Chapter 1
Jade Wesson sneezed as she struggled to maneuver her luggage and snuggle into her jacket. January could be so cold at times. She adjusted her carry all and pulled her luggage along the wet road of high trees avenue, walking faster to beat the threatening rain and approaching darkness. Other pedestrians hurried along beside her on the sidewalk, a few bumping into her occasionally. Despite the cold weather and her tiredness, Jade was glad to be home again. She'd missed New York and its craziness. She had been away for a whole year, graduating from college Two years ago and working in sunny California, she ached for what she left behind, her aunt Jenna. Thoughts of the jovial, warm woman fixed a smile on Jade's face. As an orphan, losing both parents at once at the tender age of twelve was tough, but the burden of it all was made lighter for Jade by her aunt.
Turning a corner, Jade spied the white one story building sitting regally, surrounded by green lawns and tall trees that were abundant in the suburb. She increased her pace, anticipating the comfort of seeing her aunt and the warmth of the old house again. She finally arrived at the house as thunder overhead. She tried the door, it was unlocked. Letting herself in, she left her luggage in the hall and went in to find her aunt. The living room was empty but the lights and TV were on. She heard someone moving around in the kitchen and went to check. Stepping into the brightly colored kitchen, the smell of soup tickled her nose.
"Jade?" the woman in the kitchen stopped and questioned.
"Macy! You can't recognize me!" Jade said, stepping around the table for a hug.
"Oh, Jadey" she wiped her hands on her apron and hugged her tightly, squeezing her.
"You've grown so big, I can hardly recognize you," Macy said, moving back to inspect Jade. "I've missed you so much," she said hugging her again, wiping her nose.
Jade was careful, hugging the frail woman who she'd known all her life. Macy was the housekeeper and lived with Jade's aunt with her husband, who acted as the gardener and general handyman. Growing up around such love and warmth, it had been hard for Jade to feel the aching loss of her parents. Jade stepped back and settled on one of the high-backed stools scattered around the beautiful kitchen. "I missed you too, Macy and everybody" she mused.
"Speaking of everybody, where are they?" she asked kicking off her shoes.
"Bob went down to the store for some supplies, while your aunt is out back in her office," she said pouring out hot chocolate in a mug for the young girl. She added two sugars and some milk just the way she liked it.
"Oh, OK. I'll just get this and go see her," she said placing the mug on a saucer and getting up.
"Okay, honey. Dinner's almost ready". Jade kissed her on the cheek before heading out of the kitchen. She padded softly out to the adjoining building that had served as her aunt's office for years. Looking around and familiarizing herself with the house again, she sipped the hot chocolate gingerly. The office had been repainted and the old sign that read EMERALD OUTSOURCING had been taken down and replaced with a modern one that read the same words. The office door was open and the reception where Julia was always seated was empty. Frowning, she wondered why. Opening the door of the inner office, she saw her aunt seated at the large oak table, headed bent over some paperwork. She set her mug on a small nearby table and whistled. Her aunt looked up, shocked.
"JADE AMELIA WESSON! Don't you ever do that to me again" she screamed, her hand on her chest. Jade laughed heartily.
"Well, don't just stand there laughing, come over here and give me a hug!" she boomed.
"Took you long enough" Jade quipped.
She went around the office desk to hug her aunt, groaning as her aunt crushed her in a bear hug. After a few moments, she pushed her back gently. Jade sat in front of her aunt on the desk. Her aunt was struggling to wipe the tears that escaped the corners of her eyes. "It's been so long, Jay. I've missed you"
"Me too, Aunt Jenna, me too. And it's only been three months. I was home in October"
"You know what I mean, Jade. But nevertheless, you're back for good this time, right?"
"Yeah, I guess. I quit my job at the studio" she sighed.
Her aunt tried to look sad, but failed miserably. In truth, she was happy to have her dear niece back home. "Dinner should be done now. Let's go in. Then you can tell us all about those handsome young men on the beaches of California" said Aunt Jenna, standing up and shooing her niece into the house and following behind closely.
******
Jade laughed again as she hurled a throw pillow at Bob. She was seated with Macy, her aunt, Bob and Julia who had gone out to run some errands for Aunt Jenna. They sat in front of the fireplace and chatted while drinking mugs of steaming hot chocolate. Rain pelted the roof furiously outside.
Jade missed the warmth and easy companionship of this people that had been her family since she was twelve. They had always been there for her when she needed them. Julia, only two years older than Jade had been her older sister in high school. Only child of Macy and Bob, she had lived with her grandparents until when she was fourteen, moving to New York to live with her parents in Aunt Jenna's house. Jade loved every member of her unusual family. From school plays until graduation day, they always supported her.
They talked late into the night until they were tired before saying goodnight. Jade went upstairs to her old room. It was still the way she left it, but had obviously been cleaned. Bob had brought up her case. Too tired to unpack, she just opened one of the smaller cases and pulled out an old warm and oversize T-shirt.
After showering and changing, she fell into a long dreamless sleep.
*****
The smell of food woke Jade up. Her stomach growled as she rolled out of bed and stretched. She felt utterly relaxed and energized.
Stuffing her feet into her old and worn bunny slippers, which always lay by the side of her bed, she yawned and headed to the adjoining bathroom to rinse her mouth.
She went downstairs and followed her nose to the kitchen. Macy was stirring something in a pot while Bob was reading the paper. They looked up when she entered.
"Mo-morning" she greeted stifling a yawn.
"How are you feeling dear?" Bob asked.
"Oh, very relaxed. Very very relaxed" she said grabbing some crackers on the table and nibbling at them.
"Obviously" Macy grinned.
"What?" Jade looked up.
"Do you have any idea of the time now?"
"No. What time is it?" Jade asked, looking around for a clock.
"Its 1:30 in the afternoon" Macy replied.
"Now, go wash up and come back to eat" she said, shooing in her out of the kitchen.
"What! Why didn't anyone wake me up?" she cried.
"Go ask your aunt".
Jade grabbed some more crackers and started down the path to the home office. It was a bright afternoon, the sky completely devoid of dark clouds.
Entering through the glass doors that were shut this time into the air-conditioned reception, Jade noted Julia's presence at her usual front desk, staring fixedly at the monitor on her desk.
"Hey Jules" she greeted.
"Hey, look who decided to wake up and join the living," she joked, looking up from the screen and smiling tiredly.
"Yeah, I guess I was really jet lagged".
Jade walked into the room.
"Is Aunt Jenna busy?" she asked, motioning to the inner office with her head.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, she is attending to a client right now as we speak," informed Julia.
"Oh, OK then. I guess I'll just go and come back later," she decided, turning to go, but was interrupted by the creak of the opening inner door.
She heard her aunt's voice.
"I am very sorry for the inconvenience, Nicholas, I -" she stopped short when she saw Jade.
Jade looked up and gasped as she met the gaze of a man. She felt her chest tighten as she scanned his features. Well over six feet, he towered over her five feet four inches. He wore a black suit that fit him like a glove and looked like it was made for him. He had the most commanding gray eyes, shot with flecks of gold. His midnight black hair was a tad too long for the polished executive look and touched the collar of his pristine white shirt. His face was hard and handsome in a way that some women like, but rugged to others. His lips were unsmiling and drawn in a straight line.
Jade blushed deeply as she became fully aware of her appearance. She was still wearing her big green oversize T-Shirt that stopped just at mid thigh, feet encased in baby bunny slippers and her hair, a mop of untamed wild red curls. She blushed deeply to the roots of her hair.
"Oh, Jade; I didn't know you were awake?" aunt Jenna asked.
"I just woke up and came over to say hi" she replied, conscious of the dominating man standing beside her aunt, listening to every word of their conversation.
Her aunt turned to the man.
"I'll have someone over this afternoon and again I am very sorry for this". He nodded at her aunt, keeping his eyes trained on Jade; not attempting to hide the fact that he was staring.
Jade averted her eyes, until she felt his presence leave the room before allowing herself to breathe steadily again.
Julia coughed and winked at Jade knowingly.
"What?" Jade half -snapped.
"Nothing" she replied, the echoing sound of her laughter followed Jade out of the office.