“Hey Jess!” Kay yelled into the other room.
“Yeah!” Jessica said as she turned off the computer and came into the kitchen “I’m here. Now you can go back to helping and not cooking the whole thing.”
Kay smiled and went back to cutting potatoes “I was just wondering what you’re wearing tonight.”
This time Jessica smiled and not a regular smile but a wide mischievous one “Be right back.” She disappeared out of the kitchen yet again.
Kay shook her head and placed the potato slices in a small glass casserole dish and sprinkled them with some spices.
Jessica came back with a garment bag “This.”
“You’re wearing a garment bag?” Kay asked,
She rolled her eyes “No.” she unzipped the bag and pulled out a short black spaghetti strapped dress “This.” She held it against her body.
“When’s AJ supposed to be back?” Kay asked as Jessica put the dress back in the bag.
Jessica thought for a minute “Around six.”
“So you’re gonna change before six?” Kay asked putting the dish of potato slices in the oven.
“Yeah.” Jessica walked over to the stove and checked on the pork chops.
“Why are we cooking so early?” Kay asked sitting down at the table.
Jessica looked at her “Can you do anything other then ask questions?”
Kay smiled “Maybe.”
She went and sat down across from Kay “It’s not early.” She looked at the clock “It’s four thirty.”
Kay looked up at the clock then at her watch “Already?”
“Yeah.” She said “Plus AJ will probably be back before I told him to cause he never listens.”
“So then what makes you think he won’t come walking in right now.” Kay asked leaning on the table.
“Because I told him if he comes back before five thirty he’ll have to sleep with the dogs tonight.” Jessica said.
Kay rolled her eyes “You would never make your baby sleep outside.”
“How do you know?” She said.
“Because I know.” Kay said “Hey who were you e-mailing?”
Jessica didn’t want to tell anyone else about the adoption agency in New York until she got some information back
“Oh no one.”
“So what do ya think?” Jessica walked out of the bathroom in their bedroom.
Kay hadn’t realized when she had shown it to her how short the dress actually was and how klingy it was, the dress fell to about mid thigh and it accented Jessica’s petite figure nicely.
“It’s nice.” She said.
Jessica looked down at the black dress “Nice? Hello it looks great.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little short?” she asked.
Jessica straightened out the bottom “No. Think AJ will like it?”
Kay rolled her eyes “No I don’t. Are you kidding? Of course he’ll like it I mean look at it.”
“You’re right.” She walked over to the mirror “What should I do with my hair?”
Kay walked over to her “Just leave it down. Do you have a necklace or something?”
She picked up her brush and started brushing out her short blond hair “Yeah I’ll get it in a sec.” She put down the brush and went into the large walk-in closet. When she came out she was carrying a small purple velvet pouch.
“What’s in there?” Kay asked.
Jessica opened the pouch and removed a gold necklace with a gold cross on it “This.”
“Where’d you get that?” Kay asked admiring the necklace.
She fastened it around her neck “AJ gave it to me for my birthday I usually wear it everyday but I didn’t put it on this
morning cause I didn’t want to risk loosing it while we were cooking.”
“Why haven’t I seen it before?” Kay asked.
Jessica shrugged her shoulders “Beats me.” She strapped her black high heel sandals then stood up “Let’s go down stairs and set the table.”
» CHAPTER FIVE «
Around six o’clock AJ walked into the house, as soon as he entered the hallway the aroma of something cooking invaded his nostrils.
He took off his sunglasses and slipped them in the pocket of his baggy khaki pants. He walked into the living room then headed for the kitchen where the sweet aroma was coming from. When he walked in he found no one there. The table was set with two plates and two champagne glasses, both plates had food on them and both glasses were half filled, two candles burned in the center of the table and the lights were down low.
He couldn’t believe Jessica had done all this. He was startled when Jessica slid her arms around his waist.
“Did you do all this?” he asked turning to face her.
She nodded her head “Yup.” She took his hand and led him to the table “Sit.”
AJ noticed her dress as she led him to the table, it must have been what she’d bought the weekend before and wouldn’t let him see “Nice dress.”
She smiled “Thanks.”
“This looks good.” He said looking at the food “Did you cook this all by yourself?”
“Yeah.” She said, “Well Kay helped me.”
“Before we start eating.” He said pulling a velvet box from his pocket “I wanted to give you this.” He handed it to her.
Jessica smiled as she opened the box; sitting inside was a gold ring with a beautiful diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds.
“It’s beautiful.” She said taking it out of the box and admiring it.
“It’s an engagement ring.” AJ said leaning over the table.
Jessica’s blue eyes went wide and she almost dropped the ring “Did you say e…engagement ring?”
AJ took the ring from her stood up walked around the table to her got down on one knee and slipped the ring on the ring finger of her left hand “Yes I did. Jessica will you make me the happiest man in the universe and be my wife?”
She didn’t know what to say “I…I.” She looked at him and smiled “Yes AJ I will!”
AJ smiled and stood up. He pulled her up with him and kissed her passionately. He pulled away a few seconds later and looked at the table “Why don’t we eat before the food gets cold.”
“Good idea.” Jessica said. They both sat back down and started eating.
AJ wiped his mouth with the cloth napkin and sat back in his chair “That was delicious. Tell Kay I enjoyed it.”
Jessica stood up “Hey I helped a little.” She leaned against the counter.
AJ smiled and walked over to her “So what’s for dessert?”
She smiled mischievously “What do you want?”
“You.” He said bending his neck down to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he wrapped his around her slender waist.
“Sounds good to me.” She said as they kissed. AJ lifted her up and placed her on the counter without breaking their kissing session. Jessica wrapped her legs around his waist and started pulling his shirt up. They stopped kissing long enough for him to throw his shirt to the floor. AJ started unzipping the back of her dress, she pushed her herself back so he could climb up on top of her.
» CHAPTER SIX «
Jessica was awakened early by the sound of the phone ringing next to her bed. Her and AJ had gone up to their room around five fifty that morning.
She reached over and picked up the phone on the fourth ring “Hello?” she looked at the clock, which read seven twelve.
“Hello is this Ms. Nelson?” came a women’s voice on the other line.
“Yes this is her.” Jessica said, “Who’s this?”
“My name is Susan Smith and I’m from the Johnson Adoption agency in New York City. I understand that you would like information on Lynn Spaulding.”
Jessica sat up pulling the sheet up with her “Yes that’s correct.”
“I understand that you were adopted and you say you are Lynn Spaulding.” The women said.
“Yes that’s correct.” She said. Jessica talked to the women for a few more minutes then hung up. Without waking up AJ she got out of bed went into the bathroom and started the shower.
“Hey Jess why didn’t you wake me up?” AJ asked coming into the kitchen. After her shower Jessica had gotten dressed and went downstairs to clean the kitchen.
She smiled “I wanted to clean the kitchen.” She handed AJ the clothes that they’d left in the kitchen “Put these in the laundry pile.”
“Sure.” He took the clothes and went to the small room off of the kitchen where the washing machine and dryer were “Who was that on the phone this morning?”
“You were awake?” She asked.
AJ sat down at the kitchen table “No I just heard it ringing.”
Jessica finished loading the dishwasher then turned to face AJ “Oh it was just someone wanting money.”
“Don’t you just hate those people.” He said.
“Yeah.” She said “You hungry?”
He shook his head “No not really. I’ve actually gotta go out.”
“Where?” She asked.
“We’re meeting with our tour manager this morning.” AJ said getting up “I’ll see
you later.” He kissed her and told her he loved her then left.
As soon as AJ’s car was gone Jessica grabbed the cordless phone and dialed Kay’s number “Kay!” she said as soon as the phone was picked up.
“Jess what’s up?” Kay asked.
“You’ll never believe what happened last night.” Jessica said.
“What?” She asked.
Jessica smiled even though Kay couldn’t see “AJ proposed.”
There was silence on Kay’s end.
“Hello? Kay are you still there?” Jessica asked.
“Yeah, yeah sorry I thought you said that AJ proposed. I think I need to switch to decaff.” Kay said.
“Oh shut up!” Jessica said.
“I’m sorry. When did he propose?” She asked “Before or after dinner?”
“Right before dinner. I almost had a heart attack.” Jessica said “Come over I wanna show you the ring.”
“Ok I’ll be over in about an hour ok.” Kay said. They said their good-byes and hung up.
An hour and a half later the doorbell rang. Jessica ran to the door and without asking who it was opened the door.
“Where’s the ring?” Kay asked.
Jessica stuck out her left hand and smiled.
Kay grabbed her hand and examined the ring “Oh my god it’s beautiful.”
She pulled her hand back “I know.” She moved out of the way so Kay could come in then closed the door.
Kay hugged Jessica “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks.” She said.
“Let me guess AJ went to meet the guys.” Kay said as they went into the living room.
Jessica nodded “Yup. How’d you know?”
“Well duh I am dating Nick. He told me they had to meet their tour manager.” Kay said.
“How stupid can I possibly be?” She said.
“Do you want me to answer that?” Kay asked.
“Very funny.” Jessica said rolling her eyes.