The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (73 page)

             
“I see,” John replied.

             
“And another thing,” Jessica continued ignoring John.  “Where do you get off thinking that the Moores won’t like me?  They love me.  It was you that Arthur was so mad at!”

             
“I just thought with you being my girlfriend in my ex-“

             
“That’s what you get for thinking,” Jessica interjected.  “Now understand this, if you start unilaterally making decisions for the two of us
,
John Fowler
,
there will be problems.  You don’t own me or control me.  I am my own woman.”

             
“I wouldn’t dream,” John began, but Jessica cut in again.

             
“Well don’t!” 
She
interrupted
, and then
paused.  “Don’t you have anything to say?”  John took a second to think this one through. 

             
“You’re the first girlfriend I’ve had in a really long time,” John said quietly.

             
Jessica looked over at John.  Her lips were pursed, and her eyes were slightly squinted.  She was trying to
decide if he was about to feed her some line of bull or if he was being sincere.  She gave him the benefit of the doubt.  She looked back at the road.  She spoke quietly.

             
“I never would try to replace her,” Jessica said quietly.  She looked at John.  He was nodding his head.  Jessica decided it had gotten too heavy, too quickly and she needed to do something to lighten the mood.  “I’ve never had one you know.”

             
“A boyfriend!?!”
  John asked in disbelief.

             
“No
,
silly, a girlfriend,” Jessica replied smiling.  John shook his head at her bad joke.  The smile faded from Jessica’s face as she seemed lost in deep thought.  They were approaching the Moores.  “I mean I don’t guess you could call her one . . .
”  Jessica
said softly.  John’s head whipped around in shock.  Jessica was looking right at him with a “gotcha” look.

             
“Why do men always get so goofy when they think women did things in college?”  Jessica asked.

             
“So you’re just messing with me?”  John asked.  Jessica shrugged.  She parked the car, leaned real close to John, and answered very softly.

             
“We’ve only been boyfriend/girlfriend for such a short time, I don’t know if our relationship is strong enough to handle that yet,” Jessica replied, and exited the car.

             
“I’m sure it is!!”  John cried out.  The door to the Moores opened, and there was Arthur and Madeline.  Jessica was standing in front of the car and turned and looked over her shoulder at John.  She gave him a wink that the Moores couldn’t see.  She cocked her head as if to say, “Come on” and headed toward them.  Madeline met her with a hug. 

             
John opened the door and got out.  He stood there for a minute and watched the three of them together.  He smiled and nodded. 

             
“Sam,” he said quietly to himself.  “We’re going to get him . . . if it kills me we’re going to get him.”  John shut the door and walked toward the Moores and Jessica. 

The End . . . For Now.

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