Chapter 15
REGGIE
I had to grip the bed covers to keep from jumping up earlier when she came walking through in that flimsy gown.
I am sure she had no idea it was leaving little to the imagination, as her body had still been damp when she put it on.
Her small, dainty feet peek out from the hem as she walks past and just knowing she has nothing on under that scrap of material makes me question all my morals.
Now I do believe my willpower is being tested, as each time she pulls that curtain open, a goddess steps out, even more beautiful than before.
“Jess Honey, that’s it. … You are never leaving this room again!”
Even though I am teasing her, her smile fades, and I see her shrink back within herself.
“What have I done?”
Immediately, I feel like an ass.
“You’re too beautiful to be in public. The moment the men see you, I am going to have a fight on my hands.”
When her smile reappears, she rolls her eyes playfully, making my own heart seem to roll around in my chest.
“Stop it, you had me worried there for a minute but thank you for the compliment. You don’t look half bad yourself.”
“Are you flirting with me?”
“It’s a possibility.”
“Come on, we’d better go before we get ourselves in trouble. I took the liberty of placing your order for dinner this evening, I hope that’s alright?”
“I’m not picky, Reggie. One in my position can’t have that kind of luxury.”
“Hmmm, a fact that I consistently seem to forget.”
I hold out my arm as we exit the door, heading for the main dining car, and I will say Jessica carries herself well.
No one would ever know that she was not born into this life.
As I have never seen her any other way, I have a feeling this is not an act for her; she just has this natural grace about her.
Tyberius stands up when we enter the car.
He shakes my hand before kissing Jessica on the cheek.
“Ahh, look at you! Jessica my dear, you are quite stunning. I may have to help Reggie fight off the men later.”
“Thank you, Tyberius, but I am sure none here are brave enough to approach either of you, no matter how tempting the urge might be, and it’s because of your own lovely wife that I appear this way. She has taken a plain canvas and added some much-needed color to the painting.”
“Oh Jessica, there is no denying the dress helps, but your beauty was always there, just hidden.”
I watch Victoria hold her hand out for Jessica’s when she slides across the bench closer to the window, and before I can say anything else, the servers enter the room, passing out the many dinners for the evening. Jessica’s expressive eyes widen when she sees them heading our way.
“Oh dear, forgive me, we were almost late.”
Tyberius laughs, “Sweetheart, the whole world is always in a hurry, don’t get caught up in the madness.
The food can always be reheated. Reggie, I will say I am sad that our trip is coming to an end.
Victoria and I were talking this afternoon as we were getting dressed, and we both fear the remaining part of our trip will be quite dull without you two to entertain us. ”
“I do hope we can stay in touch beyond our correspondence about the mines, Tyberius. If you ever find yourself out west, I hope you two realize you will always be welcomed at our home.”
“Same for us as well, Reggie. Victoria was writing down our addresses to give to Jessica before you all depart. I know she wants to stay in touch as well as she has become quite attached to your little wife.”
I glance over at the women who seem lost in their own conversation.
Jessica’s smile and vibrant personality, normally hidden behind plain clothes and society’s rules, are open for all to see.
When she sees me watching her, she gives me a small knowing grin that has me reaching out, taking her hand in mine, and kissing the back of it without a second thought.
The servers move in and out as our conversation continues.
The food proves to be excellent, my steak and potatoes cooked to perfection, but I can’t seem to concentrate on my plate for watching Jess enjoy hers. Tyberius must have also noticed.
“Jessica, dear, would you like us to ask for seconds? I will say it’s nice to see someone enjoy their food since most women pick at theirs, and that’s such a waste.”
“As tempting as that is, Tyberius. I would never be able to finish another serving. But I will say … I thought dinner the other night was good, but this one is probably the best I’ve ever eaten.”
I see Tyberius frown, and I know he is thinking about how that statement could be true if she is married to me.
Thankfully, the music starts up, and the subject changes to dessert as we finish our meal.
Before I realize it, the plates have been taken away, and the staff is moving a few of the tables aside, making way for a small dance area while the band starts to play.
The moment the tables are out of the way, Tyberius reaches for Victoria, and with a smile on her face, she slides out of the bench and into his arms as they glide around the floor.
I start to reach over for Jessica only to hesitate, not wanting to embarrass her if she doesn’t know the steps, but my eyes catch her fingers tapping to the melody as she watches Tyberius and Victoria. Deciding who cares if she misses a few steps, I pull her toward me.
“You want to dance with me, Jess?”
“I would love to but I didn’t think you were going to ask me.”
“If you wanted to, why didn’t you just say so?”
“Oh, that’s not my place.”
I practically pick her up out of her seat as I draw her slightly closer than proper, telling myself it will be easier to lead her through the steps if she falters, but she easily falls into step with me.
The song’s tempo quickens a little, and I loosen my hold so I can twirl her around, only to find her laughter surrounding me.
“Jess, you never fail to surprise me. Where did you learn to dance?”
“Mrs. Marshal had a grandson, a few years younger than me, with what she called two left feet. When his instructor grew tired of trying to teach him, I was chosen to be his partner.”
“Did the young man ever learn?”
“He did, but he always requested that I be his partner for each new dance from that point on. It got me out of some of the housework, and I enjoyed the lessons even if I could have done without the bruised toes. Mrs. Marshal would even have us practice in the evenings if he had an important invitation coming up. I can remember those were the few times I ever saw her smile. I always figured she was reliving her own youth through us.”
I see her glance over my shoulder at Tyberius and Victoria.
“They are the prettiest people I have ever seen, and I swear they look like they are floating above the floor.”
“You can see their years together in their comfortable steps. I hope my wife looks at me the same way Victoria does him after being together for as long as they have.”
“I’m sure if you are half as good to her as you are to me, no woman will ever have a problem loving you, Reggie.”
Her words hit me hard, and I tug her closer as I move through the steps almost absent-mindedly.
My mind drifts off with thoughts of the next few months, then to the end of this journey, but the only person I can see when this is all behind me is Jess.
The evening ends with the ladies hugging for way too long as Tyberius and I stand back and watch.
They both agree to meet us in the morning before we depart, and I know Jessica is sad from the expression on her face as we walk back to our room.
“Why such a long face?”
“I have few friends in this world Reggie, and I hate that I will probably never see Victoria again after tomorrow.”
“Why would you think that?”
Jess pulls away from me, and I instantly miss her small form next to mine.
“Oh, Reggie, be realistic. When I take this gorgeous dress off and put my old one back on tomorrow, this fairy tale ends, and all I’ll have left are the memories of a goddess who reached down from the clouds and granted me all my wishes, to get me through the reality of what is left of my life. ”
I see tears in her eyes as she pushes past me toward our train car, and I can tell she is trying her hardest to keep her emotions in check.
A man steps out of his seat, separating us for a minute, and I lose her as she passes through the door.
I ball my fist up, fighting the urge to take my anger out on the one who dared split us up.
When I finally catch her, she is standing in front of our door with her hand pressed against her mouth, physically struggling not to break down in the hallway.
Reaching around her, I unlock the door, barely getting it open before she runs through it.
Jessica doesn’t say anything else to me, simply pulls the curtain closed between us.
But that act alone feels like she has taken a knife to my gut, as her pain is hurting me as well.
Deciding to give her some space, I rip off the clothes that suddenly feel like they’re strangling me, only to stop when I hear her sobs from the other side.
I’d expected her to calm down as time passed, but she doesn’t, even though she is doing her best to hide the sounds that are practically tearing my heart out.
Grabbing the loose pants I like to sleep in, I don’t ask for permission or hesitate to slide the curtain open. But my heart jerks when I find Jess sitting on the floor in her dressing gown, rubbing the bottom lace of the dark blue dress Victoria gave her.
Sliding my arms under her small frame, I pick her up.
Her arms instantly circle my neck as she buries her head against my chest. With one arm, I throw the covers back, lower us both into the bed, then awkwardly pull them over us.
Tucking her into my side, I rub her back as the tears continue.
I don’t know what else to do at this point, and I have a feeling this is about more than never seeing Victoria again.
In her heart, she believes she will once again become the girl she was days ago, and I don’t know how to convince her otherwise.
Jess has quickly turned out to be very important to me but because it has happened so fast, I’m fighting with emotions and feelings of my own.
I didn’t see her or any woman in my future for quite a while, and I’m struggling to figure out where she fits into the plans I’ve worked so hard on.
After what feels like forever, I feel her body relax as she finally cries herself to sleep.
Her body twitches involuntarily with small hiccups as tears dry on her cheeks.
She moves closer, her small hand settling over my heart, and I lay mine over hers as I lie here awake, my thoughts scattered everywhere.
I barely hold back a chuckle when I realize I have spent more time in her small bed than I have in my own.
For once, I wish I could sneak into Mom and Dad’s room and talk to them like I did when I was a kid. Even though my thoughts are disorganized, I wonder what Mom would think of Jessica. Just as my eyes begin to close, I swear I hear my mom’s voice in my head.
“Some things, especially love, do not follow the rules, Reggie. Some things just are, so can you be strong enough to see her as more than what she was? Some things are easier to leave behind if you don’t carry them with you.”