Stories by Claudia

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Are we ready?” Jacob asked. “We can get past the paparazzi through the tunnels.”

Standing by a locked door in the main Castle kitchen, he looked from Val to Mike. After years of preparation, he had no idea if they could get away from the photographers that stalked his sister. Today would be the first time they tried the tunnels. Jill slipped her arm around him. He smiled at her. Today was a first for a lot of things.

“Mike and I have cleaned the tunnels but they are old coal tunnels. There’s only so much we could do,” Jacob said. He pointed to the long overcoats with hoods on hooks by a locked bead board door. “As long as Delphie isn’t going out, there’s one for each of us.”

“I’ll stay here Jake,” Delphie said. “I don’t like those tunnels. Too many sad spirits down there.”

“I’m so sorry.” Val hugged Delphie. “This is all my fault. If I hadn’t let the driver take me home the paparazzi would have never found us.”

“Honey, I’d rather be stuck here because you and Mike are back together than be stuck here because it’s snowing or the doors won’t open or Jake blew something up or I’m sick or….”

“Thanks,” Val said. “I’ve missed you.”

“We’ve all missed you, Val,” Delphie said. “It’s nice to have you home.”

“We need to go!?!”

Jacob’s impatience and worry echoed through his voice. Delphie made her usual cutesy face at Jake’s frustration.

“Is he always like this?” Val mock whispered to Delphie.

“YES I’M ALWAYS LIKE THIS!” Jacob said in a terse voice

Mike looked from Delphie’s smile to Jacob and burst out laughing. Everyone laughed and Jacob gave in to a smile. Jacob passed out the overcoats.

“If Val’s staying, we’ll have to get some more of these coats.”

“Just one?” Jill asked.

“Well, Katy too.” Jacob beamed at her.

“Sheez, now who’s wasting time? Explain the locks,” Mike commanded.

“There are two locks,” Jacob pointed to a modern dead bolt and a refurbished antique lock. “You can unlock this deadbolt with a key from both sides of the door. This old lock can only be opened from the inside.”

“Which is why I have to stay,” Delphie said.

“We usually leave the old lock open when we go out through the tunnels, but with all this attention.” Jacob pointed toward the growing crowd and paparazzi outside the Castle’s metal fence. “I don’t feel comfortable leaving it unlocked. There are two locks at the workshop. Those are regular key bolts. There’s also a security system in the tunnels that’s connected to both doors. You can turn off the system from inside the Castle or inside the workshop. It goes back on when either the door is closed at the other end or thirty minutes passes.”

Jacob opened the door. Pointing to key padded lock box, he said, “This box has the key to the deadbolt in it. It will open to each of our birthdays. Our birthdays are the security code as well.”

“Except mine,” Jill said.

“Right, but you know Mike’s right?”

Jill nodded.

“We’ll add yours,” Jacob said. Jill kissed his lips.

“I thought we were late?” Mike asked.

“Nervous?” Val asked.

“No, I’m torn between bashing his teeth in and puking.”

Mike pulled Jacob away from Jill and Jacob laughed. He flicked a switch and a dim thread of lighted appeared in the darkness.

“There’s a switch at each end,” Mike said. “There’s also flashlights and head lamps if you need them. Just toss them in the baskets at each end. Since we’re so late, we should probably skip the headlamps and hold hands.”

“There’s a series of stairs - eight stairs and three landings - on this and twelve stairs on the other end.”

Jacob pulled an overcoat over his Armani suit then flipped up the hood. He held his hand out for Jill. Hand in hand, they entered the ancient tunnel. Created in the 1800s, the tunnel were used to move heating coal from the train tracks throughout Denver.

“How far is it?” Jill whispered after they had been walking a while.

“It’s about a half mile,” Mike said. “You don’t have to whisper.”

“I just feel… like I should whisper,” Jill said.

“Me too,” Val whispered in response. “Maybe we just feel all the sad souls Delphie was talking about.”

“It’s a dark place,” Jacob said. “We’re almost there. You can see the stairwell up ahead.”

They climbed the stairwell. Jacob pointed to another lock box with a key pad. He punched in his birth date and opened the box. He used the key to open both locks. Holding the door for Jill, Val and Mike, Jacob set the key back on it’s hook and re-engaged the security system.

He walked through the door to an open warehouse space. One end of the warehouse was a wood shop. Tidy stacks of wood, windows, woodworking tools and work tables filled half of the space. Toward the front, opposite of where they stood, there were four aging cars - a Jeep wrangler, an old Bronco, a 1960s mustang and an ancient silver Mercedes and garage doors. The cars were clean and clearly well maintained. Jacob added his overcoat to the line of hooks near the door.

“This box has keys to the door as well as key to the cars. I thought Mike would take his Bronco.” Jacob threw the keys to Mike. “Val? Are you Ok with the Jeep?”

“Why are all of our old cars here?” Val asked. “That’s Mom’s old Mercedes, and that….” She pointed to the mustang. “That’s mine!”

“I thought no one would expect the famous Valerie Lipson to drive an old clunker. Delphie drives Mom’s Mercedes. I can’t bring myself to….”

“Thanks Jake.” Val’s eyes brimmed with tears. “You really thought of everything.”

Jacob smiled. He pressed the garage opener and they peered out at Detroit Street. The residential street was silent. No helicopters. No photographers. Just a few high school kids walking along the back of East High School.

“Yes!” Mike said. “I knew we could do this!”

Val laughed then pulled him to her. They kissed and whispered back and forth by the Jeep.

“We’ll catch up with you at the hospital,” Jacob said to Jill. “But don’t wait for us. We’re not exactly sure how long we’ll be. If you can take Katy home, you should do that. I’ll find you when we’re done.”

Jill hugged Jacob. She whispered in his ear, “Thanks. I….”

“God damn it. Can we go?” Mike asked opening the driver’s side of his Bronco.

Jill blushed and stepped away. Jacob walked her to the passenger side then closed the door after she got in.

“I remember this car,” Jill said to Mike.

Jacob heard Mike laugh. He revved the Bronco’s engine.

“Ready?” Jacob asked Val turning on the Jeep.

“I feel a little… nervous, I guess,” Val said.

“About?” Jacob asked.

Backing out, he waited until the garage doors to completely closed before pulling out onto Detroit Street. He drove a half block, then turned right on Colfax.

“Just being here, I guess,” Valerie said. “You must think I’m an idiot, but it’s very scary for me to make these changes and take these steps.”

Stopping at the light, Jacob looked at Valerie.

“I think you’re very brave.” Jacob smiled. “You’re also not alone Val. I’m here. Delphie’s a trip but she loves us.”

“And Dad,” Val said. “Will he be there this morning?”

“Just for a bit,” Jacob said. “Are you ready for…”

Valerie stared down Race Street when they passed. The paparazzi surrounded the Castle and news helicopters buzzed overhead. The Denver Police were containing a growing crowd of fans around their home. Valerie felt like she was watching a feeding frenzy. Everyone wanted a piece of her.

“Hey,” Jacob said. He touched her thigh to get her attention. “Max is waiting for us in the parking garage at his office. He’ll escort us to his office. Our step-sister and her Trevy-toy are already there working on the prenuptial agreement.”

Valerie nodded, “I always call her the step-whore.”

“You do? I thought Mike made that up,” Jacob said.

“He got that from me,” Val said.

“After the ‘Val worked pornography’ thing?”

“After she told 5280 that ‘you caught AIDS at the bath houses’,” Val said.

“Ah yes, how could I forget my slutty gay life?”

“You must tell Jill about being gay, little brother. Not telling her is really cruel.”

Val looked at Jake and they cracked up laughing. They were laughing so hard that Jacob almost missed his turn onto Lincoln Street. Jacob turned into the parking garage and drove deep into the bowels of the Cash Register building. They were met by their friend, and lawyer, Max Hargreaves.

~~~~~~~~

“We have to do something before we go to the hospital,” Mike said.

“Mike, I want to get to my baby! I’ve been trying to get to Katy all morning!”

“Do you want to get to Katy or keep her safe?”

“What do you mean safe? Katy’s not safe?”

Stopping at a traffic light at Eighteenth Street, he turned to Jill.

“Trevor came to the hospital last night.”

“What?”

Dread settled over Jill like a bad thunderstorm.

“He came some time around midnight. He was there for a while before he found Katy. He told everyone at the hospital that he was going to take Katy from her hospital bed. He tried to get the doctor to say that this proved that you were a bad mother.”

Jill bit her lip to keep from crying. Mike shook his head and continued toward downtown.

“Jill, you cannot possibly believe him.”

Jill’s eyes filled with tears.

“I… I’m not a very good mother. I try. I really try. I love her so much. But she gets sick or hurt…. That doctor? Dr. Drayson? He gave me an Epi-Pen for myself and one for Katy when she gains some weight. I… I didn’t even know they existed. And they’re like a hundred dollars… a piece! And….”

Mike face flushed.

“That’s just bullshit, Jill. My God!”

Mike hit his hand against the steering wheel. Jill began crying into her hands.

“Ah Jilly,” Mike said. “I’m sorry.”

“I can barely afford to feed her…. Trevor should have full custody. At least he can take care of her…”

“Stop it,” Mike said. “Just stop it. Katy freaked out when Trevor came into her room. They had to sedate her. The hospital social worker called Social Services. They came out to investigate.”

“They’re going to take her? My Katy? She’s in custody of Social Services?”

“No. Jill, stop it. You’re freaking out for no reason,” Mike said. “You need to hear what happened. Stop the hysterics and listen.”

Jill bit her lip and nodded. She took a deep breath to calm her horror then nodded. “Ok. I’m Ok. What happened with Social Services?”

“They filed a report against Trevor. The hospital social worker said she’d never seen a person so angry and out of control around his hospitalized kid. She felt that he was an imminent threat to Katy… and to you. He said he was going to kill you.”

Jill nodded.

“He went to your apartment to find you. I called the cops and he was cited but let go. Jill.” Mike put his hand on her shoulder. “Look at me.”

Jill looked up at her brother.

“I left a message for Diane Radman last night. Remember your lawyer? She’s already been to the hospital. She’s going to meet us at the courthouse. Diane was able to get a couple people to testify this morning. She thinks you’ll finally get that restraining order.”

“You don’t think it’s better for Katy to be with Trevor? At least he’s rich now.”

Mike laughed. “No. I don’t think that. No one thinks that. Look Diane’s right there waiting for you. I’ll drop you and park.”

Mike pulled up the curb where a fit woman with curly red hair stood. Wiping her eyes, Jill got out of the Bronco. Diane gave Jill a hug, then began preparing her for court.

“We have to be in the courtroom, all documents ready, and witnesses ready to roll at 7:30 a.m. to get on the 8:00 a.m. docket,” Diane said. “If we miss the 8:00 a.m., we’ll try to get on the 3:00 p.m. docket.”

Standing in line for security, Jill took a breath to steel herself for another restraining order hearing. Every day - from the moment Trevor asked for a divorce to today - had been like a terrifying roller coaster. She couldn’t remember a more difficult and horrifying seven months.

And….

Remembering this morning’s warm, loving conversation with Delphie, Jill smiled.

“I think we’ll get it this time,” Diane said. “Just tell the truth about what he’s really like. Enough people have seen him now that he’s going to have a tough time getting out of it.”

Jill nodded and followed Diane into the courtroom. Sitting in the crowded court, her mind lingered on the “best not to waste time” morning shower with Jacob just a half hour ago. By the time Mike sat next to her, she felt happy again.

Life was terrifying and getting so much better.

~~~~~~~~

“Dad,” Val said as quiet exhalation.

“Hi baby,” Her father replied.

They stood in front of each other for the first time in almost ten years. Similar in coloring and feature, their eyes scanned each other’s faces in hesitant longing and mistrust.

“I….” They both started.

Her father smiled at Val then nodded. He touched her arm.

“It’s nice to see you, Val.” Turning to Jacob, their father said, “I’ve done my part. I’ll be with your mother.”

“See you later, Dad,” Jacob said.

Jacob and Valerie watched their father walked toward the suite’s exit. At the door, he turned to raise his hand to them then walked out.

“What does he mean be with Mom?”

“He reads Mom the paper every day. Remember he used to do that when we were kids. After the job sites are up and running, he spends the morning at the cemetery.”

“Guilty conscience,” Valerie sneered.

“Or something,” Jacob said. “You know Val, not everything is as it seems.”

“Thank you, Buddha,” Val said following him into a conference room.

“What? What are YOU doing here?” their step-sister asked in horror.

She hopped to her feet then pulled at a seated Trevor. Trevor slowly stood as Jacob and Valerie sat down across from the couple. They sat in silence for a moment.

“My Daddy will be so mad when he finds out you are here to ruin my life AGAIN,” the vicious blond screeched at them. “And the week of my wedding.”

“Actually, your Daddy is still in prison,” Val said in an even tone.

Their step-sister launched herself across the table at Valerie. Jacob blocked Valerie from the attack while Trevor held their step-sister back.

“Now kitten, you can’t to get too upset,” Trevor said. “Remember what the doctor said. Getting upset is bad for the baby.”

As the couple made dreamy eyes at each other, Jacob and Valerie leaned back in their chairs. Jacob looked at Max who nodded. Jacob raised an eyebrow.

“I hate to break up the love here. But we have a lot of ground to cover,” Max Hargreaves said. “Will you please return to your seats?”

“I will do what I like around my… employees,” the step-sister said with a dismissive flip of her hand.

“Actually, I am employed by Jacob and Valerie,” Max said. “Please sit down.”

The couple plopped down holding hands. When their step-sister noticed Jacob again, she squinted her eyes. Her lip curled with disgust.

“We’ll see how you act when I run the company,” she spit at him.

“Ah, that’s exactly why we wanted to be here today,” Valerie said.

Max gave Valerie a stern look. She shrugged her apology.

“Before we start,” Max said, “I will remind you that you signed a confidentiality agreement. You are restricted from mentioning any detail from this meeting, including who is present at this meeting. Is that clear?”

The step-sister and Trevor nodded their heads. Max laid a document in front of the couple.

“You’ll see from these documents that Lipson Construction is owned in it’s entirety by Jacob and Valerie Marlowe-Lipson,” Max said. “You’ll note the date of purchase.”

Max pointed to a date on the paper.

“Four and a half years ago, Jacob and Valerie Marlowe-Lipson purchased the remaining shares of Lipson construction from their father for ten million dollars.”

“But….” Their step-sister’s oft pouting lip began to vibrate.

“Please let me continue,” Max said. “At that time there was a seven year plan was set into motion converting Lipson Construction from private owner to an employee owned company. The initial transfer of ownership began at the beginning of this year and should finish within the next three years.”

After a moment of stunned silence, their step-sister flipped her hair.

“I’ll just inherit from Daddy,” she said.

Valerie wanted to slap her smug little face. This wicked woman had nearly destroyed Valerie’s life by selling Valerie’s personal information, hacked from her father’s accounts, to the press. From photos to lies, the press paid thousands of dollars for Valerie’s tidbits. Every time Valerie moved or changed her phone number, this little witch sold Valerie’s private life to the highest bidder. When Jake put a stop to her antics, she came after him.

But of course, Jake could care less.

Valerie was about to scream at the step-whore when Jacob reached for her hand. They had agreed to let the lawyers discuss the details then follow up with options. Valerie held Jacob’s hand with both of her hands. She could do this.

“At the time of the Lipson Construction purchase, six trusts were set up.” Max retrieved the corporation sale documents and presented another document. “Each of your mother’s children received a one million dollar trust payable on their twenty-fifth birthday. In the event that Mr. Lipson does not remain married to your mother, she will receive a two million dollar trust. You will also notice that only Mr. Lipson’s children will inherit wealth or possessions from Mr. Lipson. You’ll notice your mother’s signature here… and here.”

“But… but… that’s just them,” the step-sister said pointing to Valerie and Jacob. “What about my little sisters?”

“That’s an interesting point of discussion for another time….”

Denver Cereal continues on Monday….

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9

CHAPTER 10

Mike slipped Val’s long hair over her shoulder so that he could caress her back. He was sitting behind her in the big bathtub tucked against a glass block window to the Castle’s backyard garden. Her elbows wrapped around his knees. The light from the setting moon danced against the wavy glass.

“Are you going to ask me for a divorce?” Mike asked.

Val turned to look at him. Her motion in the warm water caused her breast to float into Mike’s hand. He smiled. Unable to risk looking at her face, his eyes focused on the beautiful nipple rising to his touch.

“No,” Val said. “I was going to ask you if you’d like to make a go of being married.”

Mike’s head jerked up in surprise.

“I’ve tried to love without you. I’m incapable of loving anyone other than you, Michael Roper. And too terrified to let myself just love you.”

Mike nodded.

“Say something,” Val whispered.

“I’m afraid if I say anything you’ll change your mind,” Mike said.

She turned and leaned back against him.

“What about this Wes guy?” Mike asked.

“I had this dream… I… I saw Mom. She was knitting this beautiful golden blanket. When I got closer, I saw that every strand of the blanket was one of the people she loved - me, you, Jakey, Jill, Delphie, even Dad. The sun surrounded her in the hazy warm light. She smiled at me and…. When I woke up… I guess it was yesterday… I realized that I only want to be with you. I think about you all the time, every day, almost every minute of every day. I…”

“I think about you all the time too,” Mike said. “Is this guy gay?”

Val laughed. “You mean, am I back because my fiancé is gay? No. I’m back because I want to be with you.”

“I heard that….”

“What?”

“That you have a movie coming out on Friday. You said told TMZ that you were going home to your husband to generate press for the movie,” Mike said. “Candy watches Entertainment Tonight for me when I’m working. I… It’s the only way I get to hear about you every day.”

“I don’t know why I said that. It just came out,” Val whispered. She shook her head, “I… I’m sorry. I’ve really hurt you. I… I don’t have any excuse….”

“I’m sorry for everything. I never should have left you. I regret it every single day,” Mike said. “I can’t imagine what it was like for you. You lost your family then me… To lose your mom….”

“It was the baby that really did me in.”

“What baby?”

“Before I tell you, I want you to be clear: I left Wes. I left the ring, the beach condo, and everything. I don’t want to be with him. Tomorrow, Wes is going to say that he loved me enough to encourage me to sort out my life. My publicist talked him into it as a way for him to save face. He can be vicious if he’s humiliated.”

“But that’s not true?”

“No, that’s not true. I left him a note saying I was leaving. I don’t know why I said that at the airport. It’s like my soul spoke the truth - I wanted to come home to my husband,” Val said. “I was just one of Wes’s women, one in a long line of trophy brides.”

“Why would you want that?” Mike asked. His voice held hurt and confusion.

“It’s safe. I don’t have to risk….”

“Losing again,” Mike finished her sentence. He settled her back against him and kissed her head.

“I want to be here with you. This is my choice and my choice alone. It’s been a long time since I’ve made my own choice…. It feels good… right.”

“What about the meeting tomorrow?” Mike asked. “Jake said you have a….”

“The meeting got me off my ass yesterday. I’ve wanted to come a million times, a billion times. I’ve wanted to beg you like I did when we were kids. I just never had the courage.”

“And now?”

“I just want to see if we can make it work. I mean… If you …”

“There’s nothing in this world that I want more than to be your husband every single day,” Mike said. “But Val, what baby? How…?”

He didn’t know how to ask the question. He knew she wasn’t pregnant with his child.

Val turned again to look at him. He looked away when her eyes filled with tears.

“We were pregnant - you and me. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to be sure. Remember you asked me if my breasts were bigger or if I’d gained weight?”

Mike nodded his head. “Your body changed. I could see it in the photos.”

“Couple days after Mom died, I lost the baby.”

“Oh Val,” Mike said. He held his arms out to her. She nestled her head on his shoulder. “Oh God….”

For the first time since that awful month in Hollywood, Mike cried. Lying together in the bath, he cried for himself and her. He cried for their baby. Then in jerky unplanned sentences, he told her about the days and nights he was dead to the world.

When the bath water cooled, they migrated to soft blankets in front of the fireplace. With his head on her lap, he told her about the one thing that got him through - the unbreakable love in his heart for Valerie, for her.

When the sun peaked over the horizon, Mike slipped Val’s original wedding ring from her right hand. His eyes held the question which she answered with a nod. He slipped the ring where it belonged, on her left ring finger.

And they began again.

~~~~~~~~~

Jill woke when the early morning light hit her eyes. Stretching in Jacob’s comfortable bed, she smiled. The sheets smelled like Jacob. She turned toward the warm body next to her to find Sarah. Sarah licked her face and Jill laughed. Hearing the odd sound that woke her, she sat up to see what was going on.

She wandered across the open loft toward the sound. Passing the sagging couch, she saw Jacob sitting at his round dining table. Wearing only his white boxer briefs, he spoke quietly into a Bluetooth device connected to a cell phone. He was also texting someone on his Blackberry. His fingers blazing across the Blackberry keys was the sound that woke her.

Unsure of what to do, she stopped walking. Her eyes darted from his muscular legs, flat belly and round muscular shoulders. Her hand moved instinctive to hold the rising heat in her belly while her eyes settled on the dark line of hair that ran like an arrow from his belly button. In that moment, Jill noticed something she hadn’t allowed herself to see.

Jacob was a hunk!

Embarrassed, she turned to go back to bed when Jacob smiled and winked at her. She smiled at his greeting. She waved her hands to indicate that she didn’t want to interrupt. But Jacob walked to her. Without breaking the conversation, he kissed her lips and hugged her.

“Good morning,” he murmured.

She sighed. She melted into his embrace

“Ok, you know where to find me if you need me,” Jacob said. “Right. I’ll be there.”

Jill moved to step away from him but he held her in place.

“Thanks,” Jacob said. He pulled the ear piece from his ear and tossed it on the table. Returning his attention to Jill, he said, “How are you feeling?

“Really good,” she said. “You’re a balm for any insomnia.”

“I’m glad. Katy is doing very well. They’ll release her to our care this morning. Rest, quiet, stuff like that. I was able to cancel most of my day, but I have to attend a meeting at eight-thirty. I shouldn’t be too long, but I have to go,” he said. “I thought Mike could take you to the hospital. That way, you can be there when Katy wakes up. I’ll come and get you when I’m done. Will that work?”

“I know that you have a company to run,” she said.

“Help my father run,” he said. He kissed her nose. “The company runs itself. I mostly run interference for my father. That’s what the meeting this morning is about - one of my father’s messes.”

Jill smiled. “I’ve never been with anyone who had a job, so I don’t really….”

Jacob laughed.

“How about some cereal?” Jacob asked.

“I understand it’s the house specialty,” she said. “Crunch Berries?”

“Mike finished them yesterday. I was going to get more at Walgreen’s but I talked to the pharmacist for too long. But I can go right now.”

Jill shook her head. Wandering to the table, she saw Jacob’s Blackberry vibrate. She felt a flush of guilt. She shouldn’t distract this important man.

“You have a phone call,” she said.

“Also I have an assistant. If anyone really needs me, they text,” he said. Jacob pulled the boxes from the cabinet. “Would you like me to go get some Crunch Berries or can you choose something from my vast selection?”

Jill’s pierced brow relaxed. She laughed. “I love cereal.”

“See I knew you were a girl with taste.”

“What are you working on?” Jill asked. “Oh, I probably shouldn’t ask.”

“No, it’s Ok. There’s a group that estimate jobs. They estimate we’ll spend down to the gallon of gasoline, what company resources will be required and how much we’ll make from each project. It’s a hard job, really hard. We have some talented people who keep us in business.”

Jacob sat down in his chair. He turned the laptop for Jill to see.

“They send me these projections and I look them over. I run the numbers, double check their numbers, look at the work schedule, stuff like that. If it seems reasonable, I send the entire thing to my father to see if he wants to do the project. Pretty boring. I get a bunch of these every Monday morning.”

“Can I see?”

“If you sit on my lap,” Jacob said.

Jill plopped down on his lap.

“Mmm.” His hands stroked her legs.

“I’m pretty good at budgets and numbers, so this is interesting to me. I never knew how companies did this kind of thing.”

Jacob kissed the back of her neck while Jill pretended to study the spreadsheet.

“You have beautiful skin,” he said.

Jill turned her head to look at him. “Jacob.”

“Hmm?”

“You have a busy morning,” she said.

“Mmmm,” he said.

She leaned away from him to catch his eyes.

“Yes, busy morning,” Jacob said.

Jill stood from his lap. “I don’t want to get in the way of your….”

Their eyes caught with a jolt.

Jacob lifted Jill off her feet. Jill wrapped her legs around his hips. Their lips caught and he carried her to bed. There was no hesitation, no sadness this morning. Jill was hot, relaxed and ready for him. He pulled off her t-shirt and panties at the same time she dragged down his boxer briefs. They joined with fast rising heat. Jacob kept a slow easy rhythm but Jill pulled for him. They rose in fast union. In one blinding flash, Jill stopped moving.

“Oh,” Jill said.

Jacob pulled back to check if she was all right. He smiled. She began to release in waves of pleasure. Patient, but insistent, he continued the pace until she began to rise again. Caught in her rising heat, he gave in to his passion. Together, they slipped off a cliff. They held each other tight through the rise and fall of blissful sensation.

“Stay right there.”

He kissed her lips, her nose, then rose to attend to the condom. When he returned, she held her arms out to him. He dropped into her arms.

“How are you?” He said.

“Really, really good, thanks. You?”

“I feel amazing. You don’t feel funny or sad or embarrassed….” He stopped talking when Jill laughed.

“Oddly no,” she said. “If you do that again, I’m your slave.”

He laughed. “I hate leaving you, but I need to take Sarah out for a bit before I get ready to go. Would you like to come with us?”

“I think I’d like some time to myself,” Jill said. “Is that all right?”

“Of course. I washed your clothes from yesterday but they aren’t quite dry. I have sweats that might fit you.”

“Sweats are great.”

Getting up from the bed, he began to dress in running gear. He gave Jill a pair of sweats. She rolled down the top to make them work. In the t-shirt and sweats, she had a charming sexiness that almost dragged them back to bed. She smiled at the look he gave her.

He scooped her up in a hug. His lips found her mouth. With effort, he broke from the kiss.

“This is so not how I wanted to do this,” he whispered.

“Regrets?”

“Only that I have to keep moving,” he said.

Jill stepped back from him to help him gain some control. He smiled his thanks.

“Delphie would love to see you. When you’re ready for company, just open the door to the house. I’ll be back soon.”

He brushed her lips with his mouth. He picked up Sarah’s leash and Sarah waited at the door to the stairs. Opening the door to the stairs, he turned to look at her one last time.

“I love you, Jill. I always have.”

He closed the door before she could respond. Jill went to the windows to watch Jacob and Sarah but the iron fence perimeter of the Castle front yard was surrounded by paparazzi photographers. She saw Jacob whistle for Sarah then head around the back. Unsure of what to do, and not wanting her picture taken, she plopped down in the sagging armchair.

Yesterday, her mind was consumed by her Trevor screwed up life. Today, she was…. She smiled. Happy.

In a blaze of emotion, her fear and guilt returned.

What would Trevor think?

She heard Trevor screaming voice telling her that she was a worthless whore. Jill pressed her hands against her ears. But the voice in her head continued its rampage. She was almost in tears when she heard a knock on the door to the apartment. Without thinking, Jill walked across the apartment to open the door.

“Don’t let that man steal your happiness, sweetie,” Delphie said.

Jill dropped into her arms.

~~~~~~~~

Denver Cereal is a serial fiction set in Denver, Colorado.

You can get your daily dose of Denver Cereal at DenverCereal.com

Chapters are posted on Saturdays on this blog.

claudia hall christian is a novelist.

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8

CHAPTER NINE

In the dimming light of the summer night, Delphie stood on the back porch of Celia’s Castle. Watching the reunion of Jill and Scooter, and Jacob and Valerie, Delphie said, “Just like we thought Naomi. They’re finally all together. Now, the fun begins.”

“Jill! Is Katy Ok?” Sandy yelled into her cellphone.

“Katy’s Ok. They’re keeping her overnight,” Jill said. “Where are you?”

“Funky Buddha. You wanna join us? I’m here with Tanisha and Heather. We are hoping to find some fun.”

“No….”

“Jilly, what’s wrong?” Sandy asked. “Wait, hang on. I’m going to go the sidewalk so I can hear you.”

Jill paced Jacob’s apartment. After playing with the dogs, Jacob brought white wine and cheese to the deck. They drank wine, ate fancy cheese and those little crackers she had only seen on TV. Jacob’s sister, Val, and Delphie kept her laughing with funny stories about each other. She was all but asleep when he suggested she come upstairs to take a shower. He took her up to this gorgeous apartment, set out a towel and a bathrobe for her, then disappeared into the house.

Jill knew what was expected of her. After all, why would he have brought her to his house? She showered with his lavish soap and shampoo then wrapped herself in his plush bathrobe.

Looking at his comfortable queen sized bed, she panicked. She couldn’t go through with it. She couldn’t just sleep with some guy just because she thought he was cute… or he paid for the hospital… or she liked his house… or she loved his mother… or… vexed with herself, Jill called her best-friend Sandy.

“Ok, sorry, I couldn’t hear you,” Sandy said. “What’s wrong?”

“Jacob took me back to his apartment.”

“You mean after he paid for the hospital, he took you back to his place? What’s it like?”

“It’s gorgeous. I mean the furniture needs replacing, maybe some colors on the wall and there’s a lot of electronic equipment. Typical guys place, you know. But it’s all wood floors, cut-glass windows, and…. The house is amazing. He calls it the Castle. You’ll just die when you see it.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“I don’t think I can….”

Jill heard Heather ask for an update and Sandy explain to what was wrong with Jill.

“Listen. There is only one reason a man brings you back to his place,” Sandy said. “Is there a bedside table?”

“Um… yeah,” Jill said.

“Open the drawer,” Sandy said.

“Ok,” Jill said. She slid open the antique table drawer.

“Condoms?” Sandy said.

Jill dug through the drawer. A reading light. Kleenex. Earplugs. A pair of glasses. A dog treat. A bag of throat lozenges. She gasped when she saw them.

Jacob had condoms in this drawer!

“That man is ready to play,” Sandy said. “Good for you.”

“I don’t think I can do it. I mean, I know the accounting lady said I was going to have to but I can’t just SLEEP with someone.”

“Honey, I don’t think he brought you to his apartment so you could sleep.”

“I know…. What do I do?”

“She wants to know what to do,” Sandy said to Tanisha and Heather.

Jill heard her friends laugh. Tanisha grabbed the phone from Sandy.

“Jilly, it’s Tanisha. I think you should just enjoy that gorgeous man. You might just figure out why people actually like sex.”

“But Tanisha, I barely know this guy.”

“You know him enough for him to pay off your hospital bill. With the emergency room, what’s that gonna be? 20k? 30k?”

“I don’t know,” Jill mumbled.

“Honey, have some fun. You deserve it. That’s all I wanted to say,” Tanisha said. “She’s all yours.”

“I couldn’t have said it better,” Sandy said.

Jill heard Heather in the back ground, “Tell her we want every detail!”

“Yeah, make sure we get all the details. You know what I would do if I was in your situation.”

“I know. But how do I…?”

“Just take off your clothes. He’ll take care of the rest.”

“Ok.” Jill heard a door close downstairs. “I think he’s coming.”

“Have fun! We love you!” Her friends yelled into the phone then hung up.

Jill slipped off the soft terry robe and stood in the middle of the room.

~~~~~~~~

Figuring Jill needed some time to herself, Jacob checked on Val, talked to Delphie, and answered some calls. Jill was almost asleep on the deck, so he assumed she would have crawled into bed by now. Tip toeing up the last few steps, he nudged the door open. Sarah bound into the apartment.

And there was Jill. Naked. Standing in the middle of the room. In one glance, his eyes took in her round hips, taut belly and perky breasts. His entire being rose to attention.

“Whoa,” he said. He spun around to face the door. “What’s going on, Jill?”

“The hospital lady said you told her that I’d have to work off the hospital bill,” she said. “I figured…”

Jacob collapsed into himself.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what I said to that woman,” Jacob said. “She was just a nasty clerk.”

“You mean you DON’T want to….”

Jacob turned to Jill. Forcing his eyes to stay on her face, he walked across the room. While his eyes caressed her face, he collected her hands with his hands.

“Nothing would make me happier than to make love to you. Not. One. Thing. But only when we want to… when you want to… when it’s right. Not as payment of some stupid debt.”

“Why did you bring me here?”

“I don’t know,” Jacob said. “You didn’t want to be at home without Katy. At my house, Scooter’s here to cheer you up. And I have cereal.”

Jill started crying. She didn’t resist when he pulled her into his arms.

“God, Jill. You’re not a whore or a prostitute or whatever else. Don’t short change yourself. You’re wonderful.”

“What did you mean then?” Jill said into his shoulder.

“I don’t think I said that. After that horrible woman found out who I was, she was hitting on me. She even wanted me to sign her 5280. She probably said that to you so you’d be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you,” Jill said.

“Good.” Jacob pulled back to look into Jill’s eyes. “What will ease your mind about the hospital bill?”

“Nothing,” Jill said. “I hate being poor. I promise you. I will pay off the bill even if it takes forever.”

“If that makes you feel better, all right.” Jacob held his hand out to her and they shook on her promise.

He walked to his closet and picked out a clean white t-shirt for Jill to sleep in. She pulled the t-shirt over her head then wandered across the floor to find her panties.

“You have so much that money can’t buy.” In order to keep from jumping Jill, Jacob started talking. “You have family who that will drop everything to support each other. You have Katy. You have love and laughter in your life every single day. You have….”

He stopped talking when she bent over to pull on the beautiful panties. Taken back by her full hips and muscular legs, all thought escaped his head. As she turned back toward him, Jacob adjusted his face, and himself. Noticing his motion, she gave him a wry smile.

“Money is what makes the world work,” Jill said.

“Not really,” Jacob said. “Come on. I promised no hanky panky on our non-date. You need to rest. Tomorrow is going to be another long day. Let’s just rest for a while. I can take the couch….”

“I don’t mind if we share a bed,” Jill said.

Jacob nodded. “Bathroom?”

Jill shook her head. He took her hand then held the covers for her. He went into his closet to change into another white t-shirt and slipped into the bed next Jill. When he held his arm out to her, she snuggled against him.

“I guess I made a fool of myself,” Jill said.

Jacob chuckled, “Welcome to the club.”

“How did you get so much money if you don’t care about it at all?”

“Oh Jill, that’s a long complicated answer and you’re exhausted. Let’s save some excitement for our second non-date.”

Snuggled together, their lips began a gentle exploration of each other’s mouth and tongue. When Jacob moved to kiss her face, he found her cheeks wet with tears. Pulling back to look at her, he saw that she was crying.

“What is it?” He whispered.

“I just feel really sad,” Jill said. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Jacob pulled her into his arms. Tucked against her chest, Jill began to sob against him. He stroked her back and head until her emotional storm abated.

“Your shirt is drenched,” she said.

“Easy remedy,” Jacob said.

He gave her a tissue for her nose then pulled his shirt off. She tucked herself against him and fell sound asleep.

“I love you, Jill,” he whispered.

She stirred with his word, opened then shut her eyes. He smiled. Closing his eyes, he fell into a blissful sleep.

~~~~~~~~

Jacob woke to the sound of his Blackberry buzzing. The ringer signaled that a someone had sent him a text. Jacob shifted his shoulder and Jill rolled over. The clock read 3:07 in glowing red. The site managers start up at five, so it couldn’t be work. He lay back against the bed.

The blackberry continued it’s persistent buzz.

Someone needed his attention.

Slipping from the bed, Jacob crept across his apartment. His blackberry was tucked into his laptop case. Looking at the face, he saw the same text repeated three times.

“Where the fuck is my sister?

Mike.

“She’s asleep,” Jacob texted back.

“Stupid fucker,” Mike texted.

Hoping to not wake Jill, Jacob slipped out of the apartment. He had just reached the bottom of the stairs when Mike pounded on the door. Jacob opened the door.

Mike hit him like a ton of bricks. Jacob stepped aside, redirecting Mike’s energy, and Mike fell forward.

“I cannot believe you would take advantage of my sister when she is vulnerable.”

Mike took a swing at Jacob, which Jacob easily avoided.

“You done?” Jacob asked.

“No.”

Mike shifted to throw Jacob over his hip, but Jacob defended his position. The men stood in the small landing looking at each other.

“You want me to be with your sister. You’ve told me that over and over again,” Jacob said. “Plus nothing happened.”

“Then why don’t you have any clothes on?” Mike was mad but calming down.

“She cried on my t-shirt. I took it off because it was soaked,” Jacob said. “Besides, who are you? The morality police?”

“As far as my baby sister is concerned, asshole.”

“I’ve never come after you about my sister. And she was fourteen years old!”

“Fifteen. But I was only seventeen,” Mike grinned. “I love Val. You know that.”

“I love Jill. You know that. So what’s the problem?”

Mike looked at his boots for a moment, then shrugged. “Breakfast?”

“Sure,” Jacob said.

Jacob pointed to the door that connected the attic stairwell to the house. Mike nodded.

“Val’s here,” Jacob said as Mike passed through the door. Mike stopped walking.

“What? Why?”

“She said she didn’t want me to have all the fun. Tomorrow’s the step-whore’s prenuptial meeting.” Jacob put his hand on Mike’s back. “Cereal?”

Mike nodded. They went through the darkened house to the original kitchen. Even though Jacob had installed small kitchens in Valerie and Delphie’s apartments, everyone used the main kitchen. Jacob pulled cereal boxes from the cabinet then retrieved the Royal Crest milk from the refrigerator. Mike ate a bowl of Captain Crunch before saying anything else.

“Trevor came to the hospital,” Mike said. “He made a huge-ass fuss. I guess he saw something on the news and put two and two together. He rushed into Katy’s room saying this proved that Jill was an unfit mother. I guess he was all but foaming at the mouth. That crazy fucker tried to take Katy from the hospital.  He said he was going to kill Jill for putting his daughter in harm’s way.”

Mike poured another bowl of cereal. His hand and the milk hung in the air.

“Katy took one look at her father and started screaming in horror. I….” Mike shook his head and poured milk on his cereal. “Did Val mention me? I mean, do you think I should call her?”

“I think that you and Val have a complicated relationship. If you want to call her, I know she’d like to see you.”

“Then why didn’t she tell me she was coming?”

“A very good question to ask Valerie. If it helps, she didn’t call, email or text me either.” Jacob shrugged.

“I drove this bachelor party tonight. Stupid fuckers. They picked up hookers for blow jobs all around. While his wasted friends cheered him on, the groom screwed some girl in the alley behind Vinyl,” Mike said. “All I could think was why does this jerk deserve to be married?”

“You and Val will work it out eventually,” Jacob said.

“God, I hope so,” Mike said.

“You were telling me about Trevor?”

“How did you know he would show?”

“I just figured it would happen. Who was there?”

Jacob had asked his midnight hockey team to keep an eye on Katy in case Trevor showed up. Mike set up a schedule so that there was someone there at all times.

“Colin.”

Mike smirked.

“What?” Jacob asked.

“Colin beat the crap out of Trevor when Trevor was in high school.”

Jacob raised his eyebrows, “What?”

“Colin’s little sister is about four years older than Trevor and Jill. Trevor started really hassling Erin. I mean, Colin’s what six-four, six-five? Erin’s not five feet. She’s tiny… smaller than Jill even. Colin was home on leave before he went into Special Forces. He went to pick up Erin at school and saw Trevor pawing at Erin. Colin isn’t known for his restraint, especially when it comes to his sisters.”

“So Trevor’s there ranting and raving about how he’s going to take Katy, minus the hospital bill of course. Colin took one look at Trevor and laughed. You know all those Hargreaves are fucking nuts. I guess, he tossed Trevor onto the sidewalk.” Mike laughed. “I guess, he tossed Trevor onto the sidewalk. Trevor was so freaked he just scrambled away.”

“He told Colin that he was going to find Jill,” Mike said. “I had just dropped the assholes off at the bride-to-be’s house when Colin called. I found Trevor trying to get into Jill’s apartment.”

“What did you do?”

“I called the cops. But then I couldn’t find Jill and…

I guess I went a little nuts.” Pointing his spoon at Jacob, Mike said, “You should be glad I’m not Colin.”

“So noted. I have a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu.”

“Well, big whoop-de-fucking-do. They teach everybody in the military. Colin’s like an expert in every martial art.” Mike made a face at Jacob then shrugged, “Sorry man.”

“It’s not a problem,” Jacob said.

“Why’d you bring her here?” Mike asked.

“She didn’t want to go home. She said it would be too hard to be around Katy’s things. She was freaked enough about money so I didn’t want to check us into the Adam’s Mark. Plus Scooter and Sarah are here.”

“She saw Scooter?” Mike asked.

Jacob nodded. “The dogs were really what she needed. She played with them for a while then took a shower. She’s just exhausted. What a horrible day.”

Jacob looked up from his cereal when Mike didn’t respond. Mike’s face was completely blank. Jacob turned to see what Mike was looking at. Valerie. Val’s dark hair hung in waves over the spaghetti straps of her silk shorty. She beckoned Mike with her hand. Like a man in a trance, Mike stood from the table and walked to Valerie. Jacob was just closing the door when Valerie giggled then squealed.

Val and Mike are ‘on’ again.

After cleaning up their cereal, Jacob went back upstairs to his apartment. Jill stirred when he came in but fell right back to sleep. Sarah had taken his side of the bed. Rather than fight the dog, he went to the table to work. He needed to clear his day so that he could be available for Jill.

One last glance at Jill and he set to work.

Denver Cereal continues next week….

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Mike’s married to Valerie Lipson.”

“But Valerie Lipson is Jacob’s sister,” Jill said. “How…?”

“Val and Jake aren’t Catholic. Remember that huge fight Dad and Mike had? That was over Valerie,” Megan said. “Dad forbid Mike to go out with Val because she wasn’t Catholic. Mike disappeared for a week. Mom was hysterical. She made Dad go after Mike.”

Candy and Jill nodded.

“They met skiing when Mike was fourteen or something,” Steve said. “Remember how much Mike used to ski in the winter? Camp in the summer?”

“Every moment he wasn’t working or in school,” Candy said.

“That was so he could be with Val. They dated from the time they met. Mom and Dad didn’t know,” Steve said. “When they got married, Mike figured we would be against it because Dad was against it. So he didn’t tell us.”

“We only found out when….” Megan’s face flushed red and her eyes filled with tears.

“When what?” Candy said. “We aren’t children anymore, Meg. You don’t have to protect us.”

“Mike died or they thought he was dead.”

“WHAT?” Candy and Jill said in unison.

“I… I really shouldn’t tell you this,” Megan said.

“Yes, you should,” Steve said. “If you don’t, I will. It’s time to stop the secrets, Meg.”

“Around the time that Jake’s mom died…..” Megan began her story.

~~~~~~~~~

“I wonder if you might help me,” Valerie said.

When the Frontier Airlines clerk moved from the ticket counter to the boarding pass counter, Valerie stood in her line. She signed autograph’s and talked to fans in order to keep the US magazine reporter at bay.

“Absolutely. What can I do?” The woman said.

“There’s a reporter from US magazine and….”

“Oh don’t worry, hon. I took care of him. He wanted to sit next to you but I put him in the back of the plane. I radioed the gals on the plane. They will let you off then hold him for a while. You should be able to make a quick get away.”

Val’s face registered real relief, “Thanks.”

“You’re father’s a great man. I’m happy to do what I can.” She passed Val her boarding pass back over the counter. “Just watch me. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to board.”

Valerie blushed and nodded. “Thanks.”

Continuing to buffer herself from the reporter, Valerie signed autographs and chatting with fans. She watched the line of passengers board the plane. Confident that he had corralled Valerie on the flight, the reporter boarded the plane. When the agent nodded, Valerie made her excuses then moved down the ramp to the plane. The flight attendants settled Val in the front seat with a glass of champagne.

She slipped in her iPOD ear buds and returned to her memories of the best time of her life. As always, those memories of love and laughter collided with the reality of that awful spring.

Val and Mike were naked, wrapped around each other, when the dreadful news came. Mike was going back to the Middle East and her mother wouldn’t live to see Easter. Jake begged her to come home, but she wasn’t going to give up her last month with Mike.

She wasn’t sure how it happened. She was on the pill, after all. She only knew when. She was pregnant when he left.

Unbidden, Valerie’s mind ticked through the markers of that horrible spring:

February 27:

Val gets pregnant and Mike leaves for the Middle East.

February and March:

They talked every night. He sent her crazy pictures. In response, she sent him pictures of herself naked. She didn’t tell him about the baby. Her mother had a bunch of miscarriages. Val wanted to make sure she was really, really pregnant. She was going to tell him April 15^th as a tax joke.

April 5^th:

Mike went on a week-long mission. No problem, he’d call when he was done. She was brave for him in their last phone call but cried herself to sleep that night.

April 15^th, 8 AM:

Opened the door to two somber Army men. Mike’s team was ambushed. Mike was presumed dead.

April 15^th, 8:25 AM:

Sedated by the doctor.

April 15^th, 7 PM:

Awakened by telephone:

“Mike?”

“No. It’s Jake. Come now, Mom’s dying.”

April 16^th, 1 AM:

Walked in on father sobbing at mother’s bedside.

“I can’t do it, ” he sobbed.

“You have to,” Mom said. “Do what we planned. Take care of your new family. Jake and Val need you… more now because I won’t be here.”

“You’re my whole life,” her father said.

“Then do it for me. Stick with our plan.”

“Ah, Celia. I can’t live without you.”

April 16^th, 7 AM:

Celia Marlowe Lipson drew her last breath with her children and best-friend by her side.

April 20^th, 8 AM:

Valerie and Jake reviewed their mother’s memorial plans with the mortician. Shaking the mortician’s hand good-bye, she felt a burning, a ripping, thousands of times worse than a cramp. Jake took her to the hospital. Her last connection to Mike was dead.

April 24^th, 8 AM:

More than ten thousand people celebrate the life of Celia Marlowe Lipson.

April 28^th:

Paperwork waited at Monterrey. Mike was officially dead.

April 29^th:

Valerie moved the band from her wedding set to her right hand where it remained today. Hoping the Pacific would cleanse her misfortune, she threw the diamond solitaire into the ocean.

April 30^th:

Jake helped Val pack the Monterrey house.

May 5^th:

Valerie settled her new Hollywood Hills home, called her agent, and got an audition.

“Ms. Lipson.” The flight attendant touched Val’s arm. She gave Val a Kleenex to wipe her dripping eyes. “We’re taxiing right now. I thought you might want to get your possessions together so you can make a quick exit. Do you need a ride home?”

“I arranged for a car,” Valerie said.

“I called ahead. There’s a lot of photographers waiting for you. We’re going to sneak you out the back. What company is meeting you?”

“Prestige,” Valerie said.

“I’ll call them. They can send a second car,” the flight attendant said.

“Michael Roper usually drives me. Would you mind asking for him?”

“Sure,” the flight attendant said.

“Thanks,” Valerie said.

~~~~~~~~

“You have about an hour before visiting hours are over. They woke up Katy so you could spend some time with her. They’ll put her to sleep again before you go,” Dr. Drayson said. “I’d encourage you to enjoy your time with her then go home and get some rest. Katy will need you to be one hundred percent tomorrow.”

Jill nodded. She had already called in sick to work tomorrow. She knew that Katy would need her. She just dreaded having to desert her at the hospital. Following Dr. Drayson back through the ICU, she worked to keep the horror from her face. Her baby was swollen, her skin was bright red, and she was hooked to a bunch of machines. When Katy opened her eyes, she was Jill’s girl.

“Mommy,” Katy said.

Jill’s eyes filled at the sound of her daughter’s croaking voice. Katy hadn’t been able to speak the last time she was awake.

“Katy-baby.” Jill bent to kiss her daughter.

The nurse lowered the guard rail so that Jill could sit on Katy’s bed.

“Mommy, I’m sorry. I made you cry.” Katy’s red swollen finger caught a tear from Jill’s eye. “I didn’t mean to get sick.”

“Oh baby,” Jill said. “I’m just happy to see you.”

“Are you going to ask Jacob to be my Daddy?”

Jill burst out a laugh at her daughter’s question.

“I think he would be a good Daddy,” Katy said.

“We’ll see, Katy-baby. We’ll see.”

~~~~~~~~~

“Ma’am,” the driver said.

He held open the door to the small limousine and Valerie stepped into the back. The flight attendant escorted Valerie to an employee’s garage where the limousine was waiting.

“Michael usually drives me,” Valerie said.

“I apologize, Ma’am. Mr. Roper was previously engaged. We attempted to shift his assignment but his client specifically requested him six months ago.”

Valerie watched the man come around the limousine then step into the driver’s seat.

“Wedding?” Valerie asked.

“Bachelor party.” The driver started the car. “Better him than me. Where am I taking you?”

“Race and Colfax,” Valerie said.

“So, Val. Are you going to marry Wes?” The driver looked at Valerie through the rear view mirror.

Valerie smiled her movie star smile.

“What’s this about a husband?” The driver said as the window to the passenger compartment closed. Valerie clicked off the microphone.

Slipping on her sunglasses, she tried to figure out how to see Mike and not seem desperate.

Desperate.

For two years, four months and fifteen days she was desperate. Desperately lonely. Desperately sad. Desperate to move on. Desperately lost.

Then Michael Roper returned to her life. She was leaving the Ivy in West Hollywood on the arm of a handsome, and secretly gay, actor when she saw Mike. Fifty pounds lighter and broken, Mike Roper stood on the sidewalk waiting for her. If the actor hadn’t been holding her up, she would have collapsed to the pavement. Somehow, they managed to miss the watchful eye of the ever present paparazzi. They escaped to her home in the Hollywood Hills.

They didn’t leave the house for a month. They argued until they made love. They made love until they were exhausted. They ate whatever could be delivered, bathed together and barely dressed. The incredible draw toward each other was had remained impossibly strong.

But the obstacles were much greater.

Losing Mike, her baby, and her mother in the course of two weeks was too much for Valerie. She had became bitter and pessimistic. She would never trust him or anyone again. While her words lashed at him, her hardened heart froze him out.

Mike’s unspoken experience left him shattered. Moment to moment, his moods were unpredictable. One moment, he would sob. The next moment, he was punching walls and screaming at the top of his lungs. Then, worst of all, her best-friend and lover would appear from inside the wreckage of this man. Val ached for her Mike.

A month after Michael Roper returned to her life, he disappeared again. He left a note saying that he had to ‘get right’ before he could be with her. By the time he reappeared, she was a star on one of the most popular soaps and engaged to the gay actor.

As the limousine pulled in front of the Castle, Valerie wondered what to do about Mike.

~~~~~~~~~

“Where to?” Jacob said.

They were sitting in his Lexus SUV outside the hospital. With her sisters’ help, Jacob and Steve were able to get Jill into the car. Jill didn’t want to ‘abandon’ Katy at the hospital. Sitting in the passenger seat, Jill looked longingly at the hospital.

“I should stay here,” Jill said. “Katy needs me here.”

“I will bring you back before Katy is even awake to need you,” Jacob said. “I promise.”

“I don’t want to go home,” Jill said. “I can’t… I just can’t look at her things.”

“Ok,” Jacob said. “Would you like to come to my house?”

Jill bristled slightly then nodded. She knew what was expected of her. Jacob started the car and moved toward Seventeenth Avenue.

“How did you know?” Jill asked.

“What do you mean?” Jacob asked.

“The emergency room doctor told me that if you hadn’t given Katy the Primatene Mist, she would have died. Katy’s only alive because of you. How did you know she would need it?”

“Delphie said that Katy was allergic to bees. She said that Katy would die if I didn’t get her to the hospital,” Jacob said. “I went to Walgreen’s on the way to your house. That’s why I was late.”

“Oh,” Jill said.

“The pharmacist must be the same guy that helped you before. He remembered Katy and told me what to do. One shot every minute until she breaths clearly. I only needed one.”

“And you believed Delphie? Delphie, the crazy tarot card reader? I thought you said she was a joke?”

“She’s very dramatic,” Jacob said. “I mean her spirit guide’s name is ‘Naomi’.”

“Naomi?”

“Like from the bible,” Jacob said.

“So she’s Ruth?”

“Something like that, “Jacob said. “You can see what I mean. Drama. Anyway, I’ve never known Delphie to be wrong. I mean, sometimes she mixes up the signs or misinterprets things. Like she told Mom that Mom would meet someone significant. They decided Mom was going to meet a new man. But they met you. Even so… I’ve never known Delphie to be… just wrong.”

“So Trevor will betray me again,” Jill said.

“He already has,” Jacob said.

Jacob pulled the car into the driveway of the Castle. He pressed a button and the iron gate opened to allow him into the open backyard. When the gate opened, Sarah and another dog came barking and running toward the car.

“Scooter,” Jill said under her breath. “Why do you have Scooter?”

“Trevor took Scooter to the Dumb Friend’s League. He told them that he found Scooter on the street,” Jacob said. “Delphie knew he would be jealous of Scooter. She wasn’t sure what Trevor would do. So Mom had an identification chip put in Scooter with Delphie’s address and phone number. The Dumb Friend’s League ran the chip and called Delphie. That was just before I came back to Denver.”

“Trevor said Scooter was dead. That stupid bastard. I can’t believe…. Oh God, Scooter….”

Jill jumped from the SUV to greet her old friend. Standing near the back of the truck, Jacob watched Scooter give Jill kisses on her mouth in delighted reunion. When Sarah nudged his leg, he rubbed her ears then threw the ball for her.

Looking up, Jacob saw Val come down the back steps and into the garden. When Val smiled at Jacob, he knew she was finally ‘just Val’ again. He ran across the lawn to hug her.

In the dimming light of the summer night, Delphie stood on the back porch of Celia’s Castle. Watching the reunion of Jill and Scooter, and Jacob and Valerie, Delphie said, “Just like we thought Naomi. They’re finally all together. Now, the fun begins.”

~~~~~~~~

Denver Cereal is a serial fiction set in Denver, Colorado.

You can get your daily dose of Denver Cereal at DenverCereal.com
Chapters are posted on Saturdays on this blog.

claudia hall christian is a novelist.

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Then let’s take the Brits suggestion and have dinner,” Jill’s brother, Steve said. “They won’t miss us. By the time we get back, they should have settled down a little bit.”

“We’ll get them dinner too?” Jacob asked.

“Shit, you’re paying,” Steve said.

Jacob laughed.

They were half-way through a pitcher of Fat Tire before Jacob realized that Steve wasn’t just killing time. Steve wanted to check out his sister’s new potential boyfriend: Jacob. After chatting with their waiter, Dustin Kidder, about Katy, Steve ordered a couple of Pasquini’s calzones and another pitcher of beer. And Jacob waited for Steve to get around to what he wanted to say.

Dustin brought the calzone’s and beer before Steve’s demeanor shifted. Steve was ready to talk. Jacob shifted back in his seat to give Steve space to unfold his story, the story of his parents’ death.

The entire family was on vacation in Costa Rica when his parents and Jill went out for groceries. At nine years old, Jill went everywhere with her mother. As usual, they left Megan and Mike in charge.

But there wasn’t anything to take charge of.

The family had a cottage right on the beach of a small private cove. Steve and Candy were in the ocean when their parents left. Mike made a complicated sand castle complex and Megan read a romance novel in the sun. The afternoon slipped away. No one noticed that their parents hadn’t returned until it was getting dark.

Terrified, the siblings went to the police. Nothing. They called the consulate. Nothing. When news came, it was bad. The Costa Rican national police arrived near dawn. Their parent’s car was hit by a tractor trailer. The truck driver was swatting at a mosquito and swerved into their lane. Their parent’s rental car was destroyed. His parents were dead and Jill was missing.

Desperate for help, they called the father of a school friend, Senator Patrick Hargreaves. After the Senator’s intervention, the police reluctantly agreed to show Mike the wreckage and identify the bodies. To this day, Mike refused talk about what he saw.

Jill was just gone. Kidnapped? Stolen? No one seemed to know.

Senator Hargreaves told them to return to Denver. He would continue to put pressure on the consulate to find Jill. Grief stricken, they returned to their empty house in Denver.

Mike and Megan were in charge of the family. Their parent’s life insurance paid off the house, but not much more. Megan had just graduated from high school. She turned down her full scholarship to Regis University and went to work. Mike quit high school, took his GED, enlisted in the Army and sent every paycheck home. Steve and Candy continued at Machebeuf on a family tragedy scholarship.

“All the luxuries of a Catholic education,” Steve smirked.

“What about Jill?” Jacob asked.

[Read more →]

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

CHAPTER SIX
Disaster in the form of a honeybee

On impulse, he slipped his arm around her. When Jill leaned into him, their eyes caught with a jolt of electricity. She lifted her chin and his mouth made an easy journey toward her luscious lips. Their lips were almost touching when they heard:

“Stupid bee. You won’t hurt me again. I’ll squish you and ….”

“KATY! NO!” Jacob and Jill screamed at the same moment.

They were too late. As Katy’s fingers closed to squash the honey bee, the bee stung her. Clamping her hand closed, Katy screamed in terror and pain.

“Oh my God.” Jill dropped to hold her daughter. “She’s hyper-allergic to bees.”

“Show me your hand. Katy, show me your hand. Katy, show me your hand,” Jacob screamed.

He knelt next to the shrieking girl and pried her tight fist open. Using his zoo pass, he flicked the stinger from her hand.

“We have to get to the hospital,” Jacob said. “JILL!”

Jill looked up at him. Her worst nightmare unfolding, Jill went completely blank. Horror overwhelmed her. Katy was going to die!

Jacob wrestled Katy from her arms.

“Hold my hand.” He commanded Jill.

He grabbed Jill’s hand. While Katy howled in his arms, Jacob hauled Jill through the zoo. The balloon, tied to Katy’s wrist, trailed behind them like a green beacon. Running past Edward, the volunteer, he yelled for Edward to call Children’s hospital at St. Joseph’s. Katy was heading toward anaphylactic shock. Several people dialed their cell phones at once. The crowd stepped aside and Jacob raced through the zoo.

In his arms, Jacob felt Katy get ever warmer. Somewhere near the front gate, she stopped crying. Her throat closing, his tiny burden began to gasp for air. Her skin burned under his hands. He picked up the pace while dragging Jill behind. From the edge of the parking lot, he unlocked the Lexus. Flying to the front passenger seat, he lay Katy on his lap.

With great effort, Katy pulled in breath. Ripping an inhaler from a plastic Wallgreen’s bag, he shot the Primatene Mist into Katy’s mouth and counted down one minute. He was about to spray the inhaler again when Katy coughed and took a clear breath.

“Oh thank God,” he said.

Moving quickly, he strapped Katy into her car seat then buckled Jill in the passenger seat.

The message that ‘Celia’s granddaughter was in trouble’ had gone out over the zoo airwaves. Elderly volunteers appeared from nowhere to help. The volunteers blocked the road so that Jacob had a clear shot.

Jacob, Jill and a wheezing Katy, sped out of the parking lot. The tires squealed as they turned left onto Twenty-Third Avenue. For once in his Denver life, Jacob hit every green light and missed any road construction.

The emergency staff waited at the curb. Yelling orders, the doctor began treating Katy in her car seat. As if in a trance, Jill stood watching the emergency team. Jacob came around the car to wrap himself around her. Nestled in his tight embrace, Jill began to sob. He covered her face when the nurses carried Katy from the car and onto a stretcher. A nurse cut the forgotten balloon from Katy’s wrist. With Jill in his arms, Jacob watch the green balloon disappear into the bright sky.

“Mr. Marlowe?” An official looking woman stood next to him. She held a clipboard jammed with forms.

“I need to move the car,” he said. He set a credit card on her clipboard. “Can I fill those out when I get back?”

“Sure,” she said. Pointing to the man standing next to Jacob, “We have a valet.”

Still shielding Jill in his arms, Jacob gave the man his keys.

“We’ve had a horrible shock. Is there a place we can….” Jacob asked.

“Of course,” the woman smiled. “I’ll take you to a quiet place where you can talk. But I do need….”

“Sure,” Jacob said. “You’ll let them know that we are back here.”

“Of course.”

They followed the woman through the hospital to a small empty waiting room. Jacob settled Jill on his lap. While he held her, stroking her hair and back, Jill cried her heart out. When her tears evened and her breath was deep, he got her some water.

“I’m going to call Mike,” Jacob said. “I have a friend who works Emergency at Denver General. I’m going to call him as well. He might be able to help. Is it all right to get my friend’s help?”

Jill nodded her head. Watching Jacob on the phone, she felt almost drunk from the release of emotions. She was so used to being in control, so used to having to be in control, that she felt ungrounded. When Jacob slipped his arm around her, she tucked herself into him. Surrounded by his warmth and scent, she was safe.

She only let go of Jacob when Megan peeled her from his embrace.

Mike arrived not long after Megan. Her two oldest siblings were all set to take over when Jacob’s doctor friend, John Drayson, came into the room. Tall with dark curly hair, he shook Jacob’s hand then spoke with Mike. Mike introduced him to Jill as the husband of an old Army friend.

“It’s very unusual for a child to have this kind of reaction,” Dr. Drayson said. His accent was foreign, British she thought. His cobalt blue eyes were present, clear and kind.

“I was stung when I was pregnant,” Jill said. “I… I’m allergic to bees… I didn’t have insurance… I mean for the baby… what the state gives you… but not for an allergic reaction. I got really sick.”

“What about Kathleen? Has she ever been stung?” Dr. Drayson asked.

“About a year ago,” Jill said. “We were at the Botanic Gardens. Trevor wanted to take a family break. He was… studying for finals. She likes to run out ahead and just ran into the bee. Trevor wouldn’t let me take her to the Emergency room because he… he didn’t want the disruption or… the expense, I guess. I was horrified that she would die… but Trevor said it was my fault for not watching her. I’m not a very good mother. I took her to Wallgreen’s. It’s across the street from Pete’s and I know some of the pharmacists… from Pete’s…. It was the only thing I could think of…. The pharmacist was very kind. He told me to give her Benedryl. He made a place for us by the pharmacy so he could make sure she was all right. It took a while, but the Benedryl eventually worked. He told me she might die the next time she was stung.”

“Her reaction makes more sense. Without treatment, any allergic reaction can get stronger with each event,” Dr. Drayson said. “This is the Trevor from the engagement party?”

Jill’s head jerked up to look at the doctor.

“My wife and I were there as Jacob’s guests. You put on quite a show. My best-friend was the lawyer who kept shouting from the back. You’ve traded up, my dear.” Dr. Drayson nodded his head toward Jacob. “Is there anything else you can tell me?”

Jill shook her head. Biting her lip, she whispered, “Trevor said… I… Is Katy going to die?”

Dr. Drayson smiled, “She’s very sick. The allergic reaction went through her body. They’re working to keep her body from getting too hot… kind of like a bad fever. She’s responding well and seems very healthy. They gave her steroids to fight the allergic reaction. It will be a while before we know for sure. For now, they’re cautious but very hopeful.”

Jill nodded her head. “Is she in pain?”

“The doctor put her to sleep in her car seat. She won’t remember any of this,” Dr. Drayson said. “She’s well loved and strong, the kind of strong that comes from great mothering. You got her here quickly. These doctors are very best. She has every chance.”

“John?” A doctor stuck his head in the waiting room. “I heard you were here. Do you mind….”

“One minute,” John said to the doctor. Returning to Jill, he said, “If it’s all right with you, I’ll remain as your liaison. At this point, there isn’t anything for you to do. You can stay here with your family. I’ll let you know when I know anything.”

Jill nodded. “Thanks.”

“It’s my pleasure. Jacob has help us with a number of quandaries. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to return a favor,” Dr. Drayson said. He and the other doctor walked from the room.

At the same moment, Jill’s sister Candy came into the room. Candy hugged Jill. The two sisters joined Mike and Megan near the back of the waiting room.

Jacob stood near the door watching the siblings all talk at once. Overwhelmed by the sound of everyone talking, he was grateful when a hospital staff clerk came to the door. He tried to flag Jill, but she was absorbed in her family. Slipping out of the waiting room, Jacob followed the clerk to a cubical where he began filling out Katy’s admission forms.

Yes, he would be responsible. No, Katy didn’t have insurance. Of course, he understood that the bill might be thousands of dollars. The woman sneered at him when he said he would pay cash. Of course, feel free to run my credit.

The clerk ran his social security number, then it was ‘Thank you, Mr. Marlowe. Credit card is fine. Is there anything else I can do for you?’ He was just about to leave when she asked him to autograph her copy of 5280. He shook his head as if he didn’t understand what she asked and left the cubicle.

Standing near the door of the waiting room, Jacob watched Jill and her family interact. Their voices would get loud, as if they were arguing, then someone would laugh. Once one sibling laughed, the rest of them followed.

Intimidated, Jacob convinced himself that he should probably just go home.

Jill could call him if she wanted to see him again. He was passing through the outer door when Steve, Jill’s middle brother came walking in.

“Hey,” Steve said. “Running away?”

Trying to come up with a lie, Jacob stalled for time with a smile.

“Megan and Mike are at it, huh?” Steve said. “God, they drive me crazy. I thought they would be over their bossy brigade by now. Not yet?”

Jacob shook his head.

“Yeah, well. That guy’s looking for you.”

Jacob turned to see Dr. John Drayson flagging him.

“How’s Katy?” Jacob asked.

“She’s improving. Are you leaving?”

“Nah,” Steve said. “We’re just going to get a beer.”

“Being involved with a woman from a huge Catholic families can be a nightmare.” Dr. Drayson’s intelligent eyes laughed at Jacob. “Listen, they need to keep Katy overnight. They wanted me to ask because you are paying cash. She’ll also need some follow up treatment. A lot of follow up treatment. Are you all right with that?”

“Of course,” Jacob said. “Whatever she needs.”

“Good,” Dr. Drayson said. “I take Irish Breakfast tea with a spot of steamed milk. And a sweet.”

“Sweet?”

“Anything chocolate works. This hospital’s food is particularly bad. I know because I’ve picked up call at every hospital around Denver. Have to pay my historic restoration contractor.”

“Your contractor has large hospital bills and appreciates your diligence in payment.”

Dr. Drayson laughed, “You might want to get dinner.”

Jacob and Steve watched Dr. Drayson walk into the hospital. Turning to Steve, Jacob said, “Beer?”

“Pasquini’s is close. You paying?”

“Sure,” Jacob said.

“Then let’s take the Brits suggestion and have dinner,” Steve said. “They won’t miss us. By the time we get back, they should have settled down a little bit.”

“We’ll get them dinner too?” Jacob asked.

“Shit, you’re paying,” Steve said.

Jacob laughed.

~~~~~~~~

Jill noticed Jacob leave with the administrative woman. She kept one eye on the door hoping to see him come back. But he hadn’t come back. After an hour passed, she knew he had left her.

“I’m going to use the restroom,” Jill said.

“I’ll go with you, Jilly,” Candy said.

“I think I need to be alone,” Jill said. “Thanks.”

“You sure?” Candy’s worried face said more than she would ever speak.

Jill nodded. Jill found a single toilet restroom and locked herself inside. Sitting on the toilet, she reviewed the day. She can’t remember when she’d had a better time - at the zoo or anywhere. She bit her lip wishing she had kissed Jacob earlier. She wanted to… thought about it… but it was… what did he call it? Right. A non-date.

Then all of this.

She would leave too. God.

Pulling up her underwear, she noticed that she was wearing the pretty slip of lace Tanisha gave her for the engagement party. Sandy was right. She hoped Jacob would take the beautiful panties off her. Not after all of this….

Jill was brushing her hair when she realized that she hadn’t thought about paying for Katy’s care. Her usual focus on the bottom line slipped in her distress of Katy. Leaning forward to wipe the mascara smudges from under her eyes, Jill made a face.

Did Jacob give that woman a credit card? Why would he do that? Katy wasn’t his child and he certainly didn’t owe Jill anything. She nodded to herself in the mirror. Time to face the music.

Squaring her shoulders, Jill washed her hands and went to find that administrative woman. Jill clutched her chest when she heard that Jacob had settled everything and taken full responsibility for Katy. The woman looked Jill up and down. With a raised eyebrow to speak her opinion, the woman asked Jill exactly what was her financial arrangement with Mr. Marlowe. Flushing at the woman’s implication that she was a prostitute, Jill backed into Dr. Drayson.

“Katy would like to see you,” he said.

~~~~~~~~