Genesis: Part 9

Jason waited near the docks for Sonny and his entourage to walk by. When they did, he stepped forward and called the mob boss' name. Sonny knew that Jason and Keesha were involved so he smiled at Jason and waved his bodyguards away. From the expression on his face, Jason knew the man didn't consider him a threat.

"Hi, Jason. What can I do for you?"

Jason folded his arms across his chest. "You can tell me the truth."

"What truth?" Sonny asked with a frown.

"About Keesha and Lily's," Jason said, an edge coming into his voice. "At the close of business, she gives you a ledger that has special markings all over it. What is it about, Sonny?"

Sonny released a humorless chuckle. His spoke softly. "It's business, Jason. That's all."

"I don't buy that. I've seen your expression when she gives it to you and how quickly you look through it. Listen, I don't give a damn about your activities, but I won't allow you to put Keesha in any danger."

"Well, the Keesha I know doesn't allow anyone to do anything that doesn't agree with her. Keesha is a big girl. She can take care of herself." Sonny turned away. Jason's hand shot out and grabbed his forearm. Sonny's men stepped forward, but Sonny waved them away again. He looked down at Jason's hand. "You don't want to do that."

Jason released him. "I swear to you, Sonny, if Keesha gets hurt because of you or if anything happens to her because of you and this business of yours, there won't be any hiding places for you. I'll find you and you'll pay for it. I guarantee it."

Sonny's dark eyes glittered with anger, but he didn't say a word. He signaled to his guards with a slight nod of his head and they left the docks.

Jason stared after them.

~**~

Keesha and Lily had boxes of designer dresses and shoes all around the master bedroom in the penthouse. Lily had taken Keesha on another shopping spree, and although Keesha didn't enjoy the excursion as much as Lily, she enjoyed spending time with her glowing friend.

Lily held up a black sequined gown. She went to the mirror and smiled at her reflection. "This is a gorgeous dress. It's a shame that I won't be able to wear it but once or twice."

"Why not?"

"Because...I'm having a baby!" Lily squealed the announcement and ran to hug Keesha.

Once the hug was over, Keesha said, "That's good news."

"Yes, it is," Lily said, beaming. "It's the best news! I told Sonny last night and he's so happy. I couldn't wait to tell you."

"When?" Keesha asked. Lily's excitement was strong and contagious. Keesha felt it in the air and had felt it around them all day. She wondered how having a baby could make someone happy. She wondered if having a baby would make Jason happy, too.

"In about seven months." Lily grabbed a pillow and stuffed it inside her loose blouse. Shaping the form, she stood sideways in front of the mirror. "The baby will grow inside of me and soon, I'll look like this." Her hands caressed the bulge, her brown eyes dancing. With a sigh, she said, "I can hardly wait."

"I don't know much about babies. Mary Mae has some at the Ward House sometimes, but I've never touched them or anything. They cry a lot."

Lily laughed. She pulled the pillow from underneath her blouse and joined Keesha on the bed. "Yes, they cry, but they also smile and laugh. They're so beautiful, Keesha. I've wanted another baby for so long. I'm so happy it's finally going to happen."

"Another baby?" Keesha frowned in confusion. "What happened to the other one?"

Lily's laughter faded. "I had to give him away. I was much too young to have a baby, so I put him up for adoption. A really nice family is taking care of him now."

Keesha saw the water shining in Lily's brown eyes. She touched the other woman's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Lily blinked away the tears. Smiling, she nodded. "I'm fine. I just get a little sad sometimes. Anyway, come on. Let's decide which dress you should wear tonight!"

~**~

Impressed by AJ's honesty and fortitude the judge gave him a reduced sentence. He would be permitted to participate in a work-release program. During the day, he would do community service and at night, he would return to lock-up. It wasn't the best of circumstances, but AJ appreciated the opportunity to do the right thing for once in his life.

He asked Justus if he could volunteer at the Charles Street Foundation. At first, his cousin's eyes blazed with anger and accusation. AJ apologized and admitted how much he regretted his actions. He told Justus that this was his way of making amends for what he did. He knew that he couldn't bring Keesha back the way she used to be, but at least, he could continue the work she started there. He would do it all in her honor. At that, Justus relented and AJ returned to Charles Street.

He didn't take him long to get back into the swing of things. He enjoyed the work, the people...making a difference. The scandal that removed him from his position on the board faded to the back of his mind while he helped the residents of the area, but later when everything was quiet, he thought about it and began to investigate who or what was behind it all.

One day while researching grant requirements, he received an unexpected visitor.

"Hello, Junior."

AJ didn't bother to turn away from the computer monitor. "Ned."

"You know all this... It won't change a thing. You are what you are."

AJ nodded. "I suppose it's true. You'll always be a son of a bitch. Tell me what's it like going through life as a jackass?"

Ned bristled. "Listen, I took the rap for you!"

AJ pushed away from the desk. When he stood, he almost knocked his chair over. "I never asked you to! What is it with you anyway? You're always harping on how worthless I am and how I'll never amount to anything. Okay, I know what you think of me. I've known for a long time, so why the hell are you here? Nothing you say or do will change my life, Ned! Nothing!"

"I won't let you hurt the family again with this nonsense!" Ned shouted back at him. "We're always cleaning up your messes and when you mess this one up, we won't be around to fix it-"

"Go to hell, Ned! I don't need you clean up a damn thing for me." AJ paused and gave his cousin a long look. "You've had a chip on your shoulder for years, and I never understood why. But I get it now. You're jealous-"

Ned interrupted with an expletive.

"Oh, you can deny it all you want to, but I can see it now. You think that somehow I'll get more than you." AJ laughed. "You know that's pathetic, Ned. The Quartermaines definitely have more than enough to go around. Why don't you go spend time with your wife and get out of my face? I have work to do."

AJ turned his back to Ned and sat down behind the desk again. Behind him, Ned fumed and eventually he stormed out. AJ released a loud sigh when he did.

"I think you hit it on the head," Justus said quietly, standing in the doorway to the back rooms.

"Did you hear all of that?" AJ asked, shifting to look at Justus. "I'm sorry about that."

"No need to apologize." Justus shrugged. "It was bound to happen. You handled it well."

"Thanks, Justus," AJ said and then he went back to work.

~**~

Jason greeted Keesha with a hug and a kiss after another night of work at Lily's. She returned his embrace with burning passion, and Jason couldn't wait to take her back to their room above Kelly's.

"How was work?" he asked, handing her the bike helmet.

"Why do you always ask that?" She gave him a quizzical frown. "It's the same every night."

"It's always the same?" he asked. "Isn't that boring?"

She shook her head. "It's what it is."

He gave her a tight smile. "You can't find fault with that. Now, can you?"

The desire in her eyes faded and she gave a strange look. "Jason-"

"Keesha!"

She and Jason turned at the sound of Johnny's shout. He lumbered across the parking lot towards them. Jason could tell the man had been drinking and his body stiffened in preparation for a scuffle.

"We need to talk," Johnny told her, ignoring Jason. "You owe me an explanation."

"You need to sober up," she said, her tone even and calm. "You're drunk."

"You're damn right I'm drunk!" he admitted. "I see you running around with this rich kid, throwing it up in my face. You didn't have to do that, Keesha."

He made a move towards her and Jason blocked his path. "She's right. You need to sober up."

"What's it to you?" Johnny asked. "You don't care about her. Not the way I do."

"You don't anything about me," Jason said, his voice deadly quiet, "or how I feel about her."

"She still owes me an explanation," Johnny slurred with sadness. "She's not like the others, you know. She's special. I thought..."

"I'll talk to you, Johnny." Keesha moved from behind Jason and took Johnny's arm. She led him to an abandoned car and instructed him to sit on the bumper. Jason followed them, but didn't try to interrupt their conversation. While they talked, he called a cab for Johnny.

"You're a friend, Johnny," she said. "I'm not your girl. You called me your girl, but I'm not. I'm not anyone's girl. I don't belong to anyone."

"Jason-"

"Johnny, please," she interrupted. "Jason and I are together, but that's none of your business. I don't belong to him and he doesn't belong to me."

Johnny shook his head and sniffled. "But don't you wanna belong to someone?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Does it matter?" The cab arrived and she helped Johnny to his feet. "Your ride is here. Get some rest and don't do this again. We can be friends, but not if you do this again."

"Okay," he mumbled as he got into the back of the cab.

The cab took off and Jason reached for Keesha's hand. They went back to the motorcycle and both straddled it.

"That was nice what you said to him," Jason said quietly. "He does care about you."

"I know he does. I like him. He's been good to me."

Keesha took her time starting up the bike. Jason's hands settled at her waist as he thought some more about her conversation. Finally, he asked, "So you don't know if you want to belong to someone?"

Her movements grew still. "I know, but it was none of his business."

"Do you?"

She shifted on the bike so that she could look at him. "No one can own me. Not even you. I can belong with you, but not to you."

Relief swept through him. He leaned forward and kissed her. "Yeah. Me, too."

They went home to Kelly's and made love until the sun announced the beginning of a new day.