Rhythm of Heartbreak

Chapter 42: The Healing

Jess groaned, feeling disoriented, as if she were lost in a never-ending maze. She had been running in circles, growing more tired and hopeless. There seemed to be no way out, and she felt completely lost.

"Hello? Is anyone there? Help me, please!" she called out, her voice echoing through the maze.

Exhausted, she sat down, her hope fading. Then, Rick appeared, walking through the walls like they were nothing. He came towards her with a warm smile and open arms.

"Follow me," he said, his smile both comforting and inviting.

Jess reached out and took his hand, feeling a huge sense of relief. She felt safe with him.

Suddenly, Jess woke up and realized it had all been a dream. She wondered why she was in a maze—maybe it meant something. Her room was still dark except for a sliver of light coming from the living room.

"What time is it?" she wondered, glancing at the clock. It was already past eight in the evening.

She noticed the cooling pad on her forehead and slowly opened her door. Peeking outside, she saw Rick in the kitchen, wearing jeans and an apron.

She swallowed, surprised by how good he looked. Fortunately, he didn't notice her; he was focused on making ravioli. Jess leaned against the door frame, watching him. Rick had been a constant support during her hardest times, managing everything while she dealt with her grief. She couldn't imagine handling it all alone.

Her mind drifted back to their last encounter at the villa, remembering how he had turned away from her, saying he would never see her again. She wondered why he was here now, cooking in her kitchen. Was he just being kind because of her recent loss, or had something changed?

Rick glanced up and saw Jess. He walked over and hugged her, making her stiffen in surprise.

"Your fever is down now," he said, relieved. "I'm glad."

Jess wondered if a hug was really necessary to say that. Rick's actions reminded her of how he used to treat her, leaving her unsure of his true intentions. What do you want, Rick Reed? She wanted to ask.

"You haven't eaten anything. I'm making ravioli and want you to try it and tell me what you think," Rick said with a smile.

"Rick, we need to talk," Jess said firmly.

Rick sighed. "We'll talk after you've eaten. The last time I cooked for you, you walked away. I'm not doing this again unless you finish your meal," he said firmly.

Jess shook her head, feeling emotional and struggling to stay defiant. Finally, she nodded, giving in to his insistence.

He served the food and pulled out a chair for her, which she gratefully accepted. As she ate, Rick watched her closely, eager for her reaction.

Rick thought to himself, If Shaun lied about Jess's love for pasta, I might need to confront him in the city and give him a piece of my mind.

She paused and smiled sweetly. Rick's face lit up with relief.

"Do you like it?" he asked, growing more confident.

"Yes, it's delicious. I didn't know you could cook so well," Jess complimented.

Rick blushed, trying to hide his pleasure. "Do you mind if I pour myself a drink?" he asked.

"Go ahead, but I don't think we have any wine," Jess replied.

Rick smirked. "I picked up a bottle earlier when I went to the store," he said, pouring himself a glass.

Jess smiled. "You deserve a glass. Help yourself," she encouraged.

As Rick sipped his wine, Jess realized how hungry she was. She finished her entire plate without even noticing.

"Oh wow, I finished it all," she said, surprised.

"Nice!" Rick said, taking her plate and giving her a playful pinch on the cheek. Jess was startled by the unexpected touch. He then walked away to clean up.

Rick turned back to see Jess touching her flushed cheeks, a grin spreading across his face.

"You're still cute," he said warmly.

Jess blushed deeply. "Jess, don't look at me like that or I might kiss you," he said, teasing.

She swallowed nervously, unsure if he would really kiss her. But she looked at him directly, determined to address the issue between them.

"We need to talk," she said, trying to sound serious.

Rick nodded, but before he could say anything, Jess added, "But first, put on a shirt."

"Why? It's not like you haven't seen everything before," he joked, winking at her.

Jess nearly choked from his humor as she rolled her eyes. "That's not the point," she said, shaking her head.

Rick laughed and raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Let me find a shirt."

Once he was dressed, he joined Jess on the balcony. They sat side by side, the evening air calming around them.

"How are you feeling?" Rick asked gently.

Jess took a deep breath. "A little better. Thank you for being here during this tough time. I won't forget what you did for me and my mom," she said sincerely.

Rick moved closer, taking her hands in his. "I owe you an apology," he said softly.

Jess was surprised.

"I still love you, Jess. I can't forget you; I miss you so much!" Rick confessed, leaning in to kiss her gently. The kiss was tender and sweet, his hands cradling her face.

Jess thought, Rick's timing is always off, but right now, all I want is to feel this moment. She closed her eyes, responding to his kiss, savoring the closeness and warmth.

Rick and Jess sat close together on the small balcony, their bodies pressed against each other in the dark. Rick wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, and gently kissed her hand, relieved she didn't push him away.

As Jess looked at the stars, the evening sky began to lighten with the first hints of twilight, as if inviting her to embrace the night and think about what might come. She turned to look at Rick.

"Did you ever hate me for being Adam's daughter?" she asked quietly, searching for the difficult truth.

Rick paused, reflecting on his feelings. "For a moment, I did," he admitted. "But then I realized you were a victim too—just like your mom and Iris. My anger was all directed at Adam, and I've come to see how misguided that was. I was a fool."

Jess fell silent, thinking about what might have been. If Adam had lived, he might have left Iris. Her mom had always believed Adam wanted to build a real family and make things right, but that never happened, fueling Kris's anger and disappointment. Jess wondered how things might have turned out if he had kept his promise.

Clearing her throat, she decided to shift the conversation. "Can I ask you something?" she said softly.

Rick nodded, encouraging her to continue.

"How was Adam as a father to you, figuratively speaking?"

Rick took a deep breath, his expression serious. Memories of Adam came back—both the happy and the painful. "He was like a real father to me, to be honest," Rick said, his voice full of emotion. "He was good to me, made me feel important, and never missed a soccer game. He taught me to swim and play the drums. He was fun to be around. I guess that's why I resented him so much—because I wanted us to be a real family."

Jess nodded, understanding more deeply. Despite Adam's many mistakes, it was clear he had been a good man in his own way.