Epilogue

Two and a half years seems like a goodly amount of time, except when you're in the middle of it. At that point, it just flies by.

Jessica had graduated from high school. It was summer. I had found a new job and a nice little house in the town where Jessica would be attending college. You know, one of those 1940's era cottages with two small bedrooms and one small bath. It was cute, though, with its built-ins, and handwork from a time when labor was cheap. It was small, but very affordable.

It was funny, but after living with Jeanie and her husband for the past few years, I didn't think I could go back to an apartment.

I wouldn't start my new job for three weeks. I'd given notice to my old job two weeks ago, so now I had vacation time.

I'd been paying Jeanie for my room and board. What I didn't know was that they had kept that money in a savings account. There was more than fourteen thousand dollars in there. When I found out, I had asked them what they were going to do with it. My first thought was 'one hell of a vacation.' I was floored when they said it was to pay for my and Jessica's wedding. They also told me I couldn't tell Jessica about it. That was harder than they knew ... or maybe they did know!

Jessica and I were even closer. Almost hard to believe, but true.

Yes, if you're wondering, 'it' happened. How can I put into words something that was so incredible? It was so overwhelming, it brought me to tears. I don't think I could do the event justice, with mere words.

There was no way to hide what had happened from Theresa, or Tim and Jeanie either, for that matter. As soon as I walked in the door, Jeanie took one look at me and asked if her sister knew, yet. I guess in a way it is the very closeness of the family, that has been one great blessing to me.

By the time we succumbed to our desires, Theresa knew the inevitable was going to happen, and she understood. Probably the fact that she and Tim were regularly together, at that point, helped.

I believe it was the long talks, afterwards, that mother and daughter had, that had paved the way for Theresa and Tim to get remarried. I heard some of the conversations. Jessica talked about the importance of showing everyone around them that they were committed to one another, and of how just living together, didn't show that. Even if Theresa had reservations about the church and its beliefs, the idea that they would publicly tell the world they wanted to commit to each other, stood for something special.

Both Theresa and Jessica can be rather stubborn and it was Tim who put his foot down. I was very glad to see him take the initiative on this, as he had been the one who had walked away, before. He told Theresa that if they couldn't, or wouldn't get married, why should their daughter. The thought of Jessica shacking up with me was enough to drive Theresa insane, even if she was basically doing the same thing with Tim.

That 'shacking up' part has relevance, in that Theresa made sure Jessica was signed up for an on campus dorm.

A year ago, Theresa and Tim got married. It was a fun wedding. Many people from Theresa's work were there. Tim had some there, as well. Jeanie, her husband, and my parents of course showed up. Antonio, his wife, brother, and their children all came, too. Brandon had also secured a spot, as he was pretty much stuck like glue to Fiona. The most surprising of the invited guests that came, were Agents Downs and Barnes, along with their baby Melinda. Most weddings I've been to I didn't know hardly anyone. Here the only ones I didn't know were some of Tim's co-workers. It was a hell of a party. Jessica told her mother at the end, that she hoped her wedding to me would be just as wonderful.

I was glad Jessica's applications to the universities, acceptance, and all that rot was done by the Christmas vacation. In the spring we had, what we knew would eventually happen. It had taken over two years and many legal maneuvers before the court cases went to trial. Thankfully Jessica and Fiona were spared being part of the witnesses called. I was not so lucky.

There were those fifteen minutes of fame that I had wondered about. I wish I wouldn't have. Try more like a few hours, well days really. When it hit the news that what had unraveled the whole operation was my saving the girl who had been on her bike, my face was suddenly on national news. It was embarrassing.

Jessica couldn't have been more proud.

One of the good things, well other than seeing the sentence those guys got, was that I finally got to meet the girl. I knew her face, but that was it. Her mother's emotional gushing, about how her daughter would have been blown to bits, was caught by the news cameras. That was what showed up on televisions around the country. I could have cared less about that. I was interested in how she was, who she was, and her name.

After we were escorted into a building where news people couldn't get to us, Tammy and I had a very nice talk. Agent Barnes had primed her with a lot more about me, than I knew about her. She wanted to know everything about Jessica. When I showed her a picture, she took it out of my hand, studied it, and then gave me a very knowing look. I couldn't help but blush over her scrutiny. She made me promise to let her meet Jessica, which I did easily. The girl I had 'saved' was fun to talk with. I knew Jessica and they would have a great time together.

I had been planning this move for some time. While Jessica scouted universities to attend, I looked at the job markets in those areas. Where she finally chose was a good match for her interests and for me finding a good job. I was planning on working for one more year and then going back to get my doctorate. It had already been two years since I'd gone back and finished my masters. I knew that with Jessica in college, I wouldn't be able to stay away. Fortunately my parents were always willing to help, but in reality, I hadn't spent much of the money I'd been making for the past couple of years. I could afford to go back. Now was the first time I'd had a need to spend a bit of cash.

Unlike my apartment and Jeanie's house, this was unfurnished.

The pretence was that Jessica was going to help me this week. I had no doubt about that. Unbeknownst to Theresa and Tim, we had picked out furniture already. Jessica didn't know I had already ordered it, that it was to be delivered, and the landlord would let them in before we arrived.

I did need Jessica for another 'job' altogether, and no, not that one! When Jeanie had moved into her new house, I had a rude awakening about how much effort it took to make a house a home. The personal touches I wanted to be Jessica's. Most of that was for selfish reasons. If she couldn't live with me all the time, I wanted her presence with me as much as possible.

There were also two more surprises for Jessica that week.

We had been in the house for only an hour, with Jessica pulling me from room to room. The furniture may well have been placed, but after Jessica's description, all of it would be moved somewhat.

The doorbell rang. I didn't even know I had a doorbell!

"Probably someone wanting to sell something," I said, as disinterested as I could.

I knew Jessica would take the bait. When we opened the door, there stood Agent Barnes.

I don't know who was shocked more. Jessica, because she was suddenly holding the hand of a two year old, or I, who had never (outside of the wedding) seen Barnes in a dress.

"You can close your mouth," Agent Barnes said to me. "I'm told I clean up pretty good."

I swallowed hard and said, "Yeah. Wow!"

"John," Jessica said in an annoyed tone.

"Downs sure knew what he was doing," I said.

It wasn't very politically correct. Not polished at all. It did convey the idea, and Agent Barnes smiled at me.

"Is he always this eloquent?" she asked Jessica.

"Sometimes worse."

"Hey!" I said.

Both gals laughed.

"Nice place," Barnes said. "Maybe I can have a tour when we get back, but I'm running late."

With that she bent down, kissed her daughter, and turned to walk away.

"What am I thinking? Here!" Barnes said, pulling out a sheet of paper with information on it. "You'd think they pulled out more than a baby when she was delivered. At times I think I had a lobotomy. It's better than it was, but there are times I wonder about myself. Thank goodness it only involved child rearing!"

"You're leaving?" Jessica asked, somewhat confused.

"Yeah," I answered. "We're babysitting."