Saint Sophia
Too much Ouzo
Jessie stood in front of her bathroom mirror and examined her newest gunshot wound from a week ago.
She frowned as her fingers traced her battle scars.
She turned, showing her unblemished left side in the mirror, and sighed, “At least for that…” Turning back, she peeled away the bandage, exposing the neat stitchwork.
She gently pressed around the exit wound and the pain she felt was deep, due to the bullet clipping her lung on its way out.
Putting the bandage back on with a wince, she stared at herself in the mirror.
Xander’s wedding was tomorrow… in an Orthodox cathedral.
The last time she was in a church was in Sevastopol, where she had asked for help…
for someplace to sleep, as her faux grandmother was having one of her violent mental episodes at her tiny apartment.
The church was full; they had no room except for the pews.
She had asked to sleep there until morning, but they balked, saying it was against the rules…
that was the night she met Ilia, the Russian mobster, which led her to this life.
She had no use for churches now… but Xander had saved her life and the life of the man she loved.
It was her duty to be there for him and his beautiful bride, regardless of what she felt about churches.
With a sigh, she began applying her makeup and soon was dressed and headed downstairs, where Becky was waiting to drive them to Club Aurae for tonight’s shift.
As Becky parked, she turned to Jessie and held out her cellphone. We are off at 1:00 AM tonight so we can get some sleep. Simo’s orders. Theo is in charge tonight.
Inside the club, Jessie saw Demetri wave. She greeted him with a smile. “Good evening, Demetri.”
“And to you, Jessie. I no see you for a while. You look well.”
“Thanks to you.”
“Ah, you are welcome.” Demetri smiled. “It was fortunate business venture. Joel Miller was becoming liability. Thanks to you all, I no longer have business ties with… how does Simo say it? ‘The Little Bitch’?”
Jessie laughed. “Yes.”
Demetri leaned close. “Any news where the little bitch escaped to?”
Jessie grinned. “No idea… I do know he will never return to Hollywood.”
“Very good! Have a good night, Jessie.”
“You, too.”
Jessie began her slow walk around the busy nightclub and decided to check the women’s restroom.
Going inside, she looked for girls doing drugs in the lounge area.
It was clear, so she checked the long bank of marble sinks.
All was clear. Turning around, she began to leave when, there in the doorway to the lounge, Lilly Delmore was standing there, staring at her.
Jessie nodded to her and began to walk by her, when the beautiful girl spoke. “Are you Jessie? Simo’s Jessie?”
Jessie stopped cold. “What? I’m Jessie James. Why?”
“I… I’m Lilly Delmore.”
Jessie wanted to be rude, but she smiled instead. “I know. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Can… can we talk a moment? Privately?”
Jessie’s hackles were up. She guessed Lilly had either come to confront her or about something else concerning Simo. Jessie sighed. “Sure.” She pointed to the red velvet couches lining the women’s lounge.
Jessie waited for Lilly to sit, then sat down a few feet from her. “What can I do for you?” She was waiting for Lilly to say something like “stay away from Simo,” which she was ready to laugh at and tell her not to worry.
“You're Simo’s Jessie, right?”
“I wouldn’t say I’m his by a long shot.”
“I mean, you two go way back, right?”
“In that case, yes. Simo and I go way back.”
“Why are you not… uh, with Simo? I mean… why are you two not together?”
“Uh, what?” flew out of Jessie’s mouth on its own accord.
“You both should be…”
Jessie cut her off. “Ms. Delmore… I don’t understand what is going on here. I know that you and Simo were lovers at one time. How do you know about me anyway?”
“Oh. I… didn’t know you knew about Simo and me.”
“If you are trying to keep me away from him, don’t worry, he doesn’t want to be with me.” Lilly’s pretty eyes widened. There, she should be happy, Jessie thought.
“That’s not right! I mean, why?”
Jessie cocked her head at Lilly. “I don’t understand why we are talking about this.” She began to get up, but Lilly held out her hands to stop her.
“Please wait! It’s so hard to talk about… I do care about Simo greatly, but he can’t ever be happy with me. I think he can only be happy with you…”
“What the hell?”
“I—I thought you loved Simo? I see how you look at him…”
“Ms. Delmore, this is all too weird. Simo doesn’t want to be with me. He said so. End of that tragic story. I think I should get back to work now.”
“Ok, I’m sorry… can I tell you something, something you really should know?”
Jessie stared at Lilly Delmore for a moment and breathed out, “Fine.”
“Uh… this is so hard to say, but when Simo and I spent time together…”
Jessie’s blood rushed to her face. She stood up and began to leave. She’d had enough of this chick and her stupid shit.
Lilly was on her feet fast and moved close behind Jessie. “WAIT! He dreams about you!”
Jessie stopped, turned, narrowed her eyes, and looked down at Lilly. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I—I’m sorry. This didn’t go as I planned… it went all wrong… this is so hard. I am trying to tell you that I know that Simo loves you… like, big time loves you!”
“Why would you tell me this? I see how you look at him.”
“I said I want him to be happy. He can’t with me… I know this because he dreams all sorts of dreams about you. God, he will be so pissed if I tell you.”
“Just say it already.”
“I watched him actually cry in one of his dreams about you… he thought he had to kill you. I heard him tell you to run. Other times, I’ve seen him smile when he has mumbled your name.
And I’ve never seen him smile that way. You own that man’s heart…
I wish it were me, but he loves you... and only you. ”
Jessie felt her mouth hanging open. She closed it and sat back down, wordless. “But… but he doesn’t want me. He told everyone it will never happen…”
“Oh… I think you scare him.”
“Pssh! Nothing scares Simo.”
“I dunno… you might be the only thing in the world that scares him. Maybe that’s why he says it will never happen.”
Jessie hung her head and fought her forming tears.
“Oh! Jessie, I’m so sorry… I thought at first that maybe you were playing games with him…”
Jessie looked up, her eyes watery. “Oh, I am… I’m playing at waiting for him and it’s killing me…”
Lilly scooted close. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, I know…”
Jessie sighed and looked past her anger. “Two peas in a pod?”
Lilly wiped a tear of her own away. “Oh, yeah.”
Jessie snickered. “There’s some good song material right there.”
Lilly nodded. “No kidding…”
Jessie sighed and collected herself. “Well, I think I pushed Simo as far as I could… it’s nice to know that he really did have feelings for me. So, for that, thank you. But I really am at the end of my rope…”
“Knowing what I know, you should keep after him.”
Jessie shook her head. “What’s the use?”
“Don’t give up, ok?”
“You know what is funny and maddening in all this?”
“Uh, no?”
“Everyone has been pushing Simo my way.”
“Well, there you go.”
Jessie smiled and tenderly patted Lilly’s hand. “I’ve got to get back, thank you again.” Jessie stood up and began to leave, then turned around and flashed Lilly a smile. “I get song credit if you turn all this into a song, right?”
Lilly laughed. “You got it!”
Jessie left the lounge and headed to the breakroom. She radioed Theo that she was taking a break, and his voice filled her earpiece.
“What did Lilly say to you?”
“Theo, you could have warned me she was coming in!”
“No time!”
“I’ll tell you later…”
Halo Raines sat in the bridal suite at the Saint Sophia Cathedral. She motioned JJ over as Athena was getting the Orthodox bridal crowns ready with her Yiayia.
JJ sat down and saw the folded letter in Halo’s hands and nodded at it.
Halo pointed out of the window that overlooked the interior of the cathedral. “Would you do me a favor and bring Jessie in here for a quick chat?”
JJ’s eyes widened, leaned in, and whispered, “I thought you were scared of her.”
“Not like that.” Halo smiled at her best friend. “I… when Jessie looks at Simo, it reminds me of when I looked at Xander… on the island. I guess it’s more of a feeling I get from her.”
JJ laughed, “You are more and more like your mom.”
“I know, right?” Halo laughed, then got serious. “Watch Simo… when no one is looking, he’ll glance at Jessie. It’s the same way Xander looks at me when he doesn’t think I’m watching.”
“Really?”
“Xander said that he spoke with Simo and, well… he can’t get out of his own way to be with Jessie.…”
“Like Xander did?”
“Exactly.”
“What are you thinking?” JJ pointed to the envelope. “I really don’t think that will help Jessie.”
“I… well, I think Jessie respects Xander. I’m hoping she will ask him what she wants to ask him.”
“Halo Raines. What is going on? You are about to walk down the aisle! Oh God, I’m going to be your spy again?”
“No!” Halo laughed. “I’m just hoping me asking Jessie her thoughts on my love letter to Xander and delivering it to him might… I don’t know, help her one way or another?”
“You are too sneaky.”
Halo grabbed JJ’s hand and squeezed it. “I owe her, and I really do like her, even for how scary she can be. It’s the least I can do.”
“Fine.” JJ stood up and left.
Moments later, Jessie followed JJ in, and Halo patted the seat beside her. “Hi, Jessie! Can you sit for a moment?”
Jessie nodded and sat down, noticing the note in her hand. “Uh-oh. Looks like I am in trouble.” She smiled.
“Oh! No, nothing like that. I just wanted to thank you again, Jessie. For all you did for me and for us…”