When Jackson got back to the penthouse it was quiet so he was sure that Riley was gone. He put the vase of dark purple and blue orchids on the table and loosened his tie. The loud banging on the door alerted him, but he already knew who it was.
He knew that Gerard would be bothering them sometime soon with the argument they got into at the club. He didn't quite understand why Arthur had invited him to go the club with them. He wondered why Riley’s father was so worried about him being with Riley.
He was shocked when Riley came out of the room in a camouflage bikini that covered less than her underwear does. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. “Don’t answer that.” He said as he glanced from her head to toes, extremely aroused by what she was wearing.
“I didn’t know you were back yet.” She returned, staring at the door, which still had a loud pounding noise coming from it. “The girls and I were going to go swi
“Your father invited Gerard to our little get together.” Jackson answered as he pulled a t-shirt on. He left the room quickly.Riley quickly found her satin robe and covered herself, being pulled out of the euphoria she was in faster than she would have liked. She heard shouting, followed by a loud thud, so she rushed out of the room, just in time to see Gerard scrambling to get to his feet.“I already told you once that I will not let you talk about her like that.” Jackson said as he held out a hand to help Gerard up.The second Gerard found his footing he swung his fist toward Jackson. Jackson dodged quickly and Gerard’s fist hit the wall with a loud thud. Gerard pulled back his now swelling fist and shook it but was quickly knocked back down with another swing from Jackson.Riley screamed and ran in between the two, but quickly regretted as Gerard’s fist connected with her jaw. Before she could stand back up Jackson
“Samuel James?” The paramedic said as Sam answered his phone.“Speaking.” He answered.“There has been an accident, we need you to come to Mount Sinai hospital right away.”“What happened?”“You should bring your immediate family.” The paramedic hung up before he could ask any more questions.He jumped out of bed and got dressed, waking Mandy as he called his mother. By the time they got to the hospital Riley was being wheeled into an operating room. His mother was pulled away by a different doctor only to come back seconds later, crying her eyes out. “Sam, your father didn’t make it. They said he was dead on scene.” Erin ran into Sam’s arms. He calmed Mandy and Erin as much as he possibly could for about ten minutes, then pulled away and started trying to get a hold of Jackson. A dozen calls with no answer he stopped trying when the surgeon came out.“
He dialed Riley’s number one more time and when it went to voicemail again, he sent probably the millionth ‘I love you, I am so sorry’ text message he had sent her. He took another big long pull off of the vodka bottle before he decided to send Erin James a fax. It had all the details of the club he and Riley were working on, with the name Manhattan Passion written across the top. He figured if his relationship with Riley was really over the name of what they had started together should at least reflect a little on what they had. He decided he would send her one last message before he left her alone.‘Darlin’ I miss you and I can’t help but feel like you are mad at me for fighting with Gerard. I never meant for that to happen, but I couldn’t let him belittle you like that. I love you and I always will. You are the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me and the most amazing and beautiful woman on this planet. I love you with a
Sam and Ronnie both stared at Jackson with a shocked look. Sam wasn’t sure if he should be angry with him, or heartbroken for him. When Sam realized that Jackson had lost the ability to speak he thanked the doctor for him. Sam patted his shoulder comfortingly as he gave him a minute to come to his senses.“So, she was pregnant?” Sam asked. “Why didn’t she tell us?”“We found out the morning of your wedding, she wasn’t far along and she didn’t want to take the excitement away from you and Mandy.” Jackson answered.Sam held back his tears but Jackson simply couldn’t. He lost his unborn child and was unsure if he was going to lose the love of his life too. Sam looked like he had more questions, but they were quickly interrupted by Erin and Mandy walking into the room.“Riley, I brought your favorite takeout, if you wake up I might share.” Mandy said as she handed Sam a box and a se
He hung up the phone with his eyes wide and brimming with tears as he dialed Sam. “Get here, now.” He said hanging up before Sam could ask any questions.“Jackson.” Her voice was still a harsh whisper.“Yes, my love?” He asked as he rushed over to her bedside and pushed the call button.“My dad, didn’t make it, did he?” She asked.Jackson kissed her knuckles lovingly as he shook his head with a look of sadness in his eyes.“And the baby?” She asked.Tears streamed down his face and the mention of it. He really wasn’t expecting to have to answer these questions the second she woke up. “No, my love.” He kissed her forehead but before she could even process anything Sam and Mandy came rushing in.Sam was so excited to see her awake he almost shut the door on the doctor as he rushed over to hug her. Mandy was frozen in place with tears streaming down her c
Jackson didn’t leave the hospital again until Riley was released. It seemed she held it together while everyone was there but once they all left for the night, she would ask Jackson to come hold her and when he did she would break down and cry herself to sleep. When Riley was released it was just the two of them and the driver that Sam had pick them up from the hospital. Jackson had to hold her in his lap the entire drive. She kept her face buried in his chest and was hyperventilating to the point that he thought she was going to pass out.Once they got to her penthouse she took a shower while Jackson cleaned up, trying to make it easier for her as much as he could. He called Sam once he was finished, hearing that Riley was still in the shower. “Hey, Sam we are home now, she’s in a shower.”“How is she doing?” Sam asked, they had both already discussed how worried they were about her getting into a car again, even though they knew it
“Sure, Ronnie’s just across the hall if anything happens.”He kissed her quickly and rushed out of the penthouse, wondering what was going on. “What do you need dad?” He asked as soon as he was in earshot.“Jackson, come with me.” Jerrod said.“What about Riley? We just got home.” Jackson gestured toward the elevator he had just come out of.“I’m not asking you to come back to California with me. I have something for you.” Jerrod returned as he walked out towards the rental car he had.Jackson hesitated, but followed him out. They drove out of the city in silence. It wasn’t long after they got out of the city they were driving through nothing but trees. His dad then pulled off of the highway onto a well-established dirt road that went even further into the trees until it opened up to reveal huge double gate with a huge mansion. Jackson got out of the car as his father did
Jackson spent the next two months slowly moving his stuff out of his house in California. He would leave with nothing in his suitcases and them filled when he came back. He made his trips short, only a day or two tops and would schedule them around the times that Sam was out of town so that Mandy and Riley could have girl’s nights. He Had managed to convince Riley to start going to therapy with the help of Ronnie and Sam. Mandy was no help, she just agreed with Riley that she would be alright without it.The only thing he kept in his suitcase at all times was the ring that his father gave him for Riley. He would stare at every chance he got. He was worried about asking because they had only been together for six months, but he already knew that she was his forever.This trip was special though. He finally had all of his from his in his bags and as soon as they landed he was taking Riley to see the estate. Sam was the only one in on the plan and he would be pickin