�He works hard to give her all he thinks she wants
A three car garage, her own credit cards
He pulls in late to wake her up with a kiss good night
If he could only read her mind, she'd say:
Buy me a rose, call me from work
Open a door for me, what would it hurt
Show me you love me by the look in your eyes
These are the little things I need the most in my life
Now the days have grown to years of feeling all alone
And she can't help but wonder what she's doing wrong
Cause lately she'd try anything to turn his head
Would it make a difference if she said:
Buy me a rose, call me from work
Open a door for me, what would it hurt
Show me you love me by the look in your eyes
These are the little things I need the most in my life
And the more that he lives the less that he tries
To show her the love that he holds inside
And the more that she gives the more that he sees
This is a story of you and me
So I bought you a rose on the way home from work
Opened the door to a heart that I hurt
And I hope you notice this look in my eyes
Cause I'm gonna make things right
I'm gonna hold you tonight
Do all those little things
For the rest of your life.�
Jessica glanced at the clock on the VCR again and shook her head. It was after nine o�clock and Nick was still at the studio. He�d been working so hard lately, going in early, usually before she was even up, and staying late into the night. He�d even picked up his old habit of sleeping on the couch in the studio again. The last three weekends had been spent in the studio too. The change had been gradual, a few late nights at home in the home studio had shifted to late nights at the studio. Then one or two early mornings. But now, Jessica couldn�t remember the last time Nick had come home with her or the last time she�d woken up in his arms.
She promised herself that she�d finish working on the song she was writing, then go to bed. Jessica finished writing and making a few changes for her meeting then packed it away in her nightstand. Stalling, she packed Little Nicholas�s lunch for the next day. She carefully laid his peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwich, which she�d cut into the shape of an airplane with a cookie cutter, peeled apple slices, cheetos, and chocolate teddy grahams in his Cincinnati Bengal�s lunch box. She threw a box of apple juice into the freezer so it would be cold when Nicholas drank it at noon. After making sure that the kitchen and living rooms were cleaned up, Jessica turned off the lights in the front part of the apartment, leaving only a small lamp just inside the door on, in case Nick came home after she was asleep. She also left a note on the dining room table;
Nick,
I couldn�t wait up any more. Please wake me when you come in.
I miss you. I love you!
XOXO
Jessie
She crawled under the blankets and set the alarm clock on her bedside table. As she reached over to turn off the bedside lamp, her eyes landed on a picture that had been taken the summer before at the zoo. Nicholas was sitting on her lap, his face covered in cotton candy. Nick had wrapped his arms around both she and their son in a tight hug and all three of them beamed at the camera. As tears filled her eyes, Jessica pressed a kiss to her fingers then gently touched her husband�s smiling face.
�I love you, Nick.�
The next morning, Jessica woke up to not her alarm clock but to her almost three year old son.
�Mama? Where Daddy?�
Jessica pulled Nicholas into her lap and cuddled him closely.
�Daddy had to work late last night baby.�
�Daddy be home later?�
Jessica sighed, �Maybe. I hope so.�
�I miss Daddy.�
�Me too, Nicholas. Me too.�
Jessica hurried into the studio after dropping Nicholas off at daycare and dumped her bag on one of the tables along with her sweater before heading for her husband�s office. But Nick wasn�t there.
Lea glanced up from her desk. �He�s at Universal�s offices.�
Jessica glanced at her watch, then at Lea.
�Are you sure?�
Lea nodded and went back to her work. Jessica walked back to her desk and sat down. She worked through the morning, but was distracted by the fact that her husband wasn�t there. She was surprised by Cacee�s voice several hours later and looked up from her papers.
�What are you doing here?�
Cacee rolled her eyes. �We were meeting for lunch, remember?�
Jessica glanced at the clock. 1:15.
�That�s right.� They left and headed for McCall�s, their favorite lunch spot. They�d been seated for several minutes and exchanged small talk about their cases when Cacee finally took the bull by the horns.
�What�s wrong, Jessica?�
Jessica looked up guiltily. Part of her wanted to tell Cacee everything that had been going on, but for some reason she felt like saying it aloud would make it real.
�Nothing. Just thinking...�
Cacee rolled her bright blue eyes. Yeah, like she was going to believe a blatant lie like that.
�Jess, you can tell me anything. You know that.�
Before she knew what was happening, it all came spilling out, how Nick had lost interest in her and didn�t love her anymore and was spending all of his free time at the studio and she thought that he didn�t care about her or Nicholas anymore. By the time she finished, tears were rolling down her cheeks.
�And I don�t know what to do,� she whispered. �I think I�ve really lost him this time.�
Cacee reached across the table and laid her hand over Jessica�s.
�He does love you,� she insisted. �I�ve been watching you two together for years and I�ve never seen a man look at a woman the way Nick looks at you.�
�Not anymore,� Jessica said mournfully. �I never see him, he�s always at the studio. I don�t remember the last time that we slept together.� At the disgusted look on Cacee�s face, Jessica rolled her eyes. �I mean as in literally sleep. I miss falling asleep in his arms and waking up staring into his eyes.�
Cacee sighed. Personally, she thought that Jessica deserved better, especially now that Nick was acting like an idiot. But seeing how much Jessica loved him and how much she was hurting, Cacee was willing to do anything to help her.
�Okay, I have an idea...�
Three nights later, Cacee came by Nick and Jessica�s apartment after work. She was picking up Nicholas to watch him for the night. Once alone, Jessica looked around the apartment. It looked perfect. She�d dimmed the lights so the entire living room was illuminated by tall white taper candles which gave off the light scent of lilies. She�d fixed Nick�s favorite meal, steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans with almonds in them and gotten a bottle of his favorite wine which was chilling in a bucket. The table was set with her best white linen table clothe and their best china that they�d gotten for their wedding. It had belonged to Nick�s mother and father but was beautiful, white and edged with delicate pink roses.
Jessica glanced in the mirror. It had taken her an hour to do her hair in tiny little spiral curls and she�d pinned the front back in little twisties. She�d taken extra care with her makeup, making her eyes look smoky and her lips were painted a deep red which Cacee had assured her looked perfect. The black dress was one of Nick�s favorites. It was spaghetti strapped with a sheer black overlay. The hem was diagonal and showed off her legs, which Nick had always loved and she was wearing a pair of black strappy three inch heels that Cacee had lent her.
Jessica checked her outfit one more time and swept her gaze over the room. Everything was perfect. The grandfather clock rang 7:00 and she smiled. Nick had promised to be home by 7:15. At 8:00, Jessica thought maybe there had been an emergency with a client. At 9:43 she decided that he�d had a terrible car accident, after calling every hospital in LA, she ruled that out. By 10:27 Jessica realized that Nick was more than three hours late and she�d been stood up...again. She blew out the candles, which were nearly stubs, and fighting tears she walked into her bedroom, leaving the table set in the middle of the living room. She changed into pajamas and laid on her side of the bed, clutching Nick�s pillow to her as tears poured down her face. She�d lost her husband.
Nick snuck quietly into his apartment at 12:34. He knew he was late, he�d gotten caught up in work. He vaguely remembered Jessica saying that it was important for him to be home early but he�d gotten involved with paperwork and had completely forgotten. He saw the table set with the burnt candles in the middle, and felt a ball of guilt knot in his stomach. Jessica had gone to all this trouble for him and he�d stood her up. He would have to make it up to her, somehow.
Nick tiptoed into Nicholas�s room and saw the empty bed, and cringed. Jessica had obviously gone to the trouble to find a babysitter for Nick so they could have some time alone. He left the nursery and entered his own room to find his wife curled tightly on her side of the bed. Nick saw the tear stains on her cheeks and cursed himself for being an idiot. He undressed and climbed in also, moving to spoon behind her. But Jessica, instead of relaxing into his embrace as he�d come to expect her to, curled tighter into herself and away from him. Nick got the hint and rolled over slowly. His greatest fear had apparently become a reality without his even knowing it. He�d let his work ruin his marriage, and that was the last thing he wanted to have happen.
The next morning, Jessica woke up and was shocked to find Nick asleep next to her. For a second, her heart fluttered with happiness. Then she remembered the night before and instead of turning to him, she crawled out of bed and into the shower. When she got up, Nick was making breakfast. She looked at him and her eyes filled with tears. Jessica rushed out of the house without saying a word to him.
Nick watched her go sadly. He tried to talk to her again at work, but Jessica�s answers were short, business like, and devoid of her usual fire. He watched her through his office window and his heart nearly broke. She wasn�t working, he could tell that. Instead she was staring at the notebook in front of her. But she hadn�t moved in nearly half an hour.
Nick sighed. He hadn�t wanted to hurt her or Nicholas...but it was apparent he�d managed to do both without realizing it. Nick forced himself to try to focus on the work in front of him. But instead, he saw a picture taken at Christmas. Actually, it had been taken in November, but he and Jessica had sent it out as a Christmas card. He and Jessica were wearing Christmas sweaters and red Santa hats, Nicholas was dressed in red overalls and a green turtleneck. Nick held Nicholas in one arm with his other wrapped protectively around his wife. This was one of the pictures they�d decided not to send. Nicholas had said something and both of his parents were looking at him proudly, laughing.
Nick stood up suddenly. He could NOT let his family go. Nick stormed out of his office. He wasn�t sure where he was going, but wasn�t terribly surprised to find himself at Cacee�s office. Maybe she�d help. He knocked, then opened the door to her impatient
�Come in!� Cacee was on the phone with her boyfriend, they had been going out for over a year now and it was serious. She�d let herself fall in love, which was something she�d vowed never to do. When Nick walked into her room, Cacee stopped mid-sentence. �I�ll call you back, Mike. Love you too. Okay.�
She looked at her best friend�s husband with barely concealed fury.
�You bastard.� Nick opened his mouth, but Cacee was already on her feet, yelling. �Jessica, who if you recall is your WIFE, came to my apartment this morning in tears. Crying because you don�t love her anymore. I�ve tried to tell her that you do love her. But after last night, I�m not sure I believe it myself. Last night was a last resort on her part...you PROMISED that you�d be home! Jesus, Nick! You�ve broken her heart over and over and I can�t stand by and watch you do it again!� Nick had stood silent during Cacee�s tirade, partly because he thought that maybe she�d let some bit of information slip, but mostly because he knew that he deserved to be yelled at. When she�d finished, Nick spoke softly, his voice choked with emotion and tears filling his beautiful blue eyes.
�I know. And I know that there�s no good justification for how I�ve been treating her lately...I didn�t intend to hurt her though. Cacee...I came to you because you ARE Jessica�s best friend. And right now, you probably have a better insight into her mind than I do. She won�t talk to me...I want to fix this, Cacee. I can�t lose her, she�s my life! But I don�t know how to make this better.�
Cacee stood for a while, considering Nick. He looked serious, desperate even. Cacee sighed. She�d known Jessica for years and knew that as angry as she was with Nick at the moment, she�d be miserable without him. She loved him that much...Cacee nodded.
�Okay. I�ll help you. BUT...if you screw up again, I�m telling her to divorce you. Got it?�
Nick nodded. He understood. And honestly, if he was in Cacee�s shoes, he doubted he�d be as forgiving. And, he was NEVER going to screw up again.
Two nights later, Cacee again took Nicholas over to her apartment to spend the night. Nick walked around his apartment, checking that everything was in order. He�d make Chicken Cordon Bleu, Jessica�s favorite, along with rice, steamed veggies, and a Caesar salad. The table was again set with their best dishes, but this time lavender candles scented like lilacs were burning and soft music played in the background. Nick prayed that Jessica would give him a chance to talk and not simply turn around and leave. The last two days had been unbearable. Jessica had taken to sleeping either on the couch or, if she went to bed first, kicking Nick onto the couch. He�d tried to be home but, while Nicholas had welcomed him back with open arms, Jessica had all but ignored his presence. She�d said approximately five words to him, and they�d been work related.
Jessica opened the door, dreading being home. Traditionally, when she and Nick fought, she stayed with Cacee or her parent�s. But since the Nicholas was born, that wasn�t an option. Now she had to deal with Nick for the whole weekend. At least she�d have Nicholas. It wasn�t fair to put him in the middle, and she knew it. But at the same time it was the only thing keeping her sane.
The first thing she noticed upon entering was that the lights were dimmed. She looked around, confused, and saw the table all set. She heard the soft sounds coming from the stereo and turned, still confused, towards her room. What she saw there had her stopping in her tracks. Nick was standing there, wearing black dress pants and a blue shirt which matched his eyes. He was staring at her in awe, holding a single pink rose. Jessica felt her heart hitch and cursed it for being so weak. She was still mad at him, darn it! He�d brushed her off over and over...
Nick, momentarily stunned by the sight of his wife in the candle light, finally remembered to walk towards her. He smiled gently and held out the rose. Jessica tucked her hands behind her back. She wouldn�t give in...she COULDN�T give in. She couldn�t afford getting hurt like that again.
Nick sighed and spoke softly.
�We need to talk.�
Jessica started to shake her head, but then nodded. She didn�t really want to, she was scared of what he�d say, but more than that, she was scared of what *she�d* say. Nick reached out to take Jessica�s arm to lead her to the couch, but Jessica stepped back, her face closing itself off from all display of emotion. She walked to the couch and sat down, her coat and bag still clutched tightly in her lap.
Nick took a deep breath and sat next to her.
�I�m sorry that I wasn�t here on Tuesday for your surprise.�
Jessica shook her head.
�It�s more than that Nick. You haven�t been here for weeks. You�ve gone back, locked yourself in your music and we can�t get in.�
Nick nodded.
�I know...�
�And do you know what your son said the other morning? He asked if you were home and when I said no, he looked at me, with YOUR eyes, and said �I miss Daddy.� Your own son said that Nick!� Jessica tried to swallow the tears that were welling in her eyes and throat, but remembering Nicholas�s hurt expression that morning, she couldn�t.
Nick�s eyes were filled with tears too.
�I know. I� so sorry...�
�NO!� Jessica jumped up and began pacing, to furious and hurt to stay sitting. �You promised Nick! Before we were married, you PROMISED not to do this...that you wouldn�t shut us out, but you have! I can�t do this anymore...I can�t take it.�
Nick stood, grabbing Jessica by the arms.
�Let me explain...�
�Explain what?! How the clients, the rappers and pop stars are more important to you than your son?! I�m used to it Nick. But I do NOT want my son to be used to being brushed off by his father. And I won�t allow it to happen.�
�I was doing it for you,� Nick exclaimed desperately.
�WHAT?!� Jessica all but shrieked.
�I was. I...� Nick took a deep breath and continued. �Ever since Nicholas was born, before that even, you�ve been saying that you want a house, you want a house. I�ve been working so hard to try to get enough money to afford the kind of house that you deserve!� Jessica opened her mouth, but Nick cut her off. �No, listen to me. I�ve seen your family�s house in Texas Jessica. And you�ve seen my family�s in Cincinnati. You belong in one of those huge mansions with a pool and a stable for your horse and a hundred bedrooms. That�s what I�m trying to give you...I know you deserve more than what I can give...I know that. I deal with the fact that you come from a colonial house with maids and a cook everyday. And I want to give you that again...I want you to be happy. And I�m so afraid that you�re not, that you regret marrying me instead of some rich big shot from Texas.�
Jessica stared at Nick, shocked. Finally she placed her hand against his cheek gently.
�Baby, did I ever say that I wanted a colonial mansion in Texas? I don�t. My house was big, but it was cold. It was empty. And I would never want to go back there. It�s not me, it�s not you, and I don�t want our son to have that kind of childhood. Your family�s house isn�t in the richest neighborhood, but I love it there. It�s warm and welcoming. I�m not comfortable at my family�s house and I haven�t been for as long as I can remember. I don�t need a mansion. I would be happy living with you and Nicholas and any other children we might have in a shack...as long as you let me in, here,� Jessica laid her other hand on her husband�s heart, allowing herself to feel hope for her marriage for the first time in a long time.
Nick smiled slightly through the tears which were rolling down his cheeks, mirroring those on Jessica�s. He turned his face and pressed a kiss to her palm.
�I�m sorry I didn�t tell you what I was doing,� he whispered. �I wanted it to be a surprise. I�ll never shut you out again.�
Jessica nodded, understanding now why he had done that. �Talk to me. Let me in. I need to know these things Nick.�
Nick reached up and took her hands in his.
�I know. I�m sorry. And if I ever start to shut you out again...tell me. Don�t let it come to this. I�ve spent the last two days terrified that you were going to leave. I couldn�t survive that, Jessica. You�re my life.�
Jessica shook her head.
�I don�t think I could ever stay away.�
Nick grinned and bent down to kiss her with all the pent up passion of the last few weeks. Jessica responded in turn and they made their way to their bedroom as their hands reacquainted themselves with each other�s bodies, all thoughts of dinner forgotten. It was slow, a show of hope and promises and love so deep that neither could imagine living without it. That night, Nick and Jessica lay in each other�s arms happily, both again feeling complete. Nick smiled as he kissed Jessica�s hair.
�Baby, earlier, you said something about any future children we might have?� Jessica nodded, her head pillowed on Nick�s chest. �Well,� Nick continued softly. �When do you think you might want to have these children?�
Jessica looked up at him and smiled. �How does nine months sound?�
Nick gaped down at her in shock.
�You mean you�re...we�re?!�
Jessica laughed, music to her husband�s ears, and shook her head.
�Not yet. At least I don�t think so. But I haven�t taken the pill in a couple weeks...and I think it�s the right time.�
Nick grinned.
�How long until we know for sure?�
�Probably about a month...�
Nick bent so his lips met hers.
�I can�t wait,� he whispered. Nick smiled as Jessica drifted off to sleep in his arms, thankful to have her back. It would take a lot of work, but he had no doubt that they would come through this, together, and stronger. It was the perfect day for them to have refund their love. It was Valentine�s Day.
***Three weeks and four days later***
Jessica hurried home, a huge smile on her face. Nick looked up from making dinner and met his wife�s kiss enthusiastically. In the almost month since they�d talked, he�d made a conscious effort to include Jessica in his life again. And Jessica, recognizing his effort, made sure to let him know how happy she was and how much it meant to her.
Nick grinned as Jessica pulled back.
�How�s Cacee?�
Jessica smiled as she bent to pick up Nicholas for a hug.
�She�s good. Things with Mike are going really well.�
Nick nodded.
�That�s good. Did you invite them to go out with us for St. Patrick=s Day next week?�
�Yep. Cacee said they�ll be there.� She beamed up at him. �I�m not sure about going though...I might feel out of place with everyone drinking.�
Nick gave her a confused look as he took Nicholas from her and set the little boy down.
�Why? Won�t you be drinking too?�
Jessica shook her head and leaned up to whisper in his ear,
�It�s not good for the baby.�
Nick pulled back to look her in the face. �The baby?� Jessica nodded. �We�re pregnant?!� Jessica nodded again, a smile appearing on her face. Nick grabbed her and spun her in a circle with a happy shout before stopping to kiss her hard on the mouth.
�We�re having a baby!� he exclaimed. Jessica laughed and nodded.
�We are,� she said softly.
�I love you,� Nick said softly.
�I love you,� she answered as she rose up to kiss him again.
The End!