Love Metamorphosis

Chapter 31

She was holding onto the phone waiting for it to ring, willing it to ring with all her might and still it would not ring. Disgusted with herself she instead focused on her packing, she was leaving on the following Monday, her father had agreed to take her to the airport. Tossing her cellphone onto the bed she went to the closet and scanned her clothes.

Tossing a few onto the bed to pack away she mentally picked the clothes she would be wearing the next few days. Mrs. Johnson had reduced the days that Jemma came to visit at Jemma's request saying that Lucy needed to be weaned off her and gradually gain her own confidence. She only went Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays after Lucy got off the school. Her wishing to return to school and her friends made her slow removal even more necessary. Soon she would reduce it to just Mondays and Wednesdays, then just Wednesdays. Then before anyone knew it she would only be checking in monthly, if that.

Jemma was already looking to take on another position and she was going to see a little boy in Queens who had seen his mother killed in front of him. He was more likely to exhibit violence, those associated with guns primarily, because it was the same weapon used on his mother. Jemma would have to undergo a more intensive treatment of what consequences of violence caused.

For a moment the ring on her phone didn't register because she was so lost in her thoughts. When the sound did finally reach her she turned and all but jumped for the phone, wrestled it out of her clothes and breathlessly picked it up.

"What took you so long?" Jemma demanded, she hadn't seen the caller ID but the silly techno song that had been the ringer had been programed by Candice.

"I was having drinks with a client," Candice explained, "Shesh, I didn't notice the voicemail until I had to use the bathroom. What is this big thing that Eric asked of you?"

She didn't sound amused at Jemma's demands but Jemma knew that she would soon forget her annoyance and she was right, "Eric wants me to pretend marry him."

"Say what?" She said in her best imitation of an actress from one of her favorite movies that Jemma couldn't recall the name of.

"Don't be silly," Jemma scolded, wishing that her friend wasn't on the other side of the continent, "He said he wants me to be his pretend fiancé so he can win custody of Adele and I can care for her."

"What a stupid reason to ask," Candice said sharply.

"It is perfectly logical reason to ask." Jemma defended the idea, but the sinking feeling in her stomach wouldn't go away.

"Then you are going to do it?" Candice asked, obviously a little surprised.

"I don't know," Jemma finally collapsed onto the bed, "One second I am planning my independence and then next a millionaire is asking me to live at his house and pay me to watch his orphaned niece. I feel like I am trapped in one of my romantic comedies and this is the part where I talk myself into this idiotic plan."

"What is the bloody harm in it?" Candice asked, "He obviously said you could tell people because you are telling me all the details without any warning of death or the seven plagues of lawyers coming to make me sign a confidentiality policy."

Jemma couldn't help but laugh, "That is what I keep thinking, but then the prospect of being in the same house as him day in and day out scares the Hell out of me."

"He travels a lot and he had a lot of business outside of New York. I am sure you will be spending all of your time with Adele and very little of it with him," Candice pointed out, "He asked you to care for her specifically, this seems to be about Adele and very little about you and him."

"He even said he would pay me for my time," Jemma almost whispered, sighing at the end and covering her eyes with her arm, "At any price I set."

Candice laughed, "He obviously doesn't care about money, he may be shocked by your high rates and change his mind."

Jemma sighed again, "I have a feeling he is determined to have his way."

"I have to go, they are going to think I got lost in the lou," Candice said regrettably, "You should call Mary and tell her what Eric is planning. If she thinks it is a good idea I don't see any problems with you doing this."

"Thanks Dis," Jemma said moved her hand to look at the ceiling, "Call you tomorrow?"

"You better Jem, I want an update every second," Candice insisted and Jemma could hear sound of a crowded restaurant, "Kisses."

The phone clicked, but Jemma still said, "Hugs."

She stood there a second before, grabbing her coat, and purse before running down the stairs. She bought carnations at a flower shop down the street she had passed multiple times since her arrival. Jemma had to walk two blocks to get a taxi, and she was thankful for the fresh air, or at least the semi fresh air that hung around New York. She gave the taxi driver directions and settled in for a long drive, perfectly aware of what she was doing.

She fiddled with the ring on the chain around her neck, she was struggling with herself. Nearly an hour later they pulled into the cemetery in D.C., only a moon overhead. She handed the taxi driver a wad of cash before telling him she would be right back. Walking through the rows of graves she felt a longing return, she missed Jeff so completely; he would know what answer to give.

'Jeffery David Chapman' was scrawled across a small plaque, like all the firefighters who had fallen in the past. She came to it like she knew instinctively where it was, she didn't need to be pointed to it, she just knew. She gently put the flowers down in his grave, her face set in a sad smile, it was almost painfully sad.

"I know I should have come sooner, it has been almost a year and I just wasn't ready," Jemma all but whispered, "I miss you."

She felt a little foolish talking to herself, but a part of her hoped he would guide her somehow, that he could hear her. She bent over and pushed a dead leaf off of his plaque, her fingers pausing to outline his name. Her face pressed together as she felt the tears rising up, she swallowed as she sank down to the ground.

"I don't know what to do," Jemma said softly, her voice hushed from the emotion, "Am I betraying you by caring for someone new? Could you forgive me for wanting to love again, and be happy?"

She knew he would, he wanted only the best for her and since he couldn't give it to her, he would want her to find it any way she could. She patted the plaque, love filling herevery sense as she stood and straightened her clothes. Jemma turned back towhere the taxi driver waited to take her home; she knew exactly what she was going to do.