Chapter Twenty-five, Fairy Tale
Posted by DiF on Saturday, August 13, 2011
Title: Midnight Shift: Chapter Twenty-five, Fairy Tale
Rating: PG-13 [language]
Summary: The beach house keeps getting emptier. Is this a good or bad thing for Summer?
Waking with Summer in his arms was the greatest gift morning could give. Jimmy could not remember the last time he woke with a smile on his face – other than the other morning when he woke to the same situation, even if they were on lockdown. She still slept soundly beside him, her soft lips curved into a small smile. He wanted to believe she was dreaming happy dreams of him, but Jimmy knew better than to be that presumptuous. However as he lay there watching her sleep, he was aware she would wake before long and likely need to use the restroom. As she was to keep off her feet as much as possible so that the second-degree burns could heal, he wondered if he needed to pull away from her and retrieve Bonzo from across the hall to carry her into the restroom. Pushing that thought away quickly, not wanting to share her with anyone if he did not need to, Jimmy looked down at the sleeping blonde-haired person and decided he could carry her to the restroom. She could not weigh any more than his double-neck guitar and that he slung low and danced with. He would carry her to the restroom, no matter what she said.
Seemingly sensing his thoughts, the young girl in his arms stirred. She stretched like a kitten, her entire body flexing and lengthening. With a smile, her eyes fluttered open as she turned over onto her side, her large blue eyes meeting his. Jimmy struggled so hard to not lean over and kiss her luscious mouth. But he could not cross that line.
“He hasn’t called yet, has he?” she asked softly.
Jimmy reached up and tucked her shiny blond hair behind her ear, “No, princess, he has not. But he is likely still in the air. We only slept a few more hours.”
“Oh,” Summer responded. “Well… we should go make breakfast then. After I pee.”
He quickly pulled away from her and hurried around the bed before her bandaged toes reached for the floor. Her eyes immediately flicked to his, trying to ascertain his intentions. Wordlessly he reached for her and hooked one arm under her legs. Nodding she slipped her arms around his neck and rolled towards him, aiding Jimmy in scooping her up. He could not resist kissing her temple after adjusting her in his arms. Heading to the bathroom, he paused when his eyes looked down at the toilet seat, not entirely sure how to flip it up while holding onto Summer. She giggled softly and leaned over to do exactly what he was wondering.
Depositing her on the toilet, he kissed her forehead, “I shall just be outside. Remember you are not to walk. Call for me once you are ready.”
“Jimmy?”
He stopped at the door and turned to her.
“Thank you.”
Leaning against the wall after closing the door, his eyes flicked down the hall to Bonzo’s door. It did not surprise him that the drummer had not risen yet, not in the least. If the drummer had to remain, the least he could do was sleep a lot, giving Jimmy plenty of time alone with Summer. But Bonzo had no reason to remain, in fact had all the reason not to. As soon as he could, Jimmy would talk him into returning home to his wife and family, thusly leaving just Jimmy and Summer in the beach house. It was the perfect idea.
So lost in his thoughts, he did not realize Summer had called for him until he heard the toilet flush. Knocking lightly, he pushed the door open, meeting Summer’s smiling eyes. He scooped her off the toilet and deposited her directly onto the counter. As she reached over to wash her hands, his dark eyes dropped to her bandaged feet. Wordlessly his fingers dropped to her feet and began to unwrap the white gauze. Dropping the soiled bandages in the trash can, he began to squat to get a better look at her feet, but Summer read his intentions as she dried her hands and kicked her right foot up.
Chuckling, Jimmy inspected her injured flesh and frowned, “Stay right here. I’m going to go downstairs and get the things the doctor left for your feet.”
“I can’t go anywhere without you, silly,” she responded, letting her feet drop back down. “Oh and how am I going to walk Queenie?”
“I shall take care of her, princess. Worry not,” his hand gently touched hers. “I shall return right away.”
Stepping out of the bathroom, Jimmy avoided the puppy and headed to the steps. As his hand reached for the railing, Bonzo’s door opened and the bear-like drummer stepped out. The two men’s eyes met and without a word, Bonzo joined Jimmy, stepping down the steps a few behind the guitarist.
“We shall need to walk Queenie for Summer,” Jimmy pointed out. “And carry her down here for breakfast or else I can bring breakfast to her.”
“I’ll bring ‘er down. She’ll probably like the change of scenery. Plus… I can’t cook and you can’t cook. So we at least need her help,” he responded.
“Correct,” he nodded, retrieving the medical supplies from the downstairs bathroom. “I shall change her bandages and we will be ready in a few minutes.”
“I’m just gonna smoke and then I’ll be up.”
Hands full of the things the doctor left behind to tend to Summer, Jimmy hurried back upstairs. Slowing his pace, he stepped confidently into the bathroom. She remained sitting on the counter where he left her. However, she had twisted about and retrieved her hairbrush for her long blond hair was now bound back from her face in a loose braid, a blue ribbon tied at the end. Part of him wanted to pull the ribbon off and loosen her hair about her shoulders once more. But Jimmy restrained himself and set the medical supplies on the counter beside her.
“Bonzo’s going to be up to take you down for breakfast after he smokes. So I’ll just reapply the stuff to your feet and bandage them up and we’ll be good to go,” he stated.
Her eyes watched as he sat on the toilet, turning her towards him. His eyes quickly ran up the length of her legs, briefly settling on the very part of her he could not have, but could in fact see as all she wore was one of Robert’s shirts. Though he would have loved to stare at her sex as long as possible, Jimmy’s eyes quickly darted up to hers. He smiled as if a jolt of arousal had not shot through his veins and reached for her left foot. Focusing his attention on the task, he quickly cleansed the burns on each foot before reaching for the ointment. She inhaled sharply as he touched his greased finger to her wounds. Muttering a quick apology, Jimmy carefully covered the burns and quickly washed his hands before reaching for the gauze.
After he wrapped both feet with the white cotton, clipping it in place, Jimmy stood back up, but not before his eyes briefly glanced at her forbidden flower. His eyes met hers and he knew that she had seen his gaze, but as she had not slammed her hand over her sex, it must not have bothered her. Or perhaps she had wanted him to see it? That thought alone sent his thoughts spiraling in a million different lewd directions. He wanted nothing more than to push against her now, taking her on the bathroom counter. He was certain it would take little to guide her legs around his waist; she would not fight it.
But he could not do such a thing. He had not won her as his own yet. He did not want to take her, to steal her, to… fuck her. He wanted Summer completely and wholly.
“Thank you, Jimmy,” Summer said softly, snapping his thoughts back into the present situation.
“Of course, princess. I promised to take care of you always,” he responded back in the same low tone.
Her eyes remained on his face as he leaned forward once more to wash his hands, having bumped her ointment-covered feet while wrapping them. He glanced to her after turning off the faucet while reaching for the towel. Without hesitation, Summer quickly leaned over and kissed his mouth. Jimmy turned slightly to face her, attempting to hold the kiss a bit longer.
“So sweet pea,” Bonzo’s voice boomed as he neared the bathroom, causing a sudden end to the kiss, “are you ready to come downstairs?”
“Almost. Could you grab me some pants first, Jimmy?” her blue eyes went to his.
“Of course, princess,” he nodded, his fingers trailing across her knee as he turned away. “One moment.”
Waiting until the guitarist left the bathroom, Bonzo focused on Summer, “He didn’t… he didn’t try anything did he?”
Without saying a thing, Summer quickly captured Bonzo with her legs and pulled him close to her. Plopping her arms down on his shoulders, she stared into his eyes. Within seconds, Bonzo began to wiggle uncomfortably under her stare. His eyes eventually flicked away.
“Do you want to ask me again?” she asked softly.
“Ask you what?” Jimmy’s voice interrupted from the doorway, a pair of jeans in his hand.
Her eyes went to his, “Bonzo asked if you tried anything.”
The guitarist looked to the drummer, “Do you not trust me? She is Robert’s girl. I have vowed to take care of her but I shall not–”
“I bloody well know you, Pagey. That’s precisely why I’m staying right here, between you and Summer,” he declared in a growl.
Jimmy held out the pants to Summer, “You have no need to protect Summer from me, Bonzo. At all.”
Her hands dropped from Bonzo’s shoulders and she accepted the pants, shifting forward on the counter. Eyes going to her gauze-wrapped feet as they unwrapped from Bonzo’s waist, Summer frowned. She had no idea at all how she was going to get her pants on without being able to stand. Though she didn’t think her feet were that bad off, she knew neither of the men were about to allow her to stand.
“Jimmy? How am I supposed to put these on if I can’t stand?”
His eyes went to hers, “Um…”
“I’ll carry you back to the bed and you can pull them on while lying in bed,” Bonzo suggested and scooped her up before she could object.
The guitarist instantly fell in step with the pair, trailing them into Summer’s room. He moved around Bonzo as the drummer set the girl down, intending to help somehow. However, Bonzo grabbed Jimmy’s shirt and turned his back to Summer. Smirking the girl laid back after pulling the jeans as far up her legs as possible. Arching up, she pulled them the remaining way, even though it did require pushing her feet into the bed slightly, an action that caused some pain.
Sitting up, she poked Jimmy in the lower back. He quickly turned around, pulling free from Bonzo with little effort. Her arms shot up in the air like a small child asking to be held. Chuckling he sat next to her instead of pulling her into his arms. Pouting, her eyes went to Bonzo as he turned around, her arms held up to him. He instantly scooped her back up.
“What shall we make for breakfast, sweet pea?” he asked, adjusting her slightly as he headed towards the door.
“PANCAKES!”
Sitting on the counter next to the sink while Bonzo washed the morning’s dishes, Summer swung her legs slightly. Glancing sideways at her, her reached over and touched her nose, leaving a puff of white suds on its tip. She giggled and blew off the foam, causing it to shoot up in the air before dissipating. Naturally, this alone encouraged Bonzo to do it again. Twice more he attempted it before tiring of her distraction.
“Can I ask you something, John?”
His eyes went to hers and he frowned slightly, noticing the seriousness in her eyes complemented the use of his name, “Of course, Summer. Anything.”
“Why are you here?”
“Doing the dishes,” he responded, motioning to the sink with his head.
“No, I mean why are you still here in California? Why haven’t you gone home to your wife and family?” she questioned.
He instantly looked away, his mouth snapped close, his attention focusing on the dishes. Summer leaned over, turned off the water, her fingers reaching into the sudsy water, and grabbed his fingers. Pulling them out, she directed his attention to her.
“Why are you still here, John?” she asked again.
He sighed, “I can’t leave you here. Someone has to take care of you, protect you.”
“John, I’ll be fine with Jimmy. You have been missing your family for months now. I know it kills you to be away from them. Go home, John. Go home,” Summer stated softly.
“I can’t leave you here.”
“You can. You should,” she declared. “Go home.”
“I can’t. If I go home the tax laws will take away all my mo–”
“Then go home and collect your family and take them on a vacation in France or something. Just go be with them, John.”
He sighed, “But then you’ll be all alone.”
“I’ll have Jimmy.”
Bonzo’s eyes remained on hers, “But Jimmy–”
“Why do you not trust your own band mate?”
“Because I bloody know him. And I know you have been attracted to him, Summer. I do remember Seattle,” he pointed out. “I am not leaving you unsupervised to regret anything he forces you to do.”
“Jimmy is not going to force me to do anything, John. I understand why you fear us being alone, but you needn’t. I am aware of my attraction to Jimmy, but I do not fear it. I love Robert. He knows it. I know it. Robert knows it. You do not need to continue to torture yourself and your family in order to protect me from Jimmy. You just don’t. I’m a big girl, John. If I get to the point where I do not think I can handle being around Jimmy, then I… I will call Joni. You do not need to stay here. Go home, John. You’ve earned that. Go home.”
“But Jimmy–”
“Go home, John,” she stated strongly. “Go home.”
A moment later Queenie burst into the kitchen, her leash still attached to her royal collar. Jimmy stepped in after her, his foot slamming down on her leash before she could jump up on Summer. The puppy yelped but instantly sat for him to remove the leash. He then scooped her up so Summer could scratch her head and kiss her wet nose. The puppy instantly began to squirm, attempting to get to the young girl. She giggled and let the dog lick her face for few minutes until she calmed and Jimmy set her back down.
“I think we should go outside,” she declared, eyes meeting Jimmy’s.
“If you would like.”
Summer nodded, glancing at the drummer as he dried his hands, “Bonzo needs to make a few calls anyways. So you and me and the dog can go out on the deck while he does so.”
“Summer, I’m not–”
“Yes, John, you are,” she interrupted before slipping her arms around Jimmy. “Let’s go, Jimmy.”
Leaving Summer dozing on a lounge chair on the deck with the dog, Jimmy headed into the beach house as Bonzo set his suitcases next to the front door. His eyebrows rose in surprise, but he said nothing and continued to the fridge for a drink. Unsurprisingly the drummer joined him nearly instantly, pouring himself a large vodka instead of juice as Jimmy had. The two drank in silence for a few minutes.
“If you lay a fucking hand on her while I’m gone, I’ll–”
“Where are you going?” Jimmy interjected.
“Home, sorta. I am meeting my family at the airport in London and then we are going to France for a holiday before the Earls Court rehearsals,” Bonzo explained. “Summer is making me go.”
“She is not blind. She knows it kills you to be away from your family. You have no need to worry about Summer. I will care for her,” he stated.
“I know exactly how you care for girls and that’s what worries me.”
Jimmy sighed and set down his glass, “Get over it, John. I am not going to harm Summer. I want nothing but the best for her, even if that is not me. I will do whatever she needs. She is in safe hands. Even Robert knows that or he would not have left her here.”
“He was only okay with that because I am here,” Bonzo stressed.
“Come here,” he grabbed the drummer’s arm and tugged him towards the window, pointing out at Summer.
“Look at her. Really look at her. Do you really think anyone in their right mind wouldruin that?”
He looked at the young girl curled on her side with the puppy. A slight smile curved her lips as she dozed with her hands tucked under her head. The sun was just beginning to shift in the sky and peek around the top of the house, casting golden rays upon her as she napped. Even attired in just jeans and an overlarge tee shirt stolen from Robert, she looked angelic just as she was. Bonzo could not deny it.
“I understand that a lot of Summer’s appeal comes from the very fact she is unlike anyone we know. She is not out to fuck the entire band and then move on to whatever band is hot next time around. And it’s not because she’s young and naïve, because Lori was young and so are half the other girls who whore themselves out to us,” Jimmy stated. “Summer is something different. I cannot explain it. And I hope to whatever deities there are that I am not the one to change that.”
“But, Jimmy–”
“Robert is going to break her heart, Bonzo. Not me. Never me. You do not have to worry.”
After speaking with Benji on the status of Summer’s passport, Jimmy closed the door a half an hour later. He rested against the solid wood door for a minute, eyes closed. While he certainly had not expected to be left alone with Summer, completely alone, he was not about to complain about the turn of events. He did truly believe that Robert would break Summer’s heart, had no reason to believe differently. The singer was not going to leave his wife and kids, even for the love of a fair young girl. If he was stupidly loyal or Maureen had magic powers Jimmy was unaware of, Robert would not leave her. It was odd to dread and wish for the call declaring such. Perhaps though he would not call and tell Summer, just leave her wondering until their paths crossed again – which they would if Jimmy had anything to do with it. He had meant everything he said to Bonzo. He would always protect Summer to the best of his ability. Never would he hurt her, ever. She was not like other girls and he wanted to keep her that way, no matter what adventures life offered them.
Pushing away from the door, he headed out to the deck. As he opened the screen door and stepped out, she and the puppy stirred and looked up at him. Queenie instantly returned her head to Summer’s leg, but the girl continued to meet his gaze. Her eyes held so many innocent questions; Jimmy did not know where to begin to answer them. With little thought, he scooped up the puppy and deposited her on the deck before sitting in the vacant spot on Summer’s lounge chair.
“He’s gone now too, huh?” Summer spoke up.
Jimmy nodded, “On his way home to his family. But he will call once he has arrived.”
She instantly frowned, “Like Robert did?”
“I am certain Robert will ring soon.”
Summer shook her head and sat up fully, her blue eyes turning to the ocean, “When can I go on the beach again, Jimmy? When can I walk again?”
He reached for her nearest foot and began to unwrap the gauze, “The doctor wanted you to stay off your feet for two days, though he did not say we had to keep them wrapped always. I know oftentimes wounds heal more quickly when they are not covered. We should get you some shoes to protect them from further injury though.”
“I do not like shoes,” she claimed with a sigh, her gaze leaving the waves to watch Jimmy’s actions.
With quick instructions to remain where she was, he disappeared into the beach house with the gauze. Having not really inspected her own feet, mainly because Robert and Jimmy seemed more concerned about them than her, Summer curled into a seated position, pulling the bottoms of her feet up onto her thighs. Her blue eyes slowly inspected the reddened and blistered covered soles. The ground really had not felt that hot, but perhaps that was because her thoughts were focused upon finding what her mother left behind.
Oh no. Where was her heart?
“Jimmy!” she called, a note of panic in her voice.
He quickly stepped out, “Summer?”
“My heart. Where’s my heart?”
“I… I don’t know, princess,” he responded, slowly figuring out what she meant. “Perhaps upstairs? I will go look in a moment.”
“I need it, Jimmy. I need it now.”
Seeing panic in her eyes, he dropped the medical supplies on the table next to her and quickly disappeared back into the house. He hurried upstairs and quickly shuffled around the unmade bed, tossing pillows and sheets aside. Not finding the missing trinket there, his fingers quickly pulled open drawer after drawer, ransacking each one. The panic he had seen her eyes was beginning to rise in his own. Could Robert have taken it with him? For what purposes?
As he headed to ring the singer’s home, his dark eyes glanced over the top of the dresser. Jimmy came to a quick halt, his hand covering the stone heart. Picking it up quickly, he hurried triumphantly back to Summer. Bursting out the door, he held up the heart before she could say anything. She pushed up on the lounger to reach for it and Jimmy eagerly slipped it into her fingers. Her lips pressed against it before she settled back down. Her fingers reached for him next, tugging him back onto the lounge chair with her. Still clutching the heart, Summer’s arms looped around his neck and she kissed him quickly.
“Thank you, Jimmy. I… I…”
He gently brushed her hair back from her face, “I understand, princess. You have lost a lot. I would worry about losing that as well if I were in a similar predicament.”
“ I don’t want to wear shoes, Jimmy. And I don’t want to not walk any more. And I don’t want to be alone. Promise me you’re not going to leave me. Promise me.”
“I promise I will never leave you, Summer. Never.”
Pressing her forehead to his, she sighed, “I want to walk, Jimmy. I don’t want you having to carry me everywhere.”
“At least let me look at your feet and wrap them again. Just because you want to walk again does not mean that we should allow them to get worse,” he declared.
Agreeing to his conditions, Summer leaned back in the lounge chair once more while Jimmy gathered up the supplies. He arranged them on the end of the chair before sitting down and carefully inspecting her blisters. Though he frowned, he could not tell her no, that walking was not permissible. He did not mind carrying her everywhere, but he did understand that it had to be very confining. They would break the doctor’s instructions – as long as Summer was not in any pain.
Finishing his task, his eyes went to hers, “I do not think that walking in the sand is such a good idea until they are healed. But I do not see any harm in walking about the house. Think about what you would like to eat for dinner while I shall wash my hands.”
Putting away the tube of whatever and the gauze after washing his hands, Jimmy glanced out the window at Summer. The puppy had jumped back up on the lounge chair and curled up near her feet. However, he could not see her face, the way her shoulders slumped and her face was turned down, he feared she was crying. While he wanted to rush out and comfort her, he also realized she needed time to mourn all that she had lost recently and so he restrained himself.
As chance would have it, the phone rang while Jimmy was refraining from heading back outside. Knowing few would call the number, would even have it, he headed over to the shiny black phone and picked it up. His stomach instantly plummeted into his shoes upon hearing Robert’s voice.
“Percy,” he stated without emotion.
“Is Summer around?”
“She is out on the deck.”
He sighed, “I want to talk to her...”
“What took you so long to call? You told her you would call as soon as you could.”
“This is the soonest I could call. Maureen picked me up at the airport. And right now she and the children are sleeping. I could not call sooner. I… let me explain it to Summer.”
Considering it for only a moment, Jimmy responded, “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because, Robert, that precious girl is still attempting to come to grips with the fact that she lost her mother and her entire past. Add to that her newly found father is on the other side of the country. I am not about to allow you to explain to her why you are not following through with what you promised her. I am not about to allow you to crush what little hope she has now. No. You shall not speak to Summer until you have good news. Good bye,” he declared and hung up the phone.
Standing next to it for a minute to see if Robert would ring again, Jimmy smirked to himself and turned back to the deck. Two steps to the door, it opened and Summer shakily stepped in. He quickly pushed everything out of his mind and rushed over to her. She shook her head and quickly headed over to the nearest chair and sat down.
“Summer, are you–”
“Can we get ice cream, Jimmy?” she asked.
“Of course, princess. Anything else?”
She shrugged, “What are hamburgers like?
Jimmy smiled, “We’ll have hamburgers and ice cream for dinner then.”
He stared at the phone for a long time, until Karac tugged on his pant leg. Turning his attention to his three-year-old son, Robert scooped the little boy up into his lap. Before he could admonish the toddler for being out of bed at such a late hour the little boy wrapped his arms tightly about his neck and kissed his cheek loudly. Chuckling he stood and headed back to the boy’s bedroom, intending to settle the child back into his own bed.
“I miss you, Papa,” the young child muttered.
His heart instantly melted and he sank down on the boy’s floor, keeping his son in his arms. Rocking back and forth, he softly began to sing to Karac, a crystalline tear snaking down his face. In that very moment, nothing else mattered. Not money, music or even love. All that mattered was his young son, his daughter, his family. He could not imagine how he managed life without the boy in his arms. What the hell was he doing?
“I miss you too,” he responded. “Papa is not going anywhere. He is going to stay right with you.”
After singing a few lullabies to his son, Robert tucked him into his bed and remained sitting on the floor next to the blond little boy. He smiled as the little boy adjusted slightly in his bed upon noticing he no longer slept in his father’s arms. Waiting until he was certain Karac would stay asleep, Robert carefully got to his feet. He leaned over and kissed his son’s forehead before quietly slipping out of the bedroom.
With little pause he headed to his daughter’s room and slipped into her room to check on her. The precocious young girl instantly sat up, her large eyes snapping to him. Shushing her, Robert made his way over to her bed, kneeling beside it. His fingers grasped her small hand, squeezing it gently.
“Dadda?”
“Go back to sleep, little girl,” he stated. “I will still be here when you wake up.”
“You pwomise?”
“Absolutely. And we will go out and take care of the horsies together. Mama says you have been riding your pony a lot,” Robert claimed.
“Oh yes, Dadda. Every day,” she chirped.
He brushed his fingers across her forehead, “Excellent. We can ride tomorrow. You have happy dreams about ponies and we will have pancakes and strawberries in the morning.”
“You still be here?”
“I will still be here, my precious little girl,” he leaned over and kissed her gently. “I will still be here.”
Curled up on the couch, Summer smiled as Jimmy played with her hair. A record she was not really listening to, did not really care about, turned about on the turntable a few feet away. They had not spoken in at least thirty minutes, perhaps more, and she was quite all right with that. Something about his simple touch seemed to quiet everything in her mind. She did not think about the farm, her mother, or even Robert. Her thoughts merely focused upon the sensations of his fingers in her hair. At least until the record ended and Jimmy tensed to either flip it over or put something else on.
“No, Jimmy, don’t leave,” she muttered softly, reaching up to cover his hand.
“I am just going to turn the record over.”
“No. We don’t need it. Just stay here,” Summer stated.
“Let me at least turn it off. I will return promptly to you,” Jimmy said.
Her fingers released him and she sat up in order to aid his quick escape. Blue eyes remained focused on him as he quickly returned the album to its sleeve before turning off the stereo. As he said, Jimmy quickly returned to Summer’s side, sitting once more on the same cushion on the couch. Rather than return her head to his lap, she pulled up his arm and snuggled up against his chest.
“Jimmy?”
“Yes, princess,” he muttered softly.
“Tell me a story.”
He smiled, “What kind of story do you want to hear?”
Her hands reached for his and she splayed his fingers out, “I already know about the first time you guys played together. Tell me about your first time playing.”
Jimmy chuckled, reaching up to brush hair from her face, tucking the errant hair back with her braid, “Sweetie, I don’t really remember the first time I played a guitar. I was thirteen, took a couple of classes, and then just… started to play from there. And things just progressed from there.”
“You fail at stories, Jimmy,” she teased.
He laughed, “Well tell me more what you want to hear and I hope to better fulfill your wishes.”
“I dunno. A real story, Jimmy. A beginning, middle and end. And you know, characters,” she stated.
“Hmmmm,” Jimmy’s eyes went to hers. “Like a fairy tale?”
Her eyes brightened, “Oh yes. I’ve never been told a fairy tale before.”
He thought for a moment, “Then it should be a grand one. Stay right here. I’m going to set the mood.”
Summer watched as Jimmy first disappeared into the kitchen. Shifting slightly on the couch, she attempted to keep her eyes on him, but he stepped out of view as he moved about preparing something. He appeared a few minutes later with a large mug of something and set it on the coffee table before turning away without speaking. Striking a match, Jimmy lit a candle and then circled the room, lighting the others with the initial one. Returning the candle to its candlestick, he turned out all of the lights and headed to the couch.
“This is for you,” he stated as he picked up the mug and sat beside her.
“What is it, Jimmy?” she accepted it.
“Hot chocolate,” he answered.
Summer sipped it and smiled, “Oh, Jimmy, this is… this is…”
“You have never drunk hot cocoa before?”
She shook her head, drinking more of the warm, sweet drink. Chuckling Jimmy slipped it out of her hands before she finished the entire mug. Summer pouted and reached for it again.
“Patience, my sweet. Come and I will tell you a story,” he opened his arms.
Her blue eyes darted from the mug to him and back again. Frowning slightly she slipped into his arms. He kissed her forehead, causing her eyes to flutter close. Remaining silent, he merely held her, waiting for her to relax fully into his arms. Summer inhaled deeply, a smiling teasing her lips as she realized how natural and becoming Jimmy smelled. And she felt she fit rather well in his arms too.
Jimmy kissed her temple and began, “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess with hair of shimmering gold. She was the daughter of King Leodegrance of the southern country. And he loved his daughter very, very much. Many a nobleman came to try and win her hand, but he would not release her to any, for he had already made a pact with King Uther Pendragon that should he have a son, Leodegrance would give his daughter’s hand to the heir of Uther’s kingdom. Thus when the beautiful Guinevere was born, she was betrothed secretly to Uther’s twelve year old son, Arthur.
“Because of Arthur’s prominence, many a lady wanted to marry him as well, but he was already promised. Arthur did not know this until well after his father’s death, however. He merely had been waiting for the right woman to fall in love with, for he truly believed only his truest love could be his queen. That is not to say that he did not lie with other women, but he did not love them.
“Young Guinevere grew from a beautiful baby into a beautiful woman. Because of her father’s love, though he was often absent on military tours, she grew to be a loving and caring woman. Even the birds and butterflies loved her. She was truly, truly magical. Some even said her mother must have had a touch of fairy in her, but King Leodegrance would not pay any attention to such claims.
“One sunny day in Britain, as rare as that may be, she was out upon a walk on her father’s lands, her ladies-in-waiting sent away from the afternoon. Free from all the constraints of court and propriety, Guinevere slipped off her shoes and danced barefoot in a meadow full of flowers. She giggled gaily and praised the heavens for the beauty of the world. In this moment, she was full of life and happiness. In addition, in this moment, Arthur saw her for the first time.
“King Arthur, as he was known as now at the age of twenty-seven, approached King Leodegrance’s land ahead of his royal retinue, preferring to travel ahead, alone, something that often threw off his enemies who stalked the caravan. Riding a white stallion, he stopped at the edge of the meadow and watched the golden-haired maiden dancing about, her luminescent pale blue gown fluttering about her. He did not even know her name and he was smitten. She was his One, without any doubt.
“Arthur dismounted his trusty steed and quietly approached the maiden. As she danced with her eyes closed, she was unaware of his presence until she twirled into his arms. With a gasp, her eyes flew open. Though she should have pulled away from the unknown man, the moment their blue eyes met, she was just as entranced as he was. Neither spoke, merely stared into each other’s eyes. In that very moment, they were wedded, though not officially by any means at all.
“He was the first to speak, ‘Tell me, my lady, why is it that you dance alone in this meadow?’
“She responded, ‘Because the sun is risen and the world is good.’
“Though he smiled, he seriously stated, ‘Does not your husband worry?’
“She replied, ‘I have no husband. My father is aware where I spend my leisure hours.’
“His blue eyes once more sparkled, ‘And where is thy lady’s father? I should wish to speak with him.’
“Shrewdly, she did not answer the visiting king immediately, ‘Ah but how am I to know you do not seek audience with my father in order to slay him and take his lands?’
“Arthur looked at the maiden for a long moment before replying, ‘Lady, is your father the King of these lands?’
“Guinevere lowered her head slight in deference, ‘Aye, my lord, he is.’
“Pulling slightly away from her, he snapped for his horse, ‘Then my fortunes are great this day, for I had not known that my dear friend Leodegrance sired such a beautiful maiden. Walk with me to the castle, dearest one.’
“Even with his delay in the meadow, Arthur arrived at the castle long before his men. King Leodegrance recognized the young king from a distance and was overjoyed to see that his daughter walked alongside her unknown betrothed, especially as he could see they clutched hands as they strolled. The day had come for Arthur to know of his promise to Uther Pendragon.
“Upon entry of the estate’s gates, Leodegrance approached the two. He did not admonish his dearest daughter, though she did pull her hand free of Arthur’s. Rather he grinned, ordered his staff to see to the King’s horse, and clutched his friend’s hand. He did not explain himself at all, but soon Arthur knew.
“ ‘My lord, King Leodegrance, tell me if this beauty is in fact your daughter,’ Arthur requested.
“ ‘Aye. This is the star of my heart. This is my Guinevere,’ he responded, kissing his daughter’s cheek.
“ ‘I know that I ought to court her properly and earn your faith and trust, but I do not know that my heart can temper itself. I would like your daughter’s hand in marriage,’ Arthur announced, causing Guinevere to gasp.
“Though Leodegrance had turned down many an offer before, even to men who were older than him and never saw his beautiful daughter, he could not say no to Arthur. Even had he not already promised Guinevere to Arthur, he would have granted the request upon seeing the light in both of their eyes. It was true love and nothing more did he wish for his daughter than that.
“Chuckling he grasped young Arthur’s hand and responded, ‘Aye. You may have my daughter’s hand in marriage for she has always been promised to you. Long before she was born, she was yours. I have waited until the right moment to inform you, dear friend, of my promise to your father, but it seems Fate could not wait. We shall plan a wedding at once.’
“A lavish wedding befitting the union of two kingdoms commenced not fully two months later. Guinevere was resplendent in a white gown threaded and embroidered with the thinnest spun gold. As Arthur’s court had yet to see their queen-to-be, she wore an elaborate veil, concealing her beauty from the world. Her father escorted her to Arthur’s castle, a land to be known as Camelot. It was a modest castle, by far not the richest lands in the realm, or at least appeared to be. But Arthur had learned the ways of the world in Rome and had a very egalitarian and fair view of his kingdom. Many nobles and kings travelled from around Britain for the festivities. It truly was the event of the year.
“Shrouded by the veil, Guinevere remained until the ceremony. Only once they were declared holy husband and wife did Arthur lift her veil, revealing her beauty to those in attendance. An awed silence settled about the church and most understood why Arthur had chosen the fifteen-year-old lady as his bride. She was the epitome of grace, beauty, and perfection. She would perfectly complement him as queen.
“As it was not befitting custom then for the couple to kiss, the gathered nobles were once more shocked when the young king kissed his young bride – for the first time. It was a sweet and gentle kiss and yet promised her the world in that very moment. He knew he would fight all his days for her love. Fate had not been unkind to King Arthur that day, not in the least.
“And then a great celebration commenced, with much food, wine, and merrymaking. At dusk, Guinevere truly became Arthur’s and so begins the days of Camelot,” Jimmy ended.
Summer’s eyes were intently focused upon him, fully expecting him to continue. However, the guitarist remained silent, merely leaned over and kissed her forehead.
“Oh, Jimmy, tell me more!” she pleaded.
“Not tonight, Summer,” he responded, a bit surprised he was able to tell her no. “It is a long tale and would take many more hours to tell. I shall tell you more tomorrow.”
She pouted and he nearly relented. Instead, he brushed back her hair from her face and gently pressed his lips to hers. Her eyes widened briefly before fluttering close, her arms looping around his neck. Though she invited him to deepen the kiss, Jimmy pulled away.
“Come, my princess, let me escort you to bed so that you may dream of faraway kings and queens,” he stated softly.
“You will stay with me, yes?”
“I have nowhere else I would rather be.”
Rating: PG-13 [language]
Summary: The beach house keeps getting emptier. Is this a good or bad thing for Summer?
Waking with Summer in his arms was the greatest gift morning could give. Jimmy could not remember the last time he woke with a smile on his face – other than the other morning when he woke to the same situation, even if they were on lockdown. She still slept soundly beside him, her soft lips curved into a small smile. He wanted to believe she was dreaming happy dreams of him, but Jimmy knew better than to be that presumptuous. However as he lay there watching her sleep, he was aware she would wake before long and likely need to use the restroom. As she was to keep off her feet as much as possible so that the second-degree burns could heal, he wondered if he needed to pull away from her and retrieve Bonzo from across the hall to carry her into the restroom. Pushing that thought away quickly, not wanting to share her with anyone if he did not need to, Jimmy looked down at the sleeping blonde-haired person and decided he could carry her to the restroom. She could not weigh any more than his double-neck guitar and that he slung low and danced with. He would carry her to the restroom, no matter what she said.
Seemingly sensing his thoughts, the young girl in his arms stirred. She stretched like a kitten, her entire body flexing and lengthening. With a smile, her eyes fluttered open as she turned over onto her side, her large blue eyes meeting his. Jimmy struggled so hard to not lean over and kiss her luscious mouth. But he could not cross that line.
“He hasn’t called yet, has he?” she asked softly.
Jimmy reached up and tucked her shiny blond hair behind her ear, “No, princess, he has not. But he is likely still in the air. We only slept a few more hours.”
“Oh,” Summer responded. “Well… we should go make breakfast then. After I pee.”
He quickly pulled away from her and hurried around the bed before her bandaged toes reached for the floor. Her eyes immediately flicked to his, trying to ascertain his intentions. Wordlessly he reached for her and hooked one arm under her legs. Nodding she slipped her arms around his neck and rolled towards him, aiding Jimmy in scooping her up. He could not resist kissing her temple after adjusting her in his arms. Heading to the bathroom, he paused when his eyes looked down at the toilet seat, not entirely sure how to flip it up while holding onto Summer. She giggled softly and leaned over to do exactly what he was wondering.
Depositing her on the toilet, he kissed her forehead, “I shall just be outside. Remember you are not to walk. Call for me once you are ready.”
“Jimmy?”
He stopped at the door and turned to her.
“Thank you.”
Leaning against the wall after closing the door, his eyes flicked down the hall to Bonzo’s door. It did not surprise him that the drummer had not risen yet, not in the least. If the drummer had to remain, the least he could do was sleep a lot, giving Jimmy plenty of time alone with Summer. But Bonzo had no reason to remain, in fact had all the reason not to. As soon as he could, Jimmy would talk him into returning home to his wife and family, thusly leaving just Jimmy and Summer in the beach house. It was the perfect idea.
So lost in his thoughts, he did not realize Summer had called for him until he heard the toilet flush. Knocking lightly, he pushed the door open, meeting Summer’s smiling eyes. He scooped her off the toilet and deposited her directly onto the counter. As she reached over to wash her hands, his dark eyes dropped to her bandaged feet. Wordlessly his fingers dropped to her feet and began to unwrap the white gauze. Dropping the soiled bandages in the trash can, he began to squat to get a better look at her feet, but Summer read his intentions as she dried her hands and kicked her right foot up.
Chuckling, Jimmy inspected her injured flesh and frowned, “Stay right here. I’m going to go downstairs and get the things the doctor left for your feet.”
“I can’t go anywhere without you, silly,” she responded, letting her feet drop back down. “Oh and how am I going to walk Queenie?”
“I shall take care of her, princess. Worry not,” his hand gently touched hers. “I shall return right away.”
Stepping out of the bathroom, Jimmy avoided the puppy and headed to the steps. As his hand reached for the railing, Bonzo’s door opened and the bear-like drummer stepped out. The two men’s eyes met and without a word, Bonzo joined Jimmy, stepping down the steps a few behind the guitarist.
“We shall need to walk Queenie for Summer,” Jimmy pointed out. “And carry her down here for breakfast or else I can bring breakfast to her.”
“I’ll bring ‘er down. She’ll probably like the change of scenery. Plus… I can’t cook and you can’t cook. So we at least need her help,” he responded.
“Correct,” he nodded, retrieving the medical supplies from the downstairs bathroom. “I shall change her bandages and we will be ready in a few minutes.”
“I’m just gonna smoke and then I’ll be up.”
Hands full of the things the doctor left behind to tend to Summer, Jimmy hurried back upstairs. Slowing his pace, he stepped confidently into the bathroom. She remained sitting on the counter where he left her. However, she had twisted about and retrieved her hairbrush for her long blond hair was now bound back from her face in a loose braid, a blue ribbon tied at the end. Part of him wanted to pull the ribbon off and loosen her hair about her shoulders once more. But Jimmy restrained himself and set the medical supplies on the counter beside her.
“Bonzo’s going to be up to take you down for breakfast after he smokes. So I’ll just reapply the stuff to your feet and bandage them up and we’ll be good to go,” he stated.
Her eyes watched as he sat on the toilet, turning her towards him. His eyes quickly ran up the length of her legs, briefly settling on the very part of her he could not have, but could in fact see as all she wore was one of Robert’s shirts. Though he would have loved to stare at her sex as long as possible, Jimmy’s eyes quickly darted up to hers. He smiled as if a jolt of arousal had not shot through his veins and reached for her left foot. Focusing his attention on the task, he quickly cleansed the burns on each foot before reaching for the ointment. She inhaled sharply as he touched his greased finger to her wounds. Muttering a quick apology, Jimmy carefully covered the burns and quickly washed his hands before reaching for the gauze.
After he wrapped both feet with the white cotton, clipping it in place, Jimmy stood back up, but not before his eyes briefly glanced at her forbidden flower. His eyes met hers and he knew that she had seen his gaze, but as she had not slammed her hand over her sex, it must not have bothered her. Or perhaps she had wanted him to see it? That thought alone sent his thoughts spiraling in a million different lewd directions. He wanted nothing more than to push against her now, taking her on the bathroom counter. He was certain it would take little to guide her legs around his waist; she would not fight it.
But he could not do such a thing. He had not won her as his own yet. He did not want to take her, to steal her, to… fuck her. He wanted Summer completely and wholly.
“Thank you, Jimmy,” Summer said softly, snapping his thoughts back into the present situation.
“Of course, princess. I promised to take care of you always,” he responded back in the same low tone.
Her eyes remained on his face as he leaned forward once more to wash his hands, having bumped her ointment-covered feet while wrapping them. He glanced to her after turning off the faucet while reaching for the towel. Without hesitation, Summer quickly leaned over and kissed his mouth. Jimmy turned slightly to face her, attempting to hold the kiss a bit longer.
“So sweet pea,” Bonzo’s voice boomed as he neared the bathroom, causing a sudden end to the kiss, “are you ready to come downstairs?”
“Almost. Could you grab me some pants first, Jimmy?” her blue eyes went to his.
“Of course, princess,” he nodded, his fingers trailing across her knee as he turned away. “One moment.”
Waiting until the guitarist left the bathroom, Bonzo focused on Summer, “He didn’t… he didn’t try anything did he?”
Without saying a thing, Summer quickly captured Bonzo with her legs and pulled him close to her. Plopping her arms down on his shoulders, she stared into his eyes. Within seconds, Bonzo began to wiggle uncomfortably under her stare. His eyes eventually flicked away.
“Do you want to ask me again?” she asked softly.
“Ask you what?” Jimmy’s voice interrupted from the doorway, a pair of jeans in his hand.
Her eyes went to his, “Bonzo asked if you tried anything.”
The guitarist looked to the drummer, “Do you not trust me? She is Robert’s girl. I have vowed to take care of her but I shall not–”
“I bloody well know you, Pagey. That’s precisely why I’m staying right here, between you and Summer,” he declared in a growl.
Jimmy held out the pants to Summer, “You have no need to protect Summer from me, Bonzo. At all.”
Her hands dropped from Bonzo’s shoulders and she accepted the pants, shifting forward on the counter. Eyes going to her gauze-wrapped feet as they unwrapped from Bonzo’s waist, Summer frowned. She had no idea at all how she was going to get her pants on without being able to stand. Though she didn’t think her feet were that bad off, she knew neither of the men were about to allow her to stand.
“Jimmy? How am I supposed to put these on if I can’t stand?”
His eyes went to hers, “Um…”
“I’ll carry you back to the bed and you can pull them on while lying in bed,” Bonzo suggested and scooped her up before she could object.
The guitarist instantly fell in step with the pair, trailing them into Summer’s room. He moved around Bonzo as the drummer set the girl down, intending to help somehow. However, Bonzo grabbed Jimmy’s shirt and turned his back to Summer. Smirking the girl laid back after pulling the jeans as far up her legs as possible. Arching up, she pulled them the remaining way, even though it did require pushing her feet into the bed slightly, an action that caused some pain.
Sitting up, she poked Jimmy in the lower back. He quickly turned around, pulling free from Bonzo with little effort. Her arms shot up in the air like a small child asking to be held. Chuckling he sat next to her instead of pulling her into his arms. Pouting, her eyes went to Bonzo as he turned around, her arms held up to him. He instantly scooped her back up.
“What shall we make for breakfast, sweet pea?” he asked, adjusting her slightly as he headed towards the door.
“PANCAKES!”
Sitting on the counter next to the sink while Bonzo washed the morning’s dishes, Summer swung her legs slightly. Glancing sideways at her, her reached over and touched her nose, leaving a puff of white suds on its tip. She giggled and blew off the foam, causing it to shoot up in the air before dissipating. Naturally, this alone encouraged Bonzo to do it again. Twice more he attempted it before tiring of her distraction.
“Can I ask you something, John?”
His eyes went to hers and he frowned slightly, noticing the seriousness in her eyes complemented the use of his name, “Of course, Summer. Anything.”
“Why are you here?”
“Doing the dishes,” he responded, motioning to the sink with his head.
“No, I mean why are you still here in California? Why haven’t you gone home to your wife and family?” she questioned.
He instantly looked away, his mouth snapped close, his attention focusing on the dishes. Summer leaned over, turned off the water, her fingers reaching into the sudsy water, and grabbed his fingers. Pulling them out, she directed his attention to her.
“Why are you still here, John?” she asked again.
He sighed, “I can’t leave you here. Someone has to take care of you, protect you.”
“John, I’ll be fine with Jimmy. You have been missing your family for months now. I know it kills you to be away from them. Go home, John. Go home,” Summer stated softly.
“I can’t leave you here.”
“You can. You should,” she declared. “Go home.”
“I can’t. If I go home the tax laws will take away all my mo–”
“Then go home and collect your family and take them on a vacation in France or something. Just go be with them, John.”
He sighed, “But then you’ll be all alone.”
“I’ll have Jimmy.”
Bonzo’s eyes remained on hers, “But Jimmy–”
“Why do you not trust your own band mate?”
“Because I bloody know him. And I know you have been attracted to him, Summer. I do remember Seattle,” he pointed out. “I am not leaving you unsupervised to regret anything he forces you to do.”
“Jimmy is not going to force me to do anything, John. I understand why you fear us being alone, but you needn’t. I am aware of my attraction to Jimmy, but I do not fear it. I love Robert. He knows it. I know it. Robert knows it. You do not need to continue to torture yourself and your family in order to protect me from Jimmy. You just don’t. I’m a big girl, John. If I get to the point where I do not think I can handle being around Jimmy, then I… I will call Joni. You do not need to stay here. Go home, John. You’ve earned that. Go home.”
“But Jimmy–”
“Go home, John,” she stated strongly. “Go home.”
A moment later Queenie burst into the kitchen, her leash still attached to her royal collar. Jimmy stepped in after her, his foot slamming down on her leash before she could jump up on Summer. The puppy yelped but instantly sat for him to remove the leash. He then scooped her up so Summer could scratch her head and kiss her wet nose. The puppy instantly began to squirm, attempting to get to the young girl. She giggled and let the dog lick her face for few minutes until she calmed and Jimmy set her back down.
“I think we should go outside,” she declared, eyes meeting Jimmy’s.
“If you would like.”
Summer nodded, glancing at the drummer as he dried his hands, “Bonzo needs to make a few calls anyways. So you and me and the dog can go out on the deck while he does so.”
“Summer, I’m not–”
“Yes, John, you are,” she interrupted before slipping her arms around Jimmy. “Let’s go, Jimmy.”
Leaving Summer dozing on a lounge chair on the deck with the dog, Jimmy headed into the beach house as Bonzo set his suitcases next to the front door. His eyebrows rose in surprise, but he said nothing and continued to the fridge for a drink. Unsurprisingly the drummer joined him nearly instantly, pouring himself a large vodka instead of juice as Jimmy had. The two drank in silence for a few minutes.
“If you lay a fucking hand on her while I’m gone, I’ll–”
“Where are you going?” Jimmy interjected.
“Home, sorta. I am meeting my family at the airport in London and then we are going to France for a holiday before the Earls Court rehearsals,” Bonzo explained. “Summer is making me go.”
“She is not blind. She knows it kills you to be away from your family. You have no need to worry about Summer. I will care for her,” he stated.
“I know exactly how you care for girls and that’s what worries me.”
Jimmy sighed and set down his glass, “Get over it, John. I am not going to harm Summer. I want nothing but the best for her, even if that is not me. I will do whatever she needs. She is in safe hands. Even Robert knows that or he would not have left her here.”
“He was only okay with that because I am here,” Bonzo stressed.
“Come here,” he grabbed the drummer’s arm and tugged him towards the window, pointing out at Summer.
“Look at her. Really look at her. Do you really think anyone in their right mind wouldruin that?”
He looked at the young girl curled on her side with the puppy. A slight smile curved her lips as she dozed with her hands tucked under her head. The sun was just beginning to shift in the sky and peek around the top of the house, casting golden rays upon her as she napped. Even attired in just jeans and an overlarge tee shirt stolen from Robert, she looked angelic just as she was. Bonzo could not deny it.
“I understand that a lot of Summer’s appeal comes from the very fact she is unlike anyone we know. She is not out to fuck the entire band and then move on to whatever band is hot next time around. And it’s not because she’s young and naïve, because Lori was young and so are half the other girls who whore themselves out to us,” Jimmy stated. “Summer is something different. I cannot explain it. And I hope to whatever deities there are that I am not the one to change that.”
“But, Jimmy–”
“Robert is going to break her heart, Bonzo. Not me. Never me. You do not have to worry.”
After speaking with Benji on the status of Summer’s passport, Jimmy closed the door a half an hour later. He rested against the solid wood door for a minute, eyes closed. While he certainly had not expected to be left alone with Summer, completely alone, he was not about to complain about the turn of events. He did truly believe that Robert would break Summer’s heart, had no reason to believe differently. The singer was not going to leave his wife and kids, even for the love of a fair young girl. If he was stupidly loyal or Maureen had magic powers Jimmy was unaware of, Robert would not leave her. It was odd to dread and wish for the call declaring such. Perhaps though he would not call and tell Summer, just leave her wondering until their paths crossed again – which they would if Jimmy had anything to do with it. He had meant everything he said to Bonzo. He would always protect Summer to the best of his ability. Never would he hurt her, ever. She was not like other girls and he wanted to keep her that way, no matter what adventures life offered them.
Pushing away from the door, he headed out to the deck. As he opened the screen door and stepped out, she and the puppy stirred and looked up at him. Queenie instantly returned her head to Summer’s leg, but the girl continued to meet his gaze. Her eyes held so many innocent questions; Jimmy did not know where to begin to answer them. With little thought, he scooped up the puppy and deposited her on the deck before sitting in the vacant spot on Summer’s lounge chair.
“He’s gone now too, huh?” Summer spoke up.
Jimmy nodded, “On his way home to his family. But he will call once he has arrived.”
She instantly frowned, “Like Robert did?”
“I am certain Robert will ring soon.”
Summer shook her head and sat up fully, her blue eyes turning to the ocean, “When can I go on the beach again, Jimmy? When can I walk again?”
He reached for her nearest foot and began to unwrap the gauze, “The doctor wanted you to stay off your feet for two days, though he did not say we had to keep them wrapped always. I know oftentimes wounds heal more quickly when they are not covered. We should get you some shoes to protect them from further injury though.”
“I do not like shoes,” she claimed with a sigh, her gaze leaving the waves to watch Jimmy’s actions.
With quick instructions to remain where she was, he disappeared into the beach house with the gauze. Having not really inspected her own feet, mainly because Robert and Jimmy seemed more concerned about them than her, Summer curled into a seated position, pulling the bottoms of her feet up onto her thighs. Her blue eyes slowly inspected the reddened and blistered covered soles. The ground really had not felt that hot, but perhaps that was because her thoughts were focused upon finding what her mother left behind.
Oh no. Where was her heart?
“Jimmy!” she called, a note of panic in her voice.
He quickly stepped out, “Summer?”
“My heart. Where’s my heart?”
“I… I don’t know, princess,” he responded, slowly figuring out what she meant. “Perhaps upstairs? I will go look in a moment.”
“I need it, Jimmy. I need it now.”
Seeing panic in her eyes, he dropped the medical supplies on the table next to her and quickly disappeared back into the house. He hurried upstairs and quickly shuffled around the unmade bed, tossing pillows and sheets aside. Not finding the missing trinket there, his fingers quickly pulled open drawer after drawer, ransacking each one. The panic he had seen her eyes was beginning to rise in his own. Could Robert have taken it with him? For what purposes?
As he headed to ring the singer’s home, his dark eyes glanced over the top of the dresser. Jimmy came to a quick halt, his hand covering the stone heart. Picking it up quickly, he hurried triumphantly back to Summer. Bursting out the door, he held up the heart before she could say anything. She pushed up on the lounger to reach for it and Jimmy eagerly slipped it into her fingers. Her lips pressed against it before she settled back down. Her fingers reached for him next, tugging him back onto the lounge chair with her. Still clutching the heart, Summer’s arms looped around his neck and she kissed him quickly.
“Thank you, Jimmy. I… I…”
He gently brushed her hair back from her face, “I understand, princess. You have lost a lot. I would worry about losing that as well if I were in a similar predicament.”
“ I don’t want to wear shoes, Jimmy. And I don’t want to not walk any more. And I don’t want to be alone. Promise me you’re not going to leave me. Promise me.”
“I promise I will never leave you, Summer. Never.”
Pressing her forehead to his, she sighed, “I want to walk, Jimmy. I don’t want you having to carry me everywhere.”
“At least let me look at your feet and wrap them again. Just because you want to walk again does not mean that we should allow them to get worse,” he declared.
Agreeing to his conditions, Summer leaned back in the lounge chair once more while Jimmy gathered up the supplies. He arranged them on the end of the chair before sitting down and carefully inspecting her blisters. Though he frowned, he could not tell her no, that walking was not permissible. He did not mind carrying her everywhere, but he did understand that it had to be very confining. They would break the doctor’s instructions – as long as Summer was not in any pain.
Finishing his task, his eyes went to hers, “I do not think that walking in the sand is such a good idea until they are healed. But I do not see any harm in walking about the house. Think about what you would like to eat for dinner while I shall wash my hands.”
Putting away the tube of whatever and the gauze after washing his hands, Jimmy glanced out the window at Summer. The puppy had jumped back up on the lounge chair and curled up near her feet. However, he could not see her face, the way her shoulders slumped and her face was turned down, he feared she was crying. While he wanted to rush out and comfort her, he also realized she needed time to mourn all that she had lost recently and so he restrained himself.
As chance would have it, the phone rang while Jimmy was refraining from heading back outside. Knowing few would call the number, would even have it, he headed over to the shiny black phone and picked it up. His stomach instantly plummeted into his shoes upon hearing Robert’s voice.
“Percy,” he stated without emotion.
“Is Summer around?”
“She is out on the deck.”
He sighed, “I want to talk to her...”
“What took you so long to call? You told her you would call as soon as you could.”
“This is the soonest I could call. Maureen picked me up at the airport. And right now she and the children are sleeping. I could not call sooner. I… let me explain it to Summer.”
Considering it for only a moment, Jimmy responded, “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because, Robert, that precious girl is still attempting to come to grips with the fact that she lost her mother and her entire past. Add to that her newly found father is on the other side of the country. I am not about to allow you to explain to her why you are not following through with what you promised her. I am not about to allow you to crush what little hope she has now. No. You shall not speak to Summer until you have good news. Good bye,” he declared and hung up the phone.
Standing next to it for a minute to see if Robert would ring again, Jimmy smirked to himself and turned back to the deck. Two steps to the door, it opened and Summer shakily stepped in. He quickly pushed everything out of his mind and rushed over to her. She shook her head and quickly headed over to the nearest chair and sat down.
“Summer, are you–”
“Can we get ice cream, Jimmy?” she asked.
“Of course, princess. Anything else?”
She shrugged, “What are hamburgers like?
Jimmy smiled, “We’ll have hamburgers and ice cream for dinner then.”
He stared at the phone for a long time, until Karac tugged on his pant leg. Turning his attention to his three-year-old son, Robert scooped the little boy up into his lap. Before he could admonish the toddler for being out of bed at such a late hour the little boy wrapped his arms tightly about his neck and kissed his cheek loudly. Chuckling he stood and headed back to the boy’s bedroom, intending to settle the child back into his own bed.
“I miss you, Papa,” the young child muttered.
His heart instantly melted and he sank down on the boy’s floor, keeping his son in his arms. Rocking back and forth, he softly began to sing to Karac, a crystalline tear snaking down his face. In that very moment, nothing else mattered. Not money, music or even love. All that mattered was his young son, his daughter, his family. He could not imagine how he managed life without the boy in his arms. What the hell was he doing?
“I miss you too,” he responded. “Papa is not going anywhere. He is going to stay right with you.”
After singing a few lullabies to his son, Robert tucked him into his bed and remained sitting on the floor next to the blond little boy. He smiled as the little boy adjusted slightly in his bed upon noticing he no longer slept in his father’s arms. Waiting until he was certain Karac would stay asleep, Robert carefully got to his feet. He leaned over and kissed his son’s forehead before quietly slipping out of the bedroom.
With little pause he headed to his daughter’s room and slipped into her room to check on her. The precocious young girl instantly sat up, her large eyes snapping to him. Shushing her, Robert made his way over to her bed, kneeling beside it. His fingers grasped her small hand, squeezing it gently.
“Dadda?”
“Go back to sleep, little girl,” he stated. “I will still be here when you wake up.”
“You pwomise?”
“Absolutely. And we will go out and take care of the horsies together. Mama says you have been riding your pony a lot,” Robert claimed.
“Oh yes, Dadda. Every day,” she chirped.
He brushed his fingers across her forehead, “Excellent. We can ride tomorrow. You have happy dreams about ponies and we will have pancakes and strawberries in the morning.”
“You still be here?”
“I will still be here, my precious little girl,” he leaned over and kissed her gently. “I will still be here.”
Curled up on the couch, Summer smiled as Jimmy played with her hair. A record she was not really listening to, did not really care about, turned about on the turntable a few feet away. They had not spoken in at least thirty minutes, perhaps more, and she was quite all right with that. Something about his simple touch seemed to quiet everything in her mind. She did not think about the farm, her mother, or even Robert. Her thoughts merely focused upon the sensations of his fingers in her hair. At least until the record ended and Jimmy tensed to either flip it over or put something else on.
“No, Jimmy, don’t leave,” she muttered softly, reaching up to cover his hand.
“I am just going to turn the record over.”
“No. We don’t need it. Just stay here,” Summer stated.
“Let me at least turn it off. I will return promptly to you,” Jimmy said.
Her fingers released him and she sat up in order to aid his quick escape. Blue eyes remained focused on him as he quickly returned the album to its sleeve before turning off the stereo. As he said, Jimmy quickly returned to Summer’s side, sitting once more on the same cushion on the couch. Rather than return her head to his lap, she pulled up his arm and snuggled up against his chest.
“Jimmy?”
“Yes, princess,” he muttered softly.
“Tell me a story.”
He smiled, “What kind of story do you want to hear?”
Her hands reached for his and she splayed his fingers out, “I already know about the first time you guys played together. Tell me about your first time playing.”
Jimmy chuckled, reaching up to brush hair from her face, tucking the errant hair back with her braid, “Sweetie, I don’t really remember the first time I played a guitar. I was thirteen, took a couple of classes, and then just… started to play from there. And things just progressed from there.”
“You fail at stories, Jimmy,” she teased.
He laughed, “Well tell me more what you want to hear and I hope to better fulfill your wishes.”
“I dunno. A real story, Jimmy. A beginning, middle and end. And you know, characters,” she stated.
“Hmmmm,” Jimmy’s eyes went to hers. “Like a fairy tale?”
Her eyes brightened, “Oh yes. I’ve never been told a fairy tale before.”
He thought for a moment, “Then it should be a grand one. Stay right here. I’m going to set the mood.”
Summer watched as Jimmy first disappeared into the kitchen. Shifting slightly on the couch, she attempted to keep her eyes on him, but he stepped out of view as he moved about preparing something. He appeared a few minutes later with a large mug of something and set it on the coffee table before turning away without speaking. Striking a match, Jimmy lit a candle and then circled the room, lighting the others with the initial one. Returning the candle to its candlestick, he turned out all of the lights and headed to the couch.
“This is for you,” he stated as he picked up the mug and sat beside her.
“What is it, Jimmy?” she accepted it.
“Hot chocolate,” he answered.
Summer sipped it and smiled, “Oh, Jimmy, this is… this is…”
“You have never drunk hot cocoa before?”
She shook her head, drinking more of the warm, sweet drink. Chuckling Jimmy slipped it out of her hands before she finished the entire mug. Summer pouted and reached for it again.
“Patience, my sweet. Come and I will tell you a story,” he opened his arms.
Her blue eyes darted from the mug to him and back again. Frowning slightly she slipped into his arms. He kissed her forehead, causing her eyes to flutter close. Remaining silent, he merely held her, waiting for her to relax fully into his arms. Summer inhaled deeply, a smiling teasing her lips as she realized how natural and becoming Jimmy smelled. And she felt she fit rather well in his arms too.
Jimmy kissed her temple and began, “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess with hair of shimmering gold. She was the daughter of King Leodegrance of the southern country. And he loved his daughter very, very much. Many a nobleman came to try and win her hand, but he would not release her to any, for he had already made a pact with King Uther Pendragon that should he have a son, Leodegrance would give his daughter’s hand to the heir of Uther’s kingdom. Thus when the beautiful Guinevere was born, she was betrothed secretly to Uther’s twelve year old son, Arthur.
“Because of Arthur’s prominence, many a lady wanted to marry him as well, but he was already promised. Arthur did not know this until well after his father’s death, however. He merely had been waiting for the right woman to fall in love with, for he truly believed only his truest love could be his queen. That is not to say that he did not lie with other women, but he did not love them.
“Young Guinevere grew from a beautiful baby into a beautiful woman. Because of her father’s love, though he was often absent on military tours, she grew to be a loving and caring woman. Even the birds and butterflies loved her. She was truly, truly magical. Some even said her mother must have had a touch of fairy in her, but King Leodegrance would not pay any attention to such claims.
“One sunny day in Britain, as rare as that may be, she was out upon a walk on her father’s lands, her ladies-in-waiting sent away from the afternoon. Free from all the constraints of court and propriety, Guinevere slipped off her shoes and danced barefoot in a meadow full of flowers. She giggled gaily and praised the heavens for the beauty of the world. In this moment, she was full of life and happiness. In addition, in this moment, Arthur saw her for the first time.
“King Arthur, as he was known as now at the age of twenty-seven, approached King Leodegrance’s land ahead of his royal retinue, preferring to travel ahead, alone, something that often threw off his enemies who stalked the caravan. Riding a white stallion, he stopped at the edge of the meadow and watched the golden-haired maiden dancing about, her luminescent pale blue gown fluttering about her. He did not even know her name and he was smitten. She was his One, without any doubt.
“Arthur dismounted his trusty steed and quietly approached the maiden. As she danced with her eyes closed, she was unaware of his presence until she twirled into his arms. With a gasp, her eyes flew open. Though she should have pulled away from the unknown man, the moment their blue eyes met, she was just as entranced as he was. Neither spoke, merely stared into each other’s eyes. In that very moment, they were wedded, though not officially by any means at all.
“He was the first to speak, ‘Tell me, my lady, why is it that you dance alone in this meadow?’
“She responded, ‘Because the sun is risen and the world is good.’
“Though he smiled, he seriously stated, ‘Does not your husband worry?’
“She replied, ‘I have no husband. My father is aware where I spend my leisure hours.’
“His blue eyes once more sparkled, ‘And where is thy lady’s father? I should wish to speak with him.’
“Shrewdly, she did not answer the visiting king immediately, ‘Ah but how am I to know you do not seek audience with my father in order to slay him and take his lands?’
“Arthur looked at the maiden for a long moment before replying, ‘Lady, is your father the King of these lands?’
“Guinevere lowered her head slight in deference, ‘Aye, my lord, he is.’
“Pulling slightly away from her, he snapped for his horse, ‘Then my fortunes are great this day, for I had not known that my dear friend Leodegrance sired such a beautiful maiden. Walk with me to the castle, dearest one.’
“Even with his delay in the meadow, Arthur arrived at the castle long before his men. King Leodegrance recognized the young king from a distance and was overjoyed to see that his daughter walked alongside her unknown betrothed, especially as he could see they clutched hands as they strolled. The day had come for Arthur to know of his promise to Uther Pendragon.
“Upon entry of the estate’s gates, Leodegrance approached the two. He did not admonish his dearest daughter, though she did pull her hand free of Arthur’s. Rather he grinned, ordered his staff to see to the King’s horse, and clutched his friend’s hand. He did not explain himself at all, but soon Arthur knew.
“ ‘My lord, King Leodegrance, tell me if this beauty is in fact your daughter,’ Arthur requested.
“ ‘Aye. This is the star of my heart. This is my Guinevere,’ he responded, kissing his daughter’s cheek.
“ ‘I know that I ought to court her properly and earn your faith and trust, but I do not know that my heart can temper itself. I would like your daughter’s hand in marriage,’ Arthur announced, causing Guinevere to gasp.
“Though Leodegrance had turned down many an offer before, even to men who were older than him and never saw his beautiful daughter, he could not say no to Arthur. Even had he not already promised Guinevere to Arthur, he would have granted the request upon seeing the light in both of their eyes. It was true love and nothing more did he wish for his daughter than that.
“Chuckling he grasped young Arthur’s hand and responded, ‘Aye. You may have my daughter’s hand in marriage for she has always been promised to you. Long before she was born, she was yours. I have waited until the right moment to inform you, dear friend, of my promise to your father, but it seems Fate could not wait. We shall plan a wedding at once.’
“A lavish wedding befitting the union of two kingdoms commenced not fully two months later. Guinevere was resplendent in a white gown threaded and embroidered with the thinnest spun gold. As Arthur’s court had yet to see their queen-to-be, she wore an elaborate veil, concealing her beauty from the world. Her father escorted her to Arthur’s castle, a land to be known as Camelot. It was a modest castle, by far not the richest lands in the realm, or at least appeared to be. But Arthur had learned the ways of the world in Rome and had a very egalitarian and fair view of his kingdom. Many nobles and kings travelled from around Britain for the festivities. It truly was the event of the year.
“Shrouded by the veil, Guinevere remained until the ceremony. Only once they were declared holy husband and wife did Arthur lift her veil, revealing her beauty to those in attendance. An awed silence settled about the church and most understood why Arthur had chosen the fifteen-year-old lady as his bride. She was the epitome of grace, beauty, and perfection. She would perfectly complement him as queen.
“As it was not befitting custom then for the couple to kiss, the gathered nobles were once more shocked when the young king kissed his young bride – for the first time. It was a sweet and gentle kiss and yet promised her the world in that very moment. He knew he would fight all his days for her love. Fate had not been unkind to King Arthur that day, not in the least.
“And then a great celebration commenced, with much food, wine, and merrymaking. At dusk, Guinevere truly became Arthur’s and so begins the days of Camelot,” Jimmy ended.
Summer’s eyes were intently focused upon him, fully expecting him to continue. However, the guitarist remained silent, merely leaned over and kissed her forehead.
“Oh, Jimmy, tell me more!” she pleaded.
“Not tonight, Summer,” he responded, a bit surprised he was able to tell her no. “It is a long tale and would take many more hours to tell. I shall tell you more tomorrow.”
She pouted and he nearly relented. Instead, he brushed back her hair from her face and gently pressed his lips to hers. Her eyes widened briefly before fluttering close, her arms looping around his neck. Though she invited him to deepen the kiss, Jimmy pulled away.
“Come, my princess, let me escort you to bed so that you may dream of faraway kings and queens,” he stated softly.
“You will stay with me, yes?”
“I have nowhere else I would rather be.”
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