Page 2 of A Pawn for Malice
She took a quick step sideways and lookedabout to see if any one witnessed the exchange. She wanted nothingmore than to slap the snicker from his face, as he then reached hisarm about his wife’s shoulder, pretending to be the consolinghusband and grieving father, spurring his wife to whimper evenlouder.
She shook her head slowly, despising thedisplay. She didn’t exactly hate the woman. She felt … what? Notrespect … not love … maybe, empathy. She noticed the tearsstreaming down the woman’s porcelain cheeks, still ageless andbeautiful. It was so out of character for the woman to show anykind of emotion, as emotion caused wrinkles. Heck! The woman’s lipswere as tight as her newly-lifted ass.
Her mother in-law loved no one more thanherself. She never once showed any signs of outward affection forher son. Jessica understood why. He was a clone of his father.
You failed miserably as a mother,Lorraine,she quietly chastised. His death was partly yourfault too, for not standing up to that bastard you married.
Jessica scanned the faces again before her.The words spoken by Father Mulcahy did not penetrate her brain.Nothing he said mattered really. This probably could have all beenavoided, if she had left Richard, when things had started to getbad. She was so naïve then, believing he would change, believing hewould realize how wonderful she was and how much she had lovedhim.
Life had not been fair, and dealt many alousy hand. First, her mother died, giving her life. Her dad waskilled in a plane crash, when she was six. And then, her marriageto one of Maine’s “Golden Boys,” turned out to be a travesty.
She knew that her fate would have proveddifferently though, if her Aunt had been the one to raise her.Instead, her paternal grandmother was given custody and when thetime was ripe, she fell prey to Hal Wilton’s charm and control.Unbeknownst to Jessica, they had connived a plan to bring his sonand her together in marriage.
Jessica’s marriage never had a chance fromthe on-start. Richard did a magnificent job disguising himself asan abuser, drunkard, and womanizer.
He had cast a spell over her with hismagnetic charm and striking good looks! Every debutante in NewEngland wanted to be Richard Wilton’s girl. Instead of chasingafter the stable of females at his fingertips, he had zoned in onher … a petite, green-eyed innocent with long, wavy, brown hair.What a fool she had been to have played right into his hands! Shewas the total opposite of the bevy of blonde amazons with lustfuleyes, who did everything to catch his affection.
Why didn’t I realize … see him for what hetruly was back then? It was all just a lie… a terrible, deceiving,and hurtful set up.
The minute the ink dried on their marriagecertificate, Richard’s true persona reared its ugly head.
It won’t happen again!She silentlyvowed. I will NEVER be duped like that again!
Jessica was snapped back to reality, whenFather Mulcahy shook holy water out over the casket and a splash ofit soaked through her veil and onto her right cheek. She shiftedand forced herself to focus on the priest’s final words, as hecontinued to sprinkle the length of Richard’s mahogany casket.
“Father, we ask ya ta bless Richard’s finalresting place, as well as his soul, and ta watch ov’r his family,especially, his beautiful widow, Jessica. May the peace and gloryof God’s luv be with all of ye, now and forev’r, Amen.”
The rain finally began to dissipate to alight mist, as the congregation began to disperse. Every one exceptfor Father Mulcahy departed without sharing a single word ofsympathy. She watched the priest hesitate only briefly, beforeapproaching her in-laws and finishing with his pastoral duties.
After extending his farewells to her in-laws,he turned and briskly closed the short distance between them.
Jessica’s heart warmed, when he sent her avibrant smile and opened his arms wide, as he drew near. A sobcaught in her throat, when he tenderly embraced her and rocked herlike a young babe.
“Ah, Lassie,” he cooed. “I be fearin’ you’llbe tormented if’n you don’t get away and soon.” He patted her headtenderly.
She stepped back slightly and tilted herhead, so she could look up into his soft hazel eyes. He was agentle giant of a man with handsome features. She smiled, when thewind tufted his thick pumpkin-colored locks into the air.
“Father,” she sighed heavily, “I’m working onthat. I’m vying for a position in Albany, but I’m afraid Hal willdo everything to make my departure a difficult one.”
“I may be straight off the boat, Lassie,” thepriest replied with a wave of his point finger, “but, we had ourshare of bullies like yer father-in-law too! You must promise tacall me, if’n ya need some help getting away.”
Jessica looked about nervously.
The priest noted her reaction, pointed aheadand protectively drew his arm about her waist, and escorted her afew steps away from the dismissing attendees.
“Do ya have something in mind already? I’mserious now. If’n you need my help, you just say the word,” heoffered, patting her shoulder affectionately.
She smiled warmly and nodded.
“I do as a matter of fact.” She turnedslightly to look over her shoulder and make sure that Hal wasn’tsneaking up behind them. “You know my Aunt Florence.”
He nodded knowingly.
“Well,” Jessica continued, “She just returnedfrom a long business venture and; I’m to move in with her, until Ican find a place of my own.”
Father Mulcahy’s smile was one ofcontent.
“Good. I suggest ya do that quickly. We bothknow Hal is an awful man.” He stepped closely and reached out totenderly place her face between his brawny palms. “If’n you need taescape in the dark of night, call. Me life is a bor’n one and coulduse a lit’l spice now and then.”
