Cherished (Wanted 4)

I walked up to her, leaned down, and gently kissed her on the lips. She reached up and went to grab on to the back of my neck, but I pulled away.

“I love you, Jessie.”

She was crying, and a part of me was dying inside, knowing that I was the reason she was crying.

“I love you, too, Scott.”

Sharon walked back in the room and started to take the IV out of Jessie’s hand. Sharon began to give Jessie some paperwork on prenatal care, a prescription for prenatal vitamins, and her discharge papers.

Sharon smiled and said, “Now, go home and get some rest. Just take it easy for a few days. Eat some fruit and veggies and drink lots of water.”

Jessie smiled and nodded her head.

We walked out of the room and into the lobby. Ari, Ellie, Heather, and Jeff all jumped up.

Ari walked up and gave Jessie a kiss on the cheek. She whispered, “I’m sorry for being such a bitch.”

Jessie smiled. “No. You were being honest.”

Ellie and Heather each gave Jessie and then me a kiss on the cheek. We all walked out together, and Jeff and I talked a little bit about the New Year’s Eve party we were throwing at Gunner’s place.

I got into the car and looked over at Jessie. “Do you want to stop and get the vitamins now or later?”

She looked at me and gave me a weak smile. “Later? I’m just so tired.”

I nodded, and I started driving.

As Aaron and Jenny’s house came into view, I noticed Jessie sit up a bit straighter.

She looked at me. “Why are you bringing me to my brother’s? I don’t want to go there. I want to go home. I just want to go home and go to sleep.” Then, her face dropped. “Do you not want me at your house?”

“What? Of course I do. I just thought you might want to be at Aaron’s, especially if…if he’s coming to town to see you and all.”

She turned and looked out the window. “I would rather stay with you, and I don’t care that he’s coming to town.”

“Okay,” I said as I pulled out of Aaron’s driveway and headed home.

The short drive to my house was a silent one. When we got to the house, I got out, and by the time I got around to the passenger side, Jessie had already gotten out of the truck. She was making her way to the front door.

We walked in, and I set my keys on the table. I took my wallet and phone out and set them down as well.

She looked at me and smiled. “Will you lie down with me? Please?”

As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t. What if Trey comes to town and talks her into leaving with him? I’ll be alone…again.

“I, um…I have a ton of work I need to catch up on, and then there’s this party we’re planning, so I need to take care of some things for that.”

Her smile faded as she nodded her head. “Of course. I understand.” Then, she turned and headed for my bedroom.

Two hours later, and I was still sitting at my desk…with nothing done. I got up and walked outside and down to the barn. I walked up to the stall where the new filly was. I smiled as I looked at her name on the door—Jessie Girl.

I turned and sat down on a hay bale, and then I put my head in my hands. I’d never felt so torn in my life. Does she love him? Her eyes had told me that she didn’t, but she had feelings for him. That much I could see in her eyes.

“What are you doing out here?”

I looked up and saw Gunner standing there, leaning up against the barn door.

“Thinking.”