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A Girl in Need Ch. 01

By: northlander



This is the first chapter of a story based on real life, about a crime that happens all too often. I am going to put it under romance because that is where the story is going to end up. I hope so anyway. Please let me know how you feel about it.

Life can be such a bitch, and then sometimes it gets better.

Life as a rural cop is never dull I reflected as I walked into the front door of Valley High School and went into the office. I leaned over the counter and saw Mrs. Pearson the office manager. I asked "Is Mr. Jackson around, he called the office asking that I call in today as he had something for me?"

Just then Tony Jackson the principal of the school and a squash opponent and gym partner of mine stuck his head out of his office door and said "Come on in Jake."

He looked pretty serious as he motioned me to sit. I asked "What could be so bad, I know most of the kids here and they wouldn't get into anything serious?" 

He replied "One of my teachers approached me this morning. She had been approached by a student who told her that her best friend had confided in her that she was in a sexual relationship with her father. Apparently it has been going on for some time!"

I got that kind of ashen taste in my mouth; I hated these calls, no matter what happened I was probably going to see a family destroyed today. Not for the first time I wished that I had stayed in a bigger city force. Had I done that I could have called the detectives and handed the case over and been out of there. As a country cop, I was it; the case was all mine and if I needed help from CIB that's all it would be. The responsibility was all on me. My next question was "How old is the girl in question"? 

He replied "She is eighteen, she graduates this summer. On the one hand I wish that this had remained secret, on the other, I can't imagine what her life has been like."

"How old is the girl who gave the information"?

"She is 18 also." replied Tony. 

I thought good, we won't need her parents. "Can you please bring her in along with a female teacher or the school nurse if you have one? What she will be saying is hearsay evidence, but she could give me some ideas as to how to get through to her friend. You had better come up with some excuse for me being in the school most of the day for the benefit of the rest of the students. This is something that we can't rush because of the potential repercussions. Another thing, does the girl have any younger sisters?" 

Tony replied "she has one younger sister here, I don't know about the elementary school but I can find out for you." He left to make some phone calls.

I used the school phone to call my boss at the office. I wasn't giving out anything by radio, knowing of the multitude of scanners monitoring our transmissions, from tow trucks to newshounds with all kinds of wannabees in between. "Hi Sarge, it's Jake Rogers."

The answer was "Like I didn't know already, what kind of troubles are you bringing me now?" He sounds gruff but he is all Cop and I can't think of one better that I would want backing me up.

"It looks like we have a case of incest on the go. The girl involved and the informant, her best friend are both over 18, but it looks like the abuse started when the girl was a young teen so I want to get a worker from Children's services involved in the case. Would you contact Helen Green the head there and use your dulcet tones to convince her to assign somebody and I will pick them up before I get round to interviewing the victim"

"Jake, one of these days that silver tongue of yours will get you into trouble but right now I'm glad it's you out there and that the call came in on your shift. I'll get hold of Helen and give her a heads up so that they can brief someone to expect you."

Like I said a heart of gold inside a gruff exterior. I'm one of his best investigators and first line supervisors, I know that and while I don't take any nonsense he still demands a lot of respect.

Tony had come back into the office. "The family has another daughter in elementary school, what happens now?"

I replied "Well if I and a case worker from Children's Services believe it necessary then both the younger girls will be taken into care. The victim is 18 so we will probably try to convince her to go to the Women's shelter here in town. A lot depends on what she tells us". Depending on what her friend tells us I will pick up a case worker and she can conduct the interview with me present. "First let's have a chat with the friend and see what she can tell us."

Tony ushered in a fairly young teacher and a teenage girl. "This is Ms Thomas who made the original complaint and Beth Young who is in her class." I motioned them to sit across the table from me.

"Ms Thomas, my name is Jake Rogers, I am an investigator with the local police detachment and my job is to interview Beth to find out how much she can tell us about this matter. Beth is 18, so I don't have to involve her parents, but I would like you to please sit in on the interview and just make sure that Beth feels comfortable and not pressured. Is that okay with you Beth?"

Beth nodded and sat facing me with her hands on the table. I said, "Beth, I was told by Mr. Jackson, that you had talked to Ms Young about one of your friends being sexually abused by her father, is that correct?" Beth nodded in the affirmative. I continued, "In that case I would like you to tell me in your own words, what your friend told you. You may feel that you are violating a secret and not want to, but remember it isn't just your friend who is at risk, but her sisters as well!"

Beth had tears in her eyes, "My friend is Ginny Jacobs, she lives out on a farm with her parents, and we work together at the department store downtown. Lately she has seemed really quiet so yesterday after school we went for a cup of coffee before work. The coffee shop was pretty empty so I asked her what the problem was. She wouldn't say at first, saying there was nothing wrong. Then she started crying, telling me she wanted to get out of town but she couldn't because of her sisters. 

I asked her why and she said because my father has been having sex with me since I was 14 and she was scared that if she left home, he would start in on her sisters. I said she should tell her mother and she said her mother knew, who did I think got her on the pill. Then she wouldn't say anymore, as if she was sorry she had said anything. We went to work and her dad picked her up later when we finished."

I said, "Thank you Beth, you have been really helpful. What I would like you to do is write down what you told me and keep that note. I can't see you being called to give evidence if charges are laid but it is possible. Now if you see Ginny before I do, please don't say anything otherwise she may run off, or get really mad at you for saying anything. I will be seeing her in about an hour."

Tony, I have to go down to Children's Services to pick up a case officer who will interview Ginny with me. I have to brief her first as to what we have, so I will be about an hour."

As I drove I thought of my own kids, how could a father do such a thing? Even worse how could a mother aid and abet? Not that this was anything new to me.

Arriving at the Children's Services Office I went in, the receptionist saw me, and said, "Go right in Jake, Helen's expecting you;

I rapped on her door, and walked in. Helen was seated behind her desk and a girl of about 30 or 32 was sitting in front of the desk. There was an empty chair beside her and Helen waved me to it.

"Jake," Helen said, "I would like you to meet Pat Williams, Pat this is Corporal Jake Rogers who we just love having on these cases. Jake, Pat is a new hand here. She has lots of experience; she transferred from the city to lighten her load so she can spend more time with her son so the pair of you have one thing in common."

I went over what I had been told by Beth, and that there were two more children involved and told Pat what I needed her to do, even though Ginny was now 18, the case began when she was 14 so the Agency would still be involved and that I would let Pat lead in the interviews unless there was something that I picked up on. Pat agreed to do so saying, "It's about time I was into a good solid investigation, in the city the office manager was so worried about having to call me back for court that he had me doing filing for about 3 months."

We stood and left the office. As we did so I couldn't help but notice that Pat was almost my height, was dressed really smartly and seemed to be all woman. This case was looking up, at least it seemed that I had a pretty good partner, but time would tell.

To be continued...

A Girl in Need Ch. 03



Sorry folks, I can't guarantee that there will be sex in this one either, the only reason I can give is that in real life, investigations and relationships take much longer than we see on TV, they don't have to be done in one hour less time for ads. Anyway Pat and Jake will be moving along a little more at least. Many thanks to Yellow Peril for his much appreciated efforts to keep the writer in line

*

Just before I got to the Jacobs' farm, my cell rang. I answered and heard Pat's voice. "Jake, the doctor has just finished examining Gail. He says that he can definitely say she has been sexually active, but not within the last few days. He figures that the swabs will not show a whole lot. That agrees with her statement."

I replied, "Okay. In that case, could you arrange a safe place for her and Paula for a few days until we get the investigation done?" She came back, "That's already being done. They will be safe. When will you be talking to the mother? I'd like to be there." I continued, "That is fine with me, I will probably talk to her tomorrow. I'm going to make the arrest, take him to the office, put him in the cells to think things over, and come back to the farm to search the place. I'll give you a call later. What is your cell number?" She gave me her number and hung up, and I left to arrest Jacobs. I arrived at the farm to find a hive of activity going on. There were two animal transports being loaded with cattle, two police officers in the middle of the yard and a short overweight man yelling at the two officers. I got out of my car and walked over to them. I said to the short man, "I'm Corporal Jake Rogers of the Provincial Police."

He immediately cut in, "Thank the Lord, somebody senior! Can you please tell these people to stop? I need those cattle; they represent all that I have in the world."

I looked right back at him and asked, "Are you Bernard Jacobs?"

He looked at me in surprise and said, "Yes, I am, why?"

"Mr. Jacobs, I have a warrant for your arrest on a charge of sexual assault. I have to advise you that you are entitled to retain and instruct legal counsel and I will provide you with an opportunity to telephone counsel as soon as is practicable. Anything that you say to me can be used in court against you! Please turn around and put your hands behind your back." He was stunned, but turned around. As I snapped the handcuffs on his wrists, he began indignantly spluttering, "This is ridiculous! I'm a minister, and I would never do such a thing!"

I turned to speak to one of the other officers. "John, search him and put him in the back of your cage car." Turning to the other officer, I instructed him, "Tony, stay here and ensure that Mrs. Jacobs doesn't destroy anything. We will take Mr. Jacobs back to town to the cells first, and then we'll come back and search the place. The house is now a crime scene. Nobody is allowed to enter it without our permission and presence." I then went into the house where I saw a woman, an older version of Ginny, sitting at the kitchen table.

"Are you Mrs. Jacobs?" She replied. "Yes, I'm Laura Jacobs."Her face showed signs of old bruising, and she was wearing a sweater over her dress, even though the room was warm. I was suspicious that she was covering something up, so I asked, "Mrs. Jacobs, would you please take the sweater off?" She looked down in shame and replied, "Do I have to?" Feeling sure that my suspicions were going to be proven true, I told her, "No, but I suspect that it will make my investigation a whole lot easier if you do." She removed the sweater, and both arms were a mass of bruises. I spoke softly to her, "Now, you aren't going to tell me that you fell down the stairs are you?" She shook her head. "No, these are from when my husband beats me."

"Mrs. Jacobs, I've just arrested your husband for sexually assaulting your daughters. He isn't going to be beating you again if we can avoid it!" She smiled, breathed a sigh of relief, and exclaimed, "There is a God after all! I've prayed and prayed that this would happen, and it finally has."

I went on to inform her that we were taking care of her daughters, too. "I need to let you know what's going to happen. We took Ginny to the Crisis Centre, and Gail and Paula have been taken into care. Your house is going to be treated as a crime scene for several days, and you will have to go somewhere else to stay during that time. I hope that you will take my advice and go to the Crisis Centre with Ginny. Now, I'm going to ask a police officer to come into the house with you, and watch while you pack clothing only for yourself and the girls. Then, when I get back after taking your husband to jail, we will search the house and seal it until our crime scene investigators can get here tomorrow. After they are done, and I think they will probably only have to process the girls' bedrooms, you will be allowed to come back."

She smiled in relief. "It will be such a pleasure to do that. I've wanted to leave for years, but never could get up the courage to do so. I don't have anywhere to go around here, and my parents are both dead (not that they would have done anything, anyway). Now I have a reason to leave and, just maybe, have a real chance of happiness with my girls!"

I called Tony in and told him what I wanted him to do, then John and I took Bernard back to town. We sat him down in the office interview room, where I told him, "You are being charged with sexually assaulting your daughters, Ginny and Gail. If, during the investigation, any other offences are revealed, you will be charged with those also. Do you understand what I have said?" He nodded, indicating that he did.

I briefly took down his information before escorting him into the cell block. In front of the cells was a desk with a phone. I told Jacobs to give me his belt, shoelaces, tie and all his valuables including his keys. I noted everything, other than the keys, on a property envelope and slid them inside. I kept the keys, knowing we would need them in the search. Then I gave him a list of our local legal eagles and told him to call the one of his choice, tell them what he was charged with, and take their advice. I then left, closing and locking the door. I could still see him, but not hear him while he was on the phone.

As soon as he finished, I went back into the cell block. I photographed him, took his fingerprints, and then locked him in a cell. I made quite a production of it. Nothing unnerves a prisoner as much as thinking you must have a pretty good case. It is especially unnerving if you act as though you don't care whether he talks or not. With that in mind, I told Jacobs, "I have a warrant to search your house and farm for evidence of the sexual offences, which I am now going to do. If evidence of other crimes is found, then I will be questioning you about that, also. In the meantime, you will stay locked in the cell here, and my advice is to think very carefully about your options." I then had Joe call in a guard, and Tony and I went back to the farm

On our arrival at the house, I saw four packed bags on the kitchen floor, and Tony and Mrs. Jacobs were sitting at the kitchen table. I showed Mrs. Jacobs the warrant to search the premises, and then I explained to her that we would be making a preliminary search now, but our crime technicians would be in the house the next day. I then asked her, "Is there any place that your husband keeps private?"

Pointing to a door off the kitchen, she said, "That is his study. He won't let me in there, even to clean. I don't have a key to it. Nobody is allowed in unless he is there." I had taken his keys when I put him in the cell, and it was just a couple of minutes before I found the key and had the door open I looked around the room, and saw a desk with a laptop computer on it. I had seen a computer in the kitchen, so I asked, "Mrs. Jacobs, do you have any access to the computer on the desk in here?"

"Please, would you call me Laura? I am beginning to get very annoyed at being called Mrs. Jacobs, and don't want to hear it any more. To be honest, I didn't even know that he had a computer in there. The only one we have access to is the one here in the kitchen, and Bernard never used it. I thought he used a typewriter to type his sermons. I didn't even know he knew how to use a computer!"

I called John and Tony into the kitchen and told them we were going to search the study. John was to handle bookcases, while Tony was to search the closets and, as the room had a wood floor, check for loose boards. I started in on the desk. I booted up the laptop, and when the screen came up for the user, I just clicked on the Bernard icon. There was absolutely no problem getting in as he didn't even use a password. I took a quick look through the drawers of the desk and found a digital camera. The first thought that came to mind was, He's been taking pictures. On his computer desktop, I found a folder marked 'Pics'. I clicked on it and the folder opened up to show a series of nude photographs of young girls! They included photographs of all three of the Jacobs girls. Also there were some of Laura, many showing bad bruising.

His email program opened up without any problem. It would be a gold mine for the Child Pornography Task Force. There were all kinds of emails with pictures attached. The computer would provide a door to at least one circle of producers, maybe more. That would be up to the Task Force. I wouldn't even pretend to know how to track all those emails down, but I was sure they would. I shut the computer down and, as I did so, Tony excitedly said, "Come over here, Jake, I've found something." He had found a loose board, and under it we found nude, compromising photographs of his wife and the three girls, as well as a book. The photos were numbered, and in the book was the information of when each photo was taken. We seized this material and, taking Laura and the clothing along with us, we headed back to the office.

On the way, I dropped Laura off at the crisis centre, along with the bags of clothes for her and Ginny. I explained to the counselor what had happened and, after arranging with Laura for her to come to my office the next morning, I left her in good hands. As I left, Laura put her hand on my arm and, with great emotion, said, "Thank you for giving me and my daughters a new life." I didn't think a lot about it at the time, as she was facing a tough road ahead by the time everything was over with. I thought it was likely that bail would be granted, and we would have to watch him very carefully at that point! Still, there was no way that she was going to have to face any problems with her husband for at least 5 days, and maybe more, after he went to jail.

John had been stationed at the Jacobs' house to provide security. We would have an officer there to protect the scene for at least two days in order to let the crime scene techs do their thing, so I made arrangements for off duty officers to work extra shifts to relieve John and protect the evidence. Just because a major occurrence happens doesn't mean that the normal work of the detachment stops till that major case is done. It just means that our resources are stretched that much thinner, and we get longer hours and overtime. I also called our crime lab in Sunbury and arranged for investigators the next day. Hopefully, with it being a holiday weekend, they could get the examination done fairly quickly.

I placed some of the photos that we had seized and the laptop computer on the desk in the interview room, and had Tony bring in Jacobs from the cell block. We sat him in front of the desk, securing him to it with handcuffs. Tony sat behind him where Jacobs couldn't see him. He took out his notebook and started making notes. I told Jacobs, "I warned you earlier that anything you said to me could be used in court against you. I gave you the opportunity to, and you did speak with a legal representative. While searching your private study under the authority of a search warrant, I found these photographs!" I showed him the pictures of his daughters and wife. I also showed him the pictures and emails of his daughters and other young girls that I had found on the computer to which only he had access.

I continued, "I have already told you that you are to be charged with sexually assaulting your daughters. You will now also be charged with assaulting them and your wife Laura. I will be forwarding this computer and any other electronic media we seize from the house, to our unit dealing with child pornography and, I can tell you now, you will likely also be charged with the possession, production, and distribution of child pornography, as will those with whom you corresponded. Do you have anything to say about all of this?"

He replied, "My lawyer advised me to say nothing until after he has seen me at the jail next week."

My answer to him was, "That suits me just fine, and I feel our case is strong enough that we don't need any statements from you to help us prove it. Now we will be asking that you be remanded in custody for a bail hearing." Our local Justice had already arrived, and he then came into the room, taking my seat. He handed me a bible, and I swore that the evidence I was to give was the truth. I gave my evidence to him and asked that Jacobs be remanded in custody until a bail hearing, as his release at the present time could result in interference in gathering evidence.

Jacobs was asked by the Justice if he had anything to say. His answer was 'No', so the Justice signed the remand warrant. I took over again and told Jacobs he would be taken to the Provincial Jail in Sunbury, where he would be held for a bail hearing sometime during the next week. I also informed him, "You will likely be held in protective custody, as people charged with these kinds of offences are not held in very high regard in jail. You had better do some serious thinking, and you had better have a serious talk with your lawyer about your future course of action!"

I told Tony that he was going to be working overtime, and sent him and a constable from the evening shift to take Jacobs to Sunbury. As I had already arranged, he was also to take the rape kits to the lab and turn them over to a technician so that work could start on them. They set out on what would be a long run. With all the paperwork being done, I could relax a little now. I called my boss at home and filled him in on what had happened, so that he could handle any questions. He thanked me and told me to take the holiday weekend, and have the other NCOs cover for me. Then I would be reassigned to work day shift until the case was complete. I didn't have much choice in the matter; nobody else would want this case, anyway.

I called Mom at my place to tell her the kind of case I had going, and let her know that I would be a while yet. Knowing the way I felt about kids getting hurt or assaulted, she asked, "Are you ok with things? How about if I take the kids over to my place? They love going there, and you know your Dad is in his element when they are there. We can keep them for the whole weekend, and then they will be there for our barbecue on Monday. Your sisters and the kids' cousins will all be there so they will have a ball. That way, you can work if you need to and not have to worry about them."

Mom's idea sounded great, so I quickly agreed. I talked to the kids as well, and it sounded like they were jumping for joy. When Granddad and Grandma were around, they lacked for nothing. They would be spoiled absolutely rotten, but the way things were, I couldn't have been happier. Tommy and Anne still missed their Mom so much, as much as I did, even after two years. Not for the first time, I wished that I had been more observant. If I had, then maybe Jenny would still be here with us. I knew I shouldn't blame myself for her death, but I still felt that I was at least partially responsible.

Just then, contrasting pictures slipped into my mind. First I remembered Jenny; dark haired, slim, petite, blue eyed with a fairly small chest, her need (or lack of) for a bra had been a standing form of humor between us. Then I thought of Pat, reddish blonde hair, fairly tall, a nice chest and shapely body. I gave my head a shake. I had to; it was the first time I had even thought of another woman since Jenny's death, and here I was thinking of a woman I had just met who may not even like me, let alone think of me in any personal way.

Thinking of Pat, I called her cell. "Hi, how are things going?"

"Fine, just getting my paperwork all cleaned up before I leave for the day."

"Were you able to locate a foster family for the girls?"

"Yes they are with Mr. and Mrs. Brooks at 450 Acacia Avenue, Clearville; they have acted as foster parents for us before."

"Laura Jacobs is at the Crisis centre with Ginny and she will be at the office here at 11 in the morning to give us her side of the story. Can you be here?"

She sighed, "Yes. I usually do my shopping Saturday morning, but I can get my aunt to look after Sean and do the shopping as well. He loves going around the stores. It looks like this is going to be a real dirty case, though, especially when it gets to court. Doing these interviews, like I did today, sort of leaves me with a dirty taste in my mouth. I just can't believe what people will do, even to their own children, yet I see it so often! All I want to do is go home and put my arms around Sean, cuddle him in to me, and try to protect him from this world. Trouble is, by the time I get home today, my aunt will have him fed, bathed and in bed asleep. He doesn't take long to go off on school days."

"Pat, you're preaching to the converted. After 12 years, I still get that feeling, that rotten taste in the mouth, the need to go home and wash that dirty feeling off my skin. I always do, and that is why my Mom has taken my kids for the weekend - to make it easier for me to function. Thinking about this gives me an idea; I owe you big time for the statements you took today. If we can, how about we pick up some takeout food, take it back to my place, and crack a bottle of wine to see if we can relax a little. How does Chinese food suit?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me," she said. "I haven't eaten all day, and I need something solid. I had better check with my aunt first, though, she may have plans for the evening. She is doing me a really big favor and I don't want her to feel that I am taking her for granted. I'll call you back shortly. Bye for now."

Within 5 minutes, Pat had called back to tell me that her aunt was staying home with Sean, and that supper sounded really good, so I told her I would meet her at my place in about 30 minutes. Then I called the Golden Dragon and ordered some food. Theirs was the best Chinese food in Clearville, at least in my opinion. I walked back to the washroom and, while I was washing my hands, I looked at myself in the mirror. Jake, what are you thinking about? You have only known this woman for a day, yet you are taking her to your home to eat? Where are you going with this? I began to think that, maybe, life was giving me a kick in the pants, that, just maybe, I was beginning to get out of the blue funk that I had been in since Jenny's death. I wondered what Jenny would think if she could see me now. Then I thought, The Jenny you married would be only too glad to see you begin to live a little. She wouldn't want to see you being miserable, lonely and closed off for the rest of your life.





A Girl in Need Ch. 03



I drove over to his place and parked in his driveway, noticing for the first time that he had a two car garage. I got out and walked around the house, seeing a general sort of neglect to the yard. In the back was a fenced off pool, but it was covered, and looked to have been that way all season. It was almost as if Jake had given up on the place. Just as I got back to my car, a gray Ford 4x4 SUV drove in. Jake jumped out, waving two big bags of food. He passed one to me so he could get his house keys out.

He apologized, "Don't be surprised that things don't look too great. For a couple of years my only priorities have been my kids and work, anything to stay busy and keep my mind off things that hurt. Don't worry, I'll start in on it; either that or get a gardener to work on it. The yard was Jenny's love; she was out here all the time. When we moved out here from the city, she wanted a big yard, something she hadn't had before. As it is now, Mom and Dad have a big yard and pool, so we go over there a lot"

He opened the door and motioned me in. I asked him where the bathroom was so I could freshen up. He pointed upstairs, "Up and to the left, that's the main one, but be careful and don't fall over the toys. Bathtime is a favorite time around here." I went up, and sure enough, there were bath toys all over. At least it was sparkling clean, which was a surprise as I had felt the house was neglected. Unless, of course, his Mom had been in, which would explain it.

I walked back down the stairs and into the living room. Jake had turned on a gas fire and a few lights. The food was out on a coffee table in front of the fire, and a sofa was pulled into place, making a comfortable area that one would almost call romantic. A little less light would have been the finishing touch. "What kind of wine would you like?" he asked. "Red or White?"

I asked for red, and he went out to the kitchen to return, a moment later, with a liter of Yellowtail Merlot - one of my favorite wines. Jake poured two glasses and put them down on the table amongst the boxes of sweet and sour chicken balls, chicken fried rice, pork and vegetable, and beef with bean sprouts. It was a veritable feast, and it was definitely needed. As we ate, he filled me in on what had happened when he went back to the Jacobs house, and what he had done for the rest of the afternoon. I had thought I had problems with paperwork, but they didn't even begin to compare with his. I told him what I had done with the girls, where they were, and with whom.

Jake relaxed back on the couch and said to me, "Pat, I have really enjoyed working with you today. You really impressed me with the cool, calm way that you got the girls to tell their stories. I don't know how anyone could resist you; you make them feel that you are so interested in them." He leaned over and refilled the glasses.

I don't know where it came from, but I just opened my mouth and the words came out, "Jake, I really didn't come over here to talk about the case, we can do that tomorrow. The idea was to forget about it for tonight and relax a little. Do you know, you are the first man I have had dinner with at his home in 5 years? You just make me feel so comfortable."

Jake looked at me closely for a moment and then said, "Pat, it is a first time for me, too. For the first time since Jenny died, I can actually sit in front of this fire and not feel lonely."

I replied, "Jake, your voice is warm and telling me one thing, yet your eyes tell me something different. They seem cold and hurting. You said earlier today that it was a long story. I have nowhere to go right now. Sean is in bed and I have all evening. I want you to please trust me and tell me what is hurting you so much."

Tears started running down his face as he began. "Jenny was two years younger than me. We were both army brats and our parents were best friends. We weren't stationed at the same place all the time, but we were often enough that Jenny and I frequently went to the same school. I helped a couple of times when a bully was bothering her, and I wound up taking on the role of her protector. Not too many guys wanted to tangle with me, as I was a pretty hefty kid. Spending my holidays doing construction with Grandpa had seen to that."

"Both our dads ended up as Warrant Officers, and were trained in Special Forces. They went on special assignments from time to time. Eventually, because of some kind of problem, Dad left the Army and came home here to the family construction business to take over the reins from Grandpa. Jenny's dad stayed where he was in the Armed Forces. We still used to get together three or four times a year and remained fast friends."

"When Jenny was 12, her father was sent on a UN peacekeeping mission to Cyprus. His patrol was out one day in an armored car patrolling the Green Line. He had his head up out of the hatch when a Turkish soldier cut loose with a machine gun, killing him and wounding another soldier. Losing her dad hit Jenny hard, far harder than anyone realized. For him to go away so hale and hearty, and then come home in a coffin was devastating for her."

"She and her mom bought a home in Ottawa, her mom joined the Federal Civil Service, and they were getting by pretty well. We still saw them a lot as Mom and Anne were good friends, just about as close as you can get. They would come to see us and we would go to see them, so when I went to the University of Ottawa, it only made sense that I stayed with 'Aunt Anne' and Jenny. As Mom put it, that way I would get a lot more work done and a lot less partying!"

"Things between Jenny and me started slowly. In fact, I can't remember any sudden fiery feeling of love. We started going out on the occasional date, a movie, a stop for a burger, or just for a walk. Feelings developed, and then suddenly we were kissing and we would rather be together than with somebody else. Jenny had started at the University by that time, so we went back and forth together in my car. One day, it just happened. Aunt Anne called to say she was working late, so Jenny made supper - lasagna, if I remember right. When we were finished, we washed the dishes, a little picture of domesticity. I sat down on a chair and pulled her onto my lap, and that's when the fireworks started. My hand slipped on to her breast, we both started breathing heavier and, somehow, we found ourselves upstairs on Jenny's bed, naked as jaybirds, making passionate love, both of us complete neophytes and not taking any precautions at all. Believe me, after we came to, we spent the next three weeks right on the edge until her period started as usual."

"Of course, when Aunt Anne got home, the proverbial stuff hit the fan! She just had to look at our faces to know what had happened. "So, you two finally did it!" she said. "I wondered how long it would be before it happened." Then she picked up the phone, and I figured that I was in for it. She dialed Mom, and when Mom answered, Aunt Anne said, "Well, May, what we thought would happen, has. What shall we do with the pair of them? I came in and found them looking like two kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar." She listened for a moment and then put the phone on speaker, and we had a round table discussion. The big decision was that we would not do anything major, like marry, until we both finished school. I was to get an apartment, and any further sexual play was to take place there, not in Jenny's bedroom."

"That's what we did, and we played it cool. Jenny went on the pill, we kept any sex activity to my place, and we kept the parents in the loop. I bought Jenny an engagement ring when she had 18 months left to go in school."

"In my last year, I was taking a law enforcement course as filler. One of the instructors was an Ottawa police sergeant. I got talking to him after classes. He arranged some ride-alongs for me, and I ended up applying to the Ottawa Police for a position as a constable. I called Dad, told him what I was doing, explaining that it wasn't so much that I was against going into the construction business as it was that I just needed to prove myself in another field, just like he did in the Army. He couldn't argue with that, so I went ahead. I did well in the tests, was offered a position and, immediately after graduating, I entered the Police Academy. One of my classmates, Jim Lee, and I became fast friends, even though we kept vying for top marks in the various tests. Eventually, he graduated top of the class and I was second. Jim, his wife Lori, Jenny and I became almost a unit."

"My joining the Ottawa Police had become a bone of contention between Jenny and me. I felt I had to prove myself; she wanted me to stick to the construction business that I knew so well. Hell, from when I could first swing a hammer, I was on a crew every time I was out of school. I thought for a while that, if anything were going to split Jenny and me up, that would be it. By this time we had moved in together. Our parents had only nominally objected, and were just pressing us to be sure we knew what we were doing."

"Jenny finally opened up and said that she was scared that something would happen to me while I was at work. I told her, "Jenny, this is something I have to do. Just like my Dad did his hitch in the Army to prove what he could achieve on his own, I have to prove to myself that I am Jake Rogers, not John Rogers Junior, who owes everything to his Dad."

"When I told her that, she softened up and told me, "If that is the case, and it won't be forever, then I'm pretty sure I can handle it. I'll try anything once to support you."

"Things went fine while I was at the Academy, but once I was out on the street she began to worry more, holding on to me before I left, lighting up when I got home."

"We got married, and it was the big obligatory Police wedding with me in dress uniform, Jim Lee the same as my best man. My platoon stood outside the church with the arch of batons for us to walk under. We tried to let Jenny know that she was joining a big family, that they were all there for her, but she still had a hard time. For the first couple of years, things were not too bad. Jenny had found a position as a teacher and had lots of work to keep her mind off other things. After a year, we decided to have a child. She discontinued the pills, and within two months Tommy was on the way. Jenny and I were really happy, and were looking forward to his arrival."

"After about 6 months, Jenny began to have back and leg problems, so the Doctor recommended that she stay home until the baby was born. Then she became really clingy and hated me going to work, and was overjoyed when I got home. She wanted us to get out of the city and come back to Clearville where her family was. We consulted Doctors about her feelings and couldn't get anywhere. They felt she would be alright after the baby was born and she had more to occupy her."

"Clearville then had its own police force. I knew the Chief well, so I wrote to him, asking if there were a position open. He wrote back, telling me that there was a position open as a Constable and, based on my marks at the Academy and the reports of several supervisors in Ottawa, (He had his contacts, too) he would be pleased to recommend me to the Police Board. The pay was a little lower, but he felt that, should I keep up my progress, I wouldn't be a Constable for long. So, that's how I came to be in Clearville."

"We moved here after Tommy was born. Mom and Dad were pleased, of course; another grandchild was here, and they could see him any day. They gave us a deal on this house, much more than I really could have afforded on a Constable's pay, and things were going really well. Jenny was really happy again, I was getting home on time and spending more time with her, and within a year I was promoted to Corporal. There was some grumbling from other officers, but the Chief was able to justify the promotion on my work record alone."

"Two years after Tommy was born, we decided on a brother or sister for him, and it wasn't long before Anne was one the way. This time the pregnancy was a lot easier on Jenny. She had no morning sickness, no back or leg problems, and, right on schedule, Anne came into the world. She was a great baby, no fussing, she slept well, and Jenny couldn't have been happier. At least, not until the kicker came into our lives."

"My police chief and the sergeant, who was his deputy as well as his best friend, both decided to retire. The Police Commission had to look at hiring two new officers and making somebody Chief. One of the members brought forward the possibility of contracting the policing of the town to the Provincial Police. As it was, we were paying them for specialist services like lab work and identification and for extra personnel for large events. Against a lot of opposition, this was how things were done. All of us were hired by the Ontario Provincial Police and, luckily, I retained my rank. Unluckily, our problems returned."

"Because of our shift system, I worked fewer days, but longer hours. I didn't work full nights, but if a major occurrence happened when I was on call, I would be called out, with no guarantee when I was going to be back. Because we were now responsible for the surrounding area, there were far more occurrences and I was away from home a lot more. Jenny's old fears returned in spades. She kept them hidden for about two years, but they became worse and worse until all she wanted was for me to get out of police work and into construction."

"Again, we tried the Doctors route, but they could only get so far and no further with her. She would get so far, and then she would block them out. Then one October night a little over two years ago, disaster struck! John Lee, our friend in Ottawa, was assisting with traffic control at an accident on the main highway when a car hurtling came out of the dark, the driver ignoring all the flashing lights, and hit John, throwing him about a hundred feet and killing him instantly. Of course, Jenny and I went to the funeral. I was only one of around 5000 officers from all over who attended, but Jenny and I were, as best friends, standing with Lori - and we couldn't help but hear their two children asking, "Mommy, where is Daddy?"

"We had been planning on going right home, but Jenny just instantly turned to me and, through her tears, said, "Jake, I'm not coming home. I'm going to stay at Mom's. Lori needs me to help her with the children. I can't be a police wife any longer. I can't face the prospect of someday having to tell my children that Daddy isn't coming home any more. I know that there is always risk, but I can't handle the increased risk that you and every officer face. I can't stand by and watch you put on a bulletproof vest, buckle on that gun, and walk out the door, not knowing if I will ever see you alive again!"

"I was stunned! I took Jenny and the children to her Mom's and tried to argue her out of it. She just wouldn't come back with me. Eventually, my mother convinced me to go home while she tried to talk to Jenny. I went home, and I talked to Jenny and the kids every day. Finally, Jenny told me she was coming home. She said, "I've been talking to Mom, and I finally admitted that this all comes from Dad being killed in Cyprus, that I was devastated when he was killed, but was convinced that I couldn't show it, that I couldn't cry, I had to be brave for Mom. Mom finally just sat me down and told me, "Jenny, even if your Dad had known that going on the UN Mission would get him killed, he would still have gone. He saw it as his job and his duty to his country and to the world. There are many men like that, men who don't ask 'Why me?' when something comes up, they just get on with it. Jake is one of them. He sees his job as a way of giving something back, as a duty to his country and to himself."

"Jake, I'm coming home, I'll do some Christmas shopping tomorrow while we're still here, and we'll be home in two days. I love you."

"Those were the last words I heard her say. She went shopping, and on her way home she was going through a green light when an impaired driver came through the red on her left and hit her. Even though she had her seat belt on, the snap to the side ruptured her aorta and she bled to death in a couple of minutes. Fortunately she had left the kids with her Mom, so they were fine. Ever since then I have felt responsible for her death. If I had just not been so obstinate, if I had only left the police and joined Dad, she would still be alive."

With that, Jake burst into tears. I couldn't help but slide over on the sofa to put my arms around him and hold him tight. I softly said, "Jake, it isn't your fault. Jenny had problems that she couldn't talk about for a long time, and even then it had to be her Mom that she talked to, someone who had gone through that same trauma with her. Had you quit the police, she may never have resolved the problem and, while it might not have been as bad, it would still have been there whenever she was without you. Unfortunately, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That can happen to anyone, even you."

Jake looked at me, with the beginnings of a smile showing through his slowly drying tears. "There must be something about you that inspires confidence. This is the first time that I have told anyone the whole story, or, in particular, just how I feel. Actually, I feel like in some way a weight has been lifted off of me. Even though we have had a rotten day dealing with the worst, I am glad for this day. This is the day I got to meet you, Pat Williams, the best day for me since my mother called me to tell me about Jenny, and the world I knew came crashing around my ears!"

I hugged Jake again. The smile he had just given me had finally included his eyes. His lips brushed mine and, throwing caution to the winds, I kissed him. We kept it going, hotter and hotter, and I felt his hand start pressing on my breast. I wanted him to just take me upstairs and make mad passionate love to me, but, to my surprise, he drew back. He looked at me and smiled again. "There is nothing I would like more than to take you to bed, but I would forever wonder if it were a real feeling between us, or just the result of an incredibly emotional day. If there is going to be anything between us, and I really hope there will be, I would like it to be the result of getting to know you properly, not something done in the heat of the moment."

"Jake, I don't know whether to love you or hate you for doing this, but I certainly know that I respect your decision a lot. It takes a pretty good man to talk like that. Now, I had better go home, take a cold shower, and get ready for tomorrow. If I have any more wine or kisses, I'm likely to just stay right here, and I hate going to work in the same clothes two days running."

Jake thought a moment before replying. "If you get in to the office by about 11 tomorrow morning, that should give us lots of time, as there is just the one interview. Also, while I remember it, would you and Sean like to come to a barbecue at my Mom's place on Monday? It is a holiday, and Sean can meet a bunch of new kids. Tommy and Anne will be there, plus my sister's kids. He should have a fun day, and you will get to meet a few more people,"

I grinned, "Okay, that does sound like a lot of fun. I'll see you tomorrow morning." He walked me out to the car and, before I got in, he pulled me close and gave me a soft parting kiss. I drove home in a daze. I had never in my life met anyone who could turn the heat up like Jake. When I got to my Aunt's, I felt like waltzing up the driveway and into the house. When she saw me, Aunt Chris said, "Wow, who got you going? You look absolutely stunned!" to which I replied, "Oh, just the cop I was working with today."




A Girl in Need Ch. 03



"Has he asked you for a date, and does he have a name?"

"His name is Jake Rogers, and he has asked me to a barbecue at his family's place."

"Well, I had something to do on Monday, anyway, so that will give Sean and you something to do. I must say, when you pick a guy, you really pick one, and I'm really surprised."

"What do you mean?" I asked, only to be laughingly told, "You'll find out on Monday!"

To be continued



A Girl in Need Ch. 04



Continuing the story of the romance between Jake (Our Police officer) and Pat (our Child Services worker) both are single parents. Set against the backdrop of an active investigation into child abuse that they are both intimately involved with. This story won't make a whole lot of sense without reading parts 1, 2, and 3. All names are figments of the writer's imagination and are not depictions of any places or persons living or dead apart from some real cities that somehow got into the script. Parts of the story are based on real events which have had parts changed to avoid identifying those events. As to what is real and what isn't, I leave to the reader to decide. I also have to thank my partner in crime, Yellow Peril, without whose editing, I shudder to think of the result.

Jake

After Pat went home last night, I really couldn't believe the way that I felt; while I still felt love for Jenny, it was as if she had finally convinced me to let her go and move on with my life.

I had a restless night's sleep, filled with lots of dreams, mostly of Pat. I would have willingly taken her to bed last night, had I not felt that it might have been just a reaction to the day that we had had. Today should be quieter; we were only going to interview Laura Jacobs and set up the crime scene investigators. Maybe I would have time to see my kids for a while this afternoon. I sure missed them last night, even though I had talked to them on the phone.

I arrived at the office around eight, and was delighted to find Sherry Deline and Al Jones of the crime lab waiting for me. They were two investigators that I had lots of confidence in."What do you have for us?" Al asked. "Something challenging, I hope." I brought them up to date on the situation they were facing.

"I have Bernard Jacobs charged with several counts of sexual assault, so what I am looking for is specific evidence that he was ever in the girls' beds, especially any body fluids. Just to be sure, treat all bedrooms the same as things could have happened differently than the girls remembered. Also, we found photographs of the girls, the mother and other females. There is a digital camera in the desk drawer, and we have already seized a laptop computer and pictures. The photos don't seem to be taken in the bedrooms, so there may be a studio in the house or outbuildings. Also, look for any hiding spots; we found one in the study beneath the floor. Al, I'll have Tony show you the way to the house. I have a different little job for Sheri. All she will need is a camera." Al replied with a nod, "Okay, Jake, that seems clear enough. In other words, give the place a good going over."

"That's just about it, Al." Turning to Tony, I asked him, "Are you ok with this?" and got his nod in reply. "Sherri, would you please get your camera and come with me? What I want is a set of photos of Laura Jacobs showing the bruises she has from her husband, as most of them are in places hidden from public view." Smiling, I continued, "I don't think she is likely to let me take them. It shouldn't take long. She is at the Crisis Centre, and I don't think they will do anything to hinder us there."   Just as Sherri and I were about to depart, Tony came up to me. "Boss, can I ask you a personal question? What happened to you? Yesterday you were as serious as can be, just like you have been for the last two years. This morning you breeze in like you actually enjoy being here. You are still right on the ball, but you are acting like a different person. I don't mind, you understand, and I hope it stays that way, but what happened?"I put on a serious expression before answering, "Watch it, buddy! I know you're only sucking up because you know performance reviews are coming up."

Then I couldn't help it and had to laugh as I carried on. "I don't know what the difference is, but I feel like a new person. It's been a long time coming."

Tony looked at me quizzically, then laughed. "If you ask me, Pat Williams is what happened; the immovable object met the irrestible force and has moved quite a bit." With that, he left for his car, laughing as he went, and Al followed in the Identification Unit van.

Sherri and I went over to my car, where she asked, "Is the wife in bad shape, Jake?"

"The scars and bruises I could see seem to be healing," I replied. "Whether she will let you see the rest, I just don't know. I hope so; it could really improve our case and would go a long way toward negating any criminal charges against her. If she can be shown to be acting under coercion, then it gives her an out!"

When we arrived at the Crisis Centre, Cathy was the counselor on duty. She was an old yoga buddy of mine, and as soon as she saw me she exclaimed, "Jake, I haven't seen you in a coon's age! Where have you been hiding?"

"Cathy, I don't know if you heard, but Jenny was killed in an accident about two years ago. It kind of took the urge for yoga and weight training right out of me. I'm feeling better now, and am going to have to get back in to it soon." Cathy looked shaken. "No, I hadn't heard, and I didn't see anything about it in the paper. I'm so sorry to hear that!" I told her the funeral had been in Ottawa, as she was buried near her father. Cathy had been away completing her education at the time.

I got back to business. "Anyway, Cathy, the reason we are here is to see Laura Jacobs. I want Sherri to get some photos of her bruises after being beaten by her husband. Can you take Sherri in to see Laura? Also, I'd like a little chat with Ginny Jacobs. I'll be in the kitchen helping myself to coffee." Isobel Laur, an older volunteer, yelled out from the kitchen, "Come on in, Jake, we promise not to bite!"

I sat chatting with the women in the kitchen for a few minutes until Cathy came in and informed me that Ginny was waiting in the office. I got up and went through to the office to find Ginny looking unsure of herself and sitting huddled in the corner, as if for protection. My heart went out to her.

"Hello, Ginny. Please, you don't have to worry about a thing - everything is ok. Are you comfortable with your Mom being here at the center with you?"

"Yes, I really like having her with me, but where are my sisters? I miss them."

"Right now, they are living with Mr. and Mrs. Brooks until we get this all straightened out."

"I know them! Their daughter, Monica, is in grade 11 at my school. They are really nice. But what's going to happen to my Dad?"

"He is going to appear in court next week, when it will be decided if he gets bail or not. If he does, he will be prohibited from approaching you, your sisters or your Mom. I do have a question for you, though, if you feel up to answering." She looked at me quizzically. "I'll try."

"Did you tell your Mom what your Dad was doing to you?"

She nodded, "Yes, the very first day he came to my room."

"What did your Mom do about it?"

She went up to Dad and said to him, "If you hurt my daughters, I'll ruin your life. It may take me a long time, but if you aren't dead you will wish you were."

"What did your Dad do?"

"He stood up and slapped her across the face, then hit her three or four times, saying she had better be careful, or he would really hurt her."

"Did your Dad hit your Mom a lot?"

"Almost every week."

"Thank you, Ginny," I said. "What you have told me clears up any questions I had about your Mom."

Just then Sherri walked frowning into the office. "I have what you asked for. Whoever did that really used her as a punching bag! He must have a real mean streak."

I told Ginny what was going on, and reassured her that I would see her in a few days. Then Sherri and I left. I dropped her off at the Jacobs' place to catch up with Al while I went back to the office to write up my notes.

At about 10.30 that morning, I was sitting in the coffee room when I saw Pat walk in the office door. I went out, took her coat and seemed to lose my head for a moment. She was dressed in a black sweater that emphasized her breasts, and black pants that fitted her lower body very well. She almost took my breath away. I whispered to her, "If we weren't in the middle of the office, I would kiss you right now." She just smiled back at me as I took her into my office.

------------

Pat

I got up that morning, wondering what lay ahead. First I decided to take a nice, relaxing bubble bath. Then I dressed in a robe and got to the table just as Aunt Chris and Sean sat down for breakfast. I ate with them, and then played a game with Sean before getting him ready for a trip to the stores with my Aunt. As Chris got ready, she looked at me with a smile. "I heard the bath running and smelled the bubble bath; I wonder, just what kind of work is this today?"

I just laughed at her and said, "We are interviewing a battered woman today, so I have to look good." Looking back over her shoulder, she remarked, "This must be some cop you're working with! I wonder if I know him?" She had a grin on her face a mile wide. I really wondered, What does she know that she isn't telling me?

I don't know what got into me, but I decided to go for the casual look. I decided on a figure hugging black sweater with tight black pants, finishing it off with a short jacket and boots. Looking at myself in the mirror, I thought to myself, Well, you're really going to make him regret not taking you to bed last night. I felt really good about myself, for a change. It has been so long since I last dressed up to make an impression on a man!

When I walked into the police station, Jake was in the coffee room, right at the back of the office. He came out to meet me and, as he walked up to meet me, the expression on his face was priceless. His smile was dazzling, and he seemed a bit taken aback. He took my coat from me and whispered, "If we weren't in the middle of the office, I would kiss you right now." That was the exact impression I had wanted to make. I couldn't believe the way I felt about Jake, especially since I had met him only yesterday. I still thought about Geoff, but our love had been more like a quiet togetherness than one built on passion. With Jake, there was a flame burning between us, and the closer we were, the hotter it got.

In Jake's office, we spent some time talking about the progress of the case, and he brought me up to date with the events of the morning. He told me about Laura Jacobs being badly beaten, and we discussed how my office could provide counseling for the girls. Jake wanted to make sure that Ginny wasn't left out. Everything had started when she was much younger, so she should be included. Jake had been told that Bernard Jacobs would be attending a bail hearing next Friday. He thought Jacobs would probably be released on bail, so the Crown would be asking for the bail conditions to be that he had to stay away from Laura and the girls, and that he also had report to the Police daily.

---------------

Jake

After about 15 minutes, Laura Jacobs arrived at the station and I brought her into my office. I closed the door for privacy. I first made sure she felt comfortable, and then I introduced Pat as the Children's Services case officer who had looked after her daughters.

Laura turned to Pat and said, "Thank you for what you have done for my girls. All I want is to have my girls back with me."

I started the recorder and began the interview.

"Laura, I have to interview you, as painful as it may be. So far, from what I have learned, I do not think you have played an active role supporting what your husband has done, so I am treating you as both a witness and a victim. If, during any part of the interview I begin to think that you may have committed any crime, I will stop the interview and advise you of your rights. You are welcome to have legal representation. Do you understand what I have said?" She replied, "Yes I do." I then asked, "Do you wish to have a lawyer present?" to which she replied, "No," so I continued. "What your husband is alleged to have done is called Incest."

At that point Laura amazed me. She held up her hand as if to stop things, and asked, "For it to be incest, doesn't there have to be a blood relationship? I don't want him getting off on a technicality, but Bernard Jacobs isn't the father of any of my girls!" I heard Pat's gasp even over mine. I could hardly believe what I had heard.

Laura continued, "Let me explain. I grew up in a religious community in the Ottawa Valley. One of the big beliefs was that you obey your father in all things. I was 17 years old. Bernard was 23, had been to Divinity College and was the assistant Pastor in our community. He was always hanging round our place looking at me; I thought he was a creep."

"Next to our farm was the Forbes place. I went to school with their children, Colin, who was the same age as I was, and his sister Jessie, who was two years younger. I was allowed to go to their place as long as Jessie was there; I wasn't supposed to be alone with Colin. Colin and I got along fine, and Jessie would always leave us alone if we asked. As we grew up as teens, Colin and I had developed real feelings of attraction toward each other. Of course, we knew what some of the other kids at school did, but there was never anything between us other than some heavy kissing and light petting. We had talked about finishing school and getting married (daydreams for both of us), but we hadn't got really serious."

"About two months before my 17th birthday, we were sitting together at supper and chattering away as kids do, and we got talking about our plans for our last year in high school. My father looked over at me and told me that there would be no need for me to go to school for my last year. As a wife, I would not need more education. Assistant Pastor Jacobs had been offered a post as Pastor at a congregation in the north, near Clearville. He had asked for my hand in marriage, and my father told me that I would be married to him on my 17th birthday."

"I couldn't believe what I had heard. It came right out of the blue. I then told him that I loved Colin and I wanted to marry him. He then told me that I could not marry outside the church, and that I would marry whomever he tells me to marry. He said that Pastor Jacobs was a fine man, and that I would come to love him in time."

"I ran crying to the room I shared with my sister. My mother followed me up the stairs, where she hugged me and told me that my father wanted only the best for me. She said he was just using his right to decide, as her father did for her."

"Our bedroom overlooked the roof of a summer kitchen on the side of the house that had a fairly low side, and it was easy to reach the ground. That night, after my parents had gone to bed, was the first time that I slipped across that roof and went in search of Colin. He lived in a single floor house, and I could easily reach his window with a short stick. I rapped on his window, and he opened it, almost as if he had been waiting for me. I told him that I needed to talk to him, and he told me he'd be right out."

"He came out the back door and, to avoid being heard, we went across to the barn. We sat there on a bale of straw. Colin had his arm around me, as I was shaking and scared, while I told him what my father had said. Colin got upset and told me my father couldn't do that, it was against my rights! I told him that, in my church, women don't have any rights; they do as their men folk tell them."

"Then Colin said we could run away together, but I told him I was scared that they would come after us, that I was only 16 and I thought they could make me come back. I also thought that if I did successfully run away, then I would lose all contact with my family, and they would be forbidden to speak to me again. Since my father was the one trying to do this to me, I wouldn't be bothered about never seeing him again, but I would miss having my Mother and sister around. I loved them and would really miss them. All I could think of was us making the best of the time we had left before I had to marry Pastor Jacobs."

"Colin took me in his arms and kissed me. He promised me that we would have the chance to be together sometime in our lives, and that he would wait for that time. I took this as teen talk at the time. He kissed me again, this time full on the lips, for far longer and more urgently. Eventually we made love in the hay, madly and crazily, without ever thinking about protection. We didn't know anything about sex, other than the little we had learnt in school. Our parents had never talked to us about it, so we were just asking for trouble. This was just the first night of many during the next 5 weeks. We didn't have sex every time, but we did on many such nights."

"Eventually the worst happened. I came back across the roof and when I climbed into our bedroom, I was faced with my father and mother. My father asked me where I had been, and I told him I had gone to meet Colin, that I loved him and wanted to marry him. My father started removing his leather belt, telling me I would marry whomever he told me to, and started beating me. He beat me so badly that when I became Bernard's wife three weeks later, I was still bruised."

"Bernard and I were married early in the day. There was a little celebration before he drove me to Clearville, where we stayed at a hotel for a few days. The first night we were there, we went to our room where Bernard told me to take off my clothes. I was in a panic as to what he was going to do. Sure enough, as soon as I was naked, he took off his belt and told me he was going to beat Colin Forbes out of me. He beat me until I screamed, then threw me down on the bed and had sex with me."

"It was just a few days later that I started suffering from morning sickness. I was able to hide it for a while. I was sure that the baby had to be Colin's. When I finally told Bernard that I was pregnant, he immediately took it that the baby was his. He said, "Praise the lord, my seed is planted." When I told him that I wanted a doctor, he just brought me into town and let me choose. I told him I wanted a woman Doctor, not a man. He agreed with that, as he didn't think it right that a Pastor's wife should be seen intimately by another man."

"That's how I met Dr. Sheila Wallace. She became a confidante and friend, as well as a Doctor. Thanks to all the beatings I received, even while I was pregnant, I began to hate my husband, and decided that after the birth of the baby if the baby were not Bernard's, I would try to make sure that he never got me pregnant. When Ginny was born, Sheila had her blood tested with the result that there was almost no chance that Bernard was the father. She started supplying me with spermicidal cream that I kept hidden. I used it every night, and managed to avoid sex most of the times when I was most fertile. When the IUD came out, Sheila fitted me with one so I no longer had to use the creams. Bernard was never the most interested lover; as long as he got off, he didn't care about how I felt, so I was never in much danger of being found out."

"Twice, I got away from him. When my father started having heart trouble, I had Sheila remove the IUD and went back to the valley to help nurse him. For the entire month that I was there, I slept with Colin just about daily. I couldn't get enough of his love. I needed him inside me, someone who cared for me, and I never made him use any kind of protection. Of course I conceived again. Once I got home, I made a big fuss over Bernard, telling him how I had missed him, and I don't think he ever even suspected that Gail was not his daughter. After Gail was born, Sheila fitted me with an IUD again. The next time I went back to the valley, when my mother had breast cancer, I deliberately had Sheila remove the IUD again. I worked out with my sister that I would look after Mom during the day, and she would be there at night. That way I could live with Colin at his place. He had never married, and, to this day, I haven't told him that he has three daughters."




A Girl in Need Ch. 04



"When Bernard started interfering with Ginny, I secretly put her and Gail on the pill. I had threatened Bernard that if he hurt the girls I would ruin him, but I could never quite figure how to do it. I didn't want him hurting Ginny, but we had nowhere to go and no money at the time. Bernard had no head for money. Eventually, I convinced him to let me look after our finances, and we started to put money aside. He wasn't the only one who could keep secrets, though. I could too. On Sheila's recommendation, I kept a journal detailing when he was with the girls. I have all the dirty details in notebooks hidden away in the house. I made copies of each one so they are in several places, including my safety deposit box at another bank; something else Bernard doesn't know about."

-----------

Jake

At this point I stopped Laura. "Can we use all this material you have in court, or at least as reference material?" She replied, "Yes you can have whatever you want. I will bring it as soon as I can go home and get it. Are you going to be here?" I told her I would. I needed to get all this material from Laura typed up, so I locked up the tape recording till I had access to a secretary. Laura then left, promising that she would be back after the holiday.

I sat back and looked over at Pat. "Can you believe the hate she has for her husband?" She replied, "Absolutely!" and continued, "Laura is in the same position as many women, forced into a loveless marriage that they see no chance of getting out of. It becomes a chore, and if the situation is bad enough, it becomes hate. Honestly, I don't think we have heard the last of it. I am willing to bet that there will be more that comes out. You know the old proverb about a woman scorned!"

I stood up and, with a sigh, admitted, "I don't know about you, but after that I just can't face doing anything more work on this today. How about we go out for a nice peaceful, normal late lunch? We can go to Brenda's; her place does really good soups, sandwiches and pies." Pat replied, "Sounds good to me, but it's my turn to pay."

We left her car at the office and headed over to Oliver's Restaurant. Brenda was our waitress again. I forgot to mention earlier that Brenda is half owner of the place, together with her husband Oliver, who does the cooking and makes fantastic pizza. I asked Pat if she were okay with Pizza, and she was, so we had an Oliver's Supreme. It has a delicious crust with just about everything on it.

After we devoured it, Pat playfully whined, "Jake, in the last two days with you I must have gained at least two pounds." I couldn't help myself, it just slipped out, "Pat, if so, they are a very attractive couple of pounds." What I didn't know was that Brenda was standing behind me and heard every word. Pat blushed as she looked up and saw her.

Brenda looked at Pat and laughed. "Who the heck is this guy you are with, and what did you do with our Jake?"

We couldn't help but join in her laughter when Pat replied, "It must be having to put up with me for a day or so. Actually, underneath the grim cop exterior, he seems pretty human! Maybe he will develop into a keeper; who can tell?"

Then it was my turn to blush as the two of them turned the tables on me.

"Okay, hold it, go easy on me; I'm not used to this kind of mistreatment. Used to be I could come in here and get a quiet lunch, now I get lunch plus a big hassle. Much more of this and I'm going to have to move."

Brenda went back to serve her other customers, and I looked over at Pat. "Do you have to be home early this afternoon?"

"No, as long as I am back in time to have supper with Sean. Why? What do you have in mind?"

"I was just thinking of heading out to my favorite spot to think over what we have learned so far. I like to head out to a place by the lake, because it's quiet and ideal for thinking things out."

Pat got a funny look on her face as she said, "I'd love to see it, but I wonder if there is anything else you are thinking about." "No, just some aspects of this case that kind of disturb me." She went on, "OK, then, that sounds good to me, too. I was really disturbed by some of the things Laura had to say."

We drove out to the lake and down a narrow lane, and suddenly we were out into a clearing where a large redwood cottage was under construction. Pat asked, "Who owns this palace? It's going to be beautiful when it's finished and the yard is done!"   I smiled at her look of amazement. "It's owned by a couple of friends of mine. They don't mind me coming out here. I've loved this spot since I was a little boy. Besides, everyone knows that I come out here, so it keeps the thieves away a bit, which they appreciate."

I drove down to the beach where there was a dock with a shelter built on it. We got out of the car and walked out along the dock to the shelter and sat down at the picnic table there. Pat looked around before exclaiming, "This is beautiful! I didn't know any spots like this existed around here. I could sit here all day, and Sean would be delighted with the beach."

"Pat, you and Sean are welcome to use the beach whenever you want. I don't know whether the house will ever be completed, so use the beach whenever you want. If anyone ever asks, just tell them that Jake invited you to use it."

She leant forward, kissed me lightly and said, "Thank you for the invitation. I'll make sure we use it." I thought for a moment before changing the subject. "What did you think of Laura today? Did anything strike you as being a little odd?"

She replied, "Well, I think she and the girls have been through a nightmare, but she seems stronger that one would at first think. To document everything like she did shows an unusual presence of mind. I think that maybe she had been planning for a long time to get even with Bernard, but events overtook her and she wasn't sure what to do. She looked after the girls and at least tried to protect them. They had nowhere to go, no money to go with and, let's face it, even though we have the Crisis Centers for immediate use, there are few long term programs to assist women. I think she functioned really well under the circumstances!"

I interjected, "On the whole, I agree. I still have to consult with the Crown, but I don't think she will ever have to answer any charges regarding the girls. The things I am thinking about are her documentation of their abuse, her handling of the money for the farm and household, and the fact that the day I went out to the house, the cattle were being seized. It makes me think that Laura had already started to implement Bernard's downfall, and Ginny's confessing her abuse to Beth has, in fact, just served to hurry the process on. I agree with you, I don't think we have seen the last of her surprises

"No, maybe not, but I know that I am not going to be in any hurry to make my final recommendations. I still don't think this has fully played out to the end, and I don't think Laura has finished yet"

"I don't think she has either. I think I will spring a surprise of my own, though. I'm going to pick her up at the center and take her to the bank to get the journals from there, just to see if I can shake her up a little!" Pat retorted, "I don't think you will find anything. I think she is genuine!"

I replied, "I think she probably is, too, but everything seems too neat. It just seems so cut and dried; it isn't really natural for all the ducks to fall in a row, the way they are doing. Not in any police work I have done, anyway!"

I relaxed a little, leaning back and just enjoying the view. "I'm going to let my boss know that I'll be working full time on this case after the holiday but, until then, I intend kicking back and enjoying a little time off. Now that I have you out here in my favorite place, and seeing as how it would be a long walk back to town in those heels if you decide to go, I want to take the time to get to know something about who Pat is and what makes her tick. I told you about me, now it's your turn to tell me about you."

-------------------

Pat

Well, what should I tell him? Do I want to tell him absolutely everything about me? I suppose if I am ever going to have a relationship with Jake, or anybody else for that matter, they have to know who I am.

"Well, you know that I am living here with my Aunt Chris. She and Mom were born here in Clearville. My grandparents were the Clarks. Mom went to school here and, when she went to University, she took Nursing at UWO in London. She met Dad there while he was studying Law. When they graduated, they married. I was born in London. There were some complications with my birth, and I ended up being the only child they could have."

"I guess I had a pretty normal childhood. I enjoyed school and always got high marks. After doing several terms as an intern with Children's Services, I decided to study Social Sciences and work in the field I am in now. In my first year at UWO, I met Geoff. I met him in the library, where we were both studying, and for a long time that was as far as our relationship went; just a quiet, best friends relationship, with the odd movie, football or hockey game, dinner or just coffee once in a while. Things didn't get intense between us until half way through my last year.

Mom and Dad had taken off to Arizona for six weeks to get some sun. This was their first holiday without me tagging along, as I was too busy in school. On their way home they hit a freak snowstorm in Missouri, and they were hit by a skidding 18 wheeler. Neither of them survived. To say I went to pieces is putting it mildly. If Geoff hadn't been there, I'm sure I would never have made it. He helped me through the funeral, through the probate of their wills, and he kept me going on my studies so that I completed my last year and graduated. We spent so much time together that the inevitable happened and we slept together; not out of love, more like a need we both had for personal comfort. Geoff had been raised in an orphanage. He never knew his parents or anything about them. He needed somebody, and I needed comfort. We enjoyed it. It was pleasant, so we continued and started using condoms. Trouble was, it was too late. I found I was pregnant with Sean two months later."

"I told Geoff that I was pregnant. I also told him that I didn't expect him to marry me, because I didn't really love him in that way, and that, if he wanted access to the baby, I would never try to prevent it. He told me to quit trying to be noble. He explained that he'd known me for years, that he had no doubt that the baby was his, and that he didn't want him or her to grow up not knowing their father. He told me that, if I would have him, he wanted to marry me and help raise our child."

"We got married quietly and finished our year at school. We graduated and became parents five months later. We lived in my house, which I had inherited, and, while things were never really hot between us, we had a respect for each other and pride in our son. Geoff found a position in a law office specializing in estate law, and I stayed home with Sean."

"Why is it that just when things start to get better, fate can take things away from you? Just after Sean was six months old, Geoff came home with a terrible headache. He had always been disposed to them, I knew, but this one couldn't be controlled. It was always there, no matter how many pain killers he took. He went to the University Hospital and, after getting an MRI, they found a growth in his brain. He had two lots of surgery and chemo, but they just couldn't control it. Towards the end he was being given so much morphine to control the pain that he hardly made any sense most of the time. He only had the occasional lucid time when he recognized me."

"Sean and I spent most of our time at his bedside, and we were there when he died. Really, by that time it was a relief. I was glad for Geoff that he was no longer in pain, though I would miss him dearly. He was my rock when I needed one. He had me well prepared, though, and everything was ready, including his insurance and will; he even had insisted on the funeral being prepaid. All I had to do was notify the funeral directors. The only mourners present were Sean, myself, Aunt Chris, a few university friends and some people from his office. Aunt Chris was a gem. She stayed with me for the three months it took until I could get a nurse for Sean arranged and get employment with the London office of Children's Services. Before she left, she made me the offer I finally accepted, for the two of us to come up here and live with her."

"While we were still in London, I dated once in a while, but I never got into anything serious. I find that mentioning that you have a young child usually puts an end to any thought of commitment. Most guys were only interested in a quick roll in the hay. That isn't my style. I'm just not interested in flings. When the right guy comes along, then I'll be ready, but until then my body is my own, and the only guy I really care about is my son."

Just then, and I really don't know why, I added, "But, there is one guy that I definitely want to know better. He keeps giving me these really nice feelings!"

Jake didn't say a thing. He just leaned forward, put his hands on the sides of my head, pulled my lips towards his and kissed me. It began with his lips lightly touching mine, and then he increased the pressure. I opened my lips slightly, and our tongues touched. His arms went around me as he pulled me towards him. My arms went around his neck as if they were acting on their own. Slowly I felt his left hand sliding down my body until it went up inside my jacket and found my breast. His fingers held my nipple and I felt it stiffen, even though I felt his fingers through both my sweater and bra. My thoughts were at war with each other; one part of me wanted him to remove my clothing, and the other cautioned me that we could be seen from the lake. I had a quick series of intense feelings that I had never known. The heat that was generated in my lower body was evidence of my need for him.

Jake stood and lifted me up to stand against him. I could feel his hardness inside his jeans as he pressed against me. "Jake, I can't do this, not here outside, not yet. I want you so much, but I want it to be just between you and me, not out in public where we can be seen. I know it will happen between us, so please let it be where and when we are comfortable and on our own. I'm certainly not prepared right now."

Jake held me to him and said, "You are very wise. The very last thing that I would have thought of when I left this morning was making love to you. I didn't bring any protection with me, and if we did go ahead, we would be taking that same chance that you took with Geoff. I'll just have to wait until things are better for us, even though it will be 'hard'." Then he laughed, grinned at me and said, "But, I'll make you a bet that, someday, we will make love on this dock." I just looked back at him and said, with a big grin, "Dream on, buddy!"

After we sat back down, Jake asked me what I would be doing the next day. I said, "I'm spending tomorrow with my boyfriend, the 8 year old; I've missed him for the last two days. What will you be doing?" He replied, "Well, I'll be going to church with Mom, Dad and the kids, then we'll hang around the pool. Usually I get together with Dad for a session on the company; he keeps me in touch with it."

We then walked back to the car and Jake drove me back to his office to pick up my car. I went on home from there, my mind just spinning with the speed of events. This guy definitely was hot, and I was hot for him. Sometime, somewhere, things were going to happen, and I didn't feel that I had any chance of stopping them - not that I really wanted to. I had never felt about anyone the way I felt about Jake.

Jake had told me he would pick me and Sean up at around 11 in the morning on the Holiday Monday, and I could hardly wait. The case we are working on had retreated way to the back of my mind.

Jake

After Pat left, I went back to the office to find that Al and Sherri had been back and had left me a note. They had found semen stains on three of the four mattresses where it had soaked through the sheets, so there would be plenty of DNA evidence, but it would be at least six weeks before it was being processed. They also found the photo studio in the basement of the house, and had found stains there also. I added the information to the file, and left for Mom's to have supper with Tommy and Anne.   

To be continued



A Girl in Need Ch. 05



This story of Pat and Jake seems to have taken on a life of it's own that I never foresaw when I started it.

We might even get to some passion in this, though if you are looking for quick sex scenes then you might do better with other stories. The characters and names except for certain places are totally figments of the writers mind, not based on real people, but people trying to cope with real people problems. Any incidents are again spin offs of real events, modified to become part of the story. If you are enjoying this tale please thank my voluntary editor Yellow Peril, who I am sure I drive to distraction. As always I include the warning that if you don't read from part 1 to now, you likely won't know what the story is about.

Pat

Well, the day of the picnic arrived. Sean and I were waiting for Jake while Aunt Chris had taken off for the day, and we were all set with swimsuits, towels, sun block and water. Sean was dressed in a tee and shorts as was I, but mine were a lot more figure hugging than his. I don't know what it is with this guy Jake; he has really gotten around my defences and into my thoughts without even trying. I even shaved last night to get nice clean lines for my bikini. While I was at it, my thoughts were humming and, if I had had a 'trusted friend', it certainly would have been put to good use. As I don't have one, I made do with a couple of fingers. That kiss on Saturday had really gotten to me; I could still feel the burning. I had to remind myself, Pat, what has gotten into you? Here you are with your son heading to meet Jake's family, and all you can think of is when you are going to get the chance to jump into bed with him!

Just then Jake pulled into the driveway. He stretched out of the driver's seat, wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs shirt and blue shorts. Sean and I walked out carrying our bags, which Jake promptly took from us and put in the back of the SUV before turning to Sean. 

"Hi. I guess you must be Mr. Sean Williams?" he asked with a grin, and held out his hand. Sean took his hand and I almost burst out laughing at the sight of the two of them gravely shaking hands in the middle of the driveway. 

"Well, I'm Jake Rogers and I'm very pleased to meet you. Your mom has told me lots about you. I think that when you meet Tommy and Anne you are going to be great friends. Now hop up into the car and take the blue booster seat. The blue one is all yours, right by the window." Jake had installed an extra booster seat for Sean. There were three, all different colors. Was there anything the man ever forgot?

It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm, but not too hot as we drove out of town. We headed in the general direction of the lake, but took a different road that went down the other side of the lake. Suddenly Jake said, "We are here! Welcome to the ancestral home of the Rogers family," and he turned left into a semi-hidden driveway. I gaped in wonder; ahead of us was a beautiful old farmhouse that had been extensively expanded until it now looked more like a mansion. I looked down at my casual clothes and felt like crying. Here we are to meet an obviously rich family, and I'm dressed in old clothes. 

"Jake, you should have warned me ahead of time! I'm not dressed for this."

He looked at me with sudden concern in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Pat; I thought you knew about it. I talked to you about the family construction business, and Rogers Construction headquarters is right next to your office." 

I thought for a minute before replying. "It registered a bit, but I somehow never connected the company name with you." 

He replied, "I'm sorry, I should have been more specific about it. But, don't worry, you aren't dressed any differently than Mom and Dad will be, or your Aunt, by the way." He pointed out the widow, and there was my Aunt advancing on us. She was certainly dressed no better than I was. Oh, Chris, I will get you back for this one! I swore to myself. Just then two young children, a boy and a girl, came running around the corner of the house. They saw the car and raced over to us. 

"Daddy, Daddy!" said the boy, who I took to be Tommy. 'Uncle Wayne is here with Tammy and Aunt Joan. They came all the way from Calgary on a plane, a big jet." 

Jake broke out in a big smile as his children ran up. "Great! We'll go see Uncle Wayne in a few minutes. First, though, I want you to meet some people," and he pointed to Sean and me. "First, this lady is Ms. Pat Williams, she has been working with me on a case for the last few days, and this young man with her is her son, Sean. What I would like you and your sister to do for me is to take Sean out to the backyard, if he would like to go, and introduce him to Tammy and your other cousins when they get here, while I introduce Ms. Williams to Grandpa and Grandma."

Tommy turned to me and asked, "Ms. Williams, do you have another name that we can call you? It sounds like we are talking to one of our teachers in school." 

I couldn't resist the little charmer. I bent down, put my arms around both Tommy and Anne, and said to them, "You are welcome to call me Pat; I hope I am going to see you lots, so you can use my first name." 

Tommy smiled and replied, "Thank you, I hope we see you lots too. Don't worry, we'll both look after Sean." 

That really made me smile, a nine year old promising to look after an eight year old! Then I thought to myself, Look at him, I bet I'm looking at Jake at the same age. The good looks were certainly there. Whoever mothered him was going to have to watch the teen years. Anne was also a beauty; slightly built, with long dark hair and a friendly face. The pair of them made my heart ache for them, growing up without a mother. They took off around the house with Jake yelling after them, "Stay away from the pool till I get there!"

I looked across at my Aunt and put on a big frown. "You have some explaining to do, lady! You may be my Aunt, but that was a really dirty trick you played on me. Look at the way I am dressed! I would at least have made myself up more carefully." 

Chris just grinned, "Relax, you'll do just fine. Come and meet May. We were in the same class at school and have been fast friends ever since. Those nights out I take once in a while, well, mostly I'm over here, and almost always I'm with May." She walked with us around to the back of the house. I couldn't help but notice that there were a boat and a twin engine float plane tied up at the dock.

We continued on to the patio where I saw a tall auburn haired woman with a small girl, holding her hands. Sean was playing with Tommy and Anne on a swing set in the yard. A blonde woman, who appeared to be about 25, was with the little girl as well. 

Jake looked after the introductions, "Mom, Joan, this is Pat Williams, Aunt Chrissie's niece. We have just started working together on a case; she works for Children's Services, as I'm sure you already know! Pat, this, shall I say mature lady, is my mother, May Rogers, and this younger lady is my sister, Joan. She hails from Calgary where she roped in my younger brother, Wayne. Why she bothered is still a mystery. Maybe one day she will explain."

"Hey, I heard that!" 

I turned to see a younger version of Jake standing in the doorway. "I prefer to say that she had good taste. It's good to see you Jake! Once in a while when I miss that old face of yours, I just have to look in the mirror and I figure it will be staring back at me in a few years." He walked across the patio and the two hugged. 

Jake turned to me, "Just in case you missed any of that, meet my younger brother, Wayne. He lives in Calgary and looks after the western end of the business. Wayne, meet Pat Williams, she is Aunt Chrissie's niece and works for Children's Services. We are working together on a case." 

Wayne turned to me with a smile, "Hi, Pat; don't let this brother of mine fool you, he needs someone like you in his life."

A voice behind me said, "Yes, he does! Wayne, you may have been joking, but you are absolutely right. Jake! It has been too long." 

I turned and saw a short, slim dark haired woman, and my thoughts went right back to the picture on the wall at Jake's. The resemblance between her and the picture of Jenny was unmistakable. Jake said, "Pat, I would like you to meet Ella James, my mother and Jenny's mom." 

She held out her hand and took mine, saying, "I'm very glad to meet you. May, Chris and I are old friends, and Chris has told us so much about you over the years. Though she likely won't say it to you, she is as proud of what you have done in your life as your mother would have been."

A husky voice broke in, "As the hostess of this shindig, can I get a word in edgeways?" May came forward and enveloped me in a hug. "Pat, welcome to the Rogers' family home. I really wanted to meet the woman who put the smile back in my son's eyes. I was beginning to think it would never happen. Regardless of whatever happens in the future, I owe you big time just for doing that. I have heard so much about you from Chris, from Jake, and most of all from your Mom. Chris was in my class and Ruth was a year behind. Other friends came and went, but the three of us were pretty inseparable. Even when I married John and your mother went away to school, we kept in contact. We wrote many letters to each other over the years, and she was always very proud of you. I've wanted to meet you for a long time. You look so much like her! I kept all her letters, if you ever want to read them."

With a guilty feeling, I remembered the bundle of letters that I had thrown away without even looking at when I was clearing Mom and Dad's things after they died. They must have been from May. 

May said, "Pat, come sit with us. Jake, Wayne and John, when he is done working on the plane, are in charge. Barbecues are the men's job around here, and that was decided many years ago." 

We went over to a set of chairs in the shade. The only child around was Tammy; she was too young to take off on her own. Jake and Wayne started getting ready to fire up the barbecue, and I was told it would be just hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch. May said that Jake would be grilling spare ribs for dinner later. 

Chris interjected, as she gave me an elbow, "See! The man cooks, as well! What more could you want?"

May turned to me, "Why don't I show you the boat, and if he isn't covered in oil I'll introduce you to the guy who thinks he's the head honcho around here." 

We started towards the dock and Jake called out to me, "Pat, while you two are talking, get Mom to tell you how she managed to get Dad kicked out of the Army." 

May just turned and laughed, "No, I think I'll let Ella tell that one, it was her fault." 

We walked out along the edge of the dock, and I soon realized that there was a man working on the plane. His face was spotted with oil, as were his hands. We walked over and May said, "Pat, let me introduce the father of my kids and the boss of Rogers Construction, John Rogers Senior." 

He looked up and grinned, wiped his hand on his pants and held it out to shake mine, saying, "Pat, it's great to meet you! Ever since the day you started working with Jake, he hasn't talked about anything or anyone else. We are really glad that you could bring Sean out to meet us all, too. He sure is a cute little guy. It's so rough that his Dad passed away so early. May, I'm all done here, so I am heading for the house to clean up." 

I replied that I was happy to meet him and his family, too. With that, John headed away up the dock toward the house with three young children chasing him; Sean was fitting in pretty well so far, though I was wondering about myself. If something more permanent developed between us, could I fit in with this high powered family? I just wasn't too sure of myself, and things were moving so quickly.

May sat down on the edge of the dock, trailing her feet in the water. She pointed to the space next to her, "Please sit a while." I sat beside her, dangling my feet in the cool clear lake water. 

May asked, "Pat, can I talk frankly?" 

I wondered where she was going with this but said, "OK." 

"I meant every word of what I said earlier, I owe you big time. For a long time after Jenny's death, Jake was just like an automaton, doing as much as he had to and no more. All that he was interested in were his job, the kids and the project he has worked on with his dad. For the last few days he has been like a new man. Somehow you broke through that wall he had put up around himself. I have to know, what do you think of Jake?"

"May, frankly I'm almost split down the middle; one part of me sees the mystery of him, each day he shows a new part of his character. Sometimes it makes it hard to keep up. To be brutally honest, the other half of me just wants to take him to bed, strip him and make love to him forever. I've never before felt that way about anyone." 

She replied with a little smile, "The Rogers men seem to have that effect on some women. I know, because I was one of them! I was a couple of years behind John in school. I was always popular, but I wasn't interested in the boys. I planned and was capable of going to university and doing big things. I had already known John; after all, he had been one of the star athletes of the school. After he graduated, he worked on the construction crews for a bit. I finished high school and, for the summer before I went to University, I worked in the diner downtown." 

"One day this young soldier walked in. It was John; he had been in the Army almost a year, and had just finished his combat engineer training. He was on home leave for a couple of weeks before he moved to another base. That was it! Somehow I knew that my task in life was to be Mrs. John Rogers. I fell like a ton of bricks. He asked me to go with him for a date that night. I said I would. When he asked where I wanted to go, I told him, 'Anywhere you go, I want to be right there with you.' I couldn't believe myself. Anyway, John took me out to dinner and we ended up finishing the evening in a room at the same hotel. He is still the only man I have ever slept with."

"We went out just about every night he was home. When I told Mom, she went nuts, saying I was throwing myself away on a soldier who wouldn't appreciate me, that I was giving up a career. She also said, though, that she wouldn't stand in my way if I was determined. She wasn't at all impressed when I said that was a really good idea, because I thought I was pregnant. I was, too. Jake was born seven and a half months after we married, and he wasn't premature, either. It took us eight weeks to marry from when we met, and I have never regretted it for a minute. Even when John was on assignments where he could have been killed, I was still proud to support him in his wishes." 

"May, I feel the same way, but I look at what Jake does and I look at you all as a family, and I wonder, can I do what I would need to do? It would be so different from anything else I have done in my life." 

She looked at me closely, "Pat, don't forget, Chris is my best friend. She has told me all about what you had to do, first losing your parents so suddenly, and then, with a young baby, you nursed your husband until he passed away. You are exactly the woman Jake needs beside him. I don't want to put any pressure on either of you, but I really hope that you two get together. I think you are perfect for each other. Jenny was a beautiful person and became a great member of the family, but she couldn't find the strength that Jake needs, either as a cop or, as one day he will be, the head of Rogers Construction. Now let's rejoin the others, they will think we are planning something down here. Remember, just get him into bed and let fate work out the rest."

What a woman, she certainly said what she thought! She definitely left me with a lot of thinking to do. I had no doubt that I had her support, and I thought she was a remarkable woman. She decided what she wanted and went after it. I had lots to talk over with my Aunt when we got home. 

During the afternoon, I met Jake's sisters Jan and Pamela and their husbands Paul, who was head of the accounts department, and Gerry, who was head of the IT department, or as Pamela put it, "The Chief Nerd." I looked at her with some amazement at what she said, so she continued, "The first time I met him my thought was something like 'What a nerd'! That was before I found out that nerds have some pretty nice points."

The rest of the afternoon was spent talking to one of Jake's family or another, and they all seemed to be happy that Jake had met me. Some of the 'hints' were pretty blunt! I was sitting by the pool, watching the kids swim when Ella came and sat down beside me. "They are really fun to watch. I just love it when I am here. This is one thing I miss by living in Ottawa."

I looked at her and replied, "That is why I brought Sean to live up here, where he has time to be a child. He certainly has made some new friends today."

She went on, "I'm really glad to meet you too. I can see that there is a tremendous attraction between you and Jake, and I'm really glad. He has been too driven since Jenny died, as if working kept his mind off things! I've known him since he was in diapers, and he was never like that. All he has cared about has been the children, and his job, plus his project. I know that he has blamed himself for Jenny's death, and he shouldn't have." 

"My husband Jim's death in Cyprus hurt Jenny far more than any of us realized. That's why she came back home. We had talked that out though. She hadn't realized that, even had Jim known that he was going to die, he would have gone anyway. That was his sense of duty, just like John, just like Jake. Something that the people in their lives have to learn to deal with. Once she realized that, she was ready to come home. Really, the result was that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could well have been that she would have gone shopping anyway; it was getting on for Christmas. Who knows why these things happen?"

"Anyway, should you and Jake decide to get married, I'm absolutely sure that my grandchildren will be in good loving hands. Just remember, I like to see them sometimes. The two of you certainly have my blessing."

"Ella, thank you. Believe me, I would treasure those children, and if I have anything to do with it, you will always be able to see them." 

"I know that, and so does Jenny, I can feel it!"

There were seven children running around, and we adults were having a lot of fun, too. The kids were yelling in the pool and chasing each other around the yard and the swings. Until they got tired, that is. Then Sean and Tommy just lay down in the grass together and dozed off alongside Jake's dad. That was a wonderful experience for me to see.

Then for some reason, Anne made a beeline for me and asked if she could sit in my lap. She climbed up and whispered to me, "Are you going to be my mommy?" 

I whispered back, "I'd like to be, but that depends on how things work out between your daddy and me." 

She whispered back again, "I hope you do." Then she nestled her head down on my shoulder and went to sleep. 

After a few minutes, I sensed someone looking at me. I looked up and Jake was taking a photograph of us. He said in a low voice, "I want to remember this minute for the rest of my life." I looked over at May; she just winked at me with a grin. I grinned right back. I had just heard some words that made my heart sing. I was sure that Jake was falling in love with me, just as I was falling for him.

After supper, Ella and May began a full court press on Jake. They wanted Tommy and Anne to stay with them for a few days while Ella was there. As May put it, it wasn't very often that they had two grandmas to hug them. 




A Girl in Need Ch. 05



Jake finally broke down and raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, I'm outnumbered, I know when to quit - while I'm at least a little bit ahead. One rule, though: no shopping sprees! The last time you two had one, Wal-Mart had to restock the Toys and Children's Wear departments." 

May leaned over and said to my Aunt, "Chris, you may as well join us and bring Sean." 

Chris looked over at me and lifted an eyebrow. "Can I?" she asked. 

I laughed and agreed, "Yes, for a few days but the same rule applies. Just let me know when to be around for meals and bedtime."

As the evening started to wind down, Jake took Sean and me home in the SUV. Sean fell asleep almost as soon as we started moving. After driving about ten minutes, Jake pulled over into a parking area. He looked over at me and said, "Boy, I wish they hadn't done away with bench seats - it makes it hard to cuddle when you are sitting on a gear shift." He stretched out his hand and took mine. "Anyway, I noticed that you had quite a long chat with Mom. Is it top secret?"

"No, nothing secret. She told me to do the same to you as she did with your Dad - take you to a bedroom, take your clothes off, throw you on a bed, make mad passionate love with you, get pregnant, and then let nature take its course." 

Jake gasped, "Oh, no! What did you tell her?" 

"I told her that I had already had the same idea, and I was giving it very serious consideration."

Jake sat there with a silly grin on his face. "Do I get any say in this?" he asked. 

I pouted at him. "Don't you want me?" I kind of half cried. 

He laughed, "Wanting you is the understatement of the year! All that I need to know is where and when, and I'll be there with bells on." 

I got a little serious then. "Jake, give me a little time and room. While we are on this case, I don't feel good about us making love. As far as place goes, I don't want it to be some sleazy motel. I'm sure that Chris would love to take Sean away for a night, but the bed I have there is the one I shared with Geoff, and it has too many memories for me; for a first time, anyway. The same goes for your place, too many memories of Jenny. Please go along with me on this, I want a fresh start for both of us and for our kids."

Jake replied, "I can understand your feelings. You know, the other night at my place, I felt that I was doing something to Jenny's memory. Maybe I was starting to let go of her a little. I have an idea, though. Can you get three days off next week? By then, everything on the case will be in the Crown's hands. I have to go to Toronto to turn the laptop over to the Child Pornography section then, so let's make a trip of it. We'll do hotel, dinner, show, the whole thing." 

I thought for a minute, and then I smiled. "That's the most romantic thing you have said to me yet." 

He grinned and went on, "The Company uses a suite at the Royal York for business meetings. I'll check and see if it is available, and whether Dad needs it."

I thought for a moment more, and then admitted, "Jake, I'm scared a little. Things between us are heating up really quickly. Feeling the way I do is totally outside my experience, and it takes my breath away sometimes. What if we are wrong about each other?" 

Jake answered, "Pat, I feel the same way as you. This is just as new to me as it is to you. Jenny and I took things nice and slowly, and while we had a good life together both in and out of bed, we never felt the searing passion that I have felt when the two of us kissed. Could we be wrong? Yes, we possibly could. But, we could equally be right and, let's face it, in my Dad and Mom we have the best example of how to act. They felt the opportunity and the need, and they followed their feelings. They have kept that going for over 30 years, so there must have been something to it. Anyway, what else did my family confide in you?"

"Wayne told me to tell you that if I should hook you, pencil him in as your best man. You cheated him last time, so you better not try this time. Also, I have three offers for Matron of Honor from Joan, Jan and Pamela. Looks like we are the only ones who don't think things are all fixed up." 

Jake pondered on that for a moment, before continuing, "There was something else I was told that I really have to think about. Dad and I took a few private minutes, as we usually do when we get together. Usually the subject is the Company, but there was a bit more today. Dad became diabetic a couple of years ago, and it seems to be getting worse. He wants to take things a little easier. He has had an offer to buy out the company from a bigger competitor. He doesn't want to sell because, as he puts it, if he sells we will be ok as a family, but what about the 400 employees we have working throughout Ontario plus those in the west? He can't think of any other company that treats its employees as well as we do."

"What about Wayne, can't he take over?" I asked. 

Jake shook his head. "Wayne is happy where he is, out in Calgary where he has access to all that he wants. He is as high in the company as he wants to go. Really, after what he studied in University, he should be an English professor. For all the big stuff, he consults Dad, as he never studied any business. So, that is something else I have to think of over the next six months."

"What do you think of Mom?" he continued. 

I laughed. "She seems to be a real go getter, makes up her mind what she wants and then goes after it. She seems to have a lot of friends, she is easy to like and I felt really comfortable with her. Anyway, what is this Aunt Chrissie stuff?" 

Jake chuckled back and replied, "Well, as Mom said, she and Chris have been best friends since they were girls, so Chris has always been Aunt Chrissie to us Rogers kids, just like a few other unofficial Aunts that you will likely meet. Mom has always surrounded herself with women who use their minds. While I don't think any one of them has ever taken a political office, their influence around the town has been tremendous. Your office and the crisis center are two examples of things that they have pressed for. Those women just somehow seem to be able to get things done between them."

He then started the SUV and pulled back out onto the road. "Well, tomorrow is another day, back to work again. I am going to take Laura Jacobs to her bank to get those journals. What do you have planned for the day?" 

I said, "I have to catch up on my paper work and see what the counselor for the girls has to say so far." 

Jake continued, "I will have to get the brief made up for court, as well. How be we meet up at my office Wednesday morning at about ten, and we can head down to the Crown's office to show her what we have for the hearing on Friday?" 

"Sounds like a plan to me."

We pulled up in my Aunt's driveway. Her car was there, but there were no lights on in the house. Jake gently unbelted Sean and carried him into the house. I showed him Sean's room, and he carried him over to the bed. I quickly undressed Sean down to his underwear, tucked him under the sheet and kissed him goodnight. Jake surprised me by bending and doing the same, kissing him on the brow and whispering, "Goodnight, little buddy."

We walked back into the living room. Jake sat down in a chair, held his arms out and I just melted into them, sitting on his knee. I put both arms around his neck, pulled his face into mine and started kissing him deeply, our tongues dueling a little. One of his arms was around me beneath my breasts, and I felt that hand begin exploring . His other hand was on my leg and started sliding up under the leg of my shorts. Once again, I was splitting in two; my brain was saying this is too quick, but my body was interrupting with keep going. The front of my panties had to be absolutely soaked, I wanted him that badly. Beneath me I could feel his excitement as his manhood stiffened. All I had to do was turn slightly and his penis would have been lying up against my vaginal lips. All that saved the day, if that is what it could be called, was a cry of "Mommy?" from Sean's bedroom as he stirred in his sleep.

I stood up, went in to check him and saw that he was ok. By the time I returned, Jake was standing in the hallway, ready to go. He took me in his arms, kissed me and whispered, "We almost got things rolling tonight. See you tomorrow, I hope. You know, I'm pretty sure that I have fallen in love again." 

I murmured "Me too." 

He left whistling, heading for home. It had been a near miss, and I grinned to myself as I thought Well, May, maybe we'll do it your way. Then I went and had a really cool shower before going to bed.

The next morning, I got in bright and early. The first question from Helen was, "How are things going with Jake?" 

My perky answer was, "If they were going any better, we would both have been going to work from the same place this morning." 

She laughed, "Somehow, I thought it might go that way! You are very similar people who need someone; I'm happy for the pair of you, just make sure I get an invitation to the wedding." 

"Don't tell me Helen, you're not one of the 'Aunts' as well, are you?"

"No, I'm not old enough for that, just lucky enough to be a family friend."

I got going on the paperwork, in particular the reports from the counselor who interviewed the Jacobs family. There were no reports of what was actually said, but only what the counselor observed and thought. They were pretty interesting. The counselor thought that, unexpectedly in spite of their ordeal, the girls were quite well adjusted, and that their mother had helped them get through it.

At around eleven, just as I was about to head out for a coffee, my cell phone rang. It was Jake. 

"Can you meet me at my office in about 15 minutes? I'm calling from Laura Jacob's bank. I came here to pick up the journals, but I am going to have to question her again. We just might get some answers to questions that we have been wondering about, and she might talk more readily if you are present." 

"I will be right over."





A Girl in Need Ch. 05



"Well, if there is, we will find out soon enough. Bernard will likely be out on Friday."

"You know, the real reason I called was to invite a certain cop over for dinner. Chris is going to your Mom's to get together with her, Ella and a few more of their cronies, and I will be making supper. Would you like to join us?"

"That is the best offer I have had all day! Can I come over with bells on?"

"Not tonight. The stars don't seem to be working out very well for you and, anyway, there will be little ears here as well. Be here about five thirty."

To be continued



A Girl in Need Ch. 06



I include the customary warning that this story won't make much sense unless you start at Part 1 and include the others. All characters are figments of the imagination and do not reflect any person living or dead. Some places are given their real names because it just makes sense. While the story may be based in some part on factual events, they have been changed greatly to ensure they cannot be identified. I must thank Yellow Peril as usual for his efforts in making the story work, a good part of the credit for this story belongs to him.

Pat

What was I thinking of, inviting Jake over for supper? Now I was going to have to cook! I opened the fridge to see what we had to work with. Looks like it will be chicken breasts, salad and garlic bread.

"Sean, what kind of chicken do you want?"

"Shake and Bake."

Let's see, do we have any Shake and Bake left? Somehow it all came together, and as Jake pulled in to the driveway, I was finishing setting the table. When he rapped on the door, Sean raced to open it. He let Jake in just as I was getting rid of the apron.

Jake smiled and then laughed. "Aren't you just a picture of domesticity! Whatever happened to the cool, capable social worker I have come to know? Something sure smells good around here."

"She got left behind at the office, and you're getting shake and bake chicken, salad, baked potato and garlic bread." I pointed at Sean, "His idea, not mine, and anyway, I didn't have all afternoon to do chores like somebody I could mention."

Jake laughed again, "Shake and bake, my old staple! The kids love it almost as much as KD. Great when the weather is against a barbecue. Unlike some, I have never developed a tolerance for barbecuing in the snow. Call me a wimp if you want, I do like the warmth."

We sat, and Sean said Grace. It was just like a family dinner, and I could just imagine us sitting at a table for meals. The only ones missing were Tommy and Anne. I thought out loud, "Jake, it would have been so nice if Tommy and Anne could have been with us."

He smiled and said, "It would have been just like one big family, wouldn't it."

My heart just soared to hear that. Then he grinned again.

"Right now the two little terrors will be demolishing Grandma's house. When the two Grans are there, anything can happen and probably will."

We finished supper, comfortably chattering away about this and that like a real couple, and Jake even helped with the dishes.

"Pat, do you have anything planned tonight?"

"No, not particularly - just a bath for my boy and get him to bed, why?"

"I was going to visit Grandma Rogers tonight. She is in a senior care apartment. Would you like to come along? She would love to meet Sean, and I'm sure that she would love to meet you, too." With a little trepidation I answered, "Yes, but just a short visit, please. I'm sure that Sean can be a little wearing."

All Jake said was, "Wait and see. Don't forget, she can put up with Tommy and Anne."

After we finished up in the kitchen, Jake drove us up to his Grandma's apartment building. There was a desk in the entrance hall and a cheery nurse was sitting behind the desk. When Jake asked the nurse if his grandmother were in, the nurse told him that she was and told us we could go on down to her apartment, which was at the end of a short corridor. Jake gently knocked on the door, and a short, slim woman who seemed to be in her late eighties opened it. She just reached forward, hugged Jake and ushered us in.

"Pat, I'd like you to meet my grandmother, Norma Rogers. Gran, this is Pat, and the short guy here is her son, Sean."

Norma smiled at us, and in a quiet voice she said, "Welcome! I've heard lots about you already from Jake's mother."

Her accent seemed to be English. She picked up on my smile and continued, "Yes, you are right, I'm English through and through. My husband Jim and I came to Canada right after World War Two. Jim served in the Army as an engineer, and when he was demobilized after the war, we married and emigrated. We had met during the war. I was in the ambulance service then, and we met in London. Unfortunately, Jim was sent to India right after we met, so I didn't get to see him again until after the war ended. We depended on letters to each other to keep us going. After he came home we started dating again, and when we got some money together we decided it was time to get married and move to Canada. We never regretted waiting for each other, or anything else we did together after that. Now that you know a little about me, won't you please come and sit with me and let's find out more about each other."

Sean must have been enthralled with her accent, he was so quiet. She had led a fascinating life. What we think of as history, she lived. We chatted mainly about ourselves and about Jake when he was young. When Sean finally started yawning, I told Jake that it was time to get him home so he could go to bed. Norma asked Jake to go into the other room with her for a moment. A few minutes later they came out, and we all left so Jake could take us home.

I told Jake that I had to get Sean ready for bed, so he said he would see me at my office next morning to take me to the Crown's office. We were just kissing goodnight when my Aunt drove in. Her only comment was, "Get a room, you two!"

Jake just laughed. "We're planning on it next week. Can you look after Sean for a couple of days?"

"Anytime! But, you had better check with your Mom about your other two in case she has plans."





A Girl in Need Ch. 06



Jake called the kids in to the kitchen and sat them down at the table and gave them all drinks and a snack. We then sat down with them and Jake said, "Tommy and Anne, I have some news for you. I asked Pat to marry me today, and she said yes."

Tommy smiled and asked, "Does that mean she will be our new Mom?"

"Yes, it does."

Tommy and Sean turned to each other and high fived. "We'll be brothers!" said Tommy.

Sean then asked me, "Will Jake be my Daddy?"

With tears in my eyes, I could only nod yes.

Anne just put her arms around me and whispered, "Mommy."

For a couple of minutes, all I could do was softly cry. I couldn't replace Jenny in their lives, but I would do my best to make sure that her children got all the loving I could give them.

We stayed for supper that night. May had cooked a big lasagna and, of course, when John got home we had to go through all the congratulations again. John, being the way he was, had to get all the kitchen cabinet information and colour charts out. May told him not to rush things; we would make our choices in the next couple of weeks. If Rogers Construction couldn't complete that house in a couple of weeks, she made it plain that she would have something to say about it.

Jake was going to take Tommy and Anne home that night. As he put it, it was time for them to sleep in their own beds for a change. Being a 'tough cop', he wouldn't admit that he missed them so much. We had a bubbly bunch of kids in the SUV as he took Sean and me home. Jake and I talked about what we had to do the next day; Jake just had a regular day shift, while I was going to be doing paperwork most of the day.

Jake asked us over for supper for the next night; actually, he asked for Sean to spend the whole day. "They are going to be together permanently in a few weeks, so why shouldn't he spend the day? Mom will be over about 8 in the morning. They will have a ball, I know. I'll get the slow cooker out, toss in a stew, and supper will be ready when we get home. I'll make the dumplings then, and we should have a nice quiet evening at home."

"Sounds good to me! I bet Aunt Chris comes over with me; she won't be left out of the babysitting. Sean isn't her grandson, but he might just as well be, the way she is with him."

Jake dropped us off, keeping our goodnight kiss rather chaste as the kids were with us, then Sean and I watched them drive off.

Sean asked, "Mommy, when will Jake be my Daddy and stay with us?"

"Soon, sweetie, just as soon as it can be."





A Girl in Need Ch. 06



Second, as far as the criminal charges are concerned, we were not going to make them public, but as they are now out in the open, the girls and I have agreed that we will all give evidence against you in open court.

Third, I have supplied a copy of my journal to the Elders of the church to give them a true picture of the so called Pastor that they have admired for so long. What action they take will be up to them.

Fourth, as far as the bank taking the animals is concerned, you have me to thank for that. I ceased to make payments on the bank loan that was secured by the animals, and I hid that from you. Yes, I hate you that much. The money that wasn't paid, I have, and will use that to make sure that the girls and I make a fresh start away from you.

Lastly, and I hope the most hurtful, is this. That night that you were beating Colin Forbes out of me, you couldn't have known that part of him was growing inside me. I didn't even know myself. That's right! Ginny is Colin Forbes daughter, not yours. After she was born I vowed to myself that I would do everything in my power to avoid becoming pregnant with a child of yours. If you look at the attached DNA reports, you will see that none of the girls are yours other than by the name on their birth certificates. Their real father was Colin, the man you tried to beat out of me.

I hope that now you are feeling some of the despair that I have felt since the day I was forced to marry you, and I also hope that the judge in your eventual trial is convinced of the horror you have inflicted on us and sends you to prison for a long time. As far as the farm is concerned, I could care less what you do with it. Keep it or sell it, whatever you want. In the top drawer of your desk you will find your copy of the journal I kept. Read it and then, if you can, tell yourself that you have been a Godly husband and father

Laura"

I just made it to the kitchen sink before my meal came up. The taste in my mouth was vile, but the thoughts in my mind were worse. What could I do to save myself from disgrace? My children were not mine, my wife was divorcing me and making it public, and I was charged under the law. I thought things couldn't get any worse, but then they did. I heard a truck pull into the yard. Looking out of the window, I saw Paul Kennedy getting out of the truck. He was the Secretary Treasurer of the church. With him were three members of the Elders Committee.

Not wanting then to see the chaos in the kitchen, I asked them into the living room, where we all sat. I said to them, "Thank you for your support, Brothers. All will come clear in time, but I have temporary difficulties at this time."

Paul Kennedy was obviously the spokesman for the group. "Brother Jacobs," he began, "We have received from Mrs. Jacobs a diary detailing her suffering at your hands, and the suffering of your daughters. While the church does advocate discipline, what the diary details is a history of vicious physical and sexual abuse at your hands. Is the diary correct?"

"I can't say, I have never read it. I have only just received a copy"

"Have you repeatedly beaten your wife and daughters?'

"Yes, I believed it was my right, as husband, father and Pastor."

"Brother Jacobs, have you at any time indulged in sexual acts with your daughters?"

"I'm advised they are not my daughters."

"Brother Jacobs, let us not quibble over semantics. You have never failed to talk of them as your daughters. Have you or have you not had sex with two underage girls while believing them to be of your own blood?"

"Yes, I had every right to, and I have!"

Kennedy looked at each of the Elders, and they all nodded their heads and said, "Yes."

"Brother Jacobs, this morning I communicated the complaints against you to the Bishop. He has given the elders of the church the power to excommunicate you if they find the complaints substantiated. As we have so found, you are hereby excommunicated from the Church and, in addition to not being allowed in any of our churches, you will be officially Shunned by members of this Church. You are no longer a member of this Church. The members of the Church in this area will be advised of our decision by the end of the day

They got up and filed out. As the last Elder reached the door, he turned, looked at me and deliberately spat on the floor. I couldn't believe it; I had no support left in the world. The one thing that I had relied on in my life, my Church, was no longer there for me.

I knelt to pray for support from my God, but felt that I was speaking into an empty room. My faith was gone, a major reason for my life was no longer there.

I went through to the study and took Laura's Journal from the drawers. For the next two hours I read through a litany of beatings, sexual wrongs and the wishes of my family for a normal life without me. I felt absolutely lost. That diary could not have been about me, but I truly knew that it was. I had carried my father's methods to discipline me into my own life and, in the process, had turned into a beast that my family could not stand. The life I thought I had was gone; everything that defined me had been taken away from me. It was then that I realized how I was responsible for my own downfall. My rigid and unbending treatment of my family and my obsession with sex had ensured that the life I thought was perfect was, in fact, wrong. I knew then that I would never go back to that particular hell of a jail.

There was only one decent thing that I could do. I brought Laura's letter and the DNA reports into my study. Sitting at my desk, I took out some paper and began to write.

Ontario Provincial Police

Attention: Corporal Rogers

To be continued...



A Girl in Need Ch. 07



As always, this is not a standalone story, it is a part and if read without knowing what has happened previously won't make much sense. It is a romance, even though it takes place against a pretty grim background. People of course are people, subject to all the nuances of life, hopefully the good guys will come out happy, but it doesn't always happen that way. All characters are figments of the writer's imagination though many of the places are real. Any incidents may well have their equivalent in real life, it is hard to find something that has never happened before but again, they are figments of the imagination. Thanks again to my volunteer editor Yellow Peril, who translates my efforts into something readable.

Pat

We were at the Lake house; Jake had dropped Tommy and Anne off with Aunt Chris so they were happily playing at her place. We had picked up May, whose knowledge of decorating and cabinets was invaluable . It was a really enjoyable morning and I was becoming really comfortable with the woman who was to become my mother. There we were with paint samples, rug samples and cupboard patterns. May and I were having a good time, but I'm not so sure about Jake, as he was somewhat outnumbered and once in a while outvoted.

We had taken some drinks and food with us, and we stopped to eat and drink after a couple of hours. It was a little after 11 when Jake's cell phone rang. He listened for a moment, and then said, "Send two officers out to the Jacobs place to see if they can raise anybody, but tell them to use extreme caution. Let me know what they find."

I looked at Jake and just raised my eyebrows in a question.

He answered me quickly, "Jacobs has not registered at the office this morning. It could be anything or even nothing, but we have to find out. They will let me know if they find anything."

We continued with our break and talked about getting the painting done first. May was going to get the painters going when they came back from the cottage so they would be working on the house by the time we got back from Toronto. Jake and I were going to look at light fixtures while we were in Toronto.

After about half an hour, Jake's phone rang again. He listened very carefully, a really serious expression on his face. "We seized any guns he had there," Jake said. "If he has a gun, he will either have had to borrow it, or he may have had one hidden. Just stay back and I will be over there in about 10 minutes."

He looked up at us."They can't find any signs of Jacobs at the house. His truck is still there so he shouldn't be far away. I will have to go over and see what is going on as the other Corporal who should be on shift is off sick."

I went with him to his SUV where he unlocked a small box in the rear. He took out a bulletproof vest and a holstered handgun that he slid on to his belt.

I put my hand on his arm, "Jake, please take me with you. I want to see this through, and I may be able to help if I can talk to him."

"Pat, it's too dangerous. If anything were to happen to you, I would be devastated. Probably it is all nothing, but I can't take that chance."

"If I were one of your policewomen, would you stop me from going?"

"No, but the difference is that they are trained for this type of thing, and you haven't been."

"Jake, I'm a trained negotiator. You won't have to look out for me, I'll stay well back until I can do something."

"Pat, you are putting me on the spot. You will have to stay out of the way. If anything happens to you, not only will I be devastated, I will also definitely be responsible for it."

He went back into the box again and came back with a second vest. "Here, put this on and keep it on." It was the first time I had worn such a vest, and it was tight. Jake made sure it was, pulling the Velcro fastenings really tight in order to better to protect my body. We both got into the SUV, and May told us, "Be careful, both of you," and we were off. It took us about 10 minutes to get to the Jacobs place. When we arrived I could see two police cruisers and two officers waiting.

They quickly walked over to talk to Jake, telling him that they had tried banging on the doors of the house with no luck. We could see that there was a Ford truck sitting by the barn, and we all presumed it belonged to Jacobs. Jake told me to stay in the SUV and told one of the officers to stay and cover the yard while he and Tony would check the house. They went up on the porch, where they both drew their guns and went to opposite sides of the doorway. Watching Jake, I realized I was experiencing the feelings that Jenny may have felt. My nerves were screaming Jake be careful, but I realized that I had to keep quiet and let them do their jobs.

Jake knocked and yelled, "Police! Open up or we will come in."

There was no answer, so he reached for the doorknob, opened the door and quickly peered around the edge of the door frame and pulled his head back. He didn't seen anything to make him nervous, so he eased into the room. Tony followed him in and the minutes ticked away interminably. My nerves were just about at the point where I couldn't stand it any longer when Jake walked out on to the porch and waved the other officer and me over.

"The house is safe, he isn't in here. He has left some papers on the desk that I will have to look at, though. Tony, keep an eye out front; Gerry, keep an eye on the back."

----------------

Jake

Tony and I cleared the house, and there was no sign of Jacobs anywhere. On his desk in the study there were some papers that had not been there last time I had been here. After I called Pat and Gerry in to the house, I looked at the papers, handling them very gingerly. There was a copy of his will, a letter from Laura to him, and a message to me.

Ontario Provincial Police

Attention: Corporal Rogers

If I wrote to Laura, she would probably not read the letter, so I hope you will convey what I am saying to her.

As I write I am totally devastated by what has happened to me. My life as I knew it is in ruins. Those I have regarded as my children are not. My wife is about to divorce me. I have been excommunicated from my church, and I have no farm animals. The only thing that I have to look forward to is a jail sentence.

I have to ask myself, why did I do what I did? Until I did what I did with Ginny, I thought that my life was full and Godly, my family was properly subservient to God and to me as the church required, I had a productive farm, and I had the respect of my congregation. Then a demon entered my life, an obsession that I could not resist. I despoiled my own daughters to satisfy this demon. Even when my wife threatened me with disgrace, I continued. I took photographs and exchanged them with others. That demon has made my life a misery for five years.

Now I have learnt that what I thought was compliance with the church teachings was wrong. I did what my father taught me, thinking it to be right, and now I find that I was totally outside the law. My life that I thought was good lies about me in ashes. I cannot face the prospect of being incarcerated back in that hell where I was held so there is little choice left.

Laura did exactly what she threatened me with and I cannot hold that against her. I have left my will so that she can take the steps she needs. I want the farm to go to her and the girls in some small payment for what I have subjected them to. It seems so small in the face of the way that I treated them. At least they will be spared the need to testify against me and make all their suffering public.

Bernard Jacobs

Bernard was obviously planning on taking his own life, and he may already have done so, but we had to be aware of the possibility that he would try suicide by cop, making one of us kill him to protect ourselves. We had to search the premises. I told Pat to stay at the house. Tony, Gerry and I were going to search the outbuildings and surrounding area. There were a drive shed, a modern barn and an old barn that was beginning to fall apart with holes in the roof and the walls.

We searched the drive shed and the modern barn without problems, and we were extremely careful when we got to the last barn. We checked the ground floor stables without finding anything, but above us we could hear the sound of cawing as if crows were fighting. I went slowly up the stairs and peeked over at floor level. There seemed to be a cloud of ravens and crows, almost as if they were at a bird feeder, but it was still easy to distinguish the body hanging from a rope, the head twisted to the right and the face black. I couldn't help myself. I lifted my pistol and fired two shots through the roof of the barn, scaring the birds away. Jacobs had indeed taken the last step. He had apparently stood on top of the hayloft, fastened the rope loosely around his neck, and stepped off the hayloft. He had made sure that he could not get back on the loft by ensuring that he dropped below it.

There would not have been any chance anyway. Just looking at him, it was obvious that his neck was broken, and what was left of his face was so blue that it was almost black. I told Gerry and Tony to cut him down and cover him with a blanket. I would contact the Coroner and our office to advise them and have them send another supervisor to head the investigation, as I was involved in it.

I walked out the barn, only to be hit by a whirlwind as Pat grabbed me and started kissing me.

"You're safe, thank God! I was so worried when I heard the shots! Please don't ever do that to me again. All I could think was that I had just found you and then lost you. I know exactly how Jenny felt when she saw you go to work."

"Please, Pat, I have to call the office to set a lot of things up. Can we talk about this a bit later? It's all over; nothing more is going to happen. Jacobs is dead, he killed himself, and I only fired my gun to frighten the carrion eaters off. Don't go in there, it isn't a pleasant sight. You don't have to see it, so please don't, or both of us will be left with nightmares."

--------------------

Pat

I had stood on the steps of the house with my heart in my mouth, watching Jake, Tony and Gerry move away from the building. They were all carrying drawn guns, going very carefully. They came to the last building, an older type barn that was showing its age. They entered very carefully into the ground floor stable. A few minutes elapsed and I had begun to relax a little when suddenly there were two quick shots. I screamed Jake's name and started going toward the barn. I couldn't stay away even though Jake had told me to stay well away. As I watched, one of the double doors opened and Jake stood there, all dusty with a serious look on his face. I couldn't stop myself, I ran to him, put my arms around him and rattled on about thinking he had been hurt. I can't really remember what I said, it was such a jumble and a rush.

When he told me that Jacobs had taken his own life, I suddenly thought of Laura and the girls; they would not have to give evidence, their nightmare was over. Then Jake called the office. His instructions were pretty clear to dispatch another supervisor, preferably the sergeant, with a camera, and to dispatch the coroner and body removal van.

When I asked Jake why he needed another supervisor, he replied, "I was the arresting officer in the case, and then Bernard brought me into it even more by addressing the letter to me. It would be better for another supervisor to head up the investigation. If I were to head the investigation and the press were to get hold of the details, there would be all kinds of questions."

We walked back and waited for the coroner in the house, where Jake read the other documents on the desk. He showed me Laura's letter, commenting on the hate that showed through it.

"It is no wonder that Jacobs committed suicide! There is absolutely nothing left of his life, and Laura sure did her part to make sure of it. Now we know why she gave the journal to the Elders of the Church. That provided the finishing touch to her revenge. She can hardly be blamed for hating him, but she certainly pushed it really hard. Jacobs left the farm to her and their daughters in his will so he can't have been all bad. He even knew that the girls were not his, but still made the bequest. Anyway, the case is over now, the girls will not have to give evidence, Laura is a widow and, if she sells the farm, she should have a fair amount to live on if she uses it wisely."

"There is another point, too,'" Jake continued. "Once we are done here, I will have to go tell Laura that Jacobs is dead."

"I want to go with you when you tell her. Maybe it will help her if I am there, too. It will me anyway; I can hardly believe it even yet."

"After what I saw in the barn, I don't doubt it for a minute. When I saw what the birds had done, I wanted to be sick. That's why I fired without thinking. That kind of picture is the stuff of nightmares. It is hard to think that birds would do that, but with nothing to chase them, it shouldn't surprise me; after all, they do it with other dead animals. Every part of bare skin seemed to have been attacked and he looked like something from a horror film. Any service will have to be a closed casket."

Just then Sergeant James drove in, and he had the Coroner with him. We walked out to the car, and as the Sergeant got out, he said with a grimace, "Jake, this had better be good, dragging me out here on my day off."

Jake briefed him as all three of them walked across to the barn. They were in there a few minutes while the Coroner examined Jacobs and pronounced his death, and then they came out and walked to the house where Jake showed them the letters in the study.

Jake then asked the Sergeant, "Bill, I have dealt with Laura since day one on this case. Can I go and tell her that her husband is dead? I want to take Pat with me, as she has helped Laura a lot from the beginning of this mess."

"Go ahead; I don't relish doing that myself, and I think you are absolutely right to bring Pat along with you. She should be a big help."

Jake and I then drove back into town to the Crisis Center and asked to see Laura. She came to the office, and I suppose one look at our faces was enough.

"What has happened?"

Jake broke the news. "Laura, I have just come from your farm, and I'm sorry, but I have to tell you that your husband is dead. He died sometime yesterday."

Her face fell and her eyes seemed to fill with tears for a brief moment. Then she shrugged and straightened up. Her eyes showed no emotion as she looked back to Jake.

"What killed him?"

"He appears to have killed himself by hanging himself in the barn. He left a letter for me saying that he had nothing left of his life. Even his church had deserted him, and he couldn't face any more time in prison."

"Well, there is no doubt that in the past nineteen years I have wished many times that he was dead, but I hate the thought of the ugly way that he went -- I certainly didn't wish for that. Nonetheless, I have to prepare for his funeral now. When will I be able to take possession of his body?"

"There will likely be a post mortem, either tomorrow or Monday, and if the Coroner is satisfied, the body will be released then. The best thing for you to do at this point is to contact a funeral director, and they will look after everything. That way you won't have to worry about getting his body, as they will take care of it for you.

I stepped in at that point to tell Laura, "Now that the danger to them is over, I can't see any reason that your younger girls shouldn't be with you. If there is room at the Center for them, they can be here with you until you can make other arrangements. I'll contact the duty worker and have her bring them over."

I checked with the Director, and she said that it was ok for the younger girls to be there, so I then contacted my office to inform them of what to do. Jake and I then left Laura and, though our hearts really didn't seem to be in it, we drove to the lake house, back to our spot on the dock.

We sat there quietly, just holding each other at the picnic table. Jake told me that he just couldn't get rid of the sight of Jacobs' body hanging there with the birds flapping around it, pecking away at everything they could find. He stretched out along the seat of the picnic table, resting his head in my lap, and spoke softly, "I can't believe what Jacobs must have gone through to do what he did. The anguish that he must have felt before he came to his final decision! After reading his letter and the one from Laura, I'm not really surprised at what he did. Nor was I surprised at Laura's reaction when we told her that he had committed suicide. There was no emotion at all, almost as if she were happy that it finished, although she did admit that she hadn't wished for him to finish quite that way. It must be terrible to realize that someone hated you that much."

Our discussion continued for a couple of hours until we were disturbed by the sound of a car driving up. A police cruiser stopped at the dock and Bill James got out and walked over to us.

"Well, I personally have no doubt that this was suicide, but the coroner pulled some strings, and the pathologist is doing the autopsy right now. I'm going to need a statement from you as to what happened while you were there. I had better warn you, too. I told the brass at Sunbury what happened, so they contacted General Headquarters. Whoever was on duty decided to bring in the SIU. Apparently they don't like the fact that the note was addressed to you, and they don't like the fact that you fired two shots."

Jake jumped to his feet in anger.

"Bill, what idiot decided that? Did you tell them that his wife wouldn't open a letter from him, and that the shots were fired to get rid of ravens that were stripping all the skin from him? You know, two shots in the air like they do at airports to get rid of birds."

Jake seemed to be in a rage, and continued with clenched fists and a snarl, "Bill, you know I was going to have to make a tough decision as to my career. Well, this news is going to make that decision easy."

I asked, "Who are the SIU?'

"They are the civilian investigators who investigate to find out whether the police have played any part in the death or injury. The office of twenty-twenty hindsight, they check into what we did, tell us what we should have done, and lay any charges they feel are justified."

"Could they charge you, Jake?"

"Who knows what they will do. They are getting a little better, but they still take a fair amount of time to let you know the issue is resolved. Basically they are going to re-investigate to see if I did something wrong. I don't have any fears that they will find anything wrong, it's just the point that, because I did something sensible and Jacobs wrote to me, my work is being questioned. All it really means is that they want to cover their ass, just in case. The fact that I have done thousands of investigations without complaint means absolutely nothing to them."

He calmed down a bit and continued, "Bill, you know that on Monday I was planning to take the computer down to the Child Porn Section. Well, that plan still holds. I won't be back till late Wednesday. I'm taking a couple days of leave after that, so if the SIU want to talk to me before then, that's too bad, they can wait. I won't talk to them without a lawyer present when they do finally question me, and that's for sure. As to where I will be and who I will be with, you have no idea. That should stop them for a while. I'll see you before I leave Monday, anyway."

The Sergeant talked a little more to Jake before getting back in his cruiser to drive back to the station, at which point Jake and I got up and went over to Aunt Chrissie's place to pick up the kids as we were going to have supper with May and John. Chris came along with us, and when we got to May's, Jake went into the office with John for a little while. I helped May by setting up the table for the eight of us. Chris and May had discussed supper during the afternoon, and Chris brought a trifle for desert. She had actually already started it the day before and finished it that afternoon.




A Girl in Need Ch. 07



Jake and John barbecued steaks for the adults and hamburgers and hot dogs for the kids. It made for quite a little party. I looked out once in a while to see that Jake and his Dad seemed to be having a pretty earnest conversation while barbecuing the meat. After a pleasant supper, Jake and I took a walk down by the lake on our own. Arms around each other, we talked about getting the kids ready for their trip and how we would use the time on our own to do more at the lake house, like finally choosing colours and designing the kitchen.

I looked at Jake, who was so serious for a change, and I asked, "Why so somber? Since you were talking with your dad you have been miles away. Is it something serious?"

"In a way it is."

"Too serious to tell me what it is?"

"Oh no, you would have to know anyway."

"Then tell me, don't keep me on tenterhooks."

"Actually, I started thinking about it while we were at our house before Bill got there. This investigation really got to me emotionally, much more so than any other I have done. In a way, once everything came out, I think that Laura used us to an extent to get what she wanted. Don't get me wrong, I don't for one minute think that Bernard got a raw deal, but Laura leaving that letter and the DNA reports out for him to find, and also giving the journal to the elders was pretty cold and calculating. Nothing illegal about it, but it was certainly calculated to put him over the edge. I don't ever want another investigation like that one. Then the SIU being called in was the final straw, so I was asking Dad if he wanted me sooner than six months, and specifically if he would like to have me right after we are married. He is actually pretty happy about it; he wants to start furnishing an office for me already."

For a minute I was just thrilled by Jake's words 'at our house' and by the thought that about 7 weeks from now I would be Mrs. Jake Rogers and the lake house would truly be 'Our House'. Then I settled back down, thinking about what had happened with the case.

"Jake, I've had similar misgivings as well. Laura has always seemed so in control. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that she has other plans yet. To me, the only good things about the whole deal are that I met you, that I'm going to become Mrs. John Rogers II, and that I'll increase my number of children by at least two."

I then put my arms around his neck, pulling him down to me and kissing him. Our tongues slid together, my nipples stood up against his chest and I could feel his hardness against my lower body.

"Down boy," I whispered, "wait till Monday. Then it's your day."

Jake grinned, "Now you are absolutely sure about that, are you? I'm definitely going to take you up on it, that's for sure. I have been looking forward to that for two weeks. Are you still going to take Mom's advice?"

"Oh, absolutely, pregnant and barefoot, that's going to be me! I can't think of anything better than having our baby."

"Good, we start Monday."

Laughing our heads off, we walked back up to the house, packed up three tired kids and one very tired Aunt and went off to our homes to get the kids all packed and ready. I had a long shower before going to bed; it had been a long distressing day. I had one good thought to sleep on, though, If Jake was going to take up his Dad's offer and resign from the police, it wouldn't distress me a bit!

Sunday morning we were up early and stood on the dock waving goodbye as three little faces lined the plane windows while John took off. They looped around before they flew off to the north and we went to the Lake House. About an hour later, Jake's phone rang and they told us they had landed safely and were setting up to go fishing. How fickle children can be! Sean couldn't wait to get rid of the phone to Anne, barely giving me a, "Bye, Mom."

Between kisses and a little heavy petting, well maybe more than a little (There was still no place to lay down, or even sit comfortably) we got some work done on paint schemes and kitchen cupboards, enough to give Jake's Mom a list. Then Jake dropped me off at home so I could pack and get ready to go, while he went to the office to make out his official statement for Bill. For the rest of the night, I couldn't stop thinking, Well, just one more day and I will be his, and he will be mine. I could barely wait; the excitement was really getting to me.

Jake picked me up at about seven thirty so we could get breakfast at Oliver's first. As we were going on an official trip, I wore my black ensemble from several days before. I picked up my bag, tossed my jacket over my shoulder and I was absolutely ready. I slammed the door shut eliciting a laugh from Jake, "Wow, let's just go to my place for the day."

I grinned back at him, tossed my bag to him, which he caught, and then he began holding his back in mock pain. He put the bag in the car, and we got in the SUV. I fastened my belt, and then I slid my hands down over the swell of my breasts.

"Jake, if you want this body, you better drive." Lord what this man does to me! I had never come close to saying anything like that to Geoff. He wiped his brow with his hand as if removing sweat. Then roaring with laughter we drove to Oliver's where we had a good breakfast along with fending off Brenda's questioning about where we were going. After a second coffee we decided to head for the office.

When we got there, Bill asked us to go into his office and told us to close the door. He looked up at Jake. "Well, I don't know how you managed it, but the SIU has backed off. I spent most of last night with the head investigator out of Sunbury. I gather, from what he told me, that someone a lot higher up the food chain than him called him at around four thirty in the afternoon and told him that he better get his ass up here pretty quick and see if there was any foundation to the call. He went over all the paper, autopsy results and statements and found there was no foundation. Jacobs wasn't in police custody, you had no reason to suspect that he was unstable and the bullets you fired went through the roof of the barn. His remarks were that if anyone was in any way culpable it was Laura. He was amazed at her letter. Anyway, you are off the hook, so both of you can have a good time. Pat, make sure he treats you really well, he can afford it." He grinned at both of us.

We got the computer and Jake stowed it in the lock box in the back. I asked him, "Where is the vest and gun?" but he just laughed and asked right back, "Why? Do you think I will need it tonight?"

We took off heading south, chatting aimlessly for a while, before I asked, "Jake can I ask you a question? When I talked to your Mom the first day we met, she mentioned something she called 'your project'. I got the feeling that it was something really important to you. Ella mentioned it too. Can I ask what it is?"

"Ok, it's something you deserve to know; it's no big secret, pretty simple really. When Jenny died, I went through a really rough period. My 'project' has to do with the property that the lake house is on, which has been in the family for years. We built the dock there so that we could just hop in a boat, head across the lake and we could be at a nice quiet place to have a barbecue or a picnic, away from the phones and day to day business. The dock has been there since I was a teen. Then we built the shelter and it just came together over the years. It has always been one of my favourite places. I used to camp there when I came home for my construction holidays."

"Like I said, it was a rough time for both me and the kids. I was pretty much at a loss without Jenny. Mentally I was a basket case! Looking after the kids and working didn't use up all my time. I was feeling absolutely driven to work, but I couldn't sleep properly, tossing and turning with nightmares, and it felt like I needed to do something with my hands and energy that wasn't being satisfied by my normal work. Then one day I saw the design for the centre portion of the lake house. I thought it looked great and decided that I would build it on that lot. I spent a lot of time studying the design, and decided it could be better, so I added two rooms to one side of the plan, a garage to the other and then decided to make it two stories. I always had the idea that maybe one day I would be living in that house with a family, so mentally it was healing for me. I became more comfortable with myself. The construction was pretty much a labor of love. Dad and I did most of the work on the place ourselves except for the plumbing, wiring and heating.'

'We worked on it up until a couple of months ago when we got it to the stage it is at now. I always loved the view of the lake that you get from there, and I was hoping that I would meet someone to share it with. When I met you I couldn't believe it. Everything seemed to fall into place. All I needed was for you to feel the same way, and I was on tenterhooks until I knew that you returned my feelings. That was what my 'project' was, and I like to think it helped me deal with the feelings that I was still beset with after Jenny's death.

You didn't know it and I didn't know it, but it sure looks like I was building that house for you!"

"Jake, that's one of the nicest things anyone ever said to me, and I am absolutely sure that it will be a great house for us. In some weird way, I sort of feel like I have Jenny to thank for it, as well as you."

"Ok, Jake, that is one family secret, now what about the other one? I asked Ella about how she and your Mom getting your Dad kicked out of the army, and she told me to ask you when we had some time to talk. So, how about the big secret?"

"Oh, lord, that old tale! Well, Dad and Tim had both made warrant officer. They had both had Special Forces training, and we were stationed in Germany on temporary assignment to a US Army unit. You have probably heard about the drinking that goes on in the forces and, let's face it, the swinging that sometimes happens, though it's not nearly as much as people think. Anyway, on this one base there was quite a bit of both. The senior warrant officer, a Joe Green, really fancied himself as God's gift to the females, and we had heard that he wasn't too particular about how he made his conquests. There were mutterings about several rapes, but nobody had come forward. They didn't want to rock the boat I guess."

"Dad, Mom, Jim and Ella were never part of that particular circle, though. I guess they already had the partners they wanted in their lives, but they did take part in the life of the Mess in general, what with dances, dinners and such. Joe seemed to be taking a lot of interest in Mom, asking her to dance, trying to feel her up, that type of thing. Then Dad and Tim started getting temporary duty assignments away from the camp. Mom and Ella were getting concerned, so Dad took some baseball bats, drilled them out, filled them with lead, and took Mom and Ella out to the training grounds and showed them how to use them on dummies. After that there was a baseball bat at each door of both our homes."

"Our homes actually backed on to one another, and Dad put a gate in the fence so that we could go back and forth without anyone seeing us. After that, whenever the men were away, we took turns heading for each other's homes, having sleepovers and feeling that we had more protection with both Mom and Ella there. Jenny and I were having a ball."

"One night, while Dad and Tim were away on a training mission, Joe Green showed up at our place. The plan to cover that situation was for Ella to be handy with a camera, and my job was to call the base MPs. I heard Mom go to the door, and I saw that Green was there at the door with Mom, telling her he knew what she wanted, and he was there to give it to her. He had someone outside keeping watch. Mom told him to get out and tried to push the door closed. He pushed his way in and Ella stepped out and took his photograph. The flash drew his attention and Mom stepped back, grabbed the bat, swung it and nailed him right between the legs. (She used to play softball in her teens). Then, as he fell, she swung again and again, breaking his kneecap and the other lower leg. He was just writhing in pain. I called the MPs and the medics."

"Well, Dad and Tim were called back and there was a big investigation. Green was court-martialed, busted down to PFC and went to jail for 5 years. However, typical of the military, it was pretty well hushed up. The MPs were quick to point out that Mom had disabled Green with the first blow, and that the rest were unnecessary. They didn't want to lay any charges against Mom, (apparently Green wasn't going to father any more kids) so they suggested that Dad quietly retire. They also didn't want a whole bunch of women coming forward and saying that this was far from the first attack. Dad always says that the Americans didn't want it being noised around that their star noncom was defeated by a woman."

"It's like Mom says. It takes a lot to get her riled, but then look out."

I burst out laughing, as I could just imagine it! Being in this family was going to be fun as long as I could live up to it, and I knew that Jake would be the guy to help me do just that. I didn't think I would need any baseball bats, though. I glanced at him and grinned.

"Am I going to need a baseball bat to keep you in line?"

He turned and just leered, looking at my breasts and down my body, making me shiver in anticipation.

"I think baseball bats, at a minimum, just might be necessary, especially when you look like that."

"How about if I get pregnant, fat and ugly? What then?.

"Pregnant maybe, in fact I hope so, but fat and ugly, never."

"Flattery will get you anywhere. Your mother has taught you well."

Chatting the way we were made the long trip pass quickly, and when we were between Barrie and Toronto, I asked Jake, "Can we go to Yorkdale on the way in to town? I have a bit of shopping to do."

"Dare I ask what it is?"

"You'll find out eventually, but it's my secret until then. You go find a Starbucks and I'll join you there. Oh, by the way, you don't need to find a drugstore, protection won't be needed."

We eventually found our way to the Yorkdale Mall and I was glad that we were finally stopped. First on my list was a bathroom break, and then I was going shopping. I didn't have anything that could even begin to be described as sexy lingerie; I'm a very practical lady, and Sean wasn't one I wanted to show off to. I headed straight off to the new Victoria's Secret store where I told the clerk what I was looking for and she showed me some of their lines. Whatever I decided to buy, Jake was going to be in for a treat tonight! I was out to knock his socks off without a doubt. I took some lingerie through to the fitting room and eventually settled on two outfits, one black sheer baby doll and a second pink one that was almost as sheer. They highlighted my breasts just beautifully. My nipples popped out just with the thought of the coming night. To complement them, I bought sheer thongs in the same colours.

I caught up with Jake at Starbucks where we both had a coffee, and then we went to Bay and Bloor to the office of the Child Porn Section. It had started off as Project P, a joint operation, but had evolved to a unit that dealt almost exclusively with Child Pornography and Internet Luring. Jake told me about it, and said that he didn't understand how the officers involved could possibly continue to do the job, as some of the material is so horrendous that he wouldn't be able to view it.

He passed the laptop over to one of the officers there, telling him how it was found, what was on it and that the user was now dead, but that they should get a bunch of email addresses off it that would be useful to them. The officer signed for it, Jake put the forms in his briefcase and we took off down Bay Street. I wasn't paying too much attention, figuring that within the next few minutes I would have Jake in a hotel room and at my mercy. Suddenly, I realized we were passing under the railroad tracks and the ACC and Toronto Tower were off to the right.

"Jake, haven't we passed the hotel? I thought the Royal York was opposite the station. Where are we going?"

"When the SIU were getting involved, I made a couple of changes. Don't worry, Mom knows where we will be, but we are going on a little honeymoon before the wedding."

The next I knew we were heading westbound on the Gardiner Expressway, heading for the QEW and Niagara Falls.

"Are we heading for the Falls?"

"Yes, my sweet, I'm going to sweep you off your feet and make you putty in my caddish hands." The grin on his face at catching me by surprise was infectious.

"Well, you bounder, we will just have to see exactly who is putty in whose hands when the night is over! Whatever is going on, however, I really like it - just keep the surprises coming."

We continued toward Niagara, and I was just relaxing in my seat when a thought struck me. I'm going to get you going, Jake Rogers. I'll teach you to be smug! You aren't going to know what has hit you by the time I am done.

I asked Jake if we could pull off the highway for a few minutes, so when we saw a service center, in we went. Jake went to buy us some coffee while I went to the washroom. While I was in the stall, I stripped off my bra and my panties. Of course, when I put my slacks back on there were no panty lines and, with just a camisole and a sweater on, my nipples were rubbing freely against them and getting as hard as bullets. I walked back to the SUV and, before I pulled off my jacket, I reached into my pocket and handed Jake my bra and panties.

"See what you do to me? That's another first! You are obviously very dangerous to be around, Mr. Jake Rogers. It's a good thing I have every intention of becoming Mrs. Jake Rogers so I can keep you under control, you cad!"

You should have heard me cackle!

-------------------

To be continued...



A Girl in Need Ch. 08



Just a few customary words of warning, without reading earlier parts of this story, this particular section won't make a lot of sense. The characters and story are fictitious though many of the place names are not. The story is the sole property of the writer and may not be used without permission from the Author. Again I have to admit the invaluable help I have received from my voluntary editor Yellow Peril. His help is very gratefully acknowledged and valued, he made the one part really hum. Jake and Pat have been a joy to the writer but this is the final chapter (Of this story anyway) Thanks for the comments, I hope that I have written a story that some people can maybe relate to and like

Jake

When Pat brazenly handed me her bra and panties, I had difficulty believing that she was the same woman I had come to love. Trouble was, I was behaving just as shamelessly with her. Her nipples were brushing against her sweater, so I just leant over and brushed against them with my hand, then scooped my hand up under her breasts and enjoyed the heft of their warm weight. I then dropped my hand down on her thigh, and she opened her legs, allowing me access all the way to her sex. The crotch of her pants was wet as my fingers stroked the lips of her vagina, and they seemed to be getting bigger as I stroked them.

"Pat, I really love this, but if we don't stop teasing each other, I'm just going to have to pull over and make violent love to you right on the side of the road. We are getting close to the Falls anyway, and I have to find the hotel."

She just laughed, "I told you so."

Within thirty minutes we pulled up outside the main doors of the Falls View Hilton. Pat slipped her jacket on to cover up a little while we booked in. I grabbed her in the elevator, but there wasn't time to do a whole lot before we got to the floor and walked to our room. I opened the door, motioned her in, and she gasped with surprise. We had a two room suite on the 30th floor of the Tower. The outside wall of the suite was basically all glass. There was a passageway between the two rooms and in the center a bathroom, equipped with

a two person Jacuzzi tub as well as a two person shower? Each room had a large plasma TV, and one of the bedrooms had a fireplace. Both beds were king size.

I put the bags down, called Pat over to the window and stood behind her. The view was fantastic! We could see upriver to both sets of falls, looking over the tops of all the buildings, including the Casino across the street. I slid my hands up her body under the sweater as she pushed her chest forward into my hands, then I slid her sweater up as if to take it off her.

"Hey, I'm in front of a window here," she complained.

"Pat, we are thirty floors up, so just who do you think is going to see us?"

I continued lifting her sweater until I had completely lifted it off. She turned to face me and I dropped my mouth to her nipples, sucking on one while rubbing the other.

She gently lifted my head, "Let me get a shower, first. That trip over the last forty miles got a little hot. You know, the shower is certainly big enough for the two of us."

I got the hint and started to strip out of my traveling clothes.

"How did you know about this place, Jake?"

"Your future mother was here three months ago on a bus trip. It was her idea. She also booked the show for us, so we are going to see that fine romantic Irish singer, Daniel O Donnell."

"When and where?"

"Eight tonight, right across the street at the Casino, so we had better get an early dinner."

"Your Mom has good taste."

"I wouldn't dare argue with that if I want to live to see the light of another day, even if I would rather stay here and make love to you all night!"

Pat laughed at me, "Promises, Promises!"

Within minutes both of us were in the shower soaping each other all over and in some places where soap wouldn't normally be used. Then I suddenly stopped and got out for a minute. I had almost forgotten! I dug around in my bag for a minute before I came up with what I was looking for. I looped it around my neck and buckled it on, and then I went jingling back into the shower. Pat looked at me, saw the large strap around my neck with the bells on and burst out giggling. She lifted her arms and removed the strap, laughing all the while, and then she put it outside the shower so we didn't get hurt. Well I said 'With Bells On."

We did a lot more washing and kissing until I knelt in front of Pat and kissed her from her belly right down to her thighs. When I got to her thighs, her legs opened, letting me see her well trimmed bush and the swell of her labia. I kissed them, too, and let my tongue roam freely through the valley between them and the little hard swelling at their upper opening. She started pulling my head into her groin, groaning slightly as she did.

"Jake, take me, I've needed you so long!"

I quickly sat down on the tiled bench in the shower, turned her away from me and set her astride my lap. My erection thrust up between her cheeks and touched her warm, wet vagina. I slipped my hands around her, first gently stroking her thighs, then letting my fingers move up to brush her little bud and labia as she wriggled around on my lap.

After a few minutes of ever more frantic wriggling, she pushed her rear end up before, taking my penis in her hand, she lined it up with her vagina and, with a sigh, slid down on me until I was totally inside her. The warm pressure was almost more than I could take.

She sighed again, "Finally! I have wanted this since that day at the office when we were introduced; I wanted to rip your clothes off and make love to you right then and there." Then she laughed so hard I could feel her vaginal muscles spasming around me, "Just imagine Helen's face if I had done that!"

That was it, I started laughing as well, and any remaining tension between us fled.

She started moving up and down on me as I sat, then I started pushing back. My erection slithered into and out of her as she moved, gasping for air, and pushing down even harder, shoving my penis deeply into her.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" she cried; she pushed down against me as I pushed into her as deeply as I could from that angle. I couldn't stop, and let out a roar as I felt my orgasm kick in, and the sperm raced up my penis and flooded into her as we both came together. We stopped and rested as she lay back against me in the warmth of the shower, and my shrinking manhood slipped out of her. I slowly roused myself and lifted her to her feet, shut off the water, and picked up a towel to dry us off.

"We'd better not get the bed wet, or at least not totally, anyway. Come to think of it, we could always sleep in the other one, though, if we had to," I chuckled quietly.

Within a few minutes both of us were dry, and Pat stretched out on the bed looking out over the Falls. I must admit I wasn't really looking at the view out the window. Why would I? I can look at the Falls anytime; right then I had a vision of heaven at my side. Pat lay there on her side with her back toward me as I looked down from where I was sitting on the side of the bed, gently caressing her full, beautiful breasts. They didn't show any signs of sagging, and her dark pink areolas were around the size of a dollar. Her brown nipples were full and hard beneath my fingers, showing her need, and, as I bent over to put my lips around one, her arms went around my neck, pulling me down to her.

"Jake, take it a little slow and gentle for a while, please."

I rolled her over on to her back, slipped my hand up between her legs, and her thighs opened, allowing me access. I slid two fingers inside her, crooking them up just inside her opening, searching for that little rougher area in the smooth skin. I found it and began gently rubbing it.

"Yes, yes, that is it, right there, gently, keep doing that!

I bent lower, and, as my tongue touched her clitoris hood, she arched her back and pushed up to my face.

"Yes, Yes! Come into me, take me! I need you so much!"

She pulled me over so I was between her widespread legs and my swelling manhood was pointing at her loving center. I kissed my way up her body back to her breasts, taking care to treat each nipple the same, with little nips, and tongue touches. I felt her hand slide down between us, and she took hold of my penis, sliding it up and down between her labia, greasing it with her cum. Then she pulled me into her, but I only slid into her for a couple of inches.

"Deeper!; I love the way you fill me!"

She was so moist that I needed nothing more to help me as I easily slid all the way in. Then I started moving in and out, and when I moved in I felt her thrusting up at me as If to take me as deeply as possible until I touched the mouth of her womb. Gradually, we increased our speed as that age old rhythm took over. Pat began gasping as she thrust up at me.

"I'm almost there, take me, take me!"

Then her arms tightened around me as I came deep inside her and she shuddered quietly. She slowly opened her eyes and whispered, "Jake, you took me to a place I have never been before. I love you with all of me."

We lay for a while, our breathing and heartbeats gradually slowing, just looking out at the majesty of the Falls that looked so small from our vantage point. I caressed her, almost without thinking, feeling her nipples becoming hard against my fingers.

She looked at me and said, with a low, sultry voice that was so silky it was almost a caress, "If you think you can do that again right away, then I'm willing, but I don't think we will get dinner before the show if you do." She laughed quietly, "What will it be? Make love and do without food, or go to dinner and the show? Your choice, Jake."

I reluctantly stopped fondling her nipples, "I guess we had better have dinner. We'll have plenty of time for fun and games later."

"Ok, Jake. In that case, I'm heading for another shower, this time alone; you can just wait your turn. Otherwise I'm going to be leaking semen all night. I'll only be about ten minutes, so you can call the restaurant and make a reservation. I'll be ready by six."

"Ok, the voice of the goddess has been heard, 6 pm it shall be."

I called the restaurant, and fortunately, as we wanted to eat early, we got a table without any problem. I caught up with the news while I was waiting for Pat, and sure enough, after only about 12 minutes she wandered through in the white terry cloth robe they provide. I headed for the shower as well, also alone, though I tried, I really tried to get her to join me, but my pleas fell on deaf ears. When I was done, I put on the other robe and walked out into the bedroom to find my bride to be dressed in what they all call that 'simple little black dress' that, in fact, is totally designed to knock some poor guy dead. Her breasts proudly stood out from her body, and the hemline was just a little above the knee. It was complemented by a gold bracelet and a gold chain around her throat. Try as I might, I could not see any panty lines.

"Wow, who are you? And what did you do to my girlfriend?"

Pat just giggled and, as she hadn't put any makeup on yet, walked over and gave me a sizzling kiss, her tongue almost hitting my tonsils. She looked down the robe and saw the rather obvious result on my lower body.

"Did I do that? Down boy, time for dinner and a show. I'm hungry for real food, so you will just have wait until later to try to knock me up again."

I dressed quickly, and we went up to the restaurant on the 35th floor where we both enjoyed a prime rib dinner and a bottle of Niagara red wine. It was a good job that we could walk to the show at the Casino. I wouldn't have wanted to drive. We decided to go back to our room for a moment, when I saw the maid and got an idea I just had to follow up on. I told Pat to go ahead to the room, I would be right there. Then I had a quiet word with the maid and gave her a good tip before I followed Pat.

We put our jackets on and headed over to the Casino. We didn't even have to go outside, as we could walk over the connecting bridge between the buildings that emerged at the Casino doors. We walked through to the Avalon Ballroom. Somehow, Mom had arranged through the concierge at the hotel for main floor seats not far from the stage, although no seats in the place were that far from the stage. We were both enthralled by the show. Mary Duff was also appearing with Daniel, so we had a great mix of Irish and Country music.

Just before the end of the show we were absolutely floored and embarrassed near to death.

Daniel walked up to the front of the stage and announced, "I hear through the grapevine that tonight we have with us Mr. Jake Rogers and Ms. Pat Williams, who have come all the way from Clearville. They have been engaged for three days now, and apparently are not going to wait very long to get married." He then asked us to stand, which we both did, and we were picked out by a spotlight, both of us blushing furiously. Mom, I really owe you for this one - I'll never let you forget it!

"This song is for you two lovebirds."

Then he and Mary sang 'Tell Me You Love Me' to us. When they finished to thunderous applause, he said, "Don't forget to meet us out front after the show. We would love to meet you."

At the close of the show, they did come out front, as they do for most of their shows. He told us that the message Mom had left really struck a chord in him, and he couldn't believe that we had only been together a little more than a week. We thanked him, and Pat confided, "I have a new favorite song now. I will never hear that song again without thinking of tonight; that just made the whole trip for me. Thank you so much for making this evening so special for us!"

As we walked back, we had to pass the door of the Casino.

"Well, Pat, do you want to see if we can hit a lucky streak?"

She looked at me with the sexiest look I think I had ever seen. Her eyes just seemed to be smoldering in her face, and all I could see were her eyes and smiling lips.

"Wouldn't you rather come back to the room with me and really get lucky?"

"When you put it like that, I don't guess I have much of a choice, do I?"

"Not if you want to get lucky, you don't."

When we got back to the room, Pat headed straight for the bathroom. The next I heard was, "Oh, Lord, this is fantastic! When did you arrange for this?

The maid had come through with a bang! The Jacuzzi was full and bubbling away, the surface of the water was covered in rose petals, lit candles were glowing in the four corners, and there was even a bottle of champagne on ice. She had even changed the sheets after our earlier lovemaking. Well, she had really earned her tip tonight. I made sure that the drapes in the room were open, and began to undress.

I went into the bathroom just as Pat was slipping off her dress, so, being the consummate gentleman I occasionally am, I helped her undress by unfastening her bra at the front and exposing her breasts to my gaze. She was perfection in the soft candlelight. She slipped her stockings off and stood there in front of me, totally at my mercy. I gently handed her into the Jacuzzi, then popped the champagne and poured two glasses. I slid into the water behind her so she was between my legs, and handed her a glass of champagne. I had already turned out the main lights, and we were basking in the glow of flickering candlelight. Then I pushed the button to raise the blinds in the bathroom wall. She gasped as the full panorama of the Falls and all the lights was exposed as the blind went up. I pulled her into my chest and for a long time we just lay there looking out at our surroundings, the water in the tub rushing against us from the jets.

------------------

Pat

I hadn't realized that the wall of the bathroom was, in fact, glass with a blind that would rise when Jake pushed the button so I could see through the windows and watch the water falling over the falls. The lighting was spectacular, and I had never seen the Falls quite like this. Living in London as I had, I had seen the Falls many times, but this had to be the ultimate. As we lay there in the water, Jake's hands wandered over my body. Around my breasts, along my thighs, brushing against my vaginal lips. I just gave myself up to the waves of excitement that Jake evoked as he stroked me with his fingers. As the water began to cool, he started to pull me up his body a little to settle me on his thighs. I held his hand against me.

"Jake, I know that we have our whole lives ahead of us to make wild passionate love and knock each other's socks off many times, but everything you are doing tonight is especially romantic for me. I don't know that I have ever had so romantic an experience. Thank you for making me feel so loved and special. Please make love to me, darling. This may sound a little funny, but I want a nice, quiet, burning love, just as if we had three little kids in the other bed listening for Mommy and Daddy getting up to something."

I stood up in the water, Jake turned me to him and planted a kiss on my mound, then slid his tongue between my lower lips. For a couple of minutes I couldn't move as his tongue went around my clitoris, then I pushed him gently away.

"I have a surprise for you. While I am getting ready, dry yourself off and let the water out. I'll see you in the bedroom."

I picked up the Victoria's Secret bag and headed for the ensuite bathroom. I dried myself first, and then I took out the little black number I had bought. Slipping on the thong, I looked in the mirror to see it just barely covered me. Then I slipped into the baby doll nightdress, not that I would be wearing it for long. The top fitted over my breasts perfectly and provided just a little uplift, not that I need a lot. The bottom was just level with my groin so the thong was peeking out a little. My imagination needed no priming, and I thought that the thong was going to be soaking wet before Jake ever got close to me. My nipples were standing out like bullets. After a last little adjustment, I walked out into the suite. Jake was in a robe, looking out the window at the night scene. I stood in the passage between the rooms, leant against the wall with one hand, and said with as sultry a voice as possible, "Hi there, sailor, care to show a girl a good time?"

Jake turned to me and froze in place, just staring at my body with his mouth half open and a stunned look on his face for the longest time, and then he shook himself and closed the drapes over the window. One bedside light was lit, as was the fireplace with the flame effect making shadows on the walls. Jake gave me that patented smile and said, "This is going to be our own little world for tonight, and nobody will disturb us."

I walked over to him as he sat on the edge of the bed, put my arms around his neck and pulled him in to my breasts. His mouth sought one of my nipples through the cloth and began sucking on me. I began feeling tingling shocks travelling down my body from my nipple straight to the center of my core. He lifted up the nightie and slid it over my head, fastening his lips on the other nipple and creating even more delicious tingles. Then his hands slid down, sliding my thong down my legs till it lay in a pile at my feet. I slid my arms inside his robe, pushing it back off his shoulders and arms. He lay back on the bed and pulled me on top of him.

He kept on kissing my breasts, then moved to my neck and then my lips, where his tongue entered my mouth. I opened my legs, allowing his hard member to rub against the lips of my soaking wet vagina, and I began lifting my body up and down, sliding my wetness along his stiff member. Then he groaned, "Pat, I can't resist you. You are so sexy and feel so incredibly good, I can't wait any longer." His hands went to my butt and pulled me up a little as he directed his penis into me. I raised myself up on to my knees and drove his penis deep inside me. Oh, God! It felt wonderful! We kept moving slowly, sliding together, then apart, magnifying our movements and contacts and suddenly I felt a burst of heat erupting from my lower body as I moaned out my orgasm. It was almost unbearably intense in some ways, as I knew I was giving this man of mine complete access and control of my innermost being. I closed my legs a little and rolled to my side until Jake was on top of me, and then I opened my legs wide open and pulled them up, allowing him deeper access. I could feel his penis contacting my womb and filling me completely, then I felt an overwhelming feeling of joy as he came in me, feeling as if this was what I was made for.




A Girl in Need Ch. 08



I held him to me as he softened. His eyes opened and he looked at me tenderly with that patented grin. I softly whispered, "I'll never know for sure, but if I should conceive on this trip, I hope it is as a result of tonight. You made me feel so special."

He replied, "You are special, that's why I want to marry you, and if we are so lucky that you have conceived, that would be fantastic. I can't think of anything better than to have a child with you."

"Even when I am all bloated and waddling along?"

"Especially then, because I will be able to see that you are carrying our child."

Jake continued, "You know that I am not going to be able to let you go back to live with your Aunt until we get married. I want you with me all the time."

"Jake, that's just where I want to be. If we can get a new bed in your place, that is where I want to be, alongside my future husband. But don't forget, there is a little boy who comes along, too."

"Let's sleep on it, and maybe by tomorrow morning we will have figured something out."

With that we settled down and, holding each other tight, we had a great night's sleep. Not undisturbed though, as spooning can lead to other consequences. Even several times!

Next morning, after a good breakfast, Jake suggested we head for the business center in the hotel where we would have access to a computer. We did a search on Selby Furniture and came up with a website for a furniture store in Clearville. They had their products on display, so we looked through all their beds. As Jake said, we needed one for the Lake house anyway, so if we saw one we liked it could go in Jake's house for now. We found a beautiful four poster bed that would fit nicely into the master bedroom, so Jake called the store and asked for Dick Selby, who was apparently an old school friend. The next thing we knew, we had bought ourselves a bed, linens for it, and the store staff were going to pick up Jake's key from Tanya, set up the new bed at Jake's and take the old bed to the Salvation Army furniture store as a donation. Then we would move it when we moved into the lake house.

Next Jake called May at the cottage. He asked when they were going home and, after being told they were heading back that afternoon, he asked John if he and Chris could look after moving Sean's bed and clothes over to Tommy's room at Jake's house by the next day. John said they would, then May asked to talk to me.

"By the sounds of it, you are going to move in with Jake and have one big family. Are you sure that is what you want? Don't let him rush you into something you may not be ready for."

"May, I couldn't want anything more. He's mine, he's a keeper and I love him to death!"

"Well then, welcome to the family, Pat. John and I couldn't be more pleased if we had picked you out personally, and I'm sure that your mom would have been just as delighted as we are. Tell me, did you do what I suggested?"

I giggled, "I did just what you suggested. Whether it worked totally or not, we won't know for a few weeks, but if it doesn't work it won't be for lack of trying. I feel pretty sure it worked, but that is just a feeling, not proof."

"Well, I'm sure I don't need to tell you to keep on trying! We will see you tomorrow at your house - well, it will be by then. I will even make supper. Sean can stay at the house with us tonight. He has taken to us as if he knew us all his life."   Later, Jake and I went shopping for light fixtures at building supply stores in St Catherine's, which was just a short drive away, and ended up with the SUV almost full of things for the house.

After a good dinner back at the hotel, we decided to try the Casino, so over we went. We played a few machines, but both of us quickly tired of that, so we went back to the room. Jake had arranged for some wine to be there, and, while not quite as romantic as the previous night, we enjoyed ourselves in the Jacuzzi. After cuddling on the bed and watching a movie, (Yes, even a chick flick) and after a long slow session of making love, we went to sleep, thinking of the long drive back to Clearville the next day.

After an early breakfast, we headed north. It was a pretty uneventful trip until Jake pulled over into a parking area and told me to get round and drive for a while.

"What, me?' I exclaimed."I have a little five seater that I normally drive, not a big bus like this! I have enough problems just climbing into it."

"Hey, remember, in a few weeks you are going to have three kids with you sometimes, You're going to be an SUV or Van Mom, so you may as well get used to it."

Fortunately, I adapted to the size of the vehicle okay and got used to it quickly. It was a good job I did, as once my future husband figured I could handle the car, he went off to sleep for half an hour. I don't know what his problem was, I didn't get any more sleep than he did.

We pulled in to the house at about five, to be met by three clamoring kids and three tired adults. May hugged us both, then the kids pulled us away to show us the sleeping arrangements. Sean's bed and chest of drawers had fitted in without any problem, so there was something familiar there for him. The new bed looked enormous in the master bedroom, but it would only be a few weeks until it was moved to its final location. Chris showed me a lot of my clothing that she had brought over as well. There was at least enough to last me for a few days until I got everything moved.

After a noisy supper with the kids, hearing about the monster fish they had caught at the cottage and the animals they had seen, John, May and Chris went home to rest and recover, while we took over the young ones. Eventually, we got them all bathed and in pajamas, and sat at the kitchen table with them having a warm drink and cookies. Jake told them, "Tommy, Sean, Anne, you know that Pat and I love each other and are going to get married."

They all nodded solemnly, so solemn that I almost broke into a laugh.

"Well, while we were away, we decided that we love each other so much that we couldn't bear to be apart any longer, so we are all going to be living together as one family starting right now, even before the wedding."

Tommy, ever the practical one asked, "Pat, you told us to call you Pat, but we think of you more as a Mom, so can we call you Mom?"

I replied, "Tommy, Anne, you had a special Mom who carried you in her body and loved you very much. I don't want you to forget her, she will always be your Mom but if you want to call me Mom as well, I will be honoured."

Their little faces split in wide grins and they ran round the table and hugged me. Sean, realizing the importance of the occasion, got down, hopped up on Jake's knee and hugged him, calling him Dad.

Jake laughed, "Well, it looks like they have us sorted out pretty well, but you must admit it will simplify things a lot, especially if we started something while we were away." He smiled in happiness. Jake picked up the two boys, and I picked up Anne and we carried them upstairs. The boys both kissed us and scampered away to their beds, followed by Jake. Anne snuggled in, so I took her into her room, and put her into bed. She asked me to read a story, and I read the Little Princess. She stopped me part way through and, looking at me with those big brown eyes, asked me a question that almost had me in tears. "Mommy, when I wake up in the morning, will you still be here?"

"Yes, sweetheart, I will, and I will try to always be there for you."

She sighed, reached up for me and kissed me then closed her eyes to go to sleep.

As for Jake and me, it wasn't long after we had the kids in bed that we showered and got ready for bed ourselves. This time I got the pink baby doll nightie out, but we were so tired that even Jake suggested we leave the christening of the bed till tomorrow.

I laughed at him, "What's the problem? Too much woman to handle? I warned you! I must admit though, sleep sounds lovely right now." Then I settled beside him and went off to sleep without feeling the slightest presence of Jenny at all. It was as if she had handed over her charges to me and was happy.

It was about six thirty the next morning when I awoke. Stretching like a cat, I realized that sometime in the early morning I had lost my companion, but I had gained a much smaller one. Snuggled in between me and the edge of the bed was Anne. I guess she was making sure I was going to be there in the morning. I gently shook her awake, "Good morning, honey, its time for me to get up. How about going back to your own bed till I make breakfast, or go and slip a robe on and you can help." I still had that pink Baby Doll on, which I really didn't think was right for young company, so as soon as she went to her room, I got up and put my robe on.

Jake was just coming out of the bathroom, already dressed in his uniform pants and shirt. I went in, got on with what I wanted to do, then headed downstairs. Jake was already there making coffee, and it looked like he was planning on toasting some waffles. I walked over and kissed him. "Jake, I could really get used to this. Can I give you a hand."

"No, just sit down and I'll pass the coffee over. What are your plans for the day? Are you going to the office?"

"No. Helen and I talked, and I actually have the week off so, as long as you have no objections, I thought I would get a start on being a stay at home Mom looking after three little ones. If we need to go anywhere, I'll put the booster seats in my car so we will be okay. I'm planning on taking stock of what food and cleaning stuff we have on hand, and then maybe do some shopping. I'll take the kids with me, and we will get some practice at being a family."

"Well, I have to go finish up all the paperwork on the Jacobs' case, so first I'll head out to the Lake house and drop off the lights in the rooms they will be going in. That way they can be hung as soon as the painting is done. Then I will head in to the office. If you do go shopping, the Independent Store will put the stuff on my monthly bill. Just say it is for me, and there won't be any problem"

Just then three sleepy headed kids came and joined us, giving Jake and me hugs. They were sleepy till they realized there were waffles, and then they instantly came alive. Tommy and Sean seemed none the worse for having to share a room; in fact, they were bubbling over. I just hoped it would stay that way. It can be tough to blend families, though all our kids are young and resilient. We all sat and ate waffles with syrup, and Jake found some canned fruit to put on them.

Then it was time for Jake to get ready, something I was hardly ready for. He put on his vest, then unlocked a little safe and took out his pistol, loaded and holstered it. Having his gun at home was something we had talked about on the trip home. He doesn't really like it either, but as he is subject to call out so much, it is more convenient to have it at home. As he said, it is always locked up and always unloaded, so it isn't any real danger. It is just the thought of it. He caught the look on my face and reassured me, "It isn't for long, Pat, just a few more weeks and the most dangerous thing I'll be taking to work is a pen." Then he gave me that grin again and laughed, "Mind you, it could be just as bad when you are signing construction contracts worth millions."

He came to me, slid his arms around my waist and nuzzled my neck, "I'm going to miss you, almost Mrs. Rogers. I don't know how I'll make it through the whole day without you."

I turned in his arms and kissed him deeply. My knees are doing much better at this now. "Go and be safe. We'll be waiting for you to come home to us."

....................

Jake

Oh, I wished I were staying home with Pat and the kids, but it is just as important to let them get used to each other. So far, things had been great, but nobody had had to say no to anyone. Eventually that would happen, and then any strains would show up. Hopefully, everything will be fine.

On the way to the Lake House, I stopped in at the Independent Store and talked to the manager, Marcel. I told him that my new partner and future wife, Pat Williams, would likely be in later with three children, and that any bill should be put on my account. He assured me that it would be looked after. He had already heard that I had become engaged, and was looking forward to meeting her. Mom had obviously been spreading the news around town.

When I got out to the house, I found that a crew was already at work painting the walls, so Mom hadn't wasted any time getting things underway. It saved me time, though, as all I had to do was just call the guys out, hand them packages, tell them which rooms they were for, and I was able to leave right away for the office.

As soon as I walked in the door, I knew the news had preceded me. The grins and handshakes started along with a few congratulatory kisses from the girls. Tony, of course, had to have the last word.

"Well, the great ivory tower, Jake Rogers, has finally crumbled. I hear Pat has you pretty well tied up. We will never get any sense out of you now. I hope we are all invited to the wedding!"

I replied, "Plan for August 27th, and everyone in the office is invited. I'm sure that, if we ask well ahead of time, we can get coverage from off duty officers from other detachments." Then I went in to Bill's office to let him know I was back, not that he had to be told.

"Well, Bill, I got that computer turned over and, more importantly, had a couple of great days off."

He looked kind of preoccupied as he looked back at me. "The other day when I told you about the SIU, you said that it was making a tough decision much easier. Does that mean what I think it means?"

"If you think it means that I will be leaving the job, then it does."

I explained to him about Dad wanting to partially retire and spend more time with Mom and how, if I didn't take over, it would mean selling the business, which we didn't want him to do.

"It's always been a foregone conclusion that eventually I would join the company, as too many people depend on it for a living; it's just that life makes for tough choices at times. I want to join the company just after our honeymoon. Sorry, Bill, but that's what the future holds. You'll get a month's notice from me at the proper time."

"That's fair enough. In the meantime, we'll do as much as we can to prevent you getting tied up in stuff that makes you come back to appear in court. Oh, and while I think of it, the other lady in your life wants to talk to you. Laura Jacobs has called a couple of times asking for you. Take my advice, take someone with you when you go. There is something about that lady that just makes one think. You should take Pat with you; she should protect you. I don't know what Laura is after, but there is just that little something off about her. She's cold and calculating, but, after being married to Jacobs, that shouldn't surprise us."

After I got the paperwork done, I sorted the evidence we had seized. A lot of it I put into the car. Some, the photographs and guns that we had seized, I kept locked up. I couldn't give the guns back to her unless she had a Possession and Acquisition Licence, and I was going to ask if she wanted the photos destroyed. When I had done all that, I called Pat.

"Hey, how are things going?"

"Well, I'm childless again. May and Chris just 'happened' to call by, so they took off with all three kids and a huge shopping list that should feed us till we move out to the Lake house. I've been ordered by both of them to head for Gowns and Things to see what dresses they have in stock, or pick out material for a wedding dress and a pattern so that they can get busy making it. How about meeting me for lunch afterwards? I'm just about ready for another Oliver's Supreme pizza."

"Ok, call me when you are ready and I'll meet you at Oliver's. Maybe you can find time to come with me to see Laura. Bill tells me she has been trying to contact me, and he figures I need a chaperone."

"Keeping my Honey out of Laura's clutches sounds much better than sitting around watching your Mom and my Aunt doing the cooking. See you soon, Jake, and it can't be soon enough. Say, can I be your 'Sexy Secretary' so we can work together all the time?"

"And just how much work do you think we would accomplish if we worked together all the time? We would soon have the company bankrupt. Besides, we would be setting a bad example to our employees. I'll see you later."

Her laughter was ringing in my ear as I put the phone down.

I met Pat at Oliver's later, and we had lunch. Brenda gave us a hard time as usual. Pat was set to go with me to see Laura, so after lunch I called the Crisis Center to see if Laura were available. The receptionist told me that her three girls were there, but Laura had gone out to the farm to start some packing, since they were not going back there. Pat and I drove out to the farm to see if she were still there.

As we drove in, I noticed a new car, a gray coloured Chevy Suburban. I motioned Pat to stay put until I checked it out. When I took a good look at the back of the vehicle, I saw a dealer's ad from a dealer in Renfrew. That was the area that Laura was from. I motioned to Pat to come and join me.

"It looks to me like Mr. Forbes is in town, or somebody from that area anyway."

Just then I heard, "Oh, Colin, I've been waiting so long for this, take me, make me your own. There is nothing to keep us apart now. The ghost of Bernard is gone, and I've missed your loving so much."

I looked up and the voices were coming from an open window of what I thought was the master bedroom. A male voice answered, "I'm cumming! I don't have anything on!" Then a voice, definitely Laura's, said, "Come inside me anyway. Don't you want a son? it's about time I gave you one. We can be married any time we want, now."

Pat looked at me and grinned, "I don't believe this! Are you going to disturb them right now? Surely not?" She gave a sardonic chuckle and added, "But, being you, you are going to do just that, aren't you?"

I nodded to her as I quietly walked up onto the porch. The main door was open, with just a screen door keeping the flies out. I hammered on the door and shouted, "Laura, Laura, are you there?"

I was rewarded by a shriek, "Oh my God, it's the Police!" and the scurrying sound that indicated someone was in a hurry. Then I saw Laura rushing down the stairs to the door, fastening the top of her dress as she came. Her hair was all over the place.

"Come in, come in. I need to talk to you about what I do next."

She walked back to the foot of the stairs and shouted, "Colin, come on down. I have some people for you to meet."

A man about the same age as Laura, about 5'9" and around 175 pounds walked down the stairs. As soon as he got to the bottom, Laura introduced us.

"Colin, this is Corporal Jake Rogers of the OPP and Pat Williams of Children's Services. They have been looking after everything for me. Pat and Jake, this is my friend I told you about, Colin Forbes from the Renfrew area."

I shook hands with him, but I couldn't help feeling that I had seen him somewhere before. I didn't know whether I actually had, or if it was just that Ginny really looked like him.

He came forward holding out his hand, "I am still a little dazed by what Laura has told me. Here I was the complete bachelor, totally set in my ways and all ready to stay that way, and now I suddenly discover that I'm a father three times over. Thank you for everything that you have done to help Laura and the girls. They all think the world of the two of you. As Laura says, she still needs a little help as to what she can and can't do with the property."

Laura broke in, "Will you both have a coffee and sit with us for a while?"




A Girl in Need Ch. 08



She then busied herself setting up the percolator. We all sat at the table in the kitchen and Laura told us that she and Forbes were planning on getting married, and that Forbes would legally adopt the girls so they would be recognized as his daughters. They were going to join his farm and Laura's parents' place into one large farm. I was still wondering where I had seen him before; I was definitely going to do some checking when I got back to the office.

Laura made coffee for us all, and I brought in most of the property that we had seized under the warrant and had her sign for it. I told her about the guns that we had taken and asked if she had a Possession and Acquisition License. She told me she didn't have one, so I told her that I could not give her the weapons until she got one. She could sell them, or give them away, but not possess them without a license. She looked at Colin, "Do you have one?" he replied that he did, and she told him, "That's easy then, you can have the guns." I told him that he would have to come to the office with his license and a signed letter from Laura giving him the guns, and I would then give them to him.

She did want the photos destroyed. I told her that the laptop was in Toronto and that when the Child Porn Unit was finished with it, the hard drive would be cleaned off and it would be returned.

She talked about selling the farm and the equipment, so I told her to contact Bernard's lawyer regarding the will, as his estate would have to go through probate. I asked when the funeral was going to be, and it was set for the next day, with the family present for a short visitation followed by the service. As Bernard had been so badly marked that a viewing was out of the question, he had already been cremated and the ashes would be at the Funeral Home the next day

I arranged with Colin to meet him at the Police Station prior to the funeral, then Pat and I left them to it. Pat couldn't keep her curiosity suppressed.

"Jake, what do you think of that? We catch them in bed together and she was hardly even flustered. She sure had a well laid look about her when she let us in. It doesn't look like she misses Bernard very much. Are you going to go to the funeral to see what happens?"

"I wouldn't normally, but I'll be talking to Colin before the funeral. I want to check something before I do. Do you mind if we spend a bit of time at the office before we go home?"

"No, it's interesting watching you work; just remember that we have a brood to feed tonight, so we better be home on time. Knowing my aunt, though, and my future mother, I bet there will be lots of food already made."

When we got to the office, I first checked Colin against our local records and, sure enough, we had met before. During the previous winter he had been on his way to Renfrew when he skidded on ice and hit a rock face. He wasn't injured, but he wrote off his vehicle, and he obviously wasn't a stranger to the area. Maybe they had been meeting at other times. It was not really police business, but I would have a couple of questions for Colin when I saw him. I still couldn't get over Laura's lack of feeling about her husband's death; it was almost like she was operating on auto pilot. It felt similar to the way I was after Jenny's death, if the truth be told.

We went home, and sure enough Mom and Chris had really been at it. The house was gleaming, it looked a lot more like a home than I had been able to make it, and they had even put flowers in most of the downstairs rooms. Mom had made Toad in the Hole. For those who don't know what that is, it is my grandma's favourite recipe, so she taught Mom; it is a Yorkshire Pudding batter, only in a large quantity, with sausages in it. It was new to Sean and Pat, but just like me and my kids, they thought it was great. They also had cut up lots of veggies, so it wasn't all fattening. Apparently the kids had spent most of the afternoon over with Tanya's brood, so the ladies had time on their hands to get things done and went ahead and did it.

Once again, we had the fun of putting the kids to bed, both of us looking after each of them. So far so good, they were adapting to each other, and hopefully, if number four really were on the way, they would accept him or her just as easily. After a couple of glasses of wine, we went up ourselves. The first thing I noticed was that there was a new picture on the bedside table. At the family barbecue Mom had taken a photo of Pat and me with our arms round each other's waist. She had enlarged and printed it, and framed it. She had also left a number of candles around ready to be lit. Pat sent me off to shower, and when I was done, she had lit all the candles and turned off the lights. I held her close and kissed her, but when I started stroking her body with my hands, she put a finger over my mouth.

"Jake, just hold that thought, I'll be back in a few minutes."

I relaxed on the bed, and sure enough Pat wasn't long before she came into the room in that pink baby doll nightie and thong -- she was sexy as all get out. She came to me on the bed, her fresh scent driving me crazy. I slipped the nightie off her, then the thong, and slipped off my boxers as our nude bodies came together. We well and truly christened the bed that night, and fell asleep holding each other under the blanket. It was a good thing the kids didn't come in till we were up the next morning!

When I went in to work that morning, I met with Colin Forbes at the Police Station. After checking his documents and reading the letter from Laura, I turned the guns over to him. He asked if he could talk to me personally for a few minutes. I closed the office door and said, "Go right ahead, anything said is between you and me, unless I think it indicates an offence, and I'll warn you if that happens."

"Actually, what I am asking is a big favour to me and Laura. Ginny wants to go to college here in Clearville next year at Clearville College. She wants to get into social work because Pat impressed her so much with the way she handled all the girls. We have arranged accommodation for her with the same family who looked after Gail and Paula. They are great people. Ginny figures that you and Pat are great people, too, and I would like to ask if the two of you would help her out if she needs it, kind of as life mentors. Let's face it, she hasn't had much of a normal life, and there is no doubt that you and Pat are probably the most grounded people she has ever come across."

"Well, as far as I am concerned, I don't have a problem with that, though by the end of the summer I will no longer be associated with the Police. However, if Pat has any misgivings about doing it, then as her husband, it will rule me out as well,"

"Her husband? Congratulations to both of you! We didn't realize that you two were an item. (That's what they call it now, don't they?)"

"We weren't until we started on this case, but events just knocked us over, they happened so fast. Anyway, she is coming to the funeral with me so we can ask her then. I don't think she will say no, but we better run it by her first. Now, how about you answering a question for me?"

"I will if I can, so go ahead."

"Almost a year ago, you were involved in an accident travelling south on the main highway from here. Had you been visiting Laura? If you want, you can tell me it's none of my business, but your answer might help to get rid of some misgivings I have."

"As you put it like that, the answer is yes, I had been visiting Laura. I have been off and on for the last six or seven years. Two or three times a year, Bernard went off to church retreats, or so they were supposed to be. Seven years ago Laura had reason to contact Bernard, but when she contacted the number of the place where the retreat was taking place, he wasn't there. When he came back, she got a chance to search the truck and she found a receipt from a hotel in North York. She called the hotel and asked for Bernard and of course they told her that Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs had checked out two days previously. She never found out who that Mrs. Jacobs was, but when she was in town on her own, she called me and told me what happened. We just decided that what was sauce for the gander was sauce for the goose, and whenever he was going away to those so called retreats, I would come up here and stay at the Bluewater Motel, Laura would join me when she could. Does that explain things for you?"

"Yes, it does, but there is just one more question that I have to ask Laura and, depending on her answer, I either drop everything and report as things are, or I may make it more detailed and leave it to somebody else to finish. I'll be seeing both of you at the funeral home later."

Shortly after that, Pat arrived at the office, and I explained Colin's request. She didn't take long to give me her answer.

"Jake, Ginny has had a hard life, and I feel I owe her for coming forward and making it possible for us to meet. Maybe we would have been introduced anyway, but the situation would not have been so emotionally charged. To me, those high emotions made you and me realize that we loved each other far more quickly than we might have otherwise. I'd love to act as her adviser, and I don't know how you feel about this, but I would love to ask Ginny and her friend Beth to act as bridesmaids for me."

"That is just fine with me. Bridesmaids are your choice, but I would love to see the kids involved too."

"They will be! Now, next question: as you will still be a member of the Police then, are you going to be in Dress Uniform? I'd love it if you were."

"For you, anything. How we get there is up to you, just as long as there is a Mr. and Mrs. John Rogers Junior at the end. That's what I care about."

"Oh, there will be, have no fears about that!"

We left then for the funeral home, where we met Laura, Colin, Ginny, Paula and Gail. Other than them, there were hardly any people there at all. Laura thanked us for coming and explained that Bernard had no family that she was aware of, and, since he was shunned, there would be no people from the church there. The only people coming in seemed to be a few that he had done business with, and they came in, talked to Laura for a few minutes, gave their commiserations and then left.

When things quieted down after a while, Laura said to me, "I hear you have more questions for me."

We moved to the back of the room. "Just a couple of quick questions. You don't have to answer, but it will help me put the case to rest. First, why didn't you tell Colin that your daughters were his children?"

"That's simple to answer, because he knew most of what Bernard was like with the beatings. If Colin had known that the girls were his, he would have done something about it. I was scared of what Bernard would do. I know that if Bernard had any idea that the girls were Colin's, he would have divorced me and tried to keep the children away from me as an unfit mother. The church would have helped him as well. I was really scared of that. His name was on the birth certificates, and that is what the courts would go on. I talked to a lawyer about it, and that is what he told me, but I didn't talk to him about the beatings, just the girl's births."

"Alright, that sounds pretty reasonable to me. Now, just a general question for my report. What are you going to do with Bernard's ashes?"

"Now you will think I am really terrible. Thanks to his treatment of me and the girls, I don't want to leave any formal evidence of his existence except in documents. There won't be any interment. As it was, the thing he most loved was the farm, so this afternoon we will be taking the ashes out there, spreading them in a field, and then plowing them into the ground. Even though I hated him, I will give him that much dignity, even though I don't think he deserves it. Next week, Colin and I will be married, and as soon as we can, the farm will be sold and everything else auctioned off. Clearville isn't a very happy place for me; it represents almost nineteen years of slavery and servitude, something I would like to forget but never will. Once I get away from here, I will never come back. Think badly of me if you must, but I can't be a hypocrite and pretend otherwise."

"Laura, it isn't for me to judge you or think badly of you. I can only imagine the horrors you and the girls have gone through. All I would say, and I'm sure Pat would agree with me, is talk to a doctor where you are going to live, and find a counselor that you can really relate to, to help you recover from what you have been through."

Pat interjected and said, "Laura, what Jake said is a must. If you want a happy life with Colin, you have to get rid of the leavings of your life with Bernard. You have to talk things out with someone."

After the service, which only Laura and the girls, Colin, Pat and I attended, Pat and I left. I asked Pat, "Well, can you blame her?"

"Absolutely not, she survived and you know how many don't. I wish her well with Colin, he seems the only bright light that she has ever had in her life. I told her I would like Ginny to be one of my bridesmaids, and she was so pleased. Ginny was over the moon. She will come up by bus for dress fittings, and she is back to being best friends with Beth."

--------------

Pat

Epilogue

Well that was the story of how I met and fell for Jake Rogers. One of the worst crimes that we can imagine resulted in us meeting and marrying. We got the Lake House finished, and that is where we are living. Jake is understudying his Dad at Roger's Construction and we see our Dad home most nights, except for business trips. So far Mom has gone along as well. Now, whether that will continue when the twins are born remains to be seen. Yes, John Rogers the third and Patricia Jennifer Rogers are well on the way, on the usual Roger's timetable. Whether it was that night in Niagara Falls we will never know, but it had to be pretty close.

Before Jakes resignation took effect, I had plenty of time to realize that, while Jenny and I may have looked different, we were sisters under the skin. While I would never have said anything to Jake, I hated seeing him strap on that gun and leave the house, not knowing if I would see him come back alive. It tore at my heart to think of anything happening. Yet, all over the world, spouses do that every day, sometimes for thirty years or more. I can only say they have my greatest respect for doing so.

Oh yes, the wedding. Everything went off according to plan. The night before, I stayed at Aunt Chrissie's, and the next morning I got my hair done. I had found a dove grey floor length gown that fitted me like a glove and accentuated my breasts, eyes, hair and face. Chrissie and Sean escorted me down the aisle to where that handsome guy with the grin was waiting, all dressed up in his dress uniform. Ahead of me were Tommy as the ring bearer, Anne as my flower girl, Beth and Ginny as bridesmaids and Joan, my future sister, was my Matron of honour, as she volunteered first.

As the minister asked who gives this woman, Aunt Chris and Sean, speaking as one, said "We do." The ceremony was pretty much a haze for me, as every time I looked at Jake, he gave me one of those grins that make my knees turn to jelly, and when the minister said "You May Kiss the Bride," his kiss just about had me wrestling him to the floor. Now, that would have surprised the minister. After we signed the register and were leaving the church, I noticed that all the uniformed officers had left. I should suspected something was up, and as we walked out the door, there were two lines of officers, one line on each side of the pathway, with their batons in the air forming an archway for us.

We had a great reception at May's. They had even put down a dance floor and hired a local band. The caterer did a great job, including the cake. Jake and I changed there before we headed out. When I threw my bouquet, imagine my surprise when it ended up just falling into Chrissie's arms (I had always wondered about those nights out when she didn't go to May's.) Maybe there is more than meets the eye there.

Our honeymoon was five beautiful days at the cottage. Jake drove us up so that we would have a vehicle if we needed it. We went out for dinner three times, but spent most of the rest of the time in bed. We never wet a line in five days. When we got home, the kids were all packed and we went to Disneyworld for a week, and we all had a ball there. It was hot in Florida, but the kids didn't care, all they cared about was Mickey, Minnie and the rest of the Disney characters.

Now the kids are in bed, and Grandma May is having a quiet read while listening for them. Jake and I? We are heading for the dock for our quiet time. You know that bet from the first day I saw the house? I lost. Jake put a two person hammock out in the shelter, and that was the first place we christened when we moved in. We might just do it again tonight if these two I am carrying don't interrupt.

The End