"Do you have your music?"
"It's in my bag."
"An extra bit of cash tucked away someplace safe?"
"Yes."
"Credit cards and things?"
"Yes."
"You've got the number to my apartment?"
"Yes."
"And Jeremiah's number in case you can't reach me?"
"Yes."
Pause.
"Are you sure you've got everything?"
"Peter!"
Jessie stopped in the middle of the causeway so quickly, Peter continued a few steps before he realized she wasn't beside him. He turned back to her.
"What?"
She sighed and shook her head at him. "I have my music. I have my clothes. I have cash and credit cards. I have yours and Jeremiah's numbers. I've double-checked, triple-checked, and quadruple-checked that I have everything. I even have my ticket out and in my hand at your suggestion. I think I'm pretty well prepped for this trip. Plus the fact that I'm a big girl, Peter. I think I can do this without all the fuss."
Peter opened his mouth as if to say something. But then he closed it and let out a sigh.
"You're right." he said softly. "I'm sorry. It's just that ..." He sighed again as he reached out and laid his hands on her shoulders. "I worry."
Jessie looked up into his eyes and saw he meant what he said. She smiled at him.
"Thank you." she murmured.
"For what?"
"For caring enough to worry."
He smiled at her. "It's not hard."
They stood there for several moments before they realized they were being bumped and jostled by surrounding travelers.
Peter took her hand. "Come on. You're going to miss your plane if we don't hurry."
They began to run down the causeway, heading for the gate at the very end. Jessie's overnight bag bumped between them.
"I wish you'd let me carry that." he said.
"I've got it, Peter." she said with a grin.
Finding the correct gate, they darted up to the counter. Within moments, Jessie was checked in and was handing her ticket to the stewardess.
"You're the last one." she said a bit scoldingly as she handed the stub back.
"Yes." Jessie answered, then turned to Peter.
He gave her a wistful smile. "Play well."
"I will." she promised.
He opened his mouth as if to say something before his eyes turned away from hers to stare at the floor. Jessie could see the sadness on his face.
"It's only two days, Peter." she said gently.
"I know." he murmured as he took her hand. "But they're going to be long days."
His eyes lifted back up to hers as he brought her hand up to his lips. Jessie shivered as his lips grazed her skin. She never thought someone's lips could be so soft.
His eyes still held hers as her lowered her hand, holding it in both of his. His voice was a whisper as he spoke two unexpected words.
"My beloved."
The desperate love in his eyes, the tender whisper of his voice, the warm gentle press of his hands over hers, all held her completely entranced and for several moments, Jessie couldn't move.
No, it wasn't that. The simple fact of the matter was, she didn't want to move. All she wanted to do was just stand there, hypnotized by him, and let the rest of the world fade away.
But the rest of the world remained firmly in place and even intruded on them in the form of the stewardess gently grasping Jessie's arm.
"Miss," she said, carefully drawing her away from Peter. "The plane is about to leave."
Even as she was being pulled away from him, she tried desperately to keep him in her sight. As the stewardess guided her around the corner into the plane, she caught one last glimpse of him; a beautiful statue placed amongst a bustling crowd of people, his wide, beautiful blue eyes filled with desperate love.
You're mine! You're mine! You're mine!
A choked yelp escaped Jessie's throat as she thrashed awake.
The phone was ringing.
For several moments, the screaming voice from her dreams melded with the ringing telephone and it became impossible to seperate the two.
She only picked up the phone when the angry screams from her dream finally faded.
"Hello?" she gasped into the phone.
"Jessie?"
"Peter?"
For a brief moment, Jessie wanted to burst into tears. Ever since the stewardess had hustled her onto the plane, she had felt as though a part of her was missing. She felt empty, as though some vital piece had been left behind, leaving her with only a huge hole in her chest where her heart had been.
She missed Peter.
Somehow, she hadn't expected that. Especially with so much intensity.
Peter's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Are you all right?"
She swallowed, hoping to clear some of the sleepiness from her voice. "I'm fine. You just woke me out of a bad dream, that's all."
"I woke you? I'm sorry."
"No, it's all right."
"What were you having bad dreams about?"
Jessie hesitated, wondering if she should tell him.
She had been having bad dreams for the last few years; ever since her husband died. But ever since she had met Peter, her nightmares had become less and less frequent; as though Peter's very presence was chasing the dreams away. And even when she did have them, their memory always faded quickly, leaving behind a feeling of dread, like a bad taste in the mouth.
While she couldn't really remember the dreams anymore, she had enough of them that were lodged in her memory to know what they were about.
But she wasn't going to tell Peter about them.
Not yet, anyways.
"You know, I really can't remember." she answered.
Peter seemed to accept this. "How was your concert?"
"It was fine." she said as she pulled herself up into a sitting position. "I played well, like I promised." She heard him chuckle at this. "There was a reception afterwards for the Arts Council, but I only stayed for an hour."
"Perhaps you should have stayed longer." Jessie could hear the smile in his voice. "Charmed donations out of those rich old men."
She felt a smile tug at her own lips. "It wasn't as much fun being by myself. I'm still out of practice in these things."
Peter's voice became serious. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" She fell silent, then sighed suddenly.
"What is it, Jessie?" Peter's voice held genuine concern.
"It's just ..." She stopped and sighed again as she flopped back onto the bed. She suddenly smiled. "It really is wonderful to hear your voice."
His soft chuckle echoed in her ear. "So what shall we do tonight?"
"Talk, I guess."
"Well," he said in a playful voice. "I had something else in mind."
As if in response to his words, there was a knock at the door, accompanied by a call of "Room service!"
"Room service?" muttered Jessie. "I didn't order room service."
"Just open the door, Jessie." Peter said in a gently chiding voice.
Thankfully, the hotel phone was a portable, so she had no trouble stepping over to the door and opening it.
"Miss Parker?" asked the bellhop standing there with a large basket in his hands.
"Yes?"
"Mr.Aylebourne asked me to convey his request to you to join him for dinner tonight."
With a grin, Jessie stepped back, allowing the young man to pass.
"What are you up to?" she said into the phone as he stepped over to the nearby table.
"Watch the delivery man for a moment. What's he doing?"
Jessie watched the young man as he set out a plate and a wine glass. He was dipping into the basket for something else when Jessie answered, "It looks like he's setting up dinner."
"Correct. Now, you see everything he's setting up? The wine? The candles?"
"Yes."
"All of that, the same food, the same wine, the same candles, is sitting on my kitchen table here."
The young man finished setting up the table and turned to her with a smile. Jessie rewarded him with a large tip before sending him on his way.
"I don't understand." she said as she closed the door behind him.
"Have a seat, Jessie." Peter's voice was gentle in her ear. "We're having dinner together."
She laughed. "Over the phone?"
"Why not?" She could hear another smile in his voice. "People do everything else over the phone. Business, pleasure, even sex. Why shouldn't you and I have dinner over the phone?"
She giggled as she settled down at the table. "Sounds reasonable to me." She peered at the flat box sitting on the plate in front of her, inhaling the warm, spicy aroma emanating from it. "So what's for dinner?"
"Discover for yourself." he teased.
Jessie flipped open the top of the box. "Pizza?!" she giggled.
"Of course!"
She shook her head in amazement. "How in the world did you arrange all of this?"
"Let's just say that a credit card can do wonderous things and leave it at that."
Jessie laughed again as she picked up a slice of the pizza.
"There is a dessert coming."
"Oh, please don't say that." sighed Jessie as she flopped back against the pillows. "I'm stuffed as it is."
His low chuckle resounded in her ear and Jessie shivered. She had always thought Peter had a beautiful voice, but in the last couple of hours she'd discovered something she'd never dreamed possible; that just the sound of his voice could fill that dark aching hole in her chest. Perhaps not as much as his presence--She still missed him fiercely.--but being able to talk to him made it bearable.
She sighed. It still startled her how much she missed him.
Peter heard the sigh. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." she murmured wistfully. "Especially for someone who's sitting all alone in a hotel room, miles and miles from home."
He instantly understood as she somehow knew he would. "I miss you too, Jessie." he murmured. "I miss you so much it hurts." He paused and for a moment, she was about to speak when he suddenly whispered, "I wish you were here, Jessie. Here in my arms."
Jessie's eyes closed as another shiver raced through her. For a brief moment, she wanted to cry.
"Oh, Peter." she whispered. She opened her mouth to tell him something when there was another knock at the door accompanied by another call for room service.
"Sounds like dessert has arrived." Peter said softly. She suddenly heard a bit of impishness in his voice. "I think you'll like this."
Opening the door, she found the same bellhop who had delivered her dinner standing there, smiling.
"Did you enjoy your dinner, ma'am?"
"Yes." smiled Jessie. "Very much."
"If you don't mind, I'll clean up for you, ma'am."
"Thank you."
"Seems like a nice fellow." Peter said.
"Yes."
She heard him hesitate a moment. "Jessie, I should apologize for what I just said. It was a bit too much."
"No, it wasn't."
"But ..."
"Peter," she said firmly, silencing him. "If you ever say or do anything that's out of line or too much or whatever, believe me, in one way or another, I'll let you know."
He was silent for several moments before he murmured, "You know I love you, don't you?"
"Yes." she whispered.
"Is that out of line?"
"No."
"Is that too much?"
A smile tugged at her lips. "No."
"Is that whatever?"
She giggled. "No."
She heard the smile in his voice again. "Good." he said softly.
"Ma'am?"
She spun around at the sound of the bellhop's voice. "Yes?"
"I've finished cleaning up. I've left the candles and wine at Mr. Aylebourne's request and your dessert is on the table."
"Thank you." she said, handing him another tip.
"Good night, ma'am."
"Good night."
"Is it still night?" asked Peter as she sat down at the table. Jessie glanced at her watch.
"It's almost three."
"Really?"
"Time flies when you're talking on the phone." She studied the box on the table in front of her. "All right. What's this?"
"Dessert."
"I know that! What is it specifically?"
"Open it and find out."
"You must be great fun at surprise parties." she muttered as she flipped the box open.
"Mocha chocolate cake?" she yelped. "How did you know that was my favorite?"
"I didn't." His voice held surprise. "It just looked good."
She felt herself smile impishly. "You know, if you were here," she said softly. "You and I could share dessert."
"Oh my, my, my!" he teased. "Jessie, are you coming on to me?"
She giggled again. "Maybe I am." she said softly. "Maybe I am."
"I'm not objecting."
They fell silent for several moments. Jessie stared down at the dessert in front of her before she spoke. "Peter?"
"Yes?"
She hesitated a moment. "Thank you for all of this."
She heard one more smile in his voice. "You're welcome." he murmured. "Although I do ask one thing in return."
"What?"
"Come home safe."
She smiled. "I will."
"Go on. Eat up. You need to get some sleep soon."
"I'm all right." she said, picking up a fork sitting inside the box to spear the cake. "Since I started playing again, I've gotten used to a vampiric lifestyle."
Peter laughed. "Vampiric lifestyle?"
"You know. Sleeping during the day and doing everything at night."
He chuckled. "Well, vampires need some sleep."
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" she teased.
"Never that, Jessie." he whispered. "Never that."
The fork slipped from her fingers as she shivered again, the loud clatter startling her.
"Are you all right?" he asked quickly.
"I'm fine." she murmured. "I'm wonderful."
There was a sudden loud beep from the phone. Pulling it away from her ear, Jessie peered at it and found the indicator marked LOW BATT flickering at her.
"What was that?"
"The battery is dying on the phone. I think there's only a few minutes of power left."
"A sign from above, perhaps. Besides, after almost four hours of talking, I'm hardly surprised."
"Time to say good-bye?" she murmured.
Another loud beep sounded in her ear.
"Certainly sounds like it." sighed Peter. "You'll be home tomorrow night?"
"Yes, my flight comes in at 11:30."
Another beep sounded.
"Good. Jessie?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
For a brief moment, Jessie's voice was stuck in her throat. If he noticed, he gave no indication. His voice was soothing. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"All right." she said. "Peter?"
"Yes?"
"Will you meet me at the airport?"
"I can."
Another beep sounded.
"Would you? It's important."
"I ..."
There was a long beep from the telephone followed by several clicks of disconnection as the phone went dead in her hand.
Please Fasten Seatbelt.
With a soft chime, the sign winked on. Jessie, who had never unfastened hers, felt herself smile as she turned to peer out the window. Beneath the plane, she could see the lights of the city and she felt her smile widen, knowing it was coming closer with each moment.
After the phone had gone dead, she had let it sit in its cradle for an hour, letting it recharge. When she called Peter back an hour later, his answering machine had politely asked her to leave a message. She had left one with her flight number and an arrival time, as well as a quiet plea, "Please meet me, Peter. It's important that I see you."
She had gotten several hours of sleep before the wake up call she'd requested had jostled her out of bed. After a brief breakfast, she had started packing and getting ready to go home.
As she'd gathered her belongings and put them away, she'd allowed herself some time to think.
She still missed Peter. That empty hole in her chest had returned full force when the phone had died and it still remained, not giving her one moment's peace.
She'd asked him to meet her on the spur of the moment, fully intending to tell him everything, somehow feeling he had a right to know. Especially after that fiasco at her house when, for several horrifying moments, she'd slipped back into the past.
Even after several hours of sleep, she hadn't changed her mind about telling him. But she had to admit the thought did scare her a lot more. The thought that he'd see her as repulsive, be disgusted with her. The thought that he'd push her away.
The thought that he'd stop loving her.
Her eyes had settled on the wine bottle still sitting on the table and she'd found herself smiling, all the negative thoughts chased away. Last night had been perfect. He had treated her to a wonderful dinner, they had talked with an intimacy she had never quite experienced with anyone before, and it had been able to carry her through the rest of the trip.
That was the thing about Peter. Everything he did came straight from the heart and was always done with the most intense passion. Everything from his paintings to simply holding her hand. Even through his touch, she could feel the passion he tempered to everything he did. There were times she actually envied him, wishing she had that kind of passion and heart; the kind that made a simple dinner over the phone into an incredible experience.
The captain's voice droned over the PA, welcoming the passengers to Chicago. Jessie barely noticed. Her eyes were locked out the window, watching as the ground rushed up to meet the plane.
Then, with a solid THUMP, they were on the ground. Immediately, Jessie was pulling her overnight bag from beneath the seat in front of her to set it on her lap.
She was coming home. And she felt herself smile at the thought.
People around her were jostling, unlocking safety belts, gathering belongings, pulling bags from under seats and overhead compartments. Feelings of both anticipation and dread began to course through her.
The plane had pulled up to the gate and people were scrambling past, as if they wanted to be the first off.
Jessie stayed in her seat for several minutes, letting everyone hustle by and trying to will her heart to stop pounding.
Finally, when the plane was almost empty, she stood up and headed for the door. The stewardesses wished her well as she headed towards the terminal. Part of her wanted to start running and she had to consciously order her legs not to speed up.
You'll get there soon enough, she told them.
A moment later, she stepped out into the terminal and was immediately looking for Peter.
She half expected to see him waving to her through the bustling crowd of travellers, but after almost a minute of peering about, there was no sign of him.
She suddenly felt very alone.
She was about to head down the causeway when something made her stop. She heard her name.
Jessie.
It wasn't really a spoken word; just a feeling that someone nearby wanted her. She turned around.
There he was.
He wore a long, black coat, a gray T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a gentle smile. At the sight of him, Jessie felt herself smile back.
His smile widened as he opened his arms and said two simple words.
"Welcome home."
Jessie's own smile widened as she set her bag down and stepped forward to hug him. As his arms encircled her in a warm, strong embrace, she realized how true his words were.
Right here, she was home.
They held each other for several long moments before Peter finally murmured to her, "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." she whispered back, surprised that she had the courage to admit it.
They kept holding on to each other, neither one very willing to let go. It just felt natural and right to be in his arms, her body pressed to his. A safe haven she didn't want to leave.
Somehow, they managed to pull away from each other just enough to smile to each other. Peter's fingers gently touched her face.
It was the complete, unconditional love in his eyes that astonished her beyond comprehension. That and the fact that he was lowering his mouth to hers.
The kiss was firm and strong, yet so tender and it seemed to go straight through her. It filled her up with a beautiful warmth that started in her chest; the same place where that empty hole had been while they were apart. Then it spread out, coursing all the way through her, even out to her fingertips and toes, filling her so completely she was certain she was overflowing and everyone around them could feel it.
The kiss slowly, almost painfully ended. As Jessie's eyes opened, she stared into Peter's face. Misinterpreting her astonished expression, he shyly turned his blue eyes away from hers.
"I'm sorry." he whispered. She could feel his arms loosening from around her body. "I got a bit carried away there."
She shook her head, not loosening her arms from around his neck. "It's all right." she murmured. "It's all right. I don't mind."
Now he was the one with the astonished expression on his face. It slowly dissolved into a tender smile.
"Come on." he said softly as they reluctantly dropped their arms from around each other. "Let me take you home."
Still smiling, he picked up her bag. Then he took her hand and led her down the causeway, away from the gate.