by J. Dorothy
Jo nodded as Daniel put his arm around her shoulders and Jo put her arm around his waist. She couldn't explain it, but it felt so right. The Dan she met on Tower Bridge was a stranger, but this Daniel was her father and she wanted to know everything about him.
They found a vacant seat outside the campus gardens. Daniel kept his arm around her and she leant against his shoulder and closed her eyes taking in the smell of his aftershave and listening to his breathing, controlled and deep. She felt him sigh and opened her eyes.
“I brought you something. Would you like to see it?” he asked.
Jo smiled as he passed her the bag he’d been carrying. She undid the tape holding it together, and peeked inside. She reached in and removed a long brown box tied with green ribbon. Carefully she undid the ribbon and lifted the lid to find a stunning gold charm bracelet. She had never seen anything so beautiful, and quickly wiped another tear from her eyes.
Daniel looked over her shoulder and touched one of the charms, “There are seventeen charms. I chose them individually. They represent the years … I’ve missed ...”
Jo attached the bracelet to her wrist and looked closely. The first charm was a crystal rattle, next a pair of tiny shoes, followed by an open book and so on. Each one was something she could relate to her birthday year, but one puzzled her. “It’s the most beautiful gift … Thank you.”
Daniel squeezed her shoulders. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I did wonder about this one,” Jo said tapping a tiny charm that spun in the sun. A taupe coloured pearl surrounded by two slim gold rings.
“Ah, yes.” Daniel held her hand. “Pearls were your mother's favourite and the rings represent our wedding rings. If she had of lived, when you turned nine, we would have been married for ten years.” He tried to smile but obviously found it difficult. Jo wrapped her arms around him wanting to ease the pain of those lost memories. "Thank you, I love it."
A twig snapped, and both Daniel and Jo looked up to see Sarah standing a few feet away, her body turned as if she was about to leave.
“Sarah, you don’t need to run away. I think it’s safe to join us now,” Daniel said with a smile
Jo laughed. “Yes the fighting’s over. You missed all the good bits.”
Sarah smiled while Daniel stood and offered his seat and she sat down next to Jo, patting her knee. “How's our girl?”
Jo couldn’t stop beaming. “We've been catching up. I think we managed to cover the first five years of Daniel's life … only sixty five to go,” she chuckled.
Daniel shook his head, grinning. “I see you’ve gotten the cheeky gene. That’s all you’re doing Sarah, there is absolutely nothing cheeky about me.” He winked at Jo.
Sarah laughed. “Now that isn’t true Daniel. Theresa told me some stories. I could tell her about that time ...”
Daniel’s eyes widened. “Don’t you dare, Sarah; I’m trying to make a good impression, here. I don’t want to disillusion my daughter just yet."
“Since you put it that way my stories can wait … I’ll tell you tomorrow Jo,” Sarah said, making them all laugh again.
Jo put her arm up to brush the hair from her eyes and Sarah reached out to touch the bracelet on her wrist, “Jo that’s beautiful. A gift from your father?”
“Yes …” she responded, shakily.
Daniel sat down on the corner of the seat on her other side and put his arm around her. “Shall we go and buy some lunch? I know a place you might like.”
Jo nodded, wiping her eyes. They all stood up and moved off with arms linked.
Sarah on one side and Daniel, now on the other.
TWENTY FOUR
Jo couldn't stop beaming. She'd had the best day with Daniel and Sarah. She'd never talked so much in her life. Daniel had been very patient and had answered her plethora of questions about his life and her mother. She still had a heap more, but decided to call it quits as they had talked into the late afternoon.
She had arrived back at the university campus, Daniel had insisted on paying for a cab. It was still odd to think he was her father, and wanted to act like a parent, but it was also strangely comforting to know she had another person who loved her, and wanted to take care of her. Now she knew the answers to most of the secrets that had been plaguing her for years, about why their father had left them and where he was.
Looking forward to spending the night with James, she raced up the two flights of stairs. It had taken a little scheming, and a few white lies, but after this morning and the day she'd had, it would be worth it. Everything was still so uncertain, but for the present she wanted to make the most of the time she had, and worry about the consequences later.
Spencer had given her a key, so instead of knocking, she put the key in the lock and opened the door. She expected to find James sitting on the sofa, waiting for her. What she didn’t expect was a pretty blonde girl, with pretty blue eyes, curled up on the sofa, looking like she owned the place. Jo quickly glanced at the door number, then remembered the key and pulled it out of the lock and swallowed.
The girl didn’t say anything, just eyed her curiously.
“Um ... Hi,” Jo said.
Still nothing from the blonde, just a bat of long black lashes.
“I’m ... um ... Jo. Spencer's sister."
A frown creased her creamy forehead. “Spencer?”
“Yeah. Um ... James’s roommate.”
Jo closed the door, and stood in front of it. Not quite sure what to do or say next.
“Oh right, the one who takes all these photos,” the pretty blonde said pointing to the enlarged photos Spencer had stuck all over his wall.
"Yeah ... um ... so, is James here?"
“He’s taking a phone call in the bedroom.”
"Um ... so who are you?"
"Oh, sorry. I'm Anita." She held out her tiny hand, and Jo gave her a loose handshake.
“Are you a friend of James?” Jo asked, expecting her to say yes.
Anita screwed up her nose. “Sort of.”
Sort of!
Jo could feel her heart rate increase, and her happy demeanour quickly dissipating as she clenched her fists at her side.
Anita didn’t seem to notice her aggravation as she patted the sofa. “Come and sit down, I’m sure James won’t be long, he might know where Spencer is.”
Jo gave a quick nod, knowing full well, where Spencer was, but didn't feel inclined to tell Anita that. She took a seat just as James walked out of the bedroom, momentarily preoccupied with stowing his mobile in his jacket pocket. He looked a little unnerved and it took a few seconds before he looked at Jo. Then he blinked and stammered, “J… Jo.”
Jo managed a tight smile. “James.”
He paused as if he had no idea what to say and Jo raised her eyes at him, like she was waiting for an explanation. He stuttered, “Um, Jo … this is Anita.”
Jo folded her arms. “We just introduced ourselves. I hope I’m not interrupting anything?”
“Nothing,” James answered quickly. “Anita and I are old school friends. We were just catching up …”
“Actually, Jo,” Anita turned to her. “Do you mind giving James and me a minute alone? I don’t want to be travelling on the tube too late …” Anita smiled seductively at James and patted her oversized bag. “Though, if I stay here tonight, it probably won’t matter.”
Jo watched the colour drain from James face and put the pieces together quickly. Realising Anita must be the holiday fling supposedly still hung up on her ex boyfriend. From the look she was giving James right now, that had obviously been sorted and the boyfriend must be recent history.
Jo didn’t know what possessed her, but she stood up and glared at Anita. “To tell you the truth, I do mind. You can talk to James. But as for staying the night, you can forget that. I’m the only person staying here tonight. So, I suggest you make your chat quick, so you and your big bag don’t miss the tube home.”
With that Jo spun towards James, grimaced at him,
and then marched into his bedroom slamming the door.
She flung herself on James's bed, taking several deep breaths. She had never spoken to anyone like that before in her whole life.
A few minutes later, she heard the murmur of quiet voices, then the front door closed and the bedroom door creaked open. Jo lay on her back attempting to read one of James' surveying texts. She felt him move toward the bed and lie down on his side next to her, but she ignored him and continued to flick through pages and pages of boring surveying text. He was right, after all.
Snatching the book out of her hands, James tossed it to the floor and leant over her, trying to force her eyes to meet his. “So, when you say you're staying here tonight. What does that mean exactly?”
Jo still refused to look at him, and stared at the ceiling instead. “It means I’m staying in Spencer’s room while you stay in this room dreaming about what could have been!”
“Dreaming ...” he repeated. “How could anything happen with Sarah here?” he paused, looking questioningly at her. “ … Where is Sarah anyway?”
“To answer your first question; as I recall that didn’t seem to bother you this morning.” She raised her eyebrows. “To answer the second, Sarah is staying with Daniel. He has a spare room and they had things to discuss. She thought Spencer would be here. He told me on the phone he was staying with friends and I sort of, on purpose, forgot to tell Sarah that little fact. But that was before I found the girl you fancied sitting here. So, to catch you up, we are alone tonight but sleeping in separate rooms.”
She attempted to kick her legs off the bed and escape into Spencer’s room, but James used his weight to hold her in place. He smiled wickedly. “Well that depends.”
“Yeah? On what?”
“You have to get away first!” James gripped her arms above her head and started kissing her face, neck and ears.
“James, stop it. Stop kissing me. I don’t like you right now.” She continued to squirm away from him while suppressing her laughter.
“That won’t last long … I’m pretty irresistible,” he stated in between kissing her and caressing her body. Finally locking her head, in his two hands, he found her lips and kissed her gently at first, then their kissing became more urgent as his whole body pressed closer to hers, making her struggle less and less. Enjoying the sensations too much, Jo quickly decided to just live in the moment. There would be plenty of time to be angry with him later.
The dim light of early morning broke through the curtains when Jo opened her eyes. James slept soundly beside her. She watched him lying there and took a deep breath, remembering the night before. Their first time together, she had felt nervous and awkward due to her inexperience, but last night had been so different. A new level of trust had grown between them and although neither said they loved each other, Jo knew she was falling for him hard.
James stirred and opened his eyes. He reached for her and she moved closer. He kissed her forehead and rubbed his hands softly down her back.
“How are you this early morning?”
“Better than better,” Jo whispered into his chest.
James lifted her chin and kissed her lips one at a time. “Are you still cross? Do I need to distract you again?” he asked between kisses.
Jo laughed. “Hmmmm ... Now that’s a loaded question.”
She traced her fingers over the scar on the side of his face then moved her fingers through his hair and around the back of his neck, pulling him into an intimate embrace, leading to more distractions as they became immersed in each other once more.
Jo woke for the second time that morning. This time the sun shone brightly through the curtains. A wave of disappointment washed over her as she discovered she was alone. Rubbing her eyes, she pulled back the covers, feeling the warmth in the room. She got out of bed and pulled on one of James’s jumpers, stopping to inhale the musk scent of James' deodorant that clung to his clothes. Hearing the shower running in the bathroom next door, she finished getting ready by pulling on her jeans and quickly running a brush through her hair.
The bathroom door slid open and James walked in with only his jeans on. Jo admired his naked chest. He had a muscular physique and beautiful skin, which she itched to touch.
“Good morning, again,” he said, putting his t-shirt and jumper on, before she had chance.
Jo moved closer and put her arms around him, sniffing the freshness of his body-wash and shampoo. “Can I make you a cup of tea?”
James hugged her back. “Sounds good. I thought Spencer might come home before class,” he said, as he nuzzled into her hair and kissed her cheek. She looked up at him, hoping for more, when he grinned. “Speaking of Spencer, that reminds me ...”
He didn't finish that thought as he rushed at Jo, sweeping her into his arms and racing through the two way bathroom into Spencer’s room, throwing her onto the bed.
“It still looks too neat. I think we should mess it up.” Jo squealed, as he jumped on top of her and pushed her into the pillows. They kissed briefly but stopped quickly when they heard a noise outside the door. Jo quickly dived under the duvet and James rushed back to his room. From under the covers she could hear muffled voices in the lounge, then five minutes later there was silence again.
Feeling like it was safe to come out, Jo bit her lip, then snuck out of bed to open the door when James pushed it from the other side, making her jump back.
“Has Spencer gone?” she asked.
“Yeah, he just left.” James rubbed the back of his neck. “He ... ah ... he’s spoken to Sarah. She’ll be here soon."
“Right.”
James cupped her cheek. “I think they might know we spent the night together.”
“Oh.” Jo could feel her pulse speed up.
James put his arms around her. “It'll be all right, they’re glad we’re together. Remember, I’m the shining light.”
Jo frowned. “The what?”
“It's my new super hero title. Sarah said I was the shining light that gave her hope the curse was all nonsense. I like it. I'm thinking of getting a special suit made up.” James grinned at her like a goofy idiot.
“Delusional much? Though , Anita did seem dazzled by your brilliance.”
“Well I doubt she'll be back. You darkened my shining light as far as she’s concerned.” James squeezed her tightly. “Now admit it, I'm your super hero.”
“James you’re an amateur.” Jo held up her ring. “I just have to twist this, and you’d have no clue that I ever came out of Spencer’s room.”
James let her go, and gaped at her. “You wouldn't!”
Jo rubbed the stone on her ring and gave him a cheeky smile, “Probably not, but it makes you think. Who’s the super -hero now?”
James put his heart to his chest and feigned a surprised expression. “Josephine, my shining light is diminishing by the second in the shadow of your cynicism.”
Jo couldn't help laughing. “Oh, my. Perhaps you should ask Beth, if you can join the play-writes.” James frowned, so she gazed at him thoughtfully. “Not for your acting, but they might let you work the lights.”
James grabbed her, pinning her down again when there was a knock at the door.
They both sat up immediately and started to straighten their clothes as they made their way into the living room.
“You better start working your magic, super-shiny light-man,” Jo whispered as she took a seat on the sofa.
James smirked at her, before he opened the door to both Daniel and Sarah, who stood there with serious expressions. They paused for a moment, then walked into the room and looked at Jo. She couldn’t bring herself to get off the sofa, her legs suddenly feeling like jelly. James stood behind them, hidden from view, opening and shutting his hands in a flickering motion, grinning the whole time.
“Morning Jo,” Daniel said with a knowing smile, as he bent to kiss her cheek.
Sarah said nothing at first, and then spun around to look at James, “Morning James. I trust
you’re well this morning.”
James quickly shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yes, thanks. Can I make you both a cup of tea?”
Daniel nodded encouragingly but Sarah answered him sharply, “Yes please.” She turned to Jo. “Can I talk to you for a moment—in Spencer’s room?”
Jo gave a small nod, then glanced at James and rolled her eyes, while he winked back and flicked his hands at her one more time.
“Why didn’t you tell me Spencer wasn't going to be here last night?” Sarah asked accusingly as they sat on his bed together.
Jo sighed and picked at some fluff that had attached itself to the black duvet. “I didn't do it to upset you. It's just, I really like James and we wanted some time alone. I saw an opportunity and decided to take it. With everything that’s happened I needed something … something I can look back on as a special time in my life. I don’t know what the future holds and I wanted some good memories. I don't regret it. I never will.”
Sarah patted Jo’s hand. “You know, Peter and I want you to be happy more than anything. Parents just find it hard to accept their children are grown up and can make their own decisions. I just wanted to make sure you're not committing to something you're not ready for. You were … um…safe?”
Ew! Jo screwed up her face. She was betting Daniel wasn’t asking James the same question.
“Of course,” Jo said to try and stop any further speculation or probing for detailed information. “I’ve told James about my doubts and he needs to consider his feelings as well as mine. Annoyingly, he keeps raving on about being some shining super hero light that will stay with me regardless of the curse.”
Sarah shook her head and laughed. “I didn’t think he’d take my comment literally. I hope it hasn't gone to his head?”
Jo rolled her eyes. “We won’t ever hear the end of it. Maybe you should tone things down from now on.”
“Good idea. I’ll say he’s my flickering light that turns on and off depending on his behaviour. At the moment he’s most definitely off,” Sarah said laughing louder, while Jo joined in, glad they could lighten the mood at James' expense.
