Divine Appointment

Chapter One Brentwood, a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee "I didn't mean for it to happen," Jessica Caldwell said. "This is the last thing I want in my life right now." Jessica spoke into her wireless phone. It had been resting on the nightstand at the base of a brass lamp, beside the alarm clock, two unfinished books, and the remote control to the flat-screen television in her bedroom. Jessica had reluctantly answered after seeing his number on the caller ID. It was a conversation she dreaded, but it could be avoided no longer. There was no small talk between them. Their verbal exchange was an argument from the first word. That was more than fine with her. "But it happened, and we've got to deal with it," Jessica said. She sat in the middle of the bed in the upstairs bedroom of her Brentwood town house. Her legs and feet were still under the covers. The rest of her body was covered with a Vanderbilt University T-shirt. The glimmer from the half-moon filtered into the room through the venetian blinds of the second-floor window. The only other light was the glow from her digital alarm clock. It was 11:45 P.M. central time on Monday, the second week of May. Jessica had arrived home after a late dinner, changed clothes, and watched late-night television before climbing into bed. It had taken a while to wind down. She had just fallen asleep when the phone rang. "I was being careful," she replied to the biting comment from the other end of the phone. "I've been using birth control for years." She felt agitated and scared at the same time. No one had ever talked to her like that. Shifting her legs, she crossed them under the covers. She held her head in her left hand, the wireless phone in her right, and closed her eyes briefly. "I told you I didn't mean for it to happen. But it's not all my fault. It took both of us, or have you forgotten?" Jessica ran her hand through her shoulder-length auburn hair and tucked it behind her ears. Tears welled up in her brown eyes, but she refused to let them escape onto her cheeks. She refused to give him the satisfaction of making her cry. She had never loved the man on the other end of the phone, but during that conversation her feelings for him grew extremely close to hate. No,she decided.Hate isn't strong enough. I loathe him. "I don't want this any more than you do," she said. "I'm just beginning my career and -- " The male voice interrupted with yelling and profanity. He had never yelled at her during their relationship. He had always been polite and kind. The yelling and profanity were almost more than she could take. It was certainly more than she expected. Then he said something that caused her heart to leap into her throat. She swallowed hard and spoke with determination. "I'm not doing that. I don't think that's right. And it's my body. I'll do what I want to." The flood of harsh words intensified, angering and upsetting her even more. Jessica despised the day she had met him. She wished him dead. "What?" she screamed into the receiver, punching the mattress through the comforter and sheets. "Tell your wife? Are you crazy? Of course not! Why would I do something like that?" Jessica couldn't fight the tears any longer. The dam burst, and they began to stream down her face. The man on the other end of the call continued to scream at her. They'd had a comfortable relationship until then. It wasn't love, Jessica knew, but they had found pleasure in each other's company. Then one thing had led to another...and now this had happened. He had gotten what he wanted -- her. But no more. The physical relationship was officially over, Jessica vowed. She couldn't continue with him after this lashing, but they would always be connected. It was inescapable. Like the relationship, the conversation needed to end as well. She waTeel, Jerome is the author of 'Divine Appointment ', published 2007 under ISBN 9781416543381 and ISBN 1416543384.