by Jill Sanders
She smiled. “Show me.” She leaned up onto her elbows. The thin material of her black nighty slipped down her shoulder. His eyes moved to the spot and she watched his desire double.
“Witch,” he said in a low, sexy voice, “I plan on showing you exactly what you do to me.” His smile disappeared when his head dipped down. He ran his mouth over her skin, causing her head to roll back and her eyes to close.
“Jacob,” she moaned as his fingers dipped under the lace. When his mouth moved up, covering the skin he’d exposed, she cried out and reached for him, begging him to take her, but he just gently pushed her hands away and held her down.
“We have all night,” he said, “and I don’t want to rush.”
She leaned back and enjoyed the way he tortured her with his hands and lips. She’d never felt more complete than when she was with him.
He’d edged his way up her body until his lips covered hers and she was completely naked underneath him.
When he entered her slowly, she didn’t think she could hold back any longer. He was everything she’d ever wanted. Everything she needed. He completed her in the most important way. He not only showed her tenderness and love but showed her that being different was more than okay.
For years, she’d hid it from even her closest friends. But now, she knew she had the strength to shout it from the rooftops.
She wrapped her legs around his hips and held onto him as he kissed her into oblivion. She heard him whisper that he loved her just as he pulled her close and placed a kiss on her neck.
When their bodies cooled, she lay there, looking into the darkness of the room, her mind racing over every piece of information she’d found out in the past few weeks.
There had to be something she was missing. Something she could use to fix what her mother had started.
Why did Rachelle believe this was all her fault? It was obvious it started twenty-eight years ago. After all, it was this same thing happening now that she’d seen the night Misty disappeared.
Today…
When the sunlight started creeping into the room, she gently got out of the bed, showered, and dressed. She had a few things she needed to do that day and there wasn’t a lot of time left to do them. She needed to get an early start.
After writing notes for Jacob and her father, she left the house and headed into town.
Her first stop was at Café 21. She pulled her grandmother aside. “I realized I haven’t thanked you,” she said in the back hallway of the diner.
“What for?” Carla frowned at her.
“For everything. You stuck with me when my own parents didn’t. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there.” Jess pulled the woman into a hug.
“Oh, sweetie, you don’t have to thank me.” Carla sniffled. “I only wish I could have done better for you.”
“I’m tired of hiding from the world.” Jess smiled. “I want the entire town to know you’re my blood. I don’t give a damn what my… what Rachelle wanted anymore. She’s the one I wish I could remove.”
Jess watched tears stream down Carla’s face.
“Now you’ve done it.” Carla sniffled and pulled out a napkin to wipe her face. “I’ll have to go fix my face now.”
“Your face is beautiful.” Jess reached up and brushed a tear away. “I love you.” She leaned up and kissed the woman’s cheek.
“Sweetie,” Carla cried out and hugged her again. “I love you too.”
After the emotional visit, she made her way to the Coffee Corner.
Jacob woke and instantly knew that Jess was gone. Her side of the bed was cold and the house was quiet. He glanced over at the clock and groaned. He was going to be late to work.
He smiled at her note stuck to the bathroom mirror and tucked it into the drawer with a few others she’d left him.
He dressed in record time and left Larry a note next to the one that Jess had left.
He drove to the station, trying to figure out how he was going to find Rachelle.
He’d checked the nearby clinics and hospitals, but so far, he hadn’t heard about anyone coming in with gunshot wounds.
After a quick meeting, he hit the road and made his rounds, making sure to swing by the Coffee Corner first. Jess sat with him in their booth and nibbled on a piece of coffee cake with him.
He could tell that she had gotten little sleep last night. She told him about talking to Carla and that she’d shared the news that the woman was her grandmother with Tilly and everyone else she’d run into. She’d also told them that her father was staying in town with them during the divorce process.
“The news of their divorce has spread throughout town like a wildfire.” Jess sighed and glanced at his coffee. He was about to offer her some, but then remembered the baby. He almost said something but bit his tongue. He figured she’d tell him when she was ready.
But one thing was clear from the look in her eyes and the way she moved her hand protectively over her stomach: she knew about the baby. He wondered if she was happy about it or scared. He was both.
“I’m heading out to the lake after leaving here,” he said, breaking the silence.
“You think she’ll be out there?” Jess asked.
“We’ll see. She has to be somewhere, licking her wounds.”
“I can’t believe you actually shot her,” she said in a low tone.
He shrugged. “What time do you get off work?”
“Four.” She glanced around and he knew she was out of time for her break.
“I’ll meet you here?” he asked. “I don’t get off until five, but I’ll sneak out early.” He reached across and took her hand before she could get up. “Jess…” He waited until she met his eyes. “I meant what I said last night.”
She smiled. “I know.”
Just then a group of high school kids came rushing in and she disappeared behind the counter to help with the rush.
He finished his coffee, jumped in the car, and drove towards the lake. On his way out of town, he swung by Jess’s place, just to check that everything looked normal.
When he reached the lake house, he parked far enough away that if Rachelle was inside, she wouldn’t be able to hear him coming.
But the place was empty. It didn’t look like she had returned since yesterday. He spent a few minutes carting a big piece of plywood over to the broken door so the rain wouldn’t damage the place. The house belonged to Jess’s family, and he didn’t care to see it destroyed.
Then he made his way to the docks and talked with a few of the men who always hung out there.
He had a few calls after that, but his mind was focused on what was supposed to happen later that night. He believed that everything was going to work out somehow, but he needed to talk to his brothers and figure out a backup plan, just in case.
After a call about a barking dog, he made his way to Xtina’s place, hoping his brothers were there. He lucked out and found them working on Mike’s front porch, replacing a few boards on the deck. He pulled into the small parking area.
“Hey,” Mike waved. “Come to help?”
“Can’t. I’m still on duty.” He tapped his uniform as he made his way up the stairs. “I was hoping to have a few minutes with you two.”
“We deserve a break,” Ethan said, wiping the sweat from his brow. He reached for a bottled water.
Even though it was in the low forties, he could see they had been working hard all morning. Mike sat on the stair and Ethan followed.
“Shoot,” Mike said when they were both settled.
“I was hoping to come up with plan B for tonight.”
“Is there a plan A?” Ethan asked.
“Yeah, don’t die,” Mike replied.
“Right.”
“Are you two ever serious?” He sighed and leaned against the porch.
“We’ve all seen what happens. I think we can avoid the big issues,” Mike said. “I mean, I’m not sure what to do when the moon comes crashing down on u
s, but…” He dropped off. “Xtina has been working all morning, researching. She’s determined to figure out how to fix everything.”
“How about Jess?” Ethan asked.
“She’s at work. She didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.” When Mike chuckled, he shook his head. “Grow up.”
“Hey, we all deal with the end of the world as we know it in different ways. Mine is humor,” Mike supplied.
“So, what did you have in mind?” Ethan said after rolling his eyes at his brother.
Jacob filled them in on his thoughts, and for the next hour, the three of them went over every option they could come up with.
Chapter 23
Eight hours before the end…
Jess stood out by her truck and waited for Jacob. She’d packed a few muffins, scones, and cookies into a to-go box since she doubted they would have a real meal that night.
He’d texted her that he would be a few minutes late since he’d gotten a call about loose cattle on the highway. But he’d wrapped things up and was on his way.
She’d suggested they meet after he got off work at Xtina’s place, but he’d told her he was almost there, so she’d waited.
She leaned against her truck and watched everyone move around town like it was a normal day. Did they know what was going to happen in a few hours? What would they do if they did know?
She could just imagine worldwide panic. No, it was probably better that no one knew what was coming. She wished she didn’t know.
She had been over and over everything she’d seen of tonight. She knew that the moon was directly overhead, which meant they had until midnight if the charts were all correct.
She knew the moon was set to rise at six, shortly after dark. Jess glanced down at her watch and calculated how much more time everyone had.
Just under eight hours left. She was torn between impatience for something to happen and wanting to drag out every second of the rest of her life.
So, she’d never gone parasailing, hadn’t climbed a mountain or ridden in a boat. And that was only three things on her mile-long bucket list. At least she’d fallen in love.
She smiled, remembering how gentle Jacob had been with her last night. She knew he deserved more. Which is exactly why she was letting him pick her up. She was willing to put all her cards on the table now, seeing as this was the last time she could tell him. Why not go out with a bang?
She smiled bigger when his cruiser pulled into the parking lot.
“Do I have to sit in the back?” she joked.
“Technically, yes.” He smiled and got out to open the back door.
“Really?” She groaned.
“Sorry. I’m on the clock now.” He pulled her close and kissed her until she forgot about riding in the back of a police car.
“I thought we’d head out to the lake. Maybe watch the sunset there,” he said as he pulled out of the parking lot.
She was silent for a while.
“Is that okay?” he asked, glancing back at her.
“Yeah.” She chuckled, trying not to sound too nervous. “I was going to suggest the same.”
“I talked to Mike and Ethan earlier,” he said as he hit the outskirts of town.
“And?”
“We all agreed that we don’t want you to go to the silo tonight.”
She started to object, but he broke in.
“But we know that isn’t an option, so we’ve come up with another idea.”
“Okay?” she said slowly.
“We want to see if you can, at the last minute, pop out of there with your new… powers.”
She thought about it. “I’d have to have someone to focus on.”
“We thought of that too. If your dad was to stay at Xtina’s place, you could focus on him, right?”
“Technically, it should work, but…”
“Hey,” he broke in, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror. “It’s something, right?”
She nodded and smiled. “Worth a shot.”
They pulled up to the lake about an hour before sunset. He helped her out of the car, then took the box of treats from her and set them on the hood of his car.
“I know we’re supposed to be here, now, but part of me wants to get as far away from here as possible.” He pulled her close and held onto her.
“Jacob.” She wrapped her arms around him. “You know… we can’t.”
“I know.” He leaned back and kissed her. “Let’s go and play our parts.”
He took her hand, then grabbed the box from the hood. They walked towards the empty dock, hand in hand.
She knew what was supposed to come next, but something called her to stop. Tugging on his hand, she waited until he looked back at her.
“I don’t… I can’t…” She took a deep breath. “Screw it. Why can’t we set our own paths? I’m pregnant,” she blurted out. “I think you already know…” His smile told her that he did. “Are you okay with…?”
He laughed. “Yes, you don’t even have to ask…” He stopped and took a deep breath. “I’m not here because… I’m here to ask you to marry me…” Jess smiled. “But you’ve probably already seen that…”
“Yes.” She laughed.
“Are you okay…”
“You don’t even have to ask.” She held out her empty hand and waited as he pulled a small case out of his pocket.
“It was my grandmother’s,” he started, but she stopped him.
“I know.” She laughed.
“Damn, okay, so much for surprises.” He set the box of muffins down on the ground, then made a show of pulling the ring out of the box. “But I’m insisting on this part.” He bent down and put one knee on the soft grass, covered with dew. “Jessica Renee Sorenson, I’ve loved you forever and want to go on loving you forever. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you, Jacob John St. Clair.” She watched him squirm at the use of his full name.
“I promise not to use your full name, as long as you don’t use mine,” he said.
“Agreed.” She laughed as he gently pushed the ring onto her finger. Then she was being spun around and kissed.
“Screw destiny,” he said as he kissed her. “We make our own…”
Just then, she felt something shift inside her. The entire world seemed to tilt when he set her back on her feet. She cried out as heat spread throughout her entire body.
Her eyes slid closed as pain wracked her body. She vaguely heard Jacob screaming her name, but the pain had consumed her too much. The darkness had found her.
Jess doubled over with pain. Jacob kept calling to her as she fell forward. He tried to lift her up but realized he was frozen in place. His eyes moved around quickly, and he saw Rachelle move slowly towards them.
“I told you to keep her away,” she said when she was less than five feet away from them. “I warned you what would happen.”
“Let her go,” he cried out. “Let us go. You’re killing her.”
“No!” Rachelle screamed. “I’m trying to save her.” She moved closer to Jess, who had gone completely pale. Her gray eyes looked blankly up at the darkening sky as tears slid down her face.
Jacob felt a slight break in the woman’s powers when she looked down at her daughter in pain. He used his temporary freedom to mentally call out to his brothers for help. For some reason, Mike was easier to hear than Ethan. He actually heard Mike’s voice in his head.
“We’re on our way,” Mike said in his mind.
“Hurry. She’s killing Jess,” he said back, but then Rachelle looked at him and once more he was completely frozen.
She smiled. “You’re probably wondering how I can do that?” Rachelle stepped around her daughter’s lax body on the ground. “Since I’ve been back in Hidden Creek, my powers have doubled.” She snapped her fingers and fire flickered at the end of her fingertips. “I can do so much now that I wasn’t able to do before.”
She glanced down at Jess and took a deep breath, then looked back up at hi
m. “I’m glad you proposed. She’ll need that love to get her through this next part.” For the first time, Jacob noticed the sadness behind the woman’s dark eyes.
Before he could respond, she reached down and laid a finger on Jess’s arm, and they both disappeared before his eyes.
Once Rachelle and Jess were gone, he was released from the hold. He gulped in several deep breaths and took off at a sprint towards his car.
He pulled out his phone and punched Mike’s number.
“She’s got, Jess,” he said when his brother answered.
“Where?” Mike asked.
“I don’t know.” He thought about it. “The silo,” he said at the same time Ethan did.
“We’ll get Xtina and what we need, then meet you there,” Mike said.
Jacob hung up and punched the gas, sending gravel and mud flying behind his patrol car.
Three hours before the end…
The pain was almost too much for Jess to bear. She was pretty sure she’d blacked out for a while because when she opened her eyes, it was dark. Despite the darkness, she knew where she was.
The lake house. What she didn’t know was why. She tried to move her hands but they were tied.
“Don’t,” her mother said from across the room. “You’ll only hurt yourself.”
“Why are you doing this?” she cried out.
“I told you.” Rachelle stepped out of the darkness.
“You’re a liar. Why would I believe anything you have to say?” Jess continued to wiggle.
“You don’t believe me, that’s fine. You don’t have to. All you need to do is to stay away from the silo tonight.”
“Why? So you can watch everything burn?” Jess spat out.
“No, so I can fix everything you’ve done.”
“I haven’t done anything!” Jess cried out. “You started this.”
“I don’t have time to argue with you.” Rachelle walked over and sat down. It was then that Jess realized that her mother had the book again.
“Where did you get that?” Jess asked. “What have you done with Xtina?”
