"THIS TIME AROUND"
By: gb
Chapter 26
Gillian, dressed for work as usual in her volunteer uniform was waiting for Jake at Pine Valley Hospital before she went for the day's nursing classes.
She had been dreading this meeting and had put it off for a long time now, but she knew she had to get it over with today. If she was going to move ahead with Ryan, then she had to make sure that Jake realized that they could be nothing more than good friends- if he still wanted to be her friend after what she told him...
She was just about to look for him in his office when he came down the corridor and was waving to another doctor at the end of another hallway.
"Hey, Gillian," he smiled at her. " I didn't know you were still working- I thought you had class now."
"I do, but Jake, I wanted to talk. Can we go to your office?"
Her voice was quiet and she was trying too hard to smile for him. A warning bell was going off in his head, but he ignored it. She might actually surprise him, he tried to convince himself.
They entered his office and he closed the door and took the two chairs in front of his desk.
"What's up?" he asked her.
"Well, I've been thinking about what you and I talked about the last time we spoke," Gillian began, fidgeting.
"Oh, ok." he said. "I didn't want to push you, so I kept my distance. I haven't seen around much lately."
"That was on purpose," Gillian admitted, looking at him now. "I was avoiding you, because I had my answer and I just didn't know how to tell you-you've been so great to me- you were there for me during the worst time of my life and I always counted on you and you never let me down..."
"I don't like where this is going..." he said, frowning.
"No and you won't like it when it gets there, either," she tried to sound light, but failed.
"Jake, I can't see you anymore except as just friends. Ryan and I...well, we decided to try together one more time. Please try to understand that I've always loved him and I want this more than anything and I've got to see if we can make it."
"I see," Jake said quietly, not even bothering to hide how devastated he was now. "Well, I won't pretend that I'm happy with your decision and of course I wish you luck, but I think you're making a mistake, Gillian. He'll just hurt you again. Ryan is incapable of having a normal relationship and after all that he did to you and all the times he left you, I thought you would come to that conclusion on your own and you will, but not before you get your heart broken again and he won't care when that happens."
"Ryan is really trying to change," Gillian insisted. "He wants us to try for a baby, Jake and he wants this to work as much as I do." she was feeling bad for Jake, but felt Ryan needed to be defended,too.
"He won't make it- he doesn't want to and inside, you know that." Jake said, getting up.
"Well, Ms. Andrassy, I'll be here when it all falls apart again for you. I just want you to be sure. We could've been great together, you know."
he finished bitterly.
Gillian felt tears coming down her cheeks as she got up to leave. Inside, she was still afraid that what Jake was telling her was true, but she didn't want to believe that!
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Jake. I'll always love you as a friend and I hope you feel the same way, but I'm sticking with Ryan."
"Fine. Are we finished now? I'll walk with you to class if you like."
"No, that's ok. I just want to take a minute and calm down." Gillian said. "I'm sorry, Jake. I didn't do this to hurt you."
Gillian left and Jake frowned as he threw some files on his desk. "You win for now, Lavery," he said out loud. "But I'm not going away and when you screw it up- and you will,soon,I'll be right here to take Gillian back in my arms and this time, I'll make sure you don't get her back. I'll just wait..."
Gillian finished classes and was now wandering a woman's lingerie store before heading back home.
She decided not to let Jake upset her- tonight was too important. She'd worry about him later. Right now, she wanted to get something special for her night with Ryan.
She smiled as she thought about the upcoming evening. Really, she had enough and more nightgowns and stuff, and she really didn't want tonight to be about clothes. But, she WAS starting over with Ryan and a new beginning deserved to have new things to go with it, she convinced herself as she thoroughly enjoyed going through the various articles of clothing the store had to offer.
An hour or so later, after having tried on dozens of things and changing her mind back and forth, she selected several items and paid for them. She was walking out of the store when she saw on a display table some really pretty bottles of massage oils. She bit her lip, then looked longingly at the bottles again.
"Something else you'd like to add to your purchases, miss?" the salesperson approached her again.
"No-well...I've never tried this from here before. Do you think men will like this?" she asked.
"Oh, yes. Both men and women will enjoy our oils. They made of the finest ingrediants and they're very relaxing." she insisted smiling.
She opened a bottle and let Gillian take a sniff of the contents.
"Mmmm. Heaven," she admitted. "I'll take it." she said impulsively and picked up a bottle and went back to the register to pay again.
Now, completely finished with everything, she put her purchases in her car and returned home to Wildwind, her heart racing at the thought of her night of love with Ryan. Her dream was coming true...she couldn't believe it. Ryan was back with her again! She sighed as she realized that there was a time not too long ago that she thought this moment would never come again!
"I'm almost home, my love" she said aloud. "I've almost got you back!....
end of part 26
(To be continued...)
Next time: Ryan and Gillian enjoy a slow, romantic night of love and celebrate their renunion....