by Leslie
The rest of the day seemed to pass uneventfully. Jensen's appetite was decreased, but Kendall had managed to get her to eat a little applesauce. Jax was a good sport, and laughed it off when Jensen flung a spoonful of it all over his Brooks Brothers dress shirt.
Kendall apologized repeatedly, but Jax dismissed it. "I guess that's part of it," he grinned.
As the evening wore on, Jax saw the strain and tiredness on Kendall's face, so he made the suggestion that she turn in early.
She agreed with him that she needed to rest up. It was only going to get worse from here.
Jax left, saying he would return to check on them both
tomorrow.
.............
Tomorrow came all too soon for the Madisson's. Jensen and Kendall got maybe
3-4 hours sleep-- tops! The splotches had turned into blisters and Jensen
and Kendall had battled the discomfort through most of the night with Tylenol
and Calamine lotion. Kendall had decided that she liked the clear kind best,
since the pink kind had gotten all over her bedsheets!
It wasn't long before Jax checked in on them, delivering hot croissants, fresh fruit and much-welcomed steaming coffee.
"That smells heavenly," Kendall breathed in deeply, as if trying to fill her lungs with the scents.
"Well, you'll pardon me for saying this, but you look like HELL!"
"Thanks! Nothing like a good insult to begin the day after 4 hours of sleep," Kendall said, realizing how dissheveled she must look.
"Four hours! I can't even operate on that! Why don't you let me get you some help?"
"I appreciate the offer - but I'd rather take care of my daughter myself, ok?"
"Allright, if that's what you want."
"That's what I want."
"If you won't let me hire someone, will you at least accept my services?" Jax gave his most pleading look and most charming smile -- a combination that NEVER failed him.
"Your services?" Kendall laughed. She tried not to give in to his obvious manipulation, but she was too tired to fight it. "Actually, your 'services', as you call them, would be a welcomed relief to me. Are you sure you have time for this? Don't you have deals to make, small businesses to overtake?"
"V can handle it. Besides, someone's overtaken my guest quarters, so I have nowhere to stash those unsuspecting small business owners!" Jax played with her devilishly.
"Don't even start with me," snipped Kendall, trying to be serious. She was enjoying bantering with Jax, much to her amazement. Her first impression of him had been a wrong one. This man was evidently very thoughtful and loving. She wondered what other surprises this man held in store for her.
"So, is that a yes?"
Kendall tried to look annoyed with him, but was unsuccessful. A look of relief mixed with appreciation spread over her face. The corners of her mouth very slowly inched up as she very humbly said, "That's a yes."
"Great," Jax said enthusiastically. "First order of business is to get you cleaned up. You take a nice, long, hot shower-- no rush! If Jensen wakes up, I just give her some juice, right?"
"Yes, and it's already made up and in the frig, in the pink cup on the . . . "
"Kendall, you're sounding like V! I can handle it. Now, go on -- take your shower while you have the chance," Jax ordered.
He realized that was the first time he'd called her by her first name.
Kendall. Beautiful name. Beautiful woman, he thought. Even half a
night's sleep and no makeup couldn't subdue the radiance of her blue eyes.
They seemed to sparkle regardless of the
circumstances.
...............
Kendall emerged an hour later looking and feeling completely refreshed. She
went to check on Jensen, but she wasn't in her bed. Her heart skipped a beat,
then she realized, she must be with Jax.
As she drew closer to the living room, she could hear a faint hum. It grew
louder with each step. As she approached the open end of the living room,
she could hear Jax's voice, so melodious, so velvety . . .
singing to Jensen, who lay so peaceful, so tranquil, with her head on his
chest. Jax's elongated body absorbed the full length of the couch. And Jensen
looked so diminutive in comparison.
The song was so soft and so soothing . . .
We will fly, way on high,
where the cool winds blow
Or in the sun, laughing having fun
With all the people that we know
If the situation should keep us separated
I know the world won't fall apart
You will free the beautiful bird
Caught inside your heart
Can you see her? Oh, she flies so proud
Cast her wild wings
Over water and cloud.
That's the way it's gonna be
little darlin'
We'll go riding on the horses, yeah, yeah
Way up in the sky
little darlin'
If you fall I'll pick you up, pick you up . . .
Jax continued to sing to Jensen. Kendall decided not to intrude, but to quietly
observe this tender exchange between the two, as hot tears began to roll
down her cheeks.
************************
Chapter 7
Kendall was unsuccessful at stifling her sniffles. Jax abruptly stopped singing and give her a startled look.
"How long were you going to stand there and allow me to make a fool of myself?" He was beet red, and Kendall found that more than a little bit amusing.
"You weren't making a fool of yourself! That was beautiful," she said half-smiling.
Jax could see that she'd been crying. He carefully sat up, so as not to awaken Jensen, then looked directly at Kendall and asked, "Is everything OK?"
"No, everything's not OK."
There was a long pause. Kendall gazed at Jax. He looks so interested, she thought. Can I trust him? Can I open up just a little? she wondered. His eyes were brimming with concern, and she decided to take a chance - to trust him.
"It's just that . . . seeing you there with Jensen, singing to her . . . well, it was just . . . I don't know . . . I just kept thinking that -- here you are, practically a stranger to us, and yet you're showing Jensen more affection than her father ever did."
Jax could see the pain in her eyes and could tell by the way she hung her head that this subject greatly troubled her. He didn't want to say the wrong thing, so he just said, "I can't imagine not letting this precious little girl not steal your heart."
Kendall just shook her head sadly, and looking at her still-sleeping daughter
laying on Jax's chest, said, "Neither can I." And, with that, the discussion
ended.
.............
It was a couple of hours later when Kendall noticed that Jax's face was still flushed. He couldn't still be embarrassed about this morning, she thought.
She instinctively reached her hand up and touched the back of it gently against Jax's cheek.
This caught Jax completely off guard. He didn't know quite how to take it, so he asked "What are you doing?" Kendall touched his other cheek and then his forehead.
She smelled like a bouquet of fresh flowers, and Jax felt his heart begin to beat a little faster.
"I'm checking to see if you have a fever."
That's not what I expected! Jax thought. "Fever? What makes you think I have a fever?"
"Because your face is flushed. It's been this way ever since I caught you singing secret lullabies!"
"Of course it is! Can you imagine if that ever got out?? I'd never be taken seriously again!" Jax smirked.
"Jax, I'm serious. You feel warm to me."
"Do I now?" Jax teased.
"Yes - REALLY!" Kendall said, a little thrown off by his flirting.
"It can't be a fever. Mum said I've already had the chicken pox."
"Go look in the mirror and see how red your face is!"
Jax frustratingly got up, walked to the mirror and looked at himself. "So I'm a little red. No big deal! Maybe I was just getting a little hot under the collar reading this trash journalism they call reporting in this local rag they try to pass off as a newspaper! They claim my motives for wanting the dock rennovation are questionable. It's ridiculous!"
"Well, I think it bears looking into don't you?"
"What -- my motives?"
"No-- you! The fever-- try to stay with me!! This is the way Jensen started-- a little flushed, a LOT fussy!" she said playfully. "I think you should check and see if you have any red splotches on you."
"And where would I look for those?" he returned.
"Jensen's showed up first on her chest and back, then spread from there."
Jax began to unbutton his shirt right then and there. Kendall tried to look at ANYTHING but him, and decided it might be best to remove herself from the temptation.
She walked into the kitchen to get herself a drink. What is it about this man that makes me so nervous and fidgety? For crying out loud -- he's just a man! But, oh, what a man! Extremely sexy with those blond tresses and that accent! He was flirtatious, and charming -- and not afraid to show his feelings-- and soooo thoughtful! Not to mention those eyes she was finding herself lost in frequently!"
"Kendall, could you come here a minute?" Jax's voice was a welcomed distraction from thoughts she was not ready to deal with.
As Kendall walked into the foyer, she was taken aback by the sight of Jax, with his shirt partially unbuttoned and hanging-- still tucked in-- around his waist. She realized her mouth was open, and quickly shut it.
He interrupted her thoughts again, "I don't see any spots, do you?"
Her eyes were grazing over his tan, rippled chest, but they weren't looking for spots! Grace and dignity, Kendall thought, remember what you're supposed to be doing! Grace and dignity, grace and dignity -- and, shut your mouth! she kept repeating in her head.
"Turn around," she managed to say.
As he turned, he heard Kendall gasp . . .
*****************