The Ocean On Their Shoulders

Chapter 22

Ah, boredom - both a blessing and a curse. And while facing a horrible bought of it, Jane couldn't help but scour the one place she wasn't allowed - alone at least. Hoping she'd find a book, and just ride the high of potentially being caught in Fontaine's office snooping, she honestly had good intentions for her barging in on such a protected space. But, with one rather obvious Marine Biology book grabbing her attention, she finds much more than whale facts along the book's pages. Instead, she comes face to face with the truth and a man who had left her a decade ago without as much as a goodbye.

And needless to say - it does not go well.

~*~

She found herself sitting at the dining table again, sketching more of the city outside the grand window along with a few sea stars still sticking to the corner. In her free time, recently, she found herself reading more, playing or reading to Jack, or sketching; and the routine was almost starting to become exhausting - almost. Jane honestly wanted to get out and explore the city more, wanted to take Jack out to see the toy section of Fontaine's Department Store, or go out to brunch with Ann and James.

But, Frank's been decreasing Jack's time outside the complex after someone at the Farmer's Market asked about him the other day. And she found Ann and James to be rather distant lately, especially once the article in the Tribune was published after the big meeting a few days ago with Ryan; the photo with her between the two men plastered on the front page. While she was more than proud of how the meeting turned out, even impressed with the article that was written, she knew it would only create a wedge between her and her friends. She hadn't gone to dinner with them in a while either, so busy with this project recently.

The loneliness was starting to become more evident, and a deep sigh deflated her chest.

Jack was upstairs taking his afternoon nap after doing another round of homework. They had done math this time, one of Jack's least favorite subjects; but he still worked hard with each problem she gave him. She could eventually understand how he always seemed to be so put out after his ADAM medication and math lessons, it was all too much for the boy after a while.

Then, after doing a bit of sweeping, laundry, and scrubbing down the kitchen, she was left trying to fill the time until dinner and nothing was satisfying her at the moment.

She wondered when Fontaine was getting home. He had left again that morning to take care of more issues occurring at the Fisheries. This time, however, he left her with more than a few kisses along the slop of her neck as she was cleaning up from breakfast.

There was a sudden spark of curiosity to wedge itself to the forefront of her mind, wondering if Fontaine had anything in his library either relating to marine life or architecture. That would surely help with her current sketches and give her something to do for a bit. She technically wasn't allowed in his office unless he was there and she needed him for something but, the rush of it would provide some excitement to her otherwise uneventful afternoon.

Scooting from her chair, she walked to the front of the complex and stilled for a second in case he did return home and she had just missed him. Nothing, silence. Save for the groaning of the ocean surrounding them, she smiled to herself and tiptoed up the stairs to his office. Before she turned left, however, she stopped to check on Jack, peering through the slightly cracked door to see him still fast asleep.

Perfect.

Backing away, she toed over across the top stairwell to the bedroom. Stepping in for the first time without him there, she noticed how the office was incredibly organized and clean, with nothing standing out right away. Though, she knew there was a gun in the top right drawer of his desk, and another hidden in a filing cabinet on the opposite wall of the bookshelf. However, she was more interested in the bookshelf, smiling and stepping over toward the wall of books. She didn't take Fontaine to be any sort of reader, but appreciated his collection at least, even if it was just for a sort of show.