Free Lexington Connection by M. E. Logan Page A

the door without releasing Jessie’s arm. “Let me take your coat. It must still be raining out.” She hung up the coat, put her arm around Jessie and led her to the sofa. She picked up the television remote, switched the channel from the action movie to soft soothing jazz. Jessie sat down without any awareness. “Do you need something to drink? Have you eaten?”
    “That would be nice. I think so, I don’t remember. There was so much food.”
    Diana went to the wet bar, poured two drinks, the cold 7-Up Jessie preferred and then a straight shot. She looked like she needed it. She brought them both over, held them both out. Jessie reached for the straight shot, brought it to her lips slowly, uncertain, unseeing. Then she took it straight down, closing her eyes, shuddering as it went down. She handed the glass back to Diana.
    Diana set the soda down on the table beside the sofa. She sat down beside Jessie, sitting on one leg, half facing Jessie. She took hold of her hand. “Honey, what happened?” She brushed Jessie’s hair back. It had been recently cut, neatly trimmed. She stroked Jessie’s face. “Talk to me.”
    “You just get to town?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did you go to the bar?” Jessie rested her head back on the sofa.
    “No, I came right here.” She watched as Jessie tried to speak, started several times but nothing came out. Whatever it was, it had hit Jessie hard. Diana decided she would have to be more direct. She came up on her knees beside Jessie, straddled her so she could look into her face. She slid her hands around Jessie’s jawline, lifting her head. “Tell me,” she commanded quietly. “Did something happen to Nicki?”
    “No, Nicki’s fine.” Jessie closed her eyes, her head limp in Diana’s hands, not resisting, letting Diana’s fingers massage the back of her neck.
    “Where is Nicki tonight?”
    “She’s over at Aunt Irene’s.”
    “That’s who I heard you talking about on the phone,” Diana remembered. Jessie nodded. “Honey,” she said cautiously, guessing. There could only be one reason why Jessie could be so shattered and Nicki at her aunt’s. “Did your dad have another heart attack?”
    Jessie’s face crumpled but she nodded.
    “Did he not make it this time?”
    Biting her lip, Jessie shook her head, and she began to cry.
    “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” She pulled Jessie to her, wrapped her arms around her as she felt Jessie’s arms encircle her. Jessie cried, breaking down completely. She clung to Diana and Diana held her, rocking her, holding her, brushing back her hair, making soothing sounds. “Shhhh,” she soothed after a while. Slowly Jessie stopped crying but Diana felt it was more exhaustion than anything else. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”
    “Happened Monday,” Jessie choked out. “Called me. He was at the horse farm. Couldn’t get there in time.” She looked up at Diana, stricken. “I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye, to tell him I loved him.”
    “He knew you loved him,” Diana reassured her. “You’ve told him every day. You took care of him. He knew.”
    Jessie shook her head. “I met the ambulance at the hospital. He was already gone.”
    “Oh, honey, that must have been so hard.”
    Jessie closed her eyes, losing some of her composure again. “Not as hard as telling Nicki. I don’t even know what I told her.” Diana slowly rocked Jessie, feeling Jessie rest against her. “The funeral was just yesterday.”
    “I’m sorry I didn’t come into town earlier.”
    “I couldn’t have seen you yesterday; so much was going on.” Jessie rested her head on Diana’s shoulder. “There was so much to do, so many people. It’s been a nightmare.” She relaxed a little. “I’m so tired but I needed to see you.”
    “I would have waited for you, dear.” Diana could feel Jessie’s exhaustion. “You said Nicki was at her aunt’s?” Jessie nodded. “So there’s no reason for you to go home, is