best birthday, ever.

  By 10:00 I was sitting in a booth watching everyone have a great time and started yawning. Jesse walks over and sits beside me. “Come on. Let’s get you home.” He puts his arm around me and I lean my head on his shoulder. “Ok,” I yawn.

  Chapter thirty-nine

  The months have passed by quickly. It’s unseasonably hot for June. But that’s Kansas for you, the weather can change rapidly in a day.

  We’ve been going to my doctor appointments every two weeks and today we will see if our babies’ cooperate and show us what sex they are. I’m not sure who is more excited, Jesse or me.

  I’m in my now normal position on the table not embarrassed in the slightest anymore. Dr. Zellar is moving the wand over my lubricated belly and suddenly stops.

  “Both babies are in really good positions, right now. See there,” he says as he points to the screen. “It’s pretty obvious that is a penis.” I swallow almost choking on my spit. “And over here,” he moves his finger to the next sac. “Here you can see there isn’t one. It’s pretty safe to say you’re having a boy and a girl. Congratulations.”

  I don’t think I could contain Jesse’s exuberance if I tried. He jumps up and is hugging the doctor and the nurse as I lay there all exposed for the world see. I thought he might leave me there and run outside to pace the street stopping everyone to tell them and hand out cigars.

  But finally he realizes he hasn’t hugged the most important person in the room. ME.

  His head turns so quick I’m surprised he didn’t get whiplash. He runs over to me, hopping up onto the bed, and covers me with kisses. Ok, he’s forgiven.

  ~*~*~*~

  Sabrina is coming over with a crew today to start on the nursery. We have talked a few times, over the phone, about a few things she needed before they started.

  Jesse and I are having breakfast in the kitchen when I suddenly ask, “So, Sabrina says you all have worked together a lot.” He looks up at me, from his paper, and I smile sweetly.

  “Ah, well yes, we have.” He smiles back. I pick at the food on my plate with my fork. “That’s nice. She talked like she was rather fond of you,” I say.

  Jesse puts his paper down on the table and turns to me. “Babe, we just worked together,” he chuckles. His face then turns serious. “Well, I guess we have gone out for drinks a couple of times after work. But, not a big deal really. Ok, we dated some. But it was nothing, baby. Really!”

  I take his hand. “Oh, I know. She just seemed like, I don’t know, like maybe she was a little too fond of you.”

  Jesse grabs my other hand and leans forward on the table. “Baby, now what is all this about? You’re the only one I love.” He kisses my hand.

  “I know. I’m being silly and probably hormonal. I trust you.” I lean and give him a quick kiss.

  After Jesse leaves to run some errands, Sabrina and her crew showed up and began working on the room. I stay downstairs and occupy my time by watching TV so I don’t get in the way and ended up falling asleep on the couch.

  I awoke to hushed voices coming upstairs. I make my way to the bottom of the stairs and stop.

  “Jesse. You really should tell her about us. Really, what are you thinking? That she won’t find out? Seriously, I don’t understand what you see in her anyway. What we had was the best. Why would you want someone like her, when you can have me? Hmmm?” Sabrina whispers loudly.

  I am shocked and frozen on the stairs. I can’t believe what I am hearing. I knew something wasn’t right by the way she was talking when we met.

  I turned around and quietly went downstairs. Allie is in her office typing away on her laptop. I clear my throat. She stops and turns around. “Cassie? What’s wrong,” she says coming towards me. I back up a step. “I. I overheard,” I can’t seem to form the words.

  She puts her hands on my shoulders. “Cassie, tell me. What happened?” I have tears in my eyes and shake my head slowly. “I heard Sabrina tell Jesse that they should get back together. That what they had was the best and why would he want to be with me.” I am shaking now.

  Allie pulls me to her. “Oh, Cassie. Jesse loves you. You’re being a hormonal pregnant mommy and are feeling insecure. Don’t let what she says bother you.”

  I stay downstairs with Allie for a while and feel better by the time I return upstairs.

  I can’t hear any of the noises from the nursery so I go up to find Jesse but he is nowhere to be found. As I go back downstairs I hear clanking of dishes coming from the kitchen. I stop in the doorway watching Sabrina putting a glass in the dishwasher. She turns around and leans back against the counter.

  “If you’re looking for Jesse he isn’t here,” she smirks. “He said he needed to go to the Café to pick up something.” I nod my head slowly. “Ok. So is your crew done for today?” I ask.

  “Oh, yes. They will be back tomorrow. I am leaving now. The crew will be on their own from now on so if you need me for anything you can just call me.”

  She starts to walk past me and turns to me. “You know you’re not good enough for him, don’t you? He needs a confident real woman. Not some,” she eyes me up and down, “mousy little scared girl.”

  And with that, she leaves. I don’t get a chance to say anything as I am standing there with my mouth hanging open, in shock.

  When Jesse returns he finds me sitting on the couch staring at the TV which is turned off. He sits on the coffee table in front of me and puts his hands on my knees. “Cassie? Baby? Are you ok? What’s wrong? Is it the babies’?”

  My vision comes into focus and I blin
k. “What? Oh, I’m sorry. I must have zoned out.” I smile.

  He laughs. “It’s ok. Hey, I went and picked up an apple pie from the Café for dessert tonight.” I lean in and kiss him. “That sounds wonderful.”

  ~*~*~*~

  A week goes by and the nursery is finished. It looks just like the picture in the catalog. I love it! I’ve already called in for the second crib, which will be delivered in about a month.

  “Hey, the nursery turned out perfect! Are you happy, baby?” Jesse says standing behind me with his arms around my waist. I lay my head back against his shoulder and smile up at him. “Happy doesn’t begin to describe it.”

  He turns me around and kisses me. When he pulls back he gives me his famous grin. “I want to take you out to celebrate. But also I wanted to ask you if you would accompany me to a charity we are running this Friday night. It’s a pretty big deal so I really need to be there and would love for you to go with me. It’s kind of dressy so we could use that night to celebrate too. Will you go?” Then he gives me his pouty expression.

  I laugh and swat his arm playfully. “Oh, ok. I would love to go with you and celebrate.”

  Come to find out that this charity event is near the design company. It’s being held in a ballroom at a ritzy hotel.

  Allie and I went shopping and found me the most beautiful cocktail dress. It is a navy blue V-neck dress that comes to just above my knees. It has a gorgeous sequenced design right below the breasts in the middle of an open waistline. Since I am getting so huge so quickly now I needed something to help conceal my belly for an event like this. We find matching shoes and a small clutch.

  Friday night is here before I know it and I am really nervous. I have never been to anything like this. Jesse is so comforting because he knows I am apprehensive.

  The ballroom is beautifully decorated. Food covered tables in a buffet style against the farthest wall from us. Over to the left of them is a fully stocked bar with two bartenders and another bar at the opposite end of the room.

  The center of the room is full of people talking and laughing, everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

  I take Jesse’s arm as we walk around the room. He introduces me to the people he knows and nods at those he doesn’t. We end up at the food tables, taking our full plates and sitting down at an empty table.

  As we eat I look around the room watching others mingling when I see Sabrina walk in the door. I watch her look around the room, and her eyes stop abruptly on Jesse. He is oblivious to her stare as he eats. A few minutes later I feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck, and a cold chill sweeps down my spine.

  “Hello, Jesse,” Sabrina says with a sexy smile. She turns to me with an obvious fake smile. “Hello, Cassie.” She immediately turns back to Jesse. “I am so glad you made it tonight. Didn’t everything turn out great?” She says putting her hand on his shoulder.

  “Yes, everything turned out very nice. Good job, Sabrina,” Jesse says with a small smile. He seems uncomfortable.

  “Thank you. Well, I must go mingle before the auction begins. Have a nice evening. I will talk with you later,” Sabrina says walking off completing ignoring me.

  I am feeling a little green and am not sure if it’s jealousy or an upset stomach, or both. “Um, I think I am going to go use the ladies room,” I tell Jesse.

  He looks at me and nods. “Do you want me to walk you there?” I bend down and kiss his cheek. “Oh, no! Really, I can manage. But thank you.”

  Once in the rest room, after finishing with all my necessities, I am standing at the mirror applying a little lip gloss.

  I hear the door open behind me and my focus in the mirror switches from my lips to Sabrina standing with her back against the door, glaring at me.

  “Well, well. If it isn’t the little girl who is trying to keep my Jesse from me,” she says sarcastically. I turn around and lean against the counter. “Sabrina. What do you want? Jesse is happy now, with me. He doesn’t want you anymore. I heard you all talking at the house,” I smirk.

  She raises her hand, looking down at her fingernails, “Ah, little girl. Jesse doesn’t know what he wants. He thinks he’s happy now, but he will find out what he’s missing and come back to me. He needs a real woman.”

  I am shaking I am so mad. “You’re mistaken, Sabrina. He wants me, not you. Now, get out of my way.” I start walking towards her. She hesitates and then slowly moves out of my way but as I pass her she says, “No, little girl. You’re the one who’s mistaken. You’ll see.”

  I go back to the table to find Jesse is gone. I look around and see him talking with some people close to where the auction will take place. I am so hot with rage that I decide to go out to the small garden area there and get some fresh air.

  Outside there is a nice cool breeze. Standing close to the cement stairs I view the different gardens that are around the lawn with all the blooming flowers. The scent waifs in the breeze with a perfumed aroma.

  I hear a man inside at the microphone saying the auction is about ready to begin. I start to turn around to go in when I see Sabrina from the corner of my eye and feel her hands on my shoulder pushing me towards the steps.

  “I WON’T LET YOU TAKE HIM, YOU BITCH!” She shouts, as I am falling and bouncing hard down the stairs until I land with a thud on the landing at the bottom. My head smacks the cement and my vision fades to black.

  Chapter forty

  “UGH.” I moan. Beep. Beep. Beep. What is that constant beeping noise? I reach my hand out to feel for the alarm and someone grabs it and holds it, kissing it. I open my eyes and see Jesse’s worried expression.

  “Baby, you’re ok. You fell down some stairs, but you’re ok.” I hear Jesse speaking softly. It sounds like he’s crying.

  I turn my head to look at him and groan. Man, it hurts to move. “Jesse? Why are you crying? Is it the babies’? Oh, my God! Are they ok?” Tears start to make their way down my cheeks. “I lost the babies’, didn’t I?”

  He leans over and wipes away some of my tears. “Shhhh, baby. No, honey. The babies’ are just fine. Shhhh. Everything’s fine.” He kisses me on my forehead.

  “Then why are you crying?” I ask. He brushes some hair from my face. “You were out cold and so still. You wouldn’t wake up when I shook you. I was so afraid of losing you. I was afraid I had lost you,” he says with tears on his face.

  I reach over and cup his face. “Oh, Jesse. You’ll never lose me,” I whisper.

  I lay my hand on my stomach and yawn. I close my eyes and drift back to slumber.

  I wake up to the sound of whispering voices. I slowly open my eyes and look around until I see Jesse speaking with a doctor. I clear my scratchy throat. “Can I have some water, please?”

  They both turn around. Jesse practically running over to my side. He smooth’s my hair with his hand lovingly. He turns and looks at the doctor who nods at Jesse. “Sure, Baby,” Jesse says as he pours some water into a glass from the night stand. He reaches over and pushes a button on the guard rail raising me to a slight sitting position. “Is that ok? Too much?” He asks. “No, that’s good. Thank you.” He hands me the water and sits in the chair close to my bed.

  Meanwhile, the doctor has moved to the foot of my bed. He smiles. “Hello, Cassie. I’m Dr. Phillips. How are you feeling?” I look up and smile.

  “My head hurts and my right leg and arm are sore.” Reading my chart the doctor moves his eyes to me. “Well, it’s no wonder with falling down cement steps.” He half smiles. “Fortunately, your injuries are minor and the position you landed helped to protect your babies’ who, by the way, have very healthy heartbeats. We did do an ultrasound to check on them and they are doing just fine. I do recommend you see your OB as soon as you can so he can confirm. Congratulations by the way.”

  I look over at Jesse who is showing that million dollar smile. “Oh, thank God!” I sigh with relief. He places the chart back. “You should be able to leave if you’re feeling up to it. But you must rest for a fe
w days. In bed. No exertion. Ok?”

  I nod. “That sounds great.” He turns to leave. “Ok then. I’ll go get the paperwork ready and someone will be in to take you to out.”

  Once the doctor leaves the room I turn to Jesse. “What happened to Sabrina, Jesse? Do you know she pushed me down the stairs?”

  He takes my hand and rubs his thumb across it. “Yes, baby. Someone saw her. The police came and took her to the station. They said that once you felt up to it they would need a statement from you.” I nod slowly.

  “Sweetie, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I didn’t tell you we had dated for a while. Actually,” he looks down unable to look me in the eyes anymore, “we were engaged.”

  I gasped and covered my mouth with my other hand. “But it’s been over for a couple of years now, before my mother was killed. She didn’t understand why I needed to find the men who killed her. It ended badly. She yelled, threw things, she was verbally abusive. I should have told you. I’m sorry.”

  “But. How? How can you work with her after how she treated you, Jesse?” He shifts in his seat and looks up at me. “In her business she’s the best. She apologized to me and said she could be professional. I was stupid thinking she could change. I’m so sorry, baby. Please forgive me.” I can see the tears forming in his eyes.

  “Jesse, no. It’s not your fault. Please don’t think it is. I don’t blame you for what happened.” Now I’m starting to cry again.

  I try to lighten our conversation by chuckling a little. “Well, aren’t we just the pair.” He looks at me and chuckles a little too. He leans over and kisses my shoulder. “Yes, we are and we are going to have a happy ever after. Together.”

  The police came over to our house the next day and took my statement. Later I was to find out that wasn’t her first offense. Apparently, she has abused previous boyfriends as well as the girls they were with after they had dumped Sabrina. It’s a wonder to me how in the hell she had kept her job and had made it in the business world at all.