By Meggie

News traveled fast in their small, yet growing, community in the Glen. Jeffrey sat down on the edge of his bed, glasses in one hand and the newspaper in another. A body had been discovered in the wooded vicinity. She had been viciously beaten, raped, and then murdered. Throwing the paper to the nearby night stand, Jeffrey’s lips tightened into a thin straight line. Meggie. Alone in that big house. An image flashed before his eyes, of her lying somewhere, alone, cold, attacked. He shut his eyes, trying to rid the vision from his mind. The thought of some man pinning her down and raping her made him want to kill out of vengeance. Putting his glasses back on, he stood.

Jeffrey shook his head. No, he couldn’t let her stay in that house along. Not right now. He’d bring her here, perhaps there was an available room at the boarding house? If not, she would simply just stay in his room here. He wouldn’t take "no" for an answer from her. He glanced at his watch. It was after 9:30 p.m. He had spent the good part of the day in Coffs Harbour. Now he wished he hadn’t left. Grabbing his car keys, Jeffrey rushed from his room and headed towards the Audi parked out back.

Meggie looked around the second bedroom. She had done some shopping today, purchasing a few more smaller pieces of furniture for the living room and upstairs’ rooms. Tomorrow, the delivery van would arrive with some of final things she needed for upstairs, including another bed frame, mattress, and a beautifully handcrafted oak headboard for the guest room; and a work desk and some more chairs. Yawning, she immediately realized just how tired she was after the day’s excursion. She’d take a warm bath and head on to bed. She wanted to continue getting the house fixed up and then focus on the Reverend’s book collection and creating a library for the Glen community to use.

Trust…that is what he needs to see from you, for you to give and offer him the most…. After talking with Alistair, Meggie had decided she needed some time to think, to gather her thoughts and put everything into perspective. She remembered Ivy’s words of advice, how love simply happens and one cannot control the feelings or the flow of emotions that went with it. And Alistair’s tenderness and understanding; after revealing her fears and shame, he had not turned away or belittled her feelings. Trust. Something so difficult to offer when fear still gripped your heart and body.

Meggie walked into her bathroom, selecting some towels. She’d done a considerable amount of reflection and thinking on what Alistair has shared with her. He was right…she loved Jeffrey, despite whatever had occurred between them. But could she be enough for him? She needed to try, to see if she could be. To let Jeffrey learn to trust through her love and trusting, too.

A sudden loud banging noise came from downstairs. Meggie jumped a foot, dropping the towels to the bathroom floor. Who could that be at this time of night? A slight chill filled her, causing her to shiver. Bang, bang, bang! The noise continued. Moving cautiously to the front door, she took a peek. Jeffrey.

"Meggie, open up! It’s Jeffrey! I need to talk to you, it’s urgent," he yelled, pounding his fist against her door. Gradually, it opened, slowly, and a small sigh escaped from his lips. She was safe.

"Jeffrey, it’s late. Why are…."

"Meggie, let me in. Please," both his tone and face showed deep concern.

He stood there on her porch, his grey hair tousled like he’d been running his hands through it nonstop. Meggie frowned, confused by both his presence and the idea of allowing him in this late at night. Please, don’t let him be drunk again, she thought. She gradually stepped aside for Jeffrey to enter. Once inside, he began frantically looking around her living room, inspecting the windows and locks on the door. He then headed to the kitchen, where he again checked more windows and the patio door that led out to her yard.

"Jeffrey, what are you doing here? What’s going on? And what are…" she asked, following him into the kitchen, standing there in her jeans and a peach colored blouse.

In two quick strides, he crossed the room and took her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. His hands began rubbing her back, then moved upward to cup her face softly. "Sweetheart, you must come with me now back to the boarding house. I’ll find you a room or you will stay in mine."

"Jeffrey, I’m not going anywhere. I live here, remember, and was just getting ready to take a nice hot bath and go to bed before you began breaking down my front door." She started to pull out of his grasp, but his hands slid down to her waist where he held her firmly.

He needed to tell her. "Meggie, follow me," he said, taking her right hand and leading her back into the living room where they sat down on the couch. He turned sideways to face her, seeing the look of confusion and fear now slowly replacing the anger she’d felt. Taking his glasses off, Jeffrey rubbed his eyes, and took a deep breath before proceeding. "Meggie, one of the Glen residents was found murdered the other day."

"Oh dear God," she gasped, her hand covering her mouth. "Who? How?"

"A young woman, Marce, was found in the woods. Meggie, someone had beaten, raped, and murdered her before disposing of the body." He studied her face for some reaction. Her eyes had grown wider and she wrapped her arms around herself to keep from shivering.

"Who…do they know yet? Have they caught him?" she asked quickly.

Reaching out slowly, Jeffrey stroked her cheek and then brushed her long hair back over her shoulders. He then took her small and cold hands into his own. "No, not yet. The police are still investigating and searching for more evidence and clues."

Meggie shut her eyes tightly, shaking her head. Everything seemed perfect, pure, and safe here. How could something so terrible and unspeakable happen?

"Meggie, Meggie, listen to me. I don’t want you staying here alone. I’ve come to take you back with me to the boarding house. Despite our separation, I still care and worry about you."

Meggie stood up, and slowly made her way towards the large bay window on the west side of the house. Glancing through the sheers, she could see the moonlight shining upon the quiet and sleeping Earth. "Jeffrey, I can’t go with you. This is my home, my stuff is here." She turned back to face him, now chewing her lower lip out of a nervous habit.

Damn it, he knew she’d protest. "Meggie, I won’t leave you alone. If I have to, I’ll park my Audi outside your house for eternity to protect you." Standing, he walked slowly to her. She was shaking slightly, from fear or from a chill, or both he thought. His need to scoop her up into his arms and carry her away grew stronger by the second. "Meggie, please, listen to me."

"I…don’t know."

"Okay, it’s settled. I’ll be staying here until the bastard is caught and thrown into jail."

"Jeffrey, you can’t. I don’t have another bedroom available or any…."

He cut her off by holding his hand up. "Couch. I’m staying right here, all night, every night."

"That’s not comfortable enough. Jeffrey, take my bed instead, I’ll sleep elsewhere."

He looked into her eyes, seeing the love and need she had for him growing more and more despite what had happened between them. He felt it stir inside himself, as well. "No, the couch is fine. I want to be downstairs to hear anything and be able to move. I want you to stay in your room. And if you do hear a noise, lock the door, push something heavy in front of it, anything, you promise me?"

This is crazy, she thought. Pacing back and forth, her mind became flooded with emotions, images, questions. She had been so absorbed in her thinking she had failed to notice or hear Jeffrey.

"…will do. Tomorrow, I’ll return to get some of my clothes and things. I want to you come with me."

Suddenly, Meggie felt as if she couldn’t breathe, as if someone was smothering her whole body with a huge weight. "Jeffrey, I can take care of myself, really, I’ll be okay."

"Will you? Meggie, I grew up in the Bronx, a pretty rough part of town. I went into the military, studied judo, hell, I had a firearm when someone was threatening my children and wife. You can’t possibly be able to defend yourself."

She threw her hands up into the air. "Jeffrey, I’ve taken safety classes. I can scream, kick, bite, scratch, hit…."

"Come here." He motioned for her to stand in front of him. "Turn around. Now start walking towards the kitchen." Jeffrey hated to do this, but she needed to know, to learn.

She did as he said, wondering where he was going with this ridiculous enactment. And then she felt his arms, one around her waist the other wrapped around her neck in a firm, yet non-threatening manner. "See how easy and fast something can happen?" he whispered in her ear.

"Then I’d kick like this or stomp with my foot," Meggie retorted as she started to demonstrate. However, Jeffrey’s judo experience blocked her attack. He now had her against the couch, where he firmly, yet gently, dropped her body down upon it. He climbed on top of her, straddling Meggie as she lay under him. With his left hand, Jeffrey held her wrists above her head. "Meggie, I’ve got you all ready. God, at this point I could…."

He could feel her trembling, fear spreading across her face. He didn’t know if it was because of his roughness or the very idea of how fast and easy she could be grabbed.

"Let me go, now! Please!" She cried out, tears beginning to fill her eyes. His legs and weight had pinned her to the couch, and she could neither kick nor move. "Jeffrey, now!" Her voice now sounded hysterical.

He quickly stood up, releasing his grasp. Then he tenderly wrapped his arms around her shaking body, pulling her to his chest. "Meggie, my Meggie." He softly whispered into her hair, rocking her gently back and forth. "Honey, I don’t want to scare you. I need for you to trust me, okay?"

She nodded her head. Trust. After a few moments, she tilted her face up to search his worried face. "I do trust you." Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

Jeffrey’s heart ached at that moment, over how he had responded and behaved. "Right now, all I want is to keep you safe from any harm." He nuzzled her hair, enjoying the softness and sweet scent.

"Let me get you some sheets, a blanket and pillow," she said and pulled away from his embrace. Running up stairs, she found what she needed and returned to Jeffrey’s side. "Here, let me." Meggie began to remove the smaller square pillows from the ends of the couch in order to make him a bed. When done, she picked up the larger pillow she had found upstairs, shook it, and then set it down. "I can get you another pillow, or more blankets…."

Jeffrey had watched her during the entire process, his heart growing full of love. "That’s perfect, it’s fine Meggie. Now why don’t you go on upstairs, take your bath, and then go to bed. I’m all set down here," he said, motioning to the couch.

She hesitated. She didn’t want to leave him yet. "Forget the bath. Don’t really feel like it now. But I’ll be right back, okay?" Her voice almost pleading with him to stay.

"Meggie, I’m not leaving. I promise."

Returning to her room, she quickly undressed and slipped into a light-weight blue chemise gown with ruffled cap sleeves and returned downstairs. Jeffrey was laying back, his left arm braced under his head. He turned when he heard her small footsteps behind him and smiled. She looked even lovelier than ever: her long hair draped over her small shoulders and down her slender back. He started to sit up when she suddenly moved and placed a hand on his arm.

"Please, stay. Let me get whatever it is you want."

I want you, God, I need you, he thought to himself, a warm sensation filling his body. He shook his head. "Meggie, I’m fine. But you should be in bed."

Blushing, she looked down at her feet in the fuzzy blue slippers. "Just wanted to check on you, see if you needed anything." I checked on you because I needed to, she thought.

He smiled, a small hint of relief and happiness filling his eyes. "I’m fine. Trust me. Now, goodnight." He paused, awkwardly waiting to see how she’d respond. She moved slowly closer to him, stopping only a few inches from his body.

"Goodnight, Jeffrey," she whispered softly, and then leaning over so her hair fell upon his chest, placed a gentle kiss on his lips. She turned and went back upstairs, pausing only once outside her bedroom door to offer him a smile.

The sight of her, simply standing there and smiling down at him, made him feel incredibly good and needed. Something he hadn’t felt in quite some time. Smiling back, he then laid back down.

********

She glanced at the clock. Two-thirty. She hadn’t slept much, thinking of Jeffrey down below her, guarding and protecting her. Getting out of bed and pulling on her robe, she quietly slipped downstairs. He remained still, his breathing deep. Meggie approached slowly, trying not to awaken him. Staring down, she couldn’t help but smile. He was lying on his left side, facing the room. His hair was even more rumpled. Reaching down, she tenderly smoothed back a piece from his forehead before heading to the chair next to the couch. As Jeffrey continued to sleep, unaware of her presence, Meggie curled up in the chair. She felt able to sleep now, having him beside her. She then closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.

Morning came, and Jeffrey stirred as the early rays of sunshine greeted his eyes. Blinking several times, he slowly sat up, groaning as he realized how stiff his neck was, and then realized he wasn’t alone. Meggie was curled up tightly in the chair next to him. He grinned as he studied her. Her long hair hung over her right shoulder, almost covering her face. Jeffrey approached her sleeping body, and reached down to brush her hair back from her face. "Meggie," he whispered, the familiar ache and need for her filling him. She should be in her bed, where it was more comfortable, than down here.

How long have you been down here, my Meggie? Scooping her body up, he carried her upstairs and placed her in the bed, pulling the sheets up. She must have been completely exhausted not to have noticed the entire transaction of events. He’d go start breakfast…for the two of them and silently left her room to head downstairs.