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Because I am busily packing and am short on time, and on the day this post goes up I will be moving into my new home, I found this short romance I wrote years ago—see if you can guess
who I had in mind when I created Jackson.
“I don’t
want Daddy to marry that lady! Why does he have to get married anyway?” Joel
grumbled.
Rebecca helped the three children from the car. “Well,
your father doesn’t have to marry anyone, but he will eventually find a new
mother for you three so you might as well resign yourselves to it.”
Why can’t we just stay as we are, Becky?” six-year-old
Dylan asked as he straightened his small backpack.
Rebecca sighed. Why indeed? But nothing ever stayed
the same, did it?
“Off you go, and have a good day.” Mae, just eight,
flipped a braid over her shoulder and reached up, waiting for a kiss. Rebecca
hugged the dark-haired imp, who then scampered after her brothers, turning to
wave when they reached the school gate.
Rebecca waited until they disappeared inside the
school. As she drove to the place she’d called home for nine years she let her
mind wander. Her boss, Jackson Hughes, would likely marry soon. This new female
in his life seemed to be perfect for him—liked the children, and was obviously
besotted by Jackson. His feelings for her were not so obvious.
Rebecca entered the Hughes household as nanny to Joel
soon after his birth, and was there for Jackson and the children when his wife succumbed
to a rare disease and died two years ago.
Being a concert pianist, and in the public eye, Jackson
was automatically thrown into the arms of many willing women once the initial
grieving period passed. He treated them all with amused aloofness. Rebecca knew
it would only be a matter of time before one of the ladies hooked him.
Jackson married young and at 35 now was a fine figure
of a man. He made Rebecca’s heart flutter just looking at him. She was 31 when
she first set eyes on him. Natalie, his darling wife, hired Rebecca, so she
hadn’t seen Jackson until he returned from a concert tour a week after she settled
into his home. It was love at first sight and that love never dwindled. Not
only was he a gentleman in all senses of the word but a wonderful and loving
father.
After garaging the car, Rebecca went inside and up to
the children’s rooms. As she tidied up their mess, she pondered on her next
course of action.
* * *
“Daddy!”
At Mae’s squeal, heralding the arrival home of her
father, Rebecca’s insides did a complete somersault as she stared at her reflection.
Women friends said she looked ten years younger than her 40 years, but were
they saying that to be nice? There wasn’t a strand of grey in her shoulder-length
auburn hair, and her skin was flawless. With a heartfelt sigh she straightened
the collar of her neat light blue uniform, patted her chignon, and fixed a
smile on her face before going out of her room. Going into the children’s study,
she said, “Good afternoon, sir.”
Jackson sat
at the long table, Mae on his knee, the boys either side of him. “Hi, Becky.
Have a good day? Mae here tells me she got the highest score in the spelling
test. Isn’t that great news?”
Rebecca sat opposite them. “Yes sir, that’s really
good news. And Joel is doing splendidly too.”
“And me, Daddy,” Dylan piped in, not to be excluded
from the praise.
Jackson gave Mae a smacking kiss and hugged the two
boys. “Yes, indeed, I’m so proud of my family.” His eyes wore a strange
expression as he met Rebecca’s gaze. She wondered if he was remembering his
wife who, although a lovely woman in all ways, could by no stretch of the
imagination be termed a good mother. If she hadn’t gallivanted off on some
obscure mission, and picked up a rare tropical disease, she might still be alive.
He visibly shook himself and said, “I have a tour
booked for October.”
“Where to this time, Daddy?” Dylan asked. They were so
used to his regular trips away that they treated it nonchalantly. Rebecca’s
insides dropped. Perhaps he intended taking this new woman in his life with
him—after their wedding. That thought made her feel nauseous.
“You all right, Becky?” Jackson asked, with left
eyebrow raised.
“Of course I am, sir. So where will you be going in
October?” Rebecca crossed her arms in front of her chest and tried not to sound
downhearted.
“England.”
Her insides plummeted even further. The other side of
the world! “And how long will you be away, sir?”
“About three months.”
Rebecca rose and began to straighten books and writing
pads that were strewn across the table. The children all loved to read and
scribble, something she’d encouraged from the moment they could talk.
“A long tour, sir. Does that mean you will be away for
Christmas?”
She caught sight of a touch of amusement in his
expression. What was so funny?
“Yes, indeed. But not sure about Christmas.” He gently
put Mae off his knee and stood, kissing his daughter before she scampered off.
“I’m going to have a shower, kids. Behave.”
“Off out tonight, sir?” Rebecca asked, hoping she
didn’t look too crestfallen.
“Nope. Thought I’d have a night in. What say we all
watch a movie?” Rebecca tried to take her gaze from the smattering of dark
hairs peeking through the vee of his open-necked shirt, but failed.
Luckily, giving her time to recoup control, the next
few minutes were spent excitedly discussing what to watch, with no one
agreeing. The children had varying tastes. Jackson shrugged and pulled a face
behind their backs.
“I might go and visit a friend then,” Rebecca said as
Jackson made to leave the room.
He turned back. “Oh? I meant you too when I said all
of us to watch a movie.”
“I thought you might like to spend time alone with the
children.” Rebecca felt flustered.
“Don’t be daft. You’re one of the family. When I say
all I mean all.” He sauntered out.
Rebecca stared mutely at the door after he’d gone.
* * *
After
changing into a black skirt and pale green sweater Rebecca went downstairs. It
was her custom to wear her own clothes in the evenings—a practice Jackson’s
wife encouraged, thank goodness. If not for that rule, Rebecca might have spent
her entire life in the plain daytime uniform.
The children were chattering excitedly in the family
room, still undecided about what to watch. The housekeeper had prepared the
popcorn and left out chocolates and soft drinks before going off home.
Rebecca loved the evenings when, even on the days Jackson
wasn’t here, she could imagine she was the mistress of his house.
Jackson glanced her way as she entered. “Ah, just in
time. Settle this argument please. Why can’t kids agree on anything?”
Rebecca shook her head, got the children to agree on
the movie, and once it was playing sat on the long sofa that accommodated all
five of them easily.
Soon the boys slipped to the floor. Not long after,
Mae, forever the follower, did the same, which left the two adults on the sofa.
Jackson shifted so that he was within touching distance of Rebecca. If asked
what the movie was about, Rebecca would have no answer, she was too aware of
the man, so near yet so far.
* * *
Closing the
door to Dylan’s room Rebecca breathed a soft sigh. Mae had fallen asleep long
before the end of the movie and Dylan was asleep as soon as his head hit his
pillow. Joel’s light was still on in his room, as was usual. He often read
before falling asleep.
“Want a night-cap?”
Rebecca jumped at Jackson’s question. For such a large
man he moved with extreme stealth. “I… I was off to bed.” She turned as if to
go to her room.
He glanced at his watch. “I know my kids are a
handful, but it’s not even nine o’ clock. Surely they can’t have exhausted you
that much?” He grinned.
She smiled. “No sir, I’m not exhausted, it’s just
that...”
“That what?”
She shrugged, lost for words. What was she doing,
turning down an opportunity to sit and talk with him? Perhaps fear that he was
about to tell her of his marriage plans made her wary.
“Come on then. I’m having hot chocolate—you can make
it.” He gestured for her to go before him down the stairs.
“Aha, now I see why my presence is required.” She
laughed and preceded him.
Once the drinks were made, they went into the sitting
room. Rebecca was about to sit on one of the chairs when he gestured for her to
sit beside him on the sofa. He sat with relaxed ease, one leg tucked beneath
him so that he faced her.
They sipped their drinks in silence, but when he put
his empty mug down he said, “I was thinking I might take the children on this
tour with me.”
“Oh.” That completely stumped Rebecca. He’d never
taken them on a working tour.
“Yes. I thought that way we could stay away for
Christmas.” He traced the pattern on a cushion with a finger, and Rebecca had
the feeling he was picking his words.
Here it comes. Next
he’ll tell me he intends taking his new bride with him and I won’t be required.
“I
shall want you to come with me of course.”
Rebecca’s gaze shot to meet his. “I… I thought…”
“Thought what?”
“I had the idea that you were going to ask Miss Young
to accompany you.” Rebecca cleared her throat. “You know—I thought you were
about to tell me you intended to ask her to marry you.”
His soft chuckle did things to her insides. “Funny you
should say that. I am about to ask someone to marry me. But I can assure you it
isn’t our delectable Miss Young.”
“It’s not?” Rebecca frowned. Who could it be? Granted
there were a few waiting in line who would be more than willing to become his
second wife.
“How would you like to be my wife, Becky?”
That so stunned Rebecca she almost fainted. Eyes wide,
she stared at him.
“I realise that you don’t love me, but you love my
children, and that’s good enough for me,” he said.
“Is it?” she whispered, not knowing whether to be
overjoyed that he wanted her as his wife because she would make a good mother
for his children, or broken-hearted because he only wanted her as a mother to
his family. “What gave you that idea?”
“What idea?” He looked puzzled. “The idea that you
love my children—it’s as clear as crystal.”
Rebecca shook her head. “No—the stupid idea that I
don’t love you.” She stared down at her hands, now nervously twisting on her
lap.
“Is it? A stupid idea?”
“So utterly wrong and totally idiotic,” she said,
lifting her chin and meeting his gaze. “I’ve loved you from the first moment I
saw you, Sir.”
His face split into a devastating grin. “That’s so
good to hear. Because I love you, Becky, more than life. If you went out of my
life and my children’s lives, we would all be broken-hearted.”
“I would never leave any of you—unless you threw me
out.” Rebecca reached out and did something she’d yearned to do forever—she ran
a finger across his lips.
He clasped her finger gently and pressed a kiss to it.
“I think you can stop calling me sir now, don’t you?”
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