"Why is it darling that we always solve these mysteries one minute too late?" Jennifer asked.
"I have never been very good with timing."
In any other situation, Jennifer would have disagreed with that statement. But in this case, she couldn’t argue.
"So you ransacked my beautiful home." Jennifer said more annoyed than afraid. "Not very fitting behavior for a Senator."
"Darling," Jonathan said quietly as he leaned towards her. "Perhaps now is not a good time to provoke him. He’s got a gun."
"You should listen to your husband Mrs. Hart. But to answer your question, yes, I ransacked your home. I wouldn’t have had to if you could have left Rostov and his old man jabberings alone."
"Why kill him if he was just jabbering?" Jonathan asked trying to buy time until he could think of a way out.
"Rostov is dead."
"Shut up father."
Mr. Fitzmeyers eyes were on fire with anger at his son’s treatment. "Get the hell out of my room," he said as he struggled to get up and leave the sitting area.
Senator Fitzmeyer ignored his father.
"Not winning points with the family values proponents either," Jennifer whispered.
"You really think a 30 year old government cover-up involving your father would hurt your career?" Jonathan asked.
"It was hard enough to overcome my fathers zealous persecution of accused communists. We live in conservative times Jonathan but people still hold the constitution near and dear to their hearts. My father arranged the murder of thousands of American people. Yes their ancestry was Russian but many couldn’t even speak Russian, they were third generation. Then there is the fact that his actions were treasonous."
Jonathan and Jennifer wondered if the Senator was appalled at his father’s behavior or just how it would effect him. Probably the latter.
"After Rostov and us, you’ll still have a long way to go to achieve such stellar results," Jonathan said.
Jennifer chastised him with her eyes. "What were you looking for in our house?"
"For the key of course. Rostov called for my father saying he was here to set the record straight and clear the names and reputations my father had ruined. I asked my father about Rostov but he said he was dead. So I met him. He told me he had evidence linking my father to the massacre and treason. I heard you come up and saw you find the key."
Jonathan looked at Jennifer. "I told you so."
"You said you would never say that to me."
"TRAITOR!" The voice of Mr. Fitzmeyer entered the room. This time he was without his walker using the wall for support instead. In his right hand he carried a military issued gun circa 1940.
Jonathan instinctively grabbed Jennifer and moved her from his aim. But by doing so, she was now an easy target for the Senator. Pushing her behind him, he positioned himself between the two men.
"Father, get back in your room. You are going to hurt yourself, or someone else."
"I’m going to hurt you! You’re one of them."
"What? I saved you by killing Rostov."
Jonathan watched as the father and son argued and felt the time had come for he and Jennifer to leave. If only Senator Fitzmeyer wasn’t blocking the exit.
"Maybe they’ll shoot each other." Jennifer echoed his thoughts.
"Dad, put the gun away."
The elder Fitzmeyer put both hands on the gun and pulled back on the lever. "I’m tired of your attitude boy."
"We can settle this later."
"Like hell." He pulled the trigger. "Damn!"
"Dad, you know I unloaded all your guns."
"Weasel!" He threw his gun at Senator Fitzmeyer.
"Jesus, dad," he said as he ducked the gun. Seeing his chance, Jonathan lunged towards the senator knocking them both down the stairwell.
"Be careful, Jonathan." Jennifer could hear the two men bumping down the steps. Rushing over, she saw that the senator had dropped his gun. Picking it up, she hurried down the steps. She arrived just in time to see Jonathan throw on last jaw breaking punch. "Well, I guess you won’t need this."
Jonathan looked at the gun. "No I don’t think I do." He straightened his tie and taking Jennifer’s arm escorted her to the nearest phone to call the police.
Jennifer snuggled further into the sheets as the most glorious dream weaved through her mind. She was in a field of wildflowers; the scent of them swirled around her. The sun was warm and bright. And despite the fact there were no clouds, it was raining, raining wildflowers. She could feel the soft velvety petals against her skin…..
Jennifer opened her eyes and discovered that it wasn’t a dream, at least the raining flowers part. "Jonathan!" She giggled at the site of him standing above her on the bed dropping wildflowers on her.
"Happy Anniversary." He plopped down next to her giving her a big full kiss.
"What is this?" she asked as she scooped up some flowers and tossed them up in the air.
"You always remind me of a wildflower," he said kissing her neck.
"I do?"
"You smell so sweet."
Jennifer giggled. "You are so romantic Jonathan Hart."
"You inspire me."
"Where did you get all these flowers?"
"I picked them myself. Authentic mountain wildflowers from right outside our cabin."
Putting her hand on his cheek, Jennifer pulled him to her for a lingering kiss. "I’m so glad you decided we should come to the ranch."
"I wanted to be sure I could spend my anniversary with you without any interruptions. Speaking of which…" Jonathan reached to his bed stand and pulled out a rolled up paper. "Happy Anniversary."
"What’s this?"
"Paper. First anniversary is paper."
"How’d you know that?"
Jonathan just lifted his brows. Jennifer unrolled the paper.
"It’s a certificate of authenticity."
"For this," Jonathan said as he handed her a rose. Perched on top was a 10 carat blue diamond pendent.
"Oh Jonathan, it’s gorgeous!"
"You like it?"
"I love it. And I love you." Jennifer pulled him to her and thanked him with a full kiss. Jennifer continued to marvel at the exquisite stone.
"Well?" Jonathan asked.
"Well what?"
"It’s my anniversary too." Jennifer smiled and reached to her side-table drawer.
"Paper." Jonathan said as he took the folder from her.
"Yes." Jennifer put the rose and the diamond down and watched Jonathan open the folder.
"Two plane tickets to France."
"Yes," Jennifer replied. "They’re open tickets, so we can go anytime."
"We have another Hart Industries plane."
"Yes, but don’t you think the last flight we took was so much more thrilling?"
"That was pretty good." Jonathan admitted. He set the tickets down and looked over the next set of documents. Jennifer’s eyes were in intense as she watched for his reaction. When he looked up, she could see wetness in his eyes. "These documents say that I’m Charles Jean Valentine."
Jennifer nodded and bit her lower lip to stop from crying.
"How did you get this?" he asked. Jonathan was stunned. While they had been successful in revealing the truth about the Valentine’s and Rostov as well as catching Rostov’s killer, they hadn’t found anything about the Valentine’s child.
"Lt. Gray. The Russian government was notified about Rostov and arranged for his return to the Soviet Union. Because it would cause embarrassment to the US about Fitzmeyer’s actions, the Russians allowed Lt. Gray to talk to Rostov’s family in Russia regarding his death. You know, see what they might now that could help the investigation. Anyway, Rostov’s daughter asked him if the Valentine’s son was located as that was one of the reasons he came back. Lt. Gray said he wasn’t sure. She said it was important to her father to find him and would Lt. Gray help with that. He of course agreed and asked for details. She told him that the boy was placed in an orphanage in San Francisco under the name of Jonathan Charles Hart."
Jonathan swallowed hard. "I …. I’m speechless. I never thought it would feel so strange..."
Jennifer smiled and took his hand. "There’s more but we can wait if you want."
Jonathan looked into her eyes. "No. I want to know."
Jennifer took out the next paper. "This is information about Luc Valentine. He lives in a little town outside Dijon France." Jennifer looked up at Jonathan. "He was Charles’ brother. Your uncle."
"I have a living relative?"
"Yes. And see this? This was from the safe deposit box. It shows the location of some heirlooms the Valen… your parents left for you. Stanley was able to verify that the location still exists and in fact is now owned by Luc."
"And you bought the tickets so we can go?"
"Yes." Jennifer watched Jonathan hopeful that he was as thrilled as she was. So far he mostly seemed shocked.
"This is amazing." He was overwhelmed by the feelings he was having. To have lived is whole life alone, not connected anyone except by mutual consent. Now he had a past, and a biological family.
Jennifer studied Jonathan trying to get a sense of his feelings. Perhaps he was just overwhelmed but a part of her wondered if maybe she had stepped over the bounds again. Not knowing, she decided to wait him out.
Jonathan studied the papers that proved little Charlie had been loved and wanted. He tried to sort out his feelings discovering they were a mixture of joy, peace, wholeness, and belonging. He’d never had such powerful feelings, except with Jennifer. He looked up at her pensive, worried face and realized she was afraid he was unhappy with her again. He put the papers aside and reached for her. "This is the most wonderful present I have ever been given. Thank you so much."
"You’re welcome." Jennifer blew out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. "I was a little…."
"I know you were and someday you will believe me that I won’t ever shut you out again." He pulled her close, inhaling the delicate floral scent of her skin and hair. "I love you so much I can’t even begin to tell you." He held her tight offering reassurance and at the same time probing his mind for the words to convey his love. "I don’t have a way with words like you do. And right now, love just doesn’t seem like a strong enough word to tell you how I feel about you."
Jennifer swallowed hard. "Well, in the writing field we have a saying that goes, ‘show don’t tell’."
"That I can do," He said as he pushed her back on the bed. He straddled her, looking down on her, taking in her beauty. Her eyes gleamed at him, the amber hues from the sunlight flashing sparks. Her mouth was lush and full and waiting. He leaned down taking her mouth in his. His kiss was deep, slow, and passionate. Jennifer groaned at the liquid flame that his kiss stirred in her. His lips slid down her jaw to her neck. He could feel her quickening pulse as he licked and nipped and kissed her.
Jennifer slid her arms around his neck, her fingers clutching in his hair as his tongue and teeth seared her skin. She could tell that she was in for a long sweet torture of the senses.
Jonathan scooped up some flowers in his hand and caressed her breasts and belly with them. He followed his hand with kisses, cascading them down between her breasts. God, she tasted sweet. Her skin was silky and damp and he savored it with his lips and tongue.
"Oh, Jonathan." Jennifer jerked as his tongue lightly brushed the tip of her breast followed by a light blowing of air. He smiled at her response and gave the same treatment to the other breast. "Are you trying to kill me?" She was gasping. "Please," she begged as she pulled his head towards her breast urging him to feast instead of graze.
"I love you," he said. "Let me show you how much I love you." Jennifer released her grip, letting her hands drop to her side. Her surrender fanned Jonathan’s desire. He fought for control winning the battle if only for now. His mouth continued its descent, sucking and nipping while her body quivered and her hands fisted in the flowers and sheets. His hands slid under buttocks, lightly raising them for his next conquest. Jennifer writhed in anticipation. He could feel her body humming with energy in response to him.
"I love you Jennifer," he said as he feather kissed the insides of her thighs. Her body arched to him, wanting, begging for more. "I love how you make me feel." He continued his torturous assault on her thighs.
"Oh Jonathan. Please." She sobbed.
He descended on her using his lips and teeth and tongue, driving her beyond reason. Jennifer struggled for air as she sped towards delirium. She cried out as her entire body rocked from the hot explosion of pleasure. Totally spent, she sagged back on the bed.
Jonathan smiled, giving her a moment of reprieve, before his mouth continued its relentless assault. He felt her heat again as she began the ascent to the next peak and the next and next until her body collapsed from total exhaustion.
Jennifer figured she must have lost consciousness because the next thing she knew Jonathan was lying next to her.
"You were right," she said weakly. "There are no words for that kind of love."
Jonathan smiled and leaned forward to lightly kiss her lips, eyelids, cheeks and temple. Jennifer’s strength slowly returned through those kisses. She pushed Jonathan back. "My turn."
She took some of the wild flowers and stroked his damp skin. Her lips slid down his neck to the hard muscle of his chest. She smiled as he groaned from the flick of her tongue over his soft sensitive nipple. She cascaded flowers down his chest and belly following them with her hands. She maneuvered her body lower until she was perched over him.
He grabbed her arms. "I won’t make it," he said as he pulled her up. "I want to feel you around me."
Jennifer acquiesced moving to straddle over him. Their eyes met, burning with desire. She closed around him, surrounded him in hot, wet heat. She watched as his head dropped back and he groaned. Jennifer began to ride. She was in control now and her pace was long and slow. Each stroke exquisitely sweet and agonizingly painful. It was Jonathan’s turn to plead. He reached for her hips, pulling harder and faster, in desperation. Jennifer resisted, pulling his hands from her hips, and instead entwining them with hers.
"Oh, God Jennifer." Jonathan was delirious, bucking and writhing for release. With each stroke, Jennifer drove him closer and closer to total meltdown. Desperate, Jonathan tore his hands from hers and slid them over her breasts, kneading them.
"Come with me." He gasped as he sat up to take her breast in his mouth. Shots of fire sped through Jennifer’s body as Jonathan coaxed and coerced her into responding. And respond she did. Jennifer’s pace was fast and fierce driving them both towards ultimate pleasure.
Jonathan teetered on the edge, struggling to hold on as the taste of her flesh and the soft silkiness of her skin stripped his sanity. He fell back against the bed savoring the moment before release, the moment in which he could no longer tell where she began and he left off. The edge was quickly coming but he didn’t want to go alone. He slid his hand up her thigh, using his thumb to lightly stroke her swollen bud. Jennifer closed around him, crying out his name as she pulled him over with her.
"What are they saying?" Jonathan asked. He, Jennifer and Max sat in the living room of Luc Valentine and his wife in France.
"They are suspicious of what you might want."
"Explain to them I don’t want anything except to see the contents of the box."
"I did darling. They don’t know of any box. I showed them the instructions here but they are still suspicious."
Jonathan sat back. All this way only to come up empty handed. Well, he couldn’t complain too much. He did know the answer about his parents and that had been the original goal. He was surprised though at how disappointed he was feeling at the prospect of not being able to see what his parents had left for him.
"S’il vous plait, Monsieur et Madam Valentine. Nous ne voulons rien." Jennifer tried again to let the Valentines know they had nothing to fear. "Nous ne voulons pas argent seulment voir quelquechose dans le boit."
"Vous lui dites sourir." Madam Valentine said.
"Que?" Jennifer and Monsieur Valentine responded.
"Sourir."
"She wants to see you smile." Jennifer said to Jonathan.
"What?"
"Smile. She wants to see you smile."
"Don’t show her the one that is like the boy with his hand in the cookie jar. Use the one …." Max offered.
"What are you talking about. I only have one smile."
Jennifer eyed him. "We can discuss the coercive nature of the many smiles of Jonathan Hart later. Just smile."
"Fine." Jonathan turned to Madam Valentine and gave what he hoped was a genuine smile.
"Luc. Regard. Comme son pere."
Jennifer smiled but didn’t say a word.
"What did she say?" Jonathan asked still smiling.
"She says you have your father’s smile."
A few minutes later, Jonathan, Jennifer and Max were led to a small building at the back of the house.
"This used to be for storing meat and such before there was refrigeration. I think Charles used it as a store room though," Luc said in English.
"Amazing how quick they learned English," Max grumbled
"It says here, there is a trap door in the floor." Jennifer went over the instructions left by Charles and Helene Valentine over 30 years before.
"I don’t know. I inherited this house from Charles but haven’t made much use of the other buildings."
All five began to move old furniture from the center of the room in search of the door. "Look!" Madam Valentine said. "There it is."
Luc pulled open the door. Under it there was a crawl space and a small chest. The chest was removed and set on an old table.
"Viens Luc." Madam Valentine said pulling him towards the door. Luc started to protest but could see that his wife felt Jonathan, Jennifer and Max needed their privacy.
"We will be at the house."
"Yes, thank you." Jennifer said. Turning back to Jonathan, she watched as he leaned over the box and started to lift the lever. She stayed by Max to give Jonathan some privacy.
Jonathan was surprised at how nervous he felt. He turned to see Jennifer and Max standing behind him near the door. "I want you two with me."
Max shrugged, feeling slightly like he was intruding be he stepped closer anyway. Jennifer smiled and went to Jonathan. He reached out his hand to hold hers as he opened the lid with his other hand. His stomach seemed to be whirling about. He sucked in air as the contents of the box were revealed.
"A pocket watch." His voice cracked. He studied the watch as a faint image of a man pulling it out of his breast pocket came to mind. Let’s see how fast you are young Charlie. Jonathan felt his legs get weak. He grabbed a chair and sat down.
"Are you alright darling?"
He nodded and squeezed her hand. Putting the watch down he reached back into the box. He pulled out an ivory hair clip beautifully painted with gold trim. The scent of roses came to mind. And a woman combing her long dark hair. What do you think Charlie? Am I beautiful now? Jonathan set the clip down and rubbed his eyes. He could feel Jennifer’s hand on his back and Max’s concerned stare, and was thankful for their quiet support.
"My mother smelled like roses. She used some special hand cream that my father would get for her on his trips."
"Oh Jonathan." Jennifer gasped at the idea he would have memories.
Jonathan reached in the box again and pulled out a black and white wedding photo. He studied it carefully, running his fingers around the edges of the faces as images flashed through his mind. "They both had blue eyes."
"They were right, you have your father’s smile." Jennifer said as she looked at the picture. "But you have your mother’s eyes."
Jonathan pulled out the next photo.
"Oh Jonathan." Jennifer felt her heart leap. The photo showed Charles and Helene Valentine holding a little boy wearing a cowboy hat.
Jonathan cleared his throat. "I think that was a birthday. I loved cowboys, Hop-a-long Cassidy, Lone Ranger….."
Jennifer squeezed his arm as the emotion swirled and threatened to overwhelm Jonathan. "That’s me with my parents." His voice was soft, quivering as if the realization was just hitting him.
"It’s a handsome family." Max said quietly.
Jonathan held the picture of Charles, Helene and little Charlie as feelings washed over him. As he studied it, that part of him that had been the unloved and unwanted little Charlie was fading. Little Charlie had a family he belonged to and that had loved him. Jonathan Hart had a past and finally knowing about it somehow gave him a better sense of himself. He looked up at Jennifer, her eyes streaming with tears. He reached up and brushed a tear away. Jennifer laughed that he would be offering her support when the moment was clearly his.
"Thank you for following through on this with me." He said, "the both of you."
"Darling, you know we would do anything for you. I’m just so happy that we found the truth and your family."
Jonathan pulled her close, wrapping one of his arms around her. He then reached out and took one of Max’s hands. He savored the feelings of completeness and love and joy that permeated his soul as he sat in the little storage room with his family, his entire family.
