Chapter 45

Brianna pulled onto the grounds and parked in her usual spot near the house. Staring up at the chateau style building gleaming in the summer sun, she couldn't sort out her feelings. Even though neither the house nor the family that lived in it was hers, it felt strangely like home - more so than the one she grew up in anyway. 

Here, no one judged her every word and move, telling her how she should behave, how she should dress, what she should think, what her life goals should be or reminded her what 'her place' was and to uphold the family's honour and reputation. Here, she was just 'Bri': employee, confidante and friend. Here she could voice her opinions freely, stay in her pajamas all day if she wanted to and no one frowned at her for not being married with at least two kids.

"Woof!" Copper stood by her door, tongue hanging out and tail wagging excitedly.

Brianna smiled, opened the door and stepped out. "Hello Copper. I'm coming." She ruffled his fur and thumped his side.

Inside, Jake looked up from his train at the buzz of the gate, sending a hopeful gaze towards his father. "Bianna home?"

Jon glanced at the video monitor from the gate camera showing the vehicle driving through. "Yes."

"Yay!" Jake jumped up and ran towards the front door.

Grinning, Jon followed him. As soon as he opened the door, Jake was out like a shot, almost knocking Brianna over in his exuberance.

"Hi buddy!" She hugged him, grateful for the excuse to look somewhere other than at her boss standing in the doorway wearing shorts - and nothing else. She also ignored her body's response to that vision. Definitely past time to find a boyfriend! "Did you miss me?"

"Yep!"

Jon shook his head at his son, but couldn't hold back a smile. "Hi." Looking closer at her face, he frowned. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah." She grimaced. "Family is......tiring."

"I hear ya. That's one of the reasons we nixed a family gathering yesterday."

"So what did you do? Did you go to Bruce's?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Southside says hi, by the way."

Brianna grinned. "He was there? Now I'm even more sorry I missed it."

Jon snorted. "So was he."

A noise had them turning to watch Jake trying to pull Brianna's suitcase into the house.

"What are you doing buddy?" His father asked.

"Bianna home. Dis need to go inside so her not weave again."

"Ah." Jon grinned. "Need some help?"

"Nope." Jake tugged the handle and grunted. "I gots it."

Jesse appeared in the doorway, watched his brother for a moment, then stepped forward. Turning the case around, he pulled out the handle extension and handed it to Jake. "Here. It's got wheels. It's easier to pull it this way."

"Oh. Tanks Jesse!" With only a few bumps and bangs Jake managed to get her suitcase into the house.

"I hope you didn't have anything breakable in there." Jon smiled wryly.

Brianna smiled. "No, it should be fine."

"Ummm....Bri?"

"Yes Jess?" She was familiar with that look. He wanted something.

"Mom asked if you would look after dinner tonight."

"Sure." She studied his face and smiled. "Is there something in particular you'd like?"

"Um...well....maybe pork chops?" He asked hopefully.

"Mmmm...and mashed potatoes?" Jon added.

Brianna looked back and forth between the two males wearing identical pleading expressions and had to laugh. "Yeah, okay."

"And chockit cake!" Came from the open doorway.

"Guess I'd better get busy then." Brianna entered the house and headed for the kitchen, ruffling Jake's hair as she passed him.

Sitting around the dinner table, listening to the conversations, laughter - even minor squabbles -  the love and affection shared by everyone there was as obvious to Brianna as it was a rare occurrence for her. This is how a family should act.

Afterwards, Brianna was in the kitchen cleaning up when Jon came in with the last of the dishes. He studied her face for a moment, then took the plate out of her hand and set it in the dishwasher. "Why don't you go and relax and let me finish this?" One hand lifted to cup her cheek, thumb rubbing lightly over the shadow under her eye. "You look tired."

Her eyes drifted shut to savour the heat of his touch. Suddenly realizing what she was doing, she abruptly pulled away. "I'm okay."

"Bri....I thought we agreed not to ignore this and let whatever happens happen."

"But not in this house. And definitely not where the kids can walk in and see."

He sighed. "Four more days."

She didn't need to ask what he was referring to. Her libido was looking forward to getting back to the tour too. Still, she was determined to fight it.....for as long as she could. She had to. He was married and as her father reminded her, she was raised better. Gathering her defences, she snorted. "Pretty sure of yourself."

Jon couldn't prevent a smirk from curving his lips. "Maybe. Or maybe I've just had more experience to recognize that whatever this is between us is stronger than either one of us. We can fight it all we want, but...." He shrugged.

As much as Brianna wanted to argue, she was afraid he was right. Then again, maybe she was just tired....or horny.

They weren't the only ones frustrated. Dorothea had been trying to give them as much time alone together as she could to encourage their relationship, but as far as she could tell, it was all for naught.

Shuffling from the bed to the bathroom, she leaned against the vanity and waited for the stabbing pain in her abdomen to fade. A glance at her watch confirmed she had another twenty minutes before her next morphine dose. I can make it. Just breathe through it. That was easier said than done some days. Like today, when it felt like a twenty pound weight was sitting on her chest, making taking a deep breath next to impossible.

When she'd finished in the bathroom and collapsed back on the bed, she turned her mind back to her husband and his....assistant. She needed to find a way to push that situation along. And I don't have a lot of time left to do it.

The next day she had her opportunity when the little ones were down for their nap, Steph was at a friend's and Jesse was at football camp. She climbed the stairs with Jon's help, intent on taking a nap herself, and found Brianna - as expected - waiting to help her get settled.

Leaning back on the pillows, Dorothea eyed her companions. "Jon, why don't you take Bri down and show her around the guest house." She paused. "And take your time."

Jon frowned. "Why?" He had a sneaking suspicion he knew.

"I've seen it already." Brianna added.

"I thought maybe it might come in handy for the two of you." At their blank looks, she elaborated. "A space for some private time." She sighed. "Do I really have to spell if out for you?"

"Dorothea..." Brianna started to protest, but was cut off.

"Bri, we've been over this before. I am totally in favour of you two having a sexual relationship. And I understand that it would be difficult under this roof....with the kids running around. So I thought the guest house would work. Sort of your own little love nest."

"Jesus Dot!" Jon raked a hand through his hair.

Brianna, face flaming, closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the window beside her.

"Oh come on you two." Dorothea scoffed. "We're all adults here. And you've both known me long enough not to be surprised by my plain speaking." She focused on Brianna. "It's one of the reasons why I avoid the media. I'm not good at the whole diplomatic thing." She sighed. "At the very least you can use it as a place to escape from all this," the wave of her hand encompassed the oxygen tank, morphine bottles and other paraphernalia that went with helping her cope with her disease, "when you need to." She closed her eyes. "Everyone needs a place to escape."