Chapter 104

A few days later, Brianna handed a letter across the desk to Jon and glanced at her watch. "Don't you need to pick up Steph and Jesse from school?"

He looked at her and winced. "Did I forget to tell you? They want you to pick them up today."

"Me? Why?"

Jon shrugged. "I don't know. Steph just said to make sure you picked them up."

Brianna frowned. "I wonder what that's all about?" Rising, she started for the door and paused. "Did you put me on the list with  the schools' security?"

"No." He looked back down at the letter. "Dot did."

"Oh. Okay. I'll be back in a bit."

"Mmmhmm."

Brianna found a parking spot in front of the school and went inside. She saw Jesse standing near the office talking to a well built very attractive brunette close to Brianna's age. As she got closer it became clear that he was being talked at rather than talked to....and he didn't look happy about it. When the woman's words reached her, she wasn't too happy about it either.

"When is your father coming? Such a wonderful man. I bet he's lonely. You really must tell him to call me....if he wants some adult company."

Brianna clenched her jaw. "Hey Jesse. You ready to go?"

The relief was obvious in the boy's face and posture. "Hey. Yeah."

"Jesse?" The woman put a protective hand on his shoulder. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your...friend?"

"Sure. This is Brianna.....my stepmother. Brianna, this is Miss Fuller, my social studies teacher."

"Hello." Brianna held out her hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Stepmother?" The teacher choked out the word, shaking Brianna's hand out of reflex.

Brianna smiled. "Well, not officially yet." She held up her left hand and the overhead light set the diamond sparkling. "But soon. Jon and I are engaged."

"Oh. Well. Congratulations." Making her excuses, Miss Fuller escaped into the office.

Brianna noticed Jesse's smirk, but decided to let it go. One hand reached out to ruffle his hair. "Come on. Let's go get your sister."

As they walked down the hallway, several of the older boys did a double take at Brianna. A couple gave Jesse the thumbs up. Jesse stood up straighter. Brianna stifled a grin and pretended not to notice any of it.

They found Stephanie talking with a group of her girlfriends just outside the door of the school. As they watched, a woman Brianna assumed was one of the girls' mother approached the group. Stephanie glanced around. Catching sight of Brianna, she turned her back towards her, put her hand behind her back and waved her fingers.

"You should go over there." Jesse advised.

"You think so?"

He nodded. "Yeah. She wants you to."

"Okay." Something's going on here. Studying the group of females as she walked towards them, she noted that the older woman had had some work done....in several areas. How can anyone tell whether she's happy or mad? Her face doesn't move! "Hey Steph. Hi girls."

"Hey." Stephanie introduced the girls she hadn't met before. "And this is Mrs. Marinelli. Angela's mother."

"Nice to meet you." Brianna smiled and held out her hand.

"Hello....Brianna is it?"

"Yes."

The other woman was silent for a moment and may have been thinking. Brianna couldn't tell. "Oh yes. You're Jon's assistant."

"Oh!" Stephanie gasped and grabbed the arm of the friend closest to her. "Didn't I tell you? Dad and Brianna are engaged!"

"Really? Congratulations!"

"Yeah. On his birthday we set up a scavenger hunt for his gifts and he turned it around at the end and proposed!" Stephanie sighed. "It was so romantic!" She grabbed Brianna's hand. "Show them you ring! I helped pick it out."

While the girl's ooohed and aaahed over her ring - and Mrs. Marinelli continued to look stunned, Brianna struggled not to laugh.

When they finally loaded into the car, Brianna looked both kids in the eye. "Are there any others who you think.....need to have their hopes dashed?"

"Oh! We weren't...umm" Jesse looked at his sister for help.

Stephanie exchanged a long look with Brianna and smirked. "We'll let you know."

"Mmm...thanks." They drove in silence for a few minutes, but finally Brianna couldn't resist. "So do you think Mrs. Marinelli was really upset or just shocked?"

"Who can tell?" Stephanie answered.

"I want to know how she doesn't tip over." Jesse commented. "And whether she'd bounce or explode if she landed on her chest."

"Jesse!" Brianna choked on laughter and spluttered. After a moment's consideration, her lips twitched. "They'd explode under the pressure."

A second later, laughter filled the car.

Five minutes after Brianna left to pick up the kids, the gate buzzer went off. Jon frowned, put down the letter he was reading and got up to answer it. "Yes?"

"Jon, it's Lisa Wilson.....Brianna's sister-in-law."

"Hi Lisa, come on in." He pushed the button to open the gate and went to meet her at the door.

"Sorry to just barge in on you like this." Lisa apologized as she stepped into the house.

"No problem, but Brianna's not here right now."

"Good. It's you I want to talk to."

"Okay." Her determined tone had him bracing himself. "Let me take your coat and we can go into my office." Hanging up her coat he led the way. "The squirts are playing in the living room." He ducked his head in to check on them. "You guys remember Bri's sister-in-law Lisa?"

Jake looked at her for a moment. "Connor's mom?"

"Right." Lisa smiled. "Are you guys having fun?"

"Uh huh."

"Guys, Lisa and I will be in the office." Jon informed the little boys.

"Okay."

In his office Jon waved Lisa to a chair and took the one beside it. "What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to talk to you about Brianna."

"Okay. What about her?"

"I know that you have dealt with her for quite awhile now and know her pretty well, but there are parts of her that she keeps well hidden. For the two of you to make a relationship work I think you need to be aware of a few things." Lisa explained. "You've seen how her father is and can probably imagine what it was like for Brianna growing up."

Jon nodded. "She made me promise to never make Stephanie feel less important - less capable - than her brothers. At the time I wasn't a hundred percent sure why she was so adamant about me saying the words out loud. That family dinner was an eye opener."

"Yeah. Even though she acts all strong and independent, underneath it all is still that little girl trying to get her father's approval. That's the major reason she married Alex. We could see he wasn't right for her, but he represented everything her father thought was best for her."

"And she ended up being hurt even more."

Lisa nodded. "When she told us that she'd taken a job with a rock star we were all - well except for Edward - thrilled that she was going in a completely different direction." She smiled wryly. "Michael and Richard were a little concerned, given the whole 'rockstar' lifestyle, stigma and stereotypes, so they did an extensive background check. Sorry."

Jon waved aside her apology. "I would have done the same in their place."

"We knew she was okay work wise, but when you started dating we had bigger concerns. I don't know what your intentions are towards her..."

"Purely hon..."

"And I know it's not really my business, but Brianna is a wonderful person who deserves to be loved."

"I agree."

"She's been used and let down by most of the men I her life, so.."

"I know and.."

"She's been through so much, we just want her to be happy.."

"Lisa..."

"So if you're not sure you're in this for the long haul..."

"Lisa..."

"If you're just enjoying her for the moment...."

"LISA!"  When he was sure she was going to keep silent, he smirked. "Get her to show you her ring."