Chapter 15 - A Surprise

Jake sighed silently as he drove down the dark lonely streets of Brooklyn. He glanced over at Trixie for a moment before returning his eyes to the road. They had just come back from seeing a movie and were on the way to pick of Jerry, whom was being babysat by Haley. Trixie's arms were crossed over her chest as she watch tiny droplets of rain meet the window on the passenger side of the car. “Jake?” her voice was soft.

“Yeah?” he responded.

“Do you really think he's coming back?” she asked.

“Who?” he replied.

Trixie turned her head towards him. “I'm not in the mood for games, Jake,” she made clear as her hand sought out the Jewel of Eskaw around her neck. “Do you think he's coming back?” she repeated her question.

“Yeah, yeah I do,” he said confidently. Trixie nodded as she found it ironic that it was she in the beginning who had questioned Jake's faith in Spud, but now how it was her who found her faith fluttering. Apparently, Jake seem to come to the same conclusion. “Don't you?”

“No,” she whispered, shame lining her voice as she looked away. “I mean, don't you feel it?” she began. “Deep inside? I used to feel so whole, and no matter what went on in our lives, I knew I had you and Spud. You guys are a part of me. I mean, even after Spud was gone, I felt it. I felt him, but lately. . .” she slowly shook her head from side to side. “I don't think he's coming back,” she confessed.

Jake said nothing. He didn't want to admit that he shared that same feeling and for a while now. He had banished it to the back of his mind, so that he wouldn't have to think about it, but something in his heart felt hollow. It was hard to ignore.

Realizing that Jake wasn't going to say anything else, Trixie went back to looking out the window until they pulled up in front of Jake's childhood home. “I'll be right back,” he announced as he turned off the engine and placed the keys in his pocket as he got out of the car.

Jake ran up the stoop stairs and knocked on the door when he reached the top. Haley opened the door with a smile let her older brother inside. “So how was he?” Jake asked as they made their way upstairs.

“A perfect angel, just like me,” she informed him with a smile. “After I feed him he was out like a light.”

“Good, I'm glad he wasn't any trouble.” The two walked into Jake's old room were Jerry was asleep on the bed. Jake picked him up. “Thanks for seeing to him, Haley.”

“No problem. Anytime,” she told him as they headed back down the stairs. Once they were down stairs, Haley leaned on the railing. “He really is a handsome boy,” she began as Jake reached out for the handle of the door and pulled it open. “He looks so much like Spud,” she whispered.

Jake froze, before his head swiftly turned back to his little sister, startling her a little. “What did you say?” he demanded, his expression firm, but marked with confused.

“I- I said he was a handsome boy,” she shuttered a little, not seeing what she had said wrong.

Jake seemed irritated. “After that!”

“That he'll be quite the stud. Why?” she asked.

Jake's facial features soften before he shook his head. “No reason. I just thought. . . I'm sorry, I must be hearing things,” he admitted. “Um, I'll call you later, okay?” he told her before he finally headed out the house.

Back at the car, Jake carefully placed Jerry in his car seat. “Jake?” Trixie began softly. “You look kind of flushed. Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, I'm- No, I don't think I am. I think I may be coming down with something,” he told her.

“You want me to drive?” Jake nodded at her question before pulling out the keys and handing them to her. He then walked around the vehicle as Trixie slid over to the driver's side. Once Jake was inside with his seatbelt on Trixie started the car and the small family headed home.



It was a filthy and sick habit, Jake knew, but still there were times when he just couldn't stop himself. Trixie was a beautiful woman, that he could not deny. Sleeping next to her almost every night, and asking him to keep his hands to himself, was just a little too much to ask of him. Besides, he loved the contrast of their skin as his tan fingers mapped out the curves of her body, her dark skin soft to the touch. And it didn't help that she always smelt so good as she slept against him.

He knew if she ever woke up, in the middle of him practically feeling her up, among other things, that he would have his work cut out for him in trying to explain it, but today wouldn't be that day he told himself before his hand found her shoulder and he gently shook her. “Trix,” he called.

He watched as her forehead creased and she slightly groaned. “What?” she finally responded.

“Just wanted you know that I'm getting ready to go,” he informed her before doing just that. It was an odd thing they did, him always having to wake her before he got out of bed. Jake found it strange, how she freaked when she woke up alone after they had gone to bed together. He had asked her about it before, but she guarded her secrets almost as well as he did his own.

After almost an hour, Jake tossed his duffel bag over his shoulder. “Alright, I'm leaving,” he announced as he picked up his watch from the nightstand.

“Alright,” Trixie replied, her back to him as she continued to lay in bed.

Jake let out a small laugh. “Is that it?” he asked of her.

“Yeah,” she told him.

“You're not going to ask me to stay,” he asked, now feeling a little disappointed. She always asked him to stay.

“There's no point in it,” she stated sadly. “You always leave anyway.”

Jake nodded. “Fine.” He turned around and walked towards the door. “I'll call you in a few days.”

“Jake!” Trixie called out, sitting up in bed as she turned to him. The dark eyed man gave a small smile before facing her, feeling almost relieved. “You don't have to go. It's not worth it.” Jake looked at her strangely with the words. “I know the money is good, but we can make ends meet without it. I don't want you getting arrested by DOS.” It was then that Jake realized that Trixie had heard more of his conversation with Gregory than she had let on.

“There's more to it than just the money, Trixie,” he told her.

Trixie's eyes fell. “Yeah, I know. . . there's Rose.”

Jake sighed heavily as he placed his duffel bag on the floor. “Listen, you have to understand. . .” he began walking towards the bed.

“It's alright, Jake, I understand,” she disguised her hurt behind a false smile. “I mean, she's the love of your life, right? How could I possibly compare,” her smiled faded, “when I'm just your wife?”

“Wait, that's not fair,” he argued.

“Of course it's not!” She looked up at him. “I already know when it comes to you, Rose can do no wrong, even after she had your mother killed,” she pointed out.

“Well, technically, Rose wasn't the one who actually killed her,” he made his own point.

“No, she just put her in a position to die easy,” she scoffed, before she saw the hurt expression filter onto Jake's face. Even after almost two years, his mother was still a very sensitive subject.

“Oh, Jakey.” Trixie got out of bed and made her way over to her husband. “I'm sorry,” she told him sincerely as she wrapped her arms around him.

“It's alright,” he told her softly as he allowed her to embrace him. He then felt her kiss his cheek. He cringed a little. “Could you not do that?” he asked of her.

Trixie slowly pulled back. “So now even a peck on the cheek isn't allowed?” She rolled her eye as she went to sit back on the bed. “This is getting really old really quickly, Jake. How long am I suppose to go on like this?” she asked, but only received a questioning look from the man before her. “How long are you going to make me beg for just the simplest affection from you? Dammit, you didn't even hug me back a second ago.”

“Why are you still bringing this up? We've talked about this before. I made my reason to you very clear,” he told her. He then looked at his watch. “shoot, I'm going to be late.” He then picked his bag back up.

“I'm not going to do this anymore, Jake!” Trixie yelled behind him.

“Do what?” he asked looking at her angrily.

“Pretend this is a marriage when it's not,” she told him.

Jake rolled his neck, it was too early, to be arguing over the same things. “You know what? I don't have time for this. We'll talk about it when I get home, alright?” he made his way towards the door.

Trixie quickly stood up. “Jake, if you leave. . . Jerry and I won't be here when you get back,” she threaten.

Okay, that's new, Jake thought as he paused in the doorway before facing his wife. “Say what?”

“All I am asking is for you to chose Jerry and me, you're family, over Rose. Please, don't go after her. This marriage can't handle being second fiddle.”

“I'm not choosing Rose over you or Jerry,” he argued.

“Yeah, you are, every month for once a week,” she made a point.

“But the money-”

“We don't need it,” she said quickly. “We'll put Jerry in a daycare, I'll go back to work. I mean, that was the plan anyway, right?”

“Yeah, but if we do that, we won't have enough to send you to school.”

“It's alright. I've only been wanting to be a doctor since I was thirteen. I'll get over it.”

“No, you won't. You'll resent me if I don't go.”

“And I'll resent more you if you do,” she said truthfully.

“I don't think you will.” He then turned to leave.

“Tell me, are you happy?” Trixie asked.

“What kind of question is that?” he responded.

“A very simple one,” she stated, but found the next one hard to say. “Jakey. . . I'm not happy.” Jake lowered his head as he heard the words. He had thought as much. He would have been blind not to see it, but he never thought she would voice it out loud. “And it's not you. For the most part, you have been wonderful. Not many men, would do what you have done. You have given me and my son a home and you've taken care of us the best you can, but in the long run, it's not enough.” Jake lifted his head in time to see tears well in his wife's eyes.

“Oh, don't do that, Trix. Please, don't cry,” he begged of her, he had seen her tears all too often for his liking.

He then dropped his duffel bag, ready to go comfort her when she dropped a question on him he was completely unprepared for. “Do you love me?” she asked of him.

Jake blinked as he froze with the question. It took him a moment to recover. “Trix, I- I care for you, I do. So much that sometimes it hurts, but-”

“You don't love me,” she finished his statement.

“No,” he admitted. “Not the way you want me to.” It was in that moment that Jake realized that she had asked for the one thing he thought she never would, his heart.

Trixie pursed her lips together and looked up at the ceiling as tears began to race down her cheeks. She wiped them away as she spoke again. “You should go. You'll be late.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yeah, of course,” she placed another false smile on her face. “Go after the one you love. I'll support you, I will.”

Jake took a few steps towards her before taking her hand and planting a kiss on her forehead. “Thank you,” he whispered.

Trixie then watched as he walked out the door. “Goodbye, Jake,” she whispered to herself.



It was three days later as Trixie found herself in the living room of her home with Alex sitting across from her on the sofa. “You're leaving, Jake?” he asked, hardly believing it.

“Yeah,” she confirmed. “I'm going to tell him when he calls tonight.”

“That's a big decision. Are you sure you're prepared for it? I mean, where will you go?” he asked.

“I've been talking to Belinda. She's been having trouble with her roommate, whose moving out of the apartment they were sharing, so Jerry and I going to stay there.” Trixie then placed her head in her hand, suddenly appearing very tired to Alex. “I'm really not looking forward to tonight.”

“I wouldn't imagine you would be.” Alex then reached for this glass that sat on the coffee table. Trixie had offered him something to drink when he had arrived. “If you don't mind, may I ask why you're leaving him?”

Trixie lowered her hand and looked at her companion. “It's the same old story. He's in love with another woman,” she stated with a smile.

“Ouch,” was Alex's response. “So he was cheating on you?”

Trixie lightly laughed, causing Alex to look at her oddly. “Jake, cheat? No, that boy is so damned honor bound that it's ridicules.” Her laughter died down. “That's why I'm leaving him. So he doesn't have to feel guilty for loving her while he's married to me. That should make everyone happy,” she figured.

“You don't look too happy,” Alex pointed out.

“Well, that's my problem,” she told him. The two then heard a strange sound coming from Jerry's room. “Excuse me, will you?” Trixie stood up to fetch a bottle for her son, knowing that he would be hungry after his afternoon nap.

Trixie's face lite up in a true smile as she looked upon her son, whom she was surprise to see was still sleeping. She then frowned a bit as she saw the expression on Jerry's face. He looked distressed. He then made a strange sound in his sleep. “Poor thing.” Trixie took her hand and slightly rubbed his belly to comfort him. “He must be dreaming.” She then debated weather she should wake him up or continue to let him sleep.

“You know, I always thought Jake to be a lucky guy.” Trixie turned from the crib to find Alex in the doorway. “He dated one of the coolest girls at our high school and then had the good sense to marry her,” he expressed his opinion. “And I think he's a dumb fool, for putting you in such a position.” Alex walked towards her. “But then again, I think I have to thank him,” he told her.

“Oh, and why is that?” she questioned.

“Because it gives me another chance at being with you.” Trixie blushed. She then watched as Alex shrugged. “Assuming I was ever in the running.”

Trixie couldn't help but smile at him. “You were,” she confirmed.

Alex dipped his head. “That's good to know,” he said taking that last step towards the woman in front of him. The back of his fingers then ran across Trixie's face. “He really is a fool. How could anyone be with you and long for anyone else?” His fingers then found the bottom of her chin and slightly lifted her face up towards him. He then leaned down and pressed his lips against her.

Trixie found her eyes closing as she enjoyed the sweet kiss. When it ended, she could only look at him in shock. She then sidestepped Alex and walked away, her fingers on her lips as she did so. “I am so sorry,” Alex said immediately after taking in her reaction. “You're still married- I shouldn't have done that- I'm an idiot,” he rambled as he followed her out. “I don't know what I was thinking- I just figured. . .” he stopped when he saw her wave her hand to stop speaking.

“It's alright, Alex,” she told him before hugging herself. “It's just, that kiss it. . .” reminded me of Spud, she thought. Alex watched as Trixie seem to zone out right in front of him.

“Maybe I should leave,” he suggested before starting to walk down the hall, but was stop when Trixie's hand shot out and grabbed his arm.

Suddenly, Trixie's lips were back on his and before long her tongue invaded his mouth. The thought to push her away, never even occurred to Alex as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her into her bedroom. The woman, securely in his hold, couldn't help but smile against his lips, he had never been one for subtlety.

Trixie gasped as she was dropped onto the bed. Alex stood over her as if waiting for her to change her mind, but instead of a protest, Trixie rose to her knees and her hands found his chest. She stared into his green eyes as her hands found the bottom of his shirt. “We won't be needing this,” she told him as he helped her take it off and tossed it beside the bed.

She smile as she took in the male form before her, her hands running across his broad shoulders as she did so. She then leaned in and littered his chest with kisses as she felt his hands snake around her body and firmly take her bottom with both hands as he pulled her closer.

Alex then nudged the top of her head with his nose until she looked back up at him and he stole another kiss. Trixie smiled contently against him. To her it had felt like eternity since someone who had kissed her truly wanted her. Alex was like a fresh of breath as they striped each other of their clothing down to their underwear.

Alex then once again took Trixie in his arms and laid her down on the bed. He settled himself between her legs, their kisses growing more urgent and passionate. “I need you to take me, like I'm the only one,” Trixie requested between pants.

Alex rose his head and gave her a small, shy smile. He then kissed her cheek before whispering in her ear, “You are the only one.” Trixie smiled, closing her eyes as she pulled the man on top her closer. Alex buried his nose in her neck and slowly inhaled in her scent.

Then, without warning, the couple on the bed heard a throat being cleared. Alex immediately jolted up. Trixie slowly sat up and looked at her husband in the doorway. “Jake. . .” she breathed as she studied him. Blood stained the bottom of his white shirt. It looked like a smeared hand print. It was as if he had tried to wipe his hands clean, but it didn't seem to work as his hands were still tinted red.

She then watched as Jake crossed his arms over his chest and lean against the doorway as he shook his head. “Didn't expect me to come home early, did you?” he asked her, his face set in anger. “Then again, I didn't expect to come home to find you trying to frack another man with Jerry sleeping in the next room!” he barked the last few words. “But I guess we both got quite. . . a surprise.”

To Be Continued. . .

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