The song I’ll Be, featured in this story, was written by Diane Warren and performed by Reba McEntire. This story is a continuation of the story Secret Hart. If you haven’t read that story first you may want to in order to avoid confusion.
When Darkness Falls Upon Your Heart and Soul
I’ll Be the Light that Shines for you
"Jennifer? Jonathan?" Jessica said nervously as she walked into the house. "Anyone home?"
Jennifer came down the stairs. "Hey, have a nice day at school?" She said as she walked towards the living room and sat down.
"Umm, yeah, sure." Jessica started playing with the envelope in her hand anxiously. "Is Jonathan here?"
"No, he’s still at the office. What’s up?"
Jessica smiled nervously and handed the envelope to Jennifer. "It’s a note…from my homeroom teacher, you have to sign it." Jessica looked down at her shoes so that she didn’t have to see the look on Jennifer’s face.
"Do you know what it says?"
"No, but I have an idea." Jessica said still looking down at her shoes.
"Well, why don’t you tell me your idea?" Jennifer patted the couch cushion indicating that Jessica should sit down next to her.
Jessica sat down. "Well, it probably has something to do with, umm, well. I haven’t been doing my homework." Jessica started playing with her sweater and refused to look at Jennifer as she spoke.
"And, why haven’t you been doing your homework?" Jennifer asked calmly
"I don’t know."
"I think you do. Maybe it has something to do with why you seem so nervous lately."
"Nervous? I’m not nervous!" Jessica said as she jumped up from the couch and headed for the stairs. "I need to go to my room and work on tonight’s stuff"
As Jessica headed up the stairs Jennifer opened the note.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Hart,
I am writing this note to let you know that Jessica has not been herself lately. She daydreams in class and has not turned in homework in any of her classes for an entire week. I am worried that she may be upset by something.
Also, on another note I noticed her talking with a woman who I don’t know recently. When I asked her who the woman was she just said that it was a family friend. However, a few days later she told a classmate that the woman was her aunt. I am concerned about this and thought that you should know. I have also informed the principal and from now on the woman will not be allowed on school grounds. When Jessica was told this she did not seem upset, but that is when she stopped doing her homework.
I would like to schedule a conference so that we can discuss all this. Please enclose times and days that are acceptable to you.
Sincerely,
Mrs. R. Blackstock
Jennifer put the paper down and went to call Jonathan. Jonathan came home immediately upon receiving Jennifer’s call.
"Jennifer?" he called as he came through the door.
"Read this." She handed Jonathan the note as she met him at the door.
After reading the note Jonathan said "Have you talked to Jessica about this?"
"No, I was waiting for you."
"Then, let’s go." Jonathan and Jennifer went upstairs and knocked on Jessica’s bedroom door.
"Come in." Jessica called tentatively.
"We thought you might like to read what Mrs. Blackstock had to say." Jennifer said handing the note to Jessica. Jennifer sat down on Jessica’s bed and Jonathan sat on the desk chair as Jessica read the note.
"I guess you want to know who the woman is?"
"Sounds like a good place to start." Jonathan said calmly.
"She’s, well, uhh. Did you know that my mom got out of jail a couple weeks ago?"
"Yes, we did. Is that who she is? Have you seen Elizabeth?" Jennifer said as she glanced at Jonathan.
"She came to see me at school one day. Now they won’t let her come to the school so she’s been calling me here." Jessica said, worried. She didn’t know how the Harts would react to her being in contact with Elizabeth.
"Oh, Jessica, why didn’t you tell us?" Jennifer said.
"I don’t know." Jessica started getting tears in her eyes. "I guess I didn’t want you to know."
"Why is that?" Jonathan asked. "You know you can tell us anything."
"Can I tell you that after all you’ve done for me, after all she’s done to me, I still want to know her, to know my real mother?" She said.
"Of course." Jennifer said after catching the lump in her throat. "No more secrets, okay?" She touched Jessica’s arm gently.
"Okay." Jessica replied. "Does this mean you’ll let me see her?"
"Uh, Sure. Have her call us and we’ll set something up."
Jessica smiled and hugged both Jennifer and Jonathan as she said "Thanks" then she added quietly "Mom and Dad."
When you forget how Beautiful You Are
I’ll Be there To Remind You
It had been a month now since Jessica started spending every Sunday with Elizabeth. Jennifer and Jonathan were still wary about the visitations, but they were sure that it was only doing good for Jessica. At least that’s what they thought until one Sunday evening when Jonathan picked her up and she was in tears.
"Hey, what’s wrong?" Jonathan asked softly as Jessica got into the car.
"Nothing." She answered as she began staring out the car window.
"Then why the tears?"
"Just drive!" Jessica yelled then winced. "Sorry, I didn’t mean that."
"It’s okay, I understand." Jonathan said as he touched Jessica’s hand gently and drove them home.
As they pulled into the driveway Jonathan noticed that Jessica wasn’t getting out of the car. She had stopped crying but she was just sitting there and staring at the dashboard. He went over to the passenger side and opened the door.
"Coming?" He asked her.
"Yeah, of course." Jessica said as she stepped out of the car. "I think I’m just going to go up to bed." Jessica headed for the house and walked inside intending to head immediately upstairs.
Jennifer stopped her at the bottom of the stairs, however and pulled her into a tight hug. "Hey, did ya have fun?" She asked then stopped when she noticed that Jessica was extremely tense and quiet.
Jonathan looked at Jessica’s face and saw that she looked like she was in extreme pain. He caught her eyes and pulled her out of Jennifer’s embrace. "Jonathan?" Jennifer asked.
Jonathan reached for the back of Jessica’s shirt and began to lift it when Jessica began to cry, "Please, no, don’t let her look." She began crying.
"What’s going on?" Jennifer asked and then gasped as Jonathan lifted Jessica’s shirt halfway revealing very distinct hand-print shaped bruises on Jessica’s back. "Who did that to you?" she asked angrily.
"How did you know?" Jessica asked through her tears as she looked at Jonathan.
"I recognized the look on your face."
"What look?" At this point Jennifer was not only very angry but a little confused as she watched the interaction between her husband and daughter.
"The same look that some of the new kids at the orphanage would have on their faces when someone bumped into them or hugged them or patted them on the back. I’ve never forgotten those looks, and I had hoped I’d never see them again." Jonathan said sadly.
"Oh, Darling." Jennifer said as she touched Jonathan’s arm.
Jessica started crying harder and started yelling "Please, don’t tell anyone! Please, it was only the one time. It was my fault, I was bad. Please, just let it go."
"One time is one time too much and no one is ever bad enough to warrant being hit." Jennifer seethed as she reached for Jessica.
"You don’t understand!" Jessica began to run up the stairs but Jennifer grabbed her hand and pulled her into a gentle hug.
"Try to explain it to me, then?"
Jessica allowed the hug and continued to cry until she was sure that she had run out of tears. She let go of the hug and taking Jennifer’s hand she led her into the living room where they sat down on the couch. Jonathan sat on the arm of the couch next to Jessica.
"I dropped a cup. It broke, it was her favorite. It was my fault. I shouldn’t be so clumsy." Jessica said as she began to cry again.
Jonathan touched her shoulder. "Hey, cups get broken, it’s nothing to get hit for. How many times have I broken one of Jennifer’s favorite dishes?"
"A million?" Jessica let out a soft, tentative giggle.
"See, and what did she do?"
"She yelled at you."
"That’s right, then what happened."
"You apologized and swept up the broken pieces."
"Yeah, and not once did she hit me, right?"
"Right." Jessica said still crying. "But, it’s different…"
"No, it isn’t different." Jennifer began "No one ever deserves to be hit, especially not children."
"I’m not a child, I should have known better."
"You are a child, you’re my child. I may not have given birth to you, but I love you and you will always be my child. And no one can get away with hurting my child." Jennifer said as she too started crying.
Jessica laid her head on Jennifer’s shoulder as Jennifer wrapped her arms around her. Jonathan touched Jessica’s head softly, leaned over and whispered "We both love you, very much."
"Don’t do anything, please. Can we just let it be?" Jessica cried into Jennifer’s shoulder.
"She shouldn’t get away with this. And there’s no way we’ll let her near you again."
"Please, I know, I don’t want to see her again. I just don’t want her to go to jail or anything, please." Jessica looked into Jennifer’s eyes as she spoke.
"Okay, okay. We promise, we won’t do anything except keep her away from you." Jennifer said.
"Thanks." Jessica sighed as she laid back resting her head on Jennifer’s shoulder. Jonathan walked around and sat on the couch next to Jennifer where he pulled both Jennifer and Jessica to him.
When You Can’t Find Your Way
I’ll Find My Way to You
A week later Jonathan was sitting at his desk at the office. He was just getting ready to leave and meet Jennifer and Jessica at the mall. They had decided Saturdays were for shopping and he decided there was some work he could get done while they shopped. They were supposed to meet up for lunch. He was about to leave when he noticed an official looking envelope in the in-box. He picked it up, and read it’s contents. Angry at what he read, Jonathan ran out forgetting to take his coat.
"Oh, look at that!" Jennifer exclaimed as she eyed a diamond necklace in the window of a jewelry store.
"Wow, that’s gorgeous." Jessica smiled and then tried pulling Jennifer away from the store. "Come on we’ll be late for lunch."
Jennifer grinned. "I thought you were on my side?"
Jessica giggled "At the moment I’m on whatever side is eating." Jennifer laughed as they walked towards the Atrium.
They were almost at the meeting point when Jennifer saw Jonathan heading their way. She waved cheerily, but her smile disappeared when she saw the glum look on his face. "Darling? What’s the matter?" She asked as he reached them.
"This." He said as he handed the envelope to Jennifer who opened it and started reading. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.
"What?" Jessica asked cautiously.
"It’s a court notice. We’re being sued."
"Sued? For what?"
"For you. Elizabeth is suing us for custody of you." Jonathan answered as Jessica’s mouth dropped and she turned a ghostly white.
"She can’t do that, can she?" Jessica stammered.
"She can and she is. But, don’t worry, she won’t win. We won’t let her." Jonathan said. "Darling, why don’t we go home?" He took Jennifer’s hand and kissed it.
"No, we’ll go eat lunch like we planned."
"But, Darling."
"I will not let this ruin our plans. Now, come on, I’m suddenly very hungry." Jennifer headed quickly for the restaurant area while Jonathan and Jessica followed quietly behind.
When Troubles Come Around
I will Come to You
It was cold and rainy when the Harts arrived at the courthouse. The darkness of the day made the courthouse look ominous and forboding. Jennifer shivered slightly as they walked up the marble steps. Jonathan noticed the shiver and pulled her to him as they entered large wood doors. Their footsteps echoed through the halls as they walked in silence to the courtroom they had been assigned. Courtroom 3H, a number that Jessica took to mean a sign of good things to come. Jennifer wasn’t sure she believed in signs this day. Inside Courtroom 3H, the Harts lawyer Serena Darlyn sat at a long mahogany table awaiting the arrival of her clients. They still had another 20 minutes before court would begin, but the Harts wanted to meet with Serena early. There were already on-lookers and press gathered on the benches outside.
"Serena, thanks for meeting us here early." Jonathan said as he and Jennifer reached the table and sat down.
"No problem, how’s Jessica holding up?"
"She’s doing okay. She wanted to come today, but I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea with all the press around."
"She’ll have to come in at some time. We’ll need her testimony."
"That’s why we wanted to talk to you, Serena. We don’t want Jessica to have to testify and we don’t want to even mention the bruises." Jonathan said as he took Jennifer’s hand into his.
"But, that’s our best way to get the judge on our side."
"Please, Jessica doesn’t want it mentioned and we don’t want her any more upset then she already is." Jennifer said.
"Well, I won’t use the abuse unless I think it’s necessary. But, I think it would be a very good idea for Jessica to come and tell the court who she wants to be with."
"We’ll talk to her." Jennifer said.
"All right. Is that all? We still have some time, there’s a coffee machine down the hall."
"Thanks, yes, that’s it. I could use some coffee I think." Jonathan said. "Darling?" Jennifer and Jonathan stood and walked out into the hall.
They got lost looking for the coffee machine and ended up in a hallway that looked to have been forgotten when the courthouse was renovated a few years back. It was dark and musty and looked like it had been built during the middle ages. There were statues and Knight’s Armor standing along the walls and there were several medieval paintings hanging above. Jonathan and Jennifer linked hands as they walked down the hall. Seeing a door that was cracked open they walked towards it and pushed it the rest of the way open. A bright light blinded them for a second as they walked into the room. The door slammed shut behind them before the light abated. Looking around Jonathan and Jennifer became rather perplexed. Instead of entering a room they were now outside on a country road. It was sunny and warm and as they took in their surroundings Jennifer noticed a run-down shack down the road. As they started walking towards the shack they saw something running towards them. It looked like a dog and Jennifer gasped as she recognized Freeway Junior getting closer to them.
"Darling? Didn’t we leave Junior at home?" Jennifer asked.
"Yeah, why?" Jonathan asked as Jennifer pointed towards the dog.
Jonathan and Jennifer continued towards the shack and soon Freeway was walking alongside of them. Occassionally, he would run ahead of them and bark back at them. When they reached the shack Freeway started barking and growling angrily as he scratched at the door.
"Junior, hush." Jennifer said as she knocked on the door. When no one answered Jonathan pushed against the door and it opened. Junior rushed in ahead of them barking wildly. They followed him into an adjoining room where they both gasped when they saw the room’s occupant. Jessica was sitting on a straw mat in a long, full skirt , an old blouse and an apron. Her hands and feet were tied as she slept in an upright position. Freeway jumped into her lap startling her awake.
"Mama! Papa!" She called when she saw Jonathan and Jennifer standing in the doorway.
"I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore Darling." Jonathan said.
"You’ve found me! I am so glad you did! Untie me, please?" Jessica exclaimed.
"Uhh, of course." Jennifer giggled nervously. "How did you get here?" she asked as the untied the ropes around Jessica’s wrists and ankles.
"Don’t you remember?" Jessica looked perplexed when Jennifer looked at Jonathan and shrugged her shoulders. "Wait, why are you dressed like that?" Jennifer looked down at her own green skirt and dress jacket and then at Jonathan’s business suit and then at Jessica’s old-fashioned outfit.
"I guess we look kind of out of place, don’t we?" Jennifer said.
"Just a little, but it’s okay. Come on, let’s get out of here before they come back."
"Who’s they?" Jonathan asked.
"Elizabeth and David of course! Who did you think would tie me up?"
Jonathan and Jennifer both shrugged as they helped Jessica onto her feet and exited the shack.
"Where are we going?" Jennifer asked as they followed Jessica down the road.
"To town, of course."
"Yes, Darling To town, of course." Jonathan said with a grin on his face. Jennifer just glared back at him.
Town as Jessica had called it looked more like a conglomeration of huts with straw roofs and stands in the street where vendors were selling trinkets and food. The roads were dirt and gravel and animals roamed around freely.
"Jess, I’m going to ask a question right now that you are going to think is really strange." Jennifer said as they walked along the road. "What year is this?"
"You’re right that is strange. It’s 486 of course."
"Would that be BC or AD?"
"Huh?"
"You know…Before Christ…Anno Domini."
"Who are Christ and Anno Domini? Domini…Italian?" Jessica asked, confused.
"Must be BC." Jonathan said.
"Here we are, home at last. I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed again." Jessica said as she walked into what looked to the Harts to be another shack just like the one they had just left.
Jessica headed for the backroom as Jonathan and Jennifer took in their surroundings.
"What is going on here?" Jennifer asked as she sat down on a wooden chair.
"I’m not sure, but let’s go with it until we figure it out." Jonathan said. "Could be we’re just dreaming and we’ll wake up soon."
"So, what do we do now?"
"Umm," Jonathan’s answer was cut off by a loud banging on the door. "Who could that be?" he asked no one in particular as he went to answer the door.
On the other side of the door was a man dressed in knickers and a fancy shirt that looked like it had been taken from the Playhouse’s last rendition of "Romeo and Juliet".
"Can I help you?" Jonathan asked politely.
The man just scowled and said "You Jonathan Hartley?"
"Yeah." Jonathan answered unsure of who he was at all.
"This is for you." The man said as he handed a scroll to Jonathan. "It’s a summons. You’re to be at the Court of King Solomon tomorrow at noon." The man started to walk away.
"Wait, why are we being summoned to court?" Jonathan asked.
"For kidnapping the daughter of Elizabeth and David Dray."
Jonathan closed the door and placed the scroll down on the table as he called for Jessica to come out of her room.
"You called for me?" Jessica said sleepily as she sat down at the table.
"Are you the daughter of Elizabeth and David Dray?"
"I don’t understand your question, Papa. Aren’t I your daughter?" Jessica said.
"To tell you the truth we’re a little confused right now. See, we just got a summons accusing us of kidnapping you from the Drays." Jonathan said.
"Darling…" Jennifer said, afraid Jonathan may have been a little too harsh.
"Oh, that again? Don’t you remember? You adopted me from the Drays and now they want me back. That’s why they kidnapped me. Are you two okay? You seem a little strange." Jessica replied.
"This is too confusing." Jennifer said. "We have to tell you something."
Jennifer then went on to tell Jessica about how they got there and about the place they had come from.
"Wait…that wasn’t all a dream?" Jessica asked confused.
"What do you mean?" Jonathan asked.
"I had a dream right before you found me. Everything that Mama just said was in the dream. Or at least I thought it was a dream when I woke up at the Drays."
"This is too weird. So, you remember everything about the cliff and the orphanage and your Uncle Alexander and all that?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes, but you don’t remember anything about this place?"
"No, well, I don’t think so. Ever since we’ve gotten here I’ve felt dejavu and I keep having these flashes that feel like memories, but it just seems so strange." Jennifer said.
"I’ve been having the same feelings. Like I’ve been here before."
"Try to think." Jessica suggested. "Close your eyes and just let the information flow. See what happens."
