Burned

by Gabrielle Gibson

  Zoey nodded. “I get it. I totally understand. Just please be careful. I know you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “It’ll be fine,” Jessie replied. “It’s her I’m worried about. This is all just so new for her.”

  “Okay. Chris and I are going to head out. If you need anything, give me a call. Remember, you’re not the only one Jack can lean on.”

  Zoey gave Jessie a hug and leaned down to kiss Kennedy on the forehead. “Goodnight, sweetie.”

  “Goodnight, Miss Zoey,” Kennedy sniffled.

  JACK SAT IN FRONT OF the television for an hour or so before Jessie came out of his room.

  “She’s sleeping. But I’m afraid if I leave and she wakes up she’s going to freak out. I think I better stay the night.”

  “You don’t mind?” Jack asked, relief flooding over him.

  Jessie shook her head. “How could I mind? She’s terrified, Jack. She doesn’t know us and she wants her mom. She doesn’t understand what’s happening.”

  “Thanks, Jessie. I don’t know what I would have done if…”

  “Jack, I really don’t mind. She’s such a sweetie. I really want to help her.” Jessie glanced down. “And you, too, of course.”

  Jack nodded.

  “Can I borrow a t-shirt or something from you… to sleep in?” Jessie asked.

  “Yeah.”

  She followed him back into his room and he led her into a large walk-in closet.

  “It’s so neat and organized in here,” Jessie noted.

  He pointed to a dresser with several drawers. “There are t-shirts in there.”

  “Thanks.” Jessie stared at him, waiting for him to leave so she could change.

  He looked at her for a moment, his eyes trailing over her briefly before he turned and walked out, closing the door behind him.

  Jessie opened the top drawer. She smiled slightly as she looked into Jack’s underwear drawer. She felt her face heat up. So he was a boxer brief kind of guy. Interesting. Each pair of the Calvin Klein boxer briefs were rolled neatly and lined up. She was pretty sure Jack had mentioned that his housekeeper Gwen did his laundry for him. She probably folded it all neatly and put it away like this, too.

  The second drawer was socks. The third drawer was filled with white undershirts and tank tops. The fourth drawer was filled with neatly folded t-shirts.

  She grabbed one randomly and held it in front of herself. She recognized the blue Carolina Panthers emblem on the black t-shirt and felt vaguely guilty. She was a Skins fan, after all. But whatever, it was just a t-shirt.

  She slipped out of her boots and jeans and sweater, unhooking her bra and letting her clothes fall in a heap on the floor. She stood in front of the full-length mirror in her panties and looked at herself critically for a moment before sliding Jack’s t-shirt over her head. It was so long on her that it fell to the middle of her thighs. She picked up her clothes and folded them neatly, setting them on top of the dresser.

  Curiosity got the better of her and she opened the top drawer of the second dresser on the other side of his closet. Inside were two porn magazines, a box of condoms and a bottle of lube. A quick flip through the pages of one of the magazines made Jessie’s eyes fly wide open.

  Holy shit!

  The pictures were hardcore. Probably some of the most explicit pictures she had ever seen. Jessie closed the magazine quickly, blushing.

  The next drawer held a Purple Heart. Jessie knew what it was because her father had served in the Marines and had been awarded one himself.

  She remembered asking Jack about the scar on his chest and he had said he got it in Iraq. He hadn’t wanted to discuss it, but she assumed that had something to do with this medal.

  The next drawer held folded pairs of sweatpants and she grabbed a pair and took them with her, in case she got cold. She slipped out of the room, switching off the light and closing the door behind her.

  Jack sat on the end of the bed waiting for her. His eyes slid over her in his shirt and he smiled.

  “Nice. I like you in my Panthers shirt.”

  “Well, don’t get used to it because I’ll never stray from my Skins,” Jessie said.

  Jack’s eyes skated up and down her body, causing little shivers to race across her skin.

  He had turned on the gas fireplace in his room and a warm, orange glow filled the room.

  “I put a toothbrush by the bathroom sink for you,” Jack said, clearing his throat.

  “Thanks,” Jessie replied softly.

  Jack stood up and went into the walk-in closet, returning a few moments later wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt.

  Jessie was sitting up in his bed, partially under the covers.

  “Goodnight.” Jessie smiled at him.

  He walked over to her and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

  “Goodnight, princess. Thanks for everything. I mean it. I don’t know what the fuck I would have done without you this weekend.”

  She looked up at him and gave him a shaky smile. “Language,” she whispered, glancing at Kennedy.

  He left her then and she laid down, thinking about the night before and remembering the way he had kissed and touched her.

  She switched on the light next to his bed and opened the drawer of his night table, even though she knew she was being totally nosy.

  More condoms. Another bottle of lube. A packet of tissues. Another porn magazine. Exactly the items she would have expected to find.

  She couldn’t resist the temptation. She was so curious to know what got Jack turned on. She flicked the magazine open and quickly glanced at a few pages. Like the magazines he kept in his closet, the pictures in this one were also very explicit.

  She felt her cheeks heat up as she looked at the sexy brunette sitting with her legs spread wide open, fingering herself, her private parts spread apart and on display for the world to see. There were other pictures of the same hot girl sucking some guy off and close up pictures of him putting his dick inside of her.

  Did Jack masturbate to these images? She thought it was pretty likely that he did. She wasn’t really surprised. Jack was so damn horny. She guessed he thought about sex pretty much all the time.

  She closed the drawer and opened the one under it. It was nearly empty except for a birthday card and a small picture. The card was from his sister, Sarah. Easy to figure out since it said Happy Birthday to My Amazing Brother on the front of it. Inside the card his sister had written, Thanks for always taking such good care of me. Don’t know what I would do without you. Love always, Sarah.

  Jessie picked up the small, worn picture. A pretty, young woman with blonde hair sitting on the beach smiled back at her, one arm around a little boy and the other around a little girl who looked very much like Kennedy. She knew that the little girl in the picture must be Sarah. The woman must be Jack’s mom.

  Jessie looked at the picture of Jack. He must have been about six years old in it. He was such a little cutie. He looked so happy.

  Feeling guilty for invading Jack’s privacy, she put the picture away, closed the drawer and turned off the light. She closed her eyes and snuggled the pillow that smelled like Jack and drifted off to sleep, Kennedy sleeping peacefully beside her.

  Jack looked in on them about an hour later, before lying down on the couch in the living room. They were both asleep, snuggled under the covers.

  Why did he like seeing Jessie in his bed? It just felt right for her to be there. Normal. Like he could get used to having her around.

  He shook his head. He must be fucking losing it.

  He turned the volume down on the television and left the room, settling down on the couch in the living room.

  He lay there for a long time, thinking about the fact that he had a daughter to take care of now. Even if her mother recovered, he would still have a responsibility to this little girl. For the rest of his life.

  He heard his cell phone buzz. He picked it up and looked at it. It was the hospital calling. He answered
it, pretty sure a call this late could only mean bad news.

  “Mr. Turner?”

  “Yeah.”

  “This is Dr. Klein calling. I’m the on-call tonight at Southern Medical Center.”

  “Okay.”

  “Mr. Turner, I’m very sorry but I’m afraid I have some bad news. There was a complication with Ms. Richards. She threw an embolism this evening. We did our best to resuscitate her, but unfortunately she passed away about fifteen minutes ago.”

  Jack took a deep breath.

  “Okay. Thanks for letting me know. What do I need to do?”

  “Well, as far as we know her only family is your daughter. You can call our administration office in the morning to make arrangements for her. Will you be claiming her and making burial arrangements on your daughter’s behalf?”

  Jack hesitated. He hadn’t thought of that. “Yes, I guess so. I’ll figure it out.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Turner. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

  Jack hung up. The loss wasn’t his. But it would be a very difficult loss for the little girl asleep in the next room.

  Fuck.

  He had no idea how he was going to tell her. Would she even understand? She was only four and a half. He had been eight when his mom had died and he had barely understood what was happening.

  He reached for his cell phone, scrolled to Sarah’s number and hit the call button. It wasn’t often Jack needed anyone. But he needed his sister for this.

  “Jack?” Sarah’s voice was concerned. “Are you okay?”

  Jack didn’t usually call just to chat, although they texted regularly. And it was almost midnight.

  “Hey. Yeah, I’m fine. Just need to catch you up on some things,” Jack responded.

  Sarah listened with some surprise as Jack informed her that she was now the proud aunt of a sweet, blonde, four-year old girl.

  THE NEXT MORNING JESSIE WOKE up and turned to find Kennedy still sleeping beside her. She lay for a moment, watching how peaceful her angelic little face looked.

  She got up and slipped quietly out of the bedroom. Jack was nowhere to be found. She went into the kitchen to make coffee. She was just about to start making breakfast when Jack came in the front door, Cody panting by his side.

  Jessie’s eyes scanned the sweat-soaked t-shirt and running shorts as he closed the door. He looked at her and pulled his earbuds out, setting his phone on the kitchen island.

  “Hey,” Jack greeted her.

  He stared at her.

  She suddenly felt self-conscious standing in just his t-shirt. It was silly, really, since he had seen her in much less… a tiny bikini, for one. His eyes lingered briefly where the shirt ended and her legs began before tearing his eyes away.

  Jessie bent down to pet and kiss Cody, baby-talking him while Jack filled his water bowl.

  Jack took a quick glance at her ass cheeks which were on display as she obliviously bent down. He saw the bottom of white panties and looked away.

  He was such a fucking pervert. After everything she had done for him the last thing she deserved was for him to check her out like some random piece of ass.

  “Hospital called last night,” Jack said quietly, glancing at his open bedroom door.

  Jessie turned to look at him, her expression questioning. He shook his head briefly and looked at the floor.

  “Jack. I’m so sorry.” Jessie instinctively went to him and put her arms around him for a hug.

  He placed his hands lightly on her back, barely touching her.

  “Need a shower.” He pulled away and disappeared into his room.

  Jessie sighed and returned to making breakfast.

  WHEN JACK CAME OUT OF his bathroom after showering, Kennedy was no longer asleep in his bed. He could hear her high-pitched giggle mixed with Jessie’s sweet laugh coming from the kitchen.

  His chest felt heavy. He hated that he had to break this news to her.

  He went into the kitchen to find breakfast waiting.

  “Look Jack… Jessie made me a Mickey Mouse pancake!” Kennedy said excitedly, twirling her finger in the pool of melted butter and syrup on top of it.

  “Use a fork,” Jack said, reaching over to gently pull her finger out of the gooey mess and wiping it with a napkin.

  Kennedy made a face but picked up her fork. She stabbed it into a strawberry.

  Jessie set a plate in front of him.

  “Your pancakes have chocolate chips!” Kennedy squealed.

  “I see that,” Jack acknowledged, glancing at Jessie as he poured syrup over his pancakes. He took a bite. “Jessie’s good at cooking.”

  He took a bite of crispy bacon and reached for the glass of orange juice that Jessie had put in front of him.

  Kennedy chattered happily through the meal. Jack and Jessie took turns correcting her table manners. She was a happy, giggly little girl with a bright smile and a funny sense of humor.

  “Knock-knock,” Kennedy said to Jack.

  He stared at her.

  “Now you say who’s there?” Kennedy instructed him.

  “Who’s there?” Jack played along.

  “Boo,” Kennedy said, stifling her giggles.

  “Boo who?”

  “Aww, don’t cry! It’s just a joke!” Kennedy burst into a fit of giggles and Jack smiled at her.

  Jessie laughed and stood to start clearing the dishes.

  Jack told Kennedy to go brush her teeth and get dressed.

  “I have to tell her,” Jack said when she had left the room.

  Jessie nodded. “Yes. Do you want me to stay while you tell her? Or should I go?”

  “Fuck, no… don’t leave. Stay, please. I’m just winging this. I have no idea what to say.”

  “There’s no easy way to do this, Jack.”

  Kennedy came downstairs in the outfit Jessie had laid out for her, a dress, tights, and cute little boots. She stood in front of Jack and handed him a brush and a hair band. She turned away, waiting for him to do her hair.

  He looked at the brush like it was a foreign object. He hesitated before raising the brush to her soft blonde hair and gently pulling it through the long strands. He glanced at Jessie and she nodded slightly, smiling softly at him as he smoothed his hand over her hair.

  When he was finished he turned her around to face him. He lifted her and set her on his knee.

  “Kennedy, I need to talk to you about something. Something important,” Jack said, looking into her light blue eyes.

  His heart was racing and his stomach was in knots. He was about to turn this innocent little girl’s life upside down.

  Jessie came and sat next to him and he felt her hand rubbing gently against his lower back.

  “Your mom…” Jack cleared his throat. “You know, she was hurt pretty bad in the car accident.”

  Kennedy nodded. “Yes. She was bleeding a lot.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.

  “Kennedy, your mom, she didn’t get better, angel. I’m sorry but she… she died.”

  Kennedy stared at him, not yet understanding.

  “Do you understand?” Jack asked her.

  Kennedy nodded slowly. “She died?”

  Jack nodded. “Yes. She did.”

  Tears filled her eyes and slid down her cheeks. “So I won’t get to see her anymore?”

  Jack shook his head. “No, angel, I’m sorry.”

  “Not ever again?”

  Jack shook his head.

  “But I want to see her. I want my mommy.”

  Kennedy pressed her face against Jack’s chest and sobbed. He held her stiffly, patting her back and letting her cry.

  After a time Kennedy’s sobs subsided and were replaced by a series of whimpers and hiccups. Finally, she lifted her head to look at him.

  “Jack?” Her voice was small.

  “Hmm?” Jack pressed his lips to her forehead.

  “What happened to her?”

  He hesitated. “What do you mean?”

  “Where did my momm
y go?”

  He looked at Jessie and shrugged his shoulders.

  “I don’t know…”

  Jessie reached for Kennedy and pulled her off Jack’s lap and onto her own.

  “Mommy went to Heaven to live with Jesus.”

  “Who’s that?” Kennedy asked.

  Jack listened as Jessie explained in the simplest terms possible.

  “WHY DON’T WE GO FOR a walk down by the water?” Jack suggested after Jessie’s conversation with Kennedy was finished with more than a few tears and questions.

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Jessie agreed. “Daddy’s going to take you for a walk by the water. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

  Kennedy nodded.

  “Aren’t you coming?” Jack asked.

  Jessie looked down at herself, still wearing Jack’s t-shirt.

  “I’m a mess. I need to go home and take a shower.”

  “You can take a shower here,” Jack offered.

  Jessie shook her head. “Thanks Jack, but I don’t have any of my stuff here. I don’t even have any clean clothes.”

  “We can go by your house. I really want you to come with us.”

  Jessie hesitated.

  “Okay, why not?” she finally agreed.

  AT JESSIE’S HOUSE, KENNEDY PLAYED with Libbie while Jessie took a shower. She dressed casually in jeans, a gray and red top and gray Converse. She pulled on a black leather jacket as Jack’s eyes flicked quickly over her, down and back up again.

  Damn, she looked good in tight jeans and black leather. That leather jacket was such a contrast to her usual sweet outfits. So fucking sexy. Different. This girl was always surprising him.

  At the boardwalk by the bay, they sat together on a bench while Kennedy played on the small beach by the water with Cody and Libbie. When she started running around too much, Jack would call out to remind her to take it easy, since the doctor had said to limit her activity.

  “This was a good idea,” Jessie said, reaching out and patting his leg. “It’s keeping her distracted.”

  Jack nodded, looking at her hand resting on his thigh. He hesitated and then covered her hand with his own, squeezing it lightly before letting it go.

  “Thanks for helping me this weekend, Jessie. I seriously don’t know what the fuck I would have done without you.” He looked in her eyes and she smiled and blushed.