“Brenda, I think I am,” Jax says before he is interrupted by a deep, male voice. “Brenda, Jax…what are you doing here?”
Harlan asks in curiosity and raises his right eyebrow. “Hi Dad…Jax and I decided to go horseback riding today with Ginger
and Marcy,” Brenda says, running over and giving her father a hug. He smiles and says, “Jax, I did not know that you and
Brenda were such good friends.

“Well, actually, we are not…” Jax says before Brenda cuts him off. “Daddy, Jax and I both live in the city and we run into each
other a lot and became friends, that is all!” Brenda says with a big grin that could melt even the hardest heart. “Harlan, what is
going on?” Veronica says, walking into the garden. Harlan turns to her and responds, “Brenda and Jax came here to ride the
horses…seems they have formed a friendship.”

“That is so, so nice!” Veronica says in a knowing excitement. She knew if she put Jax and Brenda together like she had that
night at the Ritz, the fireworks would explode. And Brenda looked like a new person…her usually gloomy eyes now sparkled
under the afternoon sunlight, her skin glowed, and her smile was cheery and bright. Jax was the one who accomplished all of
this. She was certain.

“But we have to go!” Brenda says, biting her bottom lip. “Nonsense young lady…we just got home from our trip and we never
see you…you and Jax are staying for dinner!” Harlan declares with a grin. “But…” Brenda says. “No buts, Brenda…you must
stay,” Veronica says sternly. “Fine,” Brenda replies in annoyance and Jax gives her a sympathetic smile.

“What am I going to wear since a Barrett dinner is the most stylish event of the year?” Brenda asks sarcastically. “You have
plenty of dresses in your closet and Jax can borrow something from your father,” Veronica says with a smile. “Well if we were
normal, we could just wear what we have on!” Brenda snaps. “Actually, I have a emergency suit for business trips in my limo
so I am all set,” Jax says cheerfully. Brenda smiles at Jax and scowls at her parent’s. “Dinner at seven?” Brenda asks. “As
always,” her parents respond in unison.

Brenda grabs Jax’s hand and drags him out of the garden. “They are dating,” Harlan says. Veronica nods and whispers, “I
know.”

************************************************************************

An hour later…

“Bren, you ready?” Jax asks as he knocks on the door to her bedroom. “Come on in…I need help with something,” Brenda
responds. Jax opens the door to her room. It was very feminine and sweet…just like her. “Could you zipper me up?” Brenda
asks, turning her back to him. “How about we keep it unzipped?” Jax asks, walking up behind her and gently nuzzling her neck
with his nose.

“Jax!” Brenda screeches as she begins to shiver with goose bumps. “Turned on, slightly?” Jax asks. “Um…maybe a little,”
Brenda says and giggles nervously. She was getting nervous…she and Jax had only kissed…nothing else had happened…yet.
Jax also still did not know that she was a virgin but it was getting harder and harder too not let things go further. Also, whenever
things started to get a little hot, some catastrophe happened like Chloe showed up or Brenda doubted herself and she and Jax
were back at square one.

But now…after today…when she was sure Jax was going to tell her he loved her and they were interrupted…she was finally at
ease mostly with her growing feelings for Jax. “Brenda, you look so beautiful,” Jax whispers in her ear and she turns and gives
him a seductive smile. “You don’t look so bad yourself,” Brenda shoots back and then begins to blush brightly.

“Miss Barrett, I do believe we are turning very red,” Jax says and raises his eyebrow with a devilish grin that made her knees
weak. “No…it’s just…I am just usually not that flirty and usually think before I say things…that just flew out of my mouth!”
Brenda says with a giddy tone and bites her bottom lip. “You know how cute you look when you are embarrassed and giggly
at the same time?” Jax says, circling his arms around her lithe waist.

“Not as cute as when you have just gotten out of the shower,” Brenda says and then puts her hand over her mouth. “What’s the
matter?” Jax asks. “I did it again…I better be careful when I am around you,” Brenda responds and pushes him away playfully.
“Okay, but how about a kiss?” Jax asks and pulls her on top of him and they collapse on Brenda’s bed. “How can I resist?”
Brenda says, lowering her lips to his again.

Darling you send me
I know you send me

Darling you send me
Honest you do, honest you do

Honest you do, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

You thrill me
I know you, you, you thrill me

Darling you, you, you, you thrill me
Honest you do

At first I thought it was infatuation
But woo, its lasted so long

Now I find myself wanting
To marry you and take you home

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

You, you, you, you send me
I know you send me

I know you send me
Honest you do

Whoa-oh-oh, whenever I’m with you
I know, I know, I know when I’m near you

Mmm hmm, mmm hmm, honest you do, honest you do
Whoa-oh-oh, I know-oh-oh-oh

I know, I know, I know, when you hold me
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh, whenever you kiss me

Mmm hmm, mmm hmm, honest you do

At first I thought it was infatuation
But woo, its lasted so long

Now I find myself wanting
To marry you and take you home

I know, I know, I know, you send me
I know you send me

Whoa-oh-oh-oh, you you you you send me
Honest you do

“Shhh…or my parent’s will hear!” Brenda squeals. “Oh Brenda!” Jax yells slightly before Brenda places her lips against his to
keep him quiet. “Maybe I should yell more often so you keep me quiet,” Jax says breathlessly after the passionate kiss. “You
better be a good boy at dinner!” Brenda says getting off of him. “Of course!” Jax says sexily and cups her face and kisses her
again.

“Brenda, Jax…time for dinner!” Veronica says at the door. Jax zips Brenda’s dress up quickly and she fixes his tie and they
open up the door to greet Veronica.

*********************************************************

“So Jax, how is the Northeast Division of your company doing?” Harlan asks in his deep voice. “Very well, actually…. All of
our stocks went up…many are investing into the company,” Jax replies politely. “I always knew you would do well!” Harlan
proclaims, cheerfully. “That’s not what you said when I was fifteen,” Jax thinks to himself and bites his lip. He wanted to eat
and get out of there with Brenda.

“Dad, why do we always have to discuss business at dinner?” Brenda asks sharply and Veronica chokes on her water slightly
and coughs. “Brenda, we do not all the time,” Harlan says with a grin. “Oh yes we do…you, Julia, and Ned…I will not let you
pull Jax into it as well!” Brenda says, her dark eyes gleaming. “Brenda, why, no matter what I do, it is wrong?” Harlan asks in
annoyance.

“Because I have watched you lead this selfish life forever and I am just so damn sick of it!” Brenda yells and pounds her hand
on the table. “Brenda, that is enough!” Veronica shoots back. “Fine…then I am out of here…you two forced me and Jax to
come…forget that I am a grown woman and may do whatever the hell I please!” Brenda says as she stands up and throws her
napkin onto the dining room table.

“Jax, can we go?” Brenda asks. “Of course…it was nice to see you Mr. & Mrs. Barrett,” Jax says sheepishly and gets up with
Brenda. Brenda storms out of the dining room and Jax has to run to catch up with her. “Hey, what happened…why did you get
so upset?” Jax asks. “Because I hate this house and I always have and my parents are everything I hate and I no longer wish to
be here!” Brenda says with her cheeks growing red.

“Do you want to go to the garden and stables before we leave?” Jax asks, rubbing her shoulders to comfort her. “I do not want
my parents looking around for me…let’s just stop at the garden and then go…Marcy and Ginger will have to wait and see me
next time when my parents go away,” Brenda says. “Well, lucky for the horses, Harlan and Veronica will probably be in
Bermuda or Hawaii by next week and you can come and see them again,” Jax says with a grin.

“Thank you,” Brenda says as they walk outside. “For what?” Jax asks. “For being you,” Brenda says and kisses his cheek and
she begins to walk to the garden.

****************************************************

“It is so nice and warm out…so balmy and the air smells so sweet,” Brenda says as they enter the garden and she closes her
eyes and licks her lips. “A wonderful night,” Jax says and grins as he stands behind her.

“I never thought I would feel so at peace because of one simple place but I do here,” Brenda says and opens her eyes and
turns to him. “You are different here…so at ease with yourself,” Jax says in agreement. “When I was a little girl, I used to come
here and bring my diary and write down all my thoughts and then it was a journal and now, it’s my laptop many times,” Brenda
says with laughter. “That’s the twenty-first century for you,” Jax says and sits on the bench and Brenda leans against the cherry
blossom in the center of the garden.

“This place is magical,” Brenda says with a sigh. “How so?” Jax asks. “The air…it is so sweet and pure in the spring and
summer and so deliciously cold in the fall and winter,” Brenda whispers. “Did you imagine you were a princess in here?” Jax
asks laughing. “No…. I used to pretend I was a fairy…like Tinkerbell from Peter Pan,” Brenda says shaking her head in
nostalgia at the memory.

“Where was your fairy dust?” Jax asks with a smile. “The petals…I used to rip them off the bushes and trees and sprinkle them
over myself and dance with my dogs…the gardener used to scream at me,” Brenda says, laughing. “Well, a magical place for
the most magical little girl,” Jax says and walks over to her.

“How do you know I was not a little brat?” Brenda asks with a devilish grin. “Your eyes…when I saw you the first
time…here,” Jax says with seriousness in his voice. “And what did you think?” Brenda says softly. Jax cups her face and says,
“I looked at you and I was so scared.” “Why…I was only eleven and you were already a teenager,” Brenda says with
confusion in her dark eyes.

“Because I looked into your eyes and even knew then that I could never live without you,” Jax says with his eyes, welling with
tears. “Jax, are you trying to tell me what I think you are trying to tell me?” Brenda asks, a lump in her throat. “Yes Bren…I am
in love with you,” Jax says softly.

“It’s funny you should say that,” Brenda responds and looks up into his oceanic eyes. “And why is that?” Jax asks. “Because I
am so madly in love with you and I knew it the moment I looked into your eyes as well,” Brenda says. “Oh Bren!” Jax says,
picking her up and twirling her around as she giggles in delight.

“I never thought I would feel again…Let alone, fall in love,” Brenda whispers as she hugs Jax’s body. “I could not imagine
seeing someone once and knowing they were the one I wanted to be with forever,” Jax says and kisses her forehead. “I used to
dream about someone like you,” Brenda says with a grin. “Like what?” Jax asks. “Like a prince who would sweep me off my
feet and make my heart flutter and my knees weak and let me be myself,” Brenda responds.

“Bren, I cannot promise things are going to be perfect,” Jax begins. “Jax, I know and I know you know that I may not always
be this happy and content but “us” is the only thing that matters to me. Right now, and for the first time, I am going to let…let
myself feel and be happy,” Brenda says and takes his hands into her small ones.

“I am so deliriously happy right now…it is like a dream,” Brenda says, squeezing his strong hands. “See…dreams do come
true, Brenda,” Jax replies as he lowers his lips to hers as the full moon shines down upon them.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

When you're fast asleep

In dreams you lose your heartaches

Whatever you wish for, you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday

Your rainbow will come smiling thru

No matter how your heart is grieving

If you keep on believing

The dream that you wish will come true

*************************************************************

Music From Chapter:
1.) “You Send Me” by Aretha Franklin
2.) “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” from the Disney Movie, Cinderella