by Lisa B
Lisa B
Jock winced as the plane hit some turbulence. He couldn’t believe he
had actually slipped out of the
It was bad enough being in his own. His mother was going to skin him alive
when she realized he
He rested his head back against the seat. Closing his eyes, he decided to
worry about that later.
From what he’d been able to find out, no one had seen hide nor hair
of Joanne since the airport.
The flight attendant placed her hand on his arm gently to tell him that the
plane would be landing
************************************************************
The cab stopped in front of an unassuming waterfront diner. All the sign
outside says was “Ruby’s”.
“Thanks, this is the place.” Jock said as he handed the driver
the fare. He winced as a pain shot
A bell tinkled telling anyone that wanted to know there was a new customer.
It was a small diner.
Jock took a seat at the counter. Eating solid food was most definitely something
he probably should
“What can I get ya?” she asked in a friendly tone.
Deciding to start off slow, he curbed his appetite. “Got any soup?”
“You’re in luck. I’ve got a pot of chicken and rice that’s
ready to go.” She pushed open the door
“A bowl of chicken & rice should be just fine.”
She reached under the counter and pulled out a plain white ceramic bowl and
matching saucer.
“Thanks.” Jock dropped his head giving the signal he wasn’t
interested in engaging in the usual diner
Jock was grateful for the solitude of the diner. It gave some time to think
about every thing he knew
The face, the eyes, the nose and mouth were all the same but the hair. Coming
down the stairs was
Joanne stopped at the landing fumbling with her purse. After what seemed
an eternity, she found
Reaching into his pocket, Jock pulled out a $10 bill and laid it on the counter.
“Left the money
Slowly, he rose and approached Joanne. Before her, he stopped struck by the
wonder that was
“Is there….” Jock croaked. Clearing his throat, he tried to
speak again. “Is there some place we
Without speaking, her fingers closed around his hand and she motioned up
the stairs. They were up
Her back pressed against the door, Joanne reached behind and snapped the
lock in place. The
“I can’t believe it’s you.” She whispered.
His voice husky with emotion, all Jock could say was “Joanne.”
At the utterance of her name, she tumbled forward falling into his arms.
Sobbing, she buried her face
Looking up, Joanne noticed the flush that concealed his pale complexion.
“Sit.” She ordered.
Jock settled back and rested his head against the pillows. Laughing, he reached
out and pulled her
Furrowing her brow, Joanne sat rigidly beside him.
Jock reached out and flicked on the radio next to the bed. The lilting strains
of a piano solo filled the
Have I Told You Lately that I love you?
For the morning sun in all it's glory,
Jock took her hand and raised it to his lips. After kissing the palm, he
laid it back against his cheek.
“You need to be in a hospital, you fool.”
“I need to be with you. Joanne, please?” He asked.
There's a love less defined,
“Please?” He asked again.
Needing him as much as he needed her, Joanne lowered her body next to his.
She rested her head
“I never thought I’d see you again. I thought I would die without
ever telling you…without telling
The tears fell from her eyes to his chest. Her prayers had been answered.
Jock was as close to
Have I Told You Lately that I love you?
There's a love less defined,
Placing her finger on his lips, she silenced his words. Patiently, he waited
until she was ready to
Finally, she said…“There is a God.” Kissing him, she murmured.
“I love you.”
And so they fell asleep wrapped in the warmth of their love and comforted
by the fact that for
Have I Told You Lately That I Love you?
Take away all my sadness, fill my life with gladness,
Chapter 102
hospital so easily. The Shady Hills Retirement Club was slipping but of course
he wasn’t at the helm
for this assignment. Laughing to himself, Jock pictured Sean and Trevor chewing
up out the guard
dog who had been posted at his door. He definitely didn’t want to be
in that guys shoes.
snuck out of the hospital. Mary McGillen didn’t take kindly to one of
her boys stepping out of line
when it came to medical treatment. Actually, she didn’t take kindly
to them stepping out of line for
anything if the truth be known.
Right now he had to concentrate on finding Joanne. What was he thinking when
he told her that
slimball Morgan was behind his attack? Joanne was fierce on a good day never
mind when she had
a debt to settle.
This couldn’t be good. Jock knew she had gone off to take care of business.
His mother and all the
rest of the women congregating around his room kept saying it was just family
jitters but Jock knew
the truth. He had watched Joanne in action on more than one occasion. Hell,
she had cuffed him to
get her own way. She was a force to be reckoned with not ignored. He really
needed to get some
rest before he caught up with her. It was going to be hell to tell her to
back off of Morgan. Damn,
she was going to blow like a powder keg. But they needed Morgan. They needed
him to track
down his buddy and end this nightmare once and for all. Jock hoped he
wasn’t too late. He closed
his eyes and drifted off getting some much-needed sleep.
soon. Jock stirred from his slumber. He brought his seat to the upright position
and planned his
course of action. There was no time to lose.
through his side. Flexing his fingers, he gritted his teeth until the pain
subsided. Jock had to get
through this. They had time to stop the ball that had been placed in motion
but only if they retained
the element of surprise. Running his fingers through his short hair, he steeled
himself and opened the
door.
There were a half dozen stools at the counter and a handful of tables scattered
about. It was clean
and the smell of greasy cooking permeated the air. As if on cue, his stomach
rumbled.
do but he was hungry and the food smelled so good. An older woman popped
her head out from
the kitchen.
of the kitchen and wedged herself behind the counter. “Well, what’ll
it be?”
Placing a paper napkin and soupspoon in front of him, she turned slightly
and filled up the bowl. “Be
careful it’s real hot.”
banter. She got the hint and made her way back to the kitchen. Over her shoulder,
she called.
“Give a holler if you want anything else.”
about Jason Morgan. When Brenda and Jax first reconnected, Jock had done
a rundown of
Brenda’s ex and his associates. It had proved to be a dead end in the
search for Brenda’s stalker.
A quiet footstep padding down the stairs disturbed his pondering. Out of
the corner of his eye, he
saw the shapely form of a young woman. His heart strangely skipped a beat.
Jock chalked it up to
his body realigning itself. Yet, he was had to look. He wanted to see the
woman’s face. The spoon
clattered against the bowl.
Joanne but it wasn’t. This woman had short blond hair and her body was
caressed by an ankle
length rayon dress. She looked fragile….oh so delicate…belying
the strength within. Stunned, he
waited for her to notice him sitting at the counter. Jock was mesmerized
by her beauty and
grace…the ease she had with herself and her sexuality. He had never
see her look more lovely.
what she was looking for, her keys. Slowly, she raised her head and noticed
there was a man sitting
at the counter in the otherwise empty diner. Recognition registered in her
eyes and the keys slipped
from her hand. A tear formed in the corner of her eye as she stood staring
at the illusion before her.
under the bowl.” He calls out never taking his eyes from hers.
her. Simultaneously, they reached down to pick up the keys. The moment his
fingers brushed
against her smooth, silky skin, the fire rekindled in the depths of his soul.
Her calm disdain was
marred by the goose bumps that had sprung up on her arm.
can talk?”
the stairs before Ruby ever came out of the kitchen to pick up the tab.
tears streamed from her eyes. Tentatively, she reached a finger out and stroked
Jock’s face.
Involuntarily his face bent towards her caress, needing to be cupped by her
hand and Joanne
obliged.
in his chest and clung to him. Jock fingered the strands of her hair basking
in the warmth of her. As
her sobs subsided, Jock led her to the bed.
Joanne was back. “What the heck are you doing out of bed you fool?”
She grilled. “And does
anybody know where the hell you are…hmmm?”
down beside him. “Stop growling at me. You know damn well I had to sneak
out of that damn
hospital to track you down. And you know damn well, no one knows where I
am. Stop yapping
and come over here and kiss me.”
room and then a voice crooned…..
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.
Meets the day with hope and comfort too,
You fill my life with laughter, somehow you make it better,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.
He winced as he moved his hips towards the wall making room for her. The
look of pain did not go
unnoticed by Joanne. She pulled her hand away from his face and pulled up
the corners of his shirt.
A gasp escaped her lips when she saw the bandages that still held him together.
And its yours and its mine,
Like the sun.
And at the end of the day,
We should give thanks and pray,
To The One, to The One.
on the pillow beside him. Jock wrapped his arm around her shoulder repositioning
Joanne until her
head rested against his chest.
you how much I love you. Joanne, I dreamed of you.”
death as she had ever seen a man but God had spared him. The miracle of his
presence was not lost
on Joanne. Speechless, she clung to him.
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.
And its yours and its mine,
Like the sun.
And at the end of the day,
We should give thanks and pray,
To The One, to The One.
Jock crooked a finger, placing it below her chin. Tilting her face towards
his, he said. “Joanne, I
love you. I never thought I’d have these feelings. All my life I’ve
watched my parents, my brothers
build a life centered around their families. I watched and I knew it would
never be me. The women
came and went but there was never enough until I met you. My mind swims with
thoughts of you.
You don’t know how much I want to be with you…get lost in
you….”
speak.
moment they were safe. Nothing else mattered.
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.