Free My Savior Forever by Vicki Green Page B

months. I work at a Café in a small town in
Kansas.”
    Thomas looks at Jesse and then back at
me. “Well, that’s lovely, dear.” Looking back at Jesse he adds,
“Being that Jesse is almost 27 I’d say there is a little age
difference, hmmm?”
    Jesse looks angry. “Dad, didn’t you
want to rest a bit from your trip?” He says with gritted
teeth.
    Thomas slides his chair back, stands
and looks at me. “A pleasure to meet you, Cassie. I think I will go
lay down for a bit.” He then turns to Jesse. “I will talk to you
after I am rested. If both of you will excuse me.” He bows at me
and leaves the room. We just sit there in silence.
    Wow, that was the most uncomfortable
dinner I have ever sat through.
    “Well, that was a nice dinner,” I say
smiling at Jesse. He laughs. “Ha, yes, really nice. I’m sorry,
Cassie. I hate that he made you uncomfortable. Does it bother you
that I am that much older than you?”
    I look at Jesse and smirk. “You’re not
THAT much older than me.” We both laugh.
    Finally, I slowly get up gathering
dishes and start to take them over to clean up. “I think I will
just clean up and then head upstairs. I am pretty tired and maybe
that will give you all a chance to talk without me around.” I begin
to wash off the plates, bending over to put them in the
dishwasher.
    Jesse comes over and I feel his arms
come around my waist. I stand and lean back against his chest,
laying my head on his shoulder. He breathes into my right ear. “I’m
sorry, baby. I knew it would be awkward, but I didn’t know he would
try to start that in front of you. He doesn’t understand why I am
so passionate about finding mom’s killers. He wanted me to let it
go a long time ago. But, I can’t. I have to make them pay, Cassie.
I have to do it for my mom.”
    I turn around placing my hands on his
strong arms searching his eyes. “Shhh, its ok, Jesse. I
understand.” He bends down and places his mouth over mine. I close
my eyes as we kiss gently. I leave my eyes closed for a few seconds
after he has pulled back. I slowly open them and he has the most
beautiful look on this face. He removes his arms from my waist and
puts them around my shoulders and pulls me into a hug. We stand
there holding each other for a long time.
    He whispers in my hair, “I love you,
Cassie.”
    I gasp. He loves me! I push my face
into his chest, move my hands to his shoulders and squeeze. I can’t
move. I’m afraid to move. I want to stay like this
forever.
    I slowly pull my face back from him
and look up into his beautiful blue eyes. I have tears in mine that
are threatening to fall. I bring my left hand to the side of his
face. “Jesse, I love you too.” I lift up on my toes and kiss him
with passion.
    I don’t know how long we stood there
kissing but Jesse slowly pulls away and puts his head against my
forehead, so we can try and catch our breaths.
    He leans back and takes my hands in
his. “Why don’t you let me help you clean up so you can go rest,”
he says. “The sooner my dad comes down to chat with me the better,
then maybe he will leave tomorrow and we can have more time to
ourselves,” he says waggling his eyebrows.
    “Ha!” I say pushing his
shoulder.
    “Jesse? Why do you have a different
last name than your Dad?” I ask him as he begins cleaning dishes.
He turns his head to me and frowns. “I’m sorry, it’s none of my
business.”
    He shakes his head. “No, no! It’s ok.
My mom and my birth father divorced when I was about three. I
really don’t remember him at all. He never came around after he
left. Mom and Thomas married a couple of years later. I’ve always
called him dad. He’s always been pretty strict but has always loved
me so I have had a really good life. Allie is his daughter from a
previous marriage but we have grown up together and are really
close,” he says smiling at me.
    I walk over to him and kiss him on his
cheek. “You’re so fortunate to have had a loving home to grow