"Did you actually take the time to listen to what she had to say about what happened?" Jessica asked.
Stacie sat in her home office at her desk clutching the phone in one hand and a pencil in the other."Look, I saw enough to know what was going on."
"You don't know exactly what was going on, if you would just give her a few minutes you might be suprised."
"What, did she already talk to you?"
"Well," she said trailing off,"She called me the other day after you kept refusing to talk to her, and I've just got up the nerve to talk to you about it."
Stacie was blazing with anger. She didn't care that Jackie and Jessica talked, but she couldn't believe she was just bringing up the fact. She should have just come right out. It would have made things seem better."Well what did she tell you that happened? Maybe I will be willing to listen if I think the excuse is good enough."
Jessica sighed,"She said that an ex came over and wanted to just say hi and catch up, see how she was doing because she was in town. They talked for awhile and before she knew what was going on, she hit on her, and kissed her. She said she was trying to push her off but she wouldn't move. After you took off, she yelled at her and told her to stay the hell away from her and you. Then she came after you. She said she's been stopping by to see her but she won't talk to her."
"I'm not so sure I believe that."
"Why the hell not? Has she ever done anything to prove that she has been cheating the whole time? Has she done anything wrong to you before? I don't think so, she has only love to give you, but you can't see that." her friend said almost yelling.
"It's not like that." she said throwing the pencil down onto the desk causing it to bounce off in another direction."It's just that I am so worried. Worried that she will betray me, Just like Alex did."tears began flowing at the mention of the memory.
"Stace, Jackie isn't like that. She has proven that time and time again. I know Alex hurt you, I know what she put your through, but she won't do this to you."
"I know that, but I keep going back to the thought of that time and time again. I just can't help it."
"It's been two weeks now, why don't you just take the time to listen to her. I know you miss her, it's driving both of you insane."
"I'll try, I guess. It can't be any worse than what I've gone throught these past few weeks."
Jackie sat at the kitchen table, clutching a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. She called Chip and hour ago and was waiting for him to show up. If there was anyone who could talk to Stacie and get her to listen, it was him. Ever since she could remember, it was him who got her to listen to him about this or that, so he was her last and only hope.
She heard his car, and waited for him to come in."Oh Jackie." he said at the site of her."What the hell has she done?"
She went on explaining the entire story to him. She watched his expression change time to time. "And I'm guessing you want me to go talk to her."
She shook her head,"I've tried over and over again, Jessica has tried, you are my last hope right now. I love her so much, I can't lose her."
He shook his head,"I'll go talk to her. But I don't know if she will really listen."
She watched him walk out the door. She put her head in her hands and cried like she has never cried before.
Stacie and Jessica were still on the phone when she heard a vehicle pull up. "Jess, I gotta go. Someone is here. I'll call you back later."
She heard them knock several times and finally answered it,"Chip."she said standing and staring at him deciding if she want to let him in or slam the door in his face.
"Well, are you going to let me in or do I have to stand out here all night?"
She moved aside letting him in."You can have a seat here or in the living room. Your choice."
"I'll just sit here"he said pointing to the kitchen table.Stacie took a seat across from him.
"So, what can I help you with this evening?"
"I came here to talk about you and Jackie."
Stacie rolled her eyes,"What now?"
"Just listen to me for a few minutes, a few, then you can say or do whatever the hell you want. Ok?"she shook her head. He began," I know what you saw, and I know what you think it was. But it wasn't that, not in the least. Jackie is not the kind to go out and fool around on the person she loves. The last thing she wants to do is betray you. And I know you wouldn't betray her. This thing is tearing her apart, and it doesn't look like you are doing so good yourself. I don't know why you won't listen to her, I don't know what you fear, but this has got to end. Go talk to her. You need to."
"Does she really want me back?"
"Hell yes. You know that."
"Go talk to her, I can even drive you there. I told her I would come back after I got done talking to you."
"You would do that?"
"Of course."
"Let me get my coat."
When Chip walked in the house, Jackie had moved from the kitchen to the living room where she was watching tv. "Hey." he said tenderly.
"How'd it go?"he didn't say anything for awhile,"It's ok, I know you tried."
"Actually, why don't you ask her yourself."
"She's here?"
"Yes." he said shaking her head. She walked into the house. They locked eyes for a minute. Jackie was happy to be graced with her beautiful presence again. "I should be going. Call me later Jack." he said leaving with a small wave.
Both women stood silent."Do you want to sit down or something?" she asked pointing to the couch. Stacie shook her head and found a seat. The tension made them both feel like they were on a first date.
"I guess I should apologise for the way I acted."Stacie began,"It's just, when I saw the both of you, my heart sank and just like anyone I thought the worst. I never gave you a chance to explain anything that happened."
"Well I should have told her to leave. I thought something was strange, she acted odd as soon as she walked in, I should have told her to leave. But I didn't, it's part my fault too."
"I feel so silly."
"You acted like you should have, if I saw something like that between you and someone else, I would do the same thing, don't feel bad."
Once again, they found themselves in the awkward silence. "What did Chip say to you?"
"Nothing really, why?"
"Because he just has this way with people, no one else could get you to listen to me, and he talked to you for no more than 10 minutes and here you are, talking to me again."
"He actually made me listen to him, with everyone else, I didn't want to listen, he is just so big, he sorta scares me into listening."
"Yeah, but he shouldn't, he is a big teddy bear."
"I know, but it's just the way he acts when he talks to you."
Silence."Are you still going to marry me?"
"Of course, I've been wearing the ring ever since. I never want to take it off."
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course."
"You know that I would never do anything to hurt you, right? I mean never. Hurting you is not on my list of things to do in this relationship."
"I know. It's just that I have a hard time trusting women when I am in a relationship."
"I know, Jess told me. I will never do what she did to you, just please understand that. I don't want to marry you and have your worrying about this the whole time. You are the only person that I love."
"I understand that hon, I really do, but sometimes, there is always that thing in the back of my head."
She shook her head in an understanding matter. "I would feel that way to, trust me, don't feel bad. I have some pretty bad relationships before. I can understand where you are coming from."
"I'm glad that you are so understanding."
Silence."There is something that I've been wanting to do for awhile no, and it's driving me crazy."
"Oh yeah, what?" she asked slyly. Jackie leaned over and embraced Stacie soon pulling her into a long, romantic kiss. The kiss was long and tender, exactly what they both needed since this whole fiasco started two weeks ago. The feeling of love, affection and protection was also something they both had missed.
"C'mon, let's go upstairs." Jackie said. They both stood and found themselves in the bedroom. Stacie was gently placed on the bed where Jackie tended to her needs. No nook, or cranny of her body was left untouched. Stacie did the same for her. When they both had tired, they laid and rested, protected in eachothers arms.
After Jackie dropped Stacie off in the morning, she made a quick call to Jessica telling her the wedding was still on. She also called her to help her pick out a nice white dress,even though the white thing wasn't going to work. She waited until she showed up before heading off into town to shop for a dress. Little did she know, Jackie was on the phone with Chip doing the same thing.
A few weeks later, the clothing was picked out, a hall was rented, caters were called and booked, and the invitations were sent. The only person Stacie didn't send an invitation to was her mother. She knew how she would act if she found out, which would happen soon of course, but she didn't want her at the best day of her life ruining what she chose. She didn't need her mother starting trouble with Jackie, she didn't need Chip stepping in preventing anything major from happening, it was for everyone's good.