Chapter Nine: The Will
“Easy baby. You said yourself this was just a formality,” JC reminded Lisa as she fidgeted in the leather chair in the lawyer’s office. He placed a big warm hand over cold one. “You’re like ice.”
“I am not fond of lawyer offices. They only mean bad things.”
He supposed it did seem that way to her. Her first experience had been at fifteen when her parents died and now at Greg’s death. “We’ll get this over, go home, and hug the kids.”
She smiled gratefully in his direction. “You’ve been wonderful about all of this.”
“I haven’t done a single thing I haven’t wanted to do,” he assured her.
Spencer Martin stepped in. “Good afternoon, Lisa, Mr. Chasez.”
He handed JC a legal document – the Last Will and Testament of Gregory James Castle. He handed Lisa the same document in Braille then took a seat to Lisa’s left. “Greg said he discussed a fair amount of this with you, Lisa. The financial end.”
“Yes, he believed I should know what was going on,” Lisa stated.
“Basically his estate is divided five ways and set up so you can draw monthly expenses for each child and yourself if need be. He said your trust fund was kept separate from the Castle moneys.”
“At Greg’s insistence.”
“Well, everything is in the papers. You can read through them at your leisure and call me if you have any questions.”
“Fine.”
Martin rose and rolled a television with VCR to the front of the room. “Greg left this video. He said it was to be viewed by you two only. I have no idea what this is about, only that I am supposed to assist you in whatever you ask.” He handed the remote to JC. “You can call me back in when you’ve finished.”
Waiting for the lawyer to leave, Lisa said, “This is very cryptic. I wonder what this is about.”
JC had an idea but kept those thoughts to himself. “Let’s find out,” he said as he hit play.
Greg Castle appeared on the screen, looking rather uncomfortable before camera. He must have made this before he had gotten too sick and gaunt.
“Lisa, JC, you are watching this as a part of my will. But this is more a wish or plea. There is no legally binding way I can make you do this. I can only ask that you consider doing it to ease my mind.
“Lisa, I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you. I was lucky enough you felt the same. We had a fantastic marriage despite our shaky beginning and your accident. Those things made our bond stronger. No man has ever had a more loving, loyal wife. But, sweetheart, I need you to move on for your sake and the sake of the children. I’ve tried to discuss this before, but you’d have none of it. Now you have to listen to me. I brought JC back into our lives because he is the one to carry on from here. He is the future.
“JC already knows what I want of him, now I’ll tell you. Lisa…I want you to marry JC as soon as possible.”
Lisa gasped and went white.
“I want him to adopt the children as well. I don’t want you to worry what people will think. They don’t matter. You and the kids do. When you decide to consummate the marriage is up to you two. But I would like to know you love each other and have a good marriage.
“I also would like you to sell the house and start fresh with JC. I know it will be hard Lisa, but I think it will be for the best in the long run.
“I’ve left a letter for you in the middle desk drawer in the study. I guess that is pretty much it…
“Thank you, JC. You’re made my dying easier on my mind, because I knew you’d take care of Lisa and the children. You’re a true friend.
“Lisa, good-bye, sweetheart. Move on and be happy.”
Greg’s face faded and JC turned the machine off.
“You agreed to this?” Lisa asked JC in a whisper.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
”So I can adopt the kids.” And because I love the hell outta you, he didn’t say out loud.
“You’d marry me to adopt the children?”
“It’s the best way for me to take care of them.”
“But, JC, you’d be ruining your future.”
“I don’t see it that way.” He took her hands, wishing she could see his earnestness. “Greg knew I’d fall for the kids. I feel for all of them the way Greg did about Scott. Blood or not they are mine.”
“But making you marry me…”
“It’ll make everything easier.”
“JC—”
“You don’t have to decide this moment. Take your time and think it over. Nothing has to happen today.”
She nodded.
JC rose, ejected the videotape from the machine and returned it to its case. He was taking it with them. “Ready to go, Lisa?”
Lisa folded her copy of the will and put it into her handbag. “I suppose so.” She got to her feet and let out a shaky breath. She hadn’t really expected Greg to make such demands, much less think JC would agree to them. What sort of attractive, wealthy, young man readily agreed to take on such a burden? She was discovering a JC she never suspected. Surely there had to be some other motive. It wasn’t money; he didn’t need it. It wasn’t guilt or friendship certainly. Oh, he adored the children and vice versa, but enough to burden himself with a blind woman he’d only shared a few months with nearly ten years earlier?
JC took her arm to lead her to the door. “I have a feeling you’re thinking way too much.”
It was the first time the children hadn’t joined them in bed. JC almost wished they had. Lisa stayed on her side of the bed with her back to him, almost as if she were afraid of him. She’d been quiet the entire evening and he’d found himself entertaining the children. He guessed she was still in shock over Greg’s pronouncement. Moving close, he touched her shoulder.
“Lisa, wanna talk about it?”
“Not really.”
“Honey, I think we need to.”
“Not tonight.”
“Then can I ask you something?”
“I suppose that depends on what it is.”
“How do you know it is me holding you in your sleep?”
“What?”
“You call me ‘JC’. I thought you might call me ‘Greg’."
Lisa shrugged, not understanding the significance of the question. “You are JC. You don’t smell like Greg and you certainly don’t feel like Greg.”
“But in your sleep?”
“I’m asleep. How do I know?” she mused with a smile.
Sliding his arm around her, he pulled her back against him and tucked his face against the fragrant flesh of her neck. He was not going to let her escape him.
She wanted to protest, but it felt too good. She felt safe in the shelter of his strong arms. The sand papery feel of his day’s growth of beard was somehow sensuous and comforting. She could imagine its feel on other places of her body and reined in the wayward thought. He smelled of his citrus, woodsy cologne and pure male. His lean body was hard and warm. She simply did not have the energy to fight. Not tonight. She laced her fingers with his and relaxed in his embrace.
“That’s it, honey,” he purred. “Just let it go tonight.”
”JC?”
“Yeah?”
“Why did you really agree to Greg’s crazy plan?”
“I already told you – so I can adopt the kids?”
“Is that really all there is to it?”
How much should he tell at that point? “And there’s you. I also want to see you taken care of.”
“At the risk of your future happiness?”
“Lisa, I don’t think we’ll be unhappy,” he told her truthfully. “I think we can make a good marriage.”
“I’m not the girl you were so crazy for all those years ago.”
“I know that. You’re a strong, lovely woman.”
Lisa sighed. He was risking so much on the chance they could recapture love. Didn’t he realize how much they had changed since their youthful fling? “I can’t just fall for you or into bed with you. I’ve just lost the man I love.”
Ouch! As much as JC knew it was only reasonable for her to feel that way, the words still hurt. “I know you need time to mourn Greg. I expect you to.”
“So you’d marry me knowing I wouldn’t have sex with you?”
“I thought you didn’t want to talk about this,” he chided gently.
She chuckled. “I did, didn’t I? I guess I was wrong. I can’t sleep with so many questions on my mind. Do you want me to shut up?”
“No, it’s cool, baby.”
“Well? Sex?”
“I’m not an animal, Lisa. I can control myself. I can wait and let you come to me when you’re ready. But you can’t expect me not to show you affection.”
“Like now?”
“Like now. We both need this closeness.”
“I know I do,” she confessed, it made her feel less alone in the dark. “And you’re good at it.”
It was a nice thing to hear. “And eventually it can lead to more when you’re ready.”
“JC…” It still didn’t sound fair. He was doing all the giving – she was doing all the taking.
“It’s cool, honey.” He gently squeezed her fingers and held her a little closer. “Try and get some sleep. There’s nothing we can do tonight.”
Breakfast was chaos. JC woke just before the alarm was due to buzz and switched it off. Lisa'd had a restless night and needed sleep. He woke the older children and the twins soon followed. He took them to the kitchen where the madness called breakfast unfolded.
High chairs were lovely inventions. With the tray in place, the chair managed to contain Digger. Bess sat in hers quietly, observing the rest.
Scott wanted waffles. JC located the toaster kind in the freezer, confident he could handle that.
Krista wanted cereal – or more exactly her cereal in her bowl.
Once JC had figured that out, Digger was restless, trying to fight his chair for his release.
“I ‘tuck,” Digger complained when the chair wouldn’t let him go. “I ‘tuck.”
“Buddy, just sit still,” JC urged. “What do you want for breakfast?”
“Waffas.” Digger pointed to his older brother’s plate.
JC had a bad feeling about Digger and sticky syrup. He just knew a bath was going to be in order when the little guy was finished. Once Digger had his food, JC turned to the patient Bess. She held her arms up to JC. “Up.” He put her on his hip as he made her requested 'toes.' Letting her munch away, he filled glasses with juice and milk, made more waffles and cut them up into small pieces, and generally went out of his mind.
How did Lisa do this every morning? And being blind at that! It was like one-handed juggling!
JC managed to get Scott and Krista out the door for the bus in good time. He sent them off with hugs and waves.
Then he was left with one sticky two year old, one buttery two year old who had stuck her hand in his hair, and a disaster area of a kitchen. The first order of business would have to be the baths.
Plunking the twins into a shallow, warm bath, he used baby shampoo to remove syrup from Digger’s hair while Bess contently played with the assortment of bath toys. Bathing Digger was nothing new; he’d done it many times before and knew the routine. The little tike chattered endlessly in some language JC didn’t comprehend. He didn’t seem to expect participation in the discussion so JC just went about cleaning the child from head to toe.
Bess, so unlike her brother in so many ways, was opposite of him when it came to bathing as well. She sat stoic and quiet as JC doused her in water, looking anything but pleased. It appeared Bess had an aversion to water – or more specifically she did not like her face or head wet. JC made quick work of her bath.
“Wanna play in the water awhile?” JC asked as he finished toweling off Bess’ hair and combing it. If they could give him just five minutes to shower, he’d be good.
“Yeah!” Digger cheered while Bess merely nodded.
Using the shower in the same bathroom so he could listen for the children, JC shampooed the butter from his hair and freshened up for the day. No more forty-five minute showers for him. He guessed coffee and the kids were going to be his morning stimulation.
Tossing on his bathrobe, he went back to the twins. Bess was more than ready to get out. JC dried her off with one towel and wrapped her in another. When he turned back to Digger, he saw the boy tugging on his little penis. “Dude…”
“See what I got?" Digger asked, seemingly amazed at his little appendage. “Bess doan.”
“That’s because only boys have those,” JC told him.
“You got?”
“Umm…yeah.”
“I see?”
“Umm…no, dude.”
Digger shrugged. “Otay.” He stood up and let JC lift him from the tub. The little boy tugged his curls upward. “My ‘fo!” he giggled.
JC laughed. “Yeah, little dude, that’s your ‘fro.” It was how he referred to his own unruly curls. Digger and Scott both had curly hair though Scott’s hair was clipped short. Both of his boys had Chasez ‘fros.
Shorts and tee shirts were easy enough to manage, then JC sat the twins in front of their favorite video so he could put Lisa’s kitchen back in order. Seeing them still glued to the television screen he hurriedly tossed on his own clothes then went to wake Lisa. She looked so young and beautiful in sleep; he almost couldn’t bring himself to disturb her.
He stretched out on the bed and stroked her hair. “Hey, baby.’” Her drowsy moan of response when she didn’t open her eyes went straight to his crotch. Damn! “C’mon, Lisa, rise and shine.”
Thick, dark lashes fluttered and she gave a little stretch before opening her eyes. “Mmm…what time is it?”
“Oh, about ten-twenty.”
Jerking fully awake, Lisa was ready to bolt. “Scott! Krista! —”
“Calm down, honey. It’s cool. I fed ‘em and they made the bus in plenty of time.’”
She sank back to the pillows, melting with relief. “You should have awaken me.”
“You looked so sweet; I wanted to let you sleep.”
Combing her fingers through his damp hair, she was unconscious of the intimacy of the gesture. “The twins?”
“Fed. Bathed. Dressed and watching a video,” he said proudly.
“Very impressive, Mr. Chasez. I just may have to keep you,” she teased.
“Okay.”
Lisa grew serious. “You really want to do this? I mean take all of us on?”
“You know it, honey. I’m ready to make you all mine.”
“You’re crazy.”
No, he was crazy in love; that’s what he was. He smiled down at her. “Then marry me before I come to my senses, Lisa.”
“Okay. What do we do now?”