Hidden From Life Chapter 16

Hidden From Life
Chapter 16

“That has nothing to do with it, Rach. But tell him hello from me if you talk to him and if you happen to have his e-mail…”

“I do, but it’s home, so that gives you a perfect reason to come over, and the best thing is my parents are both working now.”

Julie felt her eyes well with tears as Rachel tried to lure Johnny into her web. How could she compete with this young cheerleader, Julie thought when the sound of Johnny’s laughter came to her ears?

“You’re hilarious, Rachel, let me tell you. When Brian and I were in school, and you were still a kid, he worried about you. He told me he’d caught older guys getting friendly with you and had to straighten them out. It seems it should have been you he was straightening out.”

“I don’t deny I’m a bad girl, Johnny, but I’ve heard stories about you. They called you Johnny Forty-five, and you got pretty wild yourself.”

“Yeah, I had some fun, but if you listen to what happened, it was always me and my girlfriend at the time, not just some random girl.”

“I’ll be your girlfriend, Johnny if that’s what it takes,” Rachel said seductively.

“I’m flattered, but I’m taken, Rach; you’re too late.”

“ I’ll do things, Johnny, anything you want me to. I’d have no limits when it comes to pleasing you.”

“Stop, Rachel, you’re embarrassing yourself. This is the shit your brother should have nipped in the bud. I’m not interested, all right. Nice seeing you.”

“Yeah, well fuck you, Johnny!”

Julie heard the teen’s high heels click on the concrete as she stalked away angrily. Rachel passed within four feet of her teacher but was so incensed that she didn’t even see her. While almost feeling bad for Rachel’s humiliation, Julie was overjoyed at John’s utter rejection of her.

She hurried toward the truck as fast as her legs could. John had just walked to the front of the car when he saw her approaching rapidly. He stretched his arms wide, and Julie launched herself into them before kissing his face. One of his strong hands cradled her chin as he kissed her hello. It lasted for a long time, and his free hand had palmed her butt before it was over.

After storming off, Rachel thought of an even harsher rejoinder for Johnny and retraced her steps to deliver it to him. She was certainly not prepared for the sight that awaited her instead. Her jaw dropped when she saw Miss fucking Jones kissing and being mauled by Johnny Forty-five, the lucky bitch!

When they finally broke their embrace, John walked Julie to the passenger door and closed it behind her before climbing on his side. As they drove past, Julie couldn’t resist waving goodbye to a stunned Rachel, though she did feel bad about it later.

“Hey Julie baby, you looked great before, but I like the new do. How did you arrange that during school?” he asked cheerfully.

“During lunch, Lauren set up the appointment with her regular girl. Do you like it? You can tell me if you don’t. I won’t mind.”

“No, it suits you. I don’t think you’d look bad no matter what haircut you get, but I admit I’m biased.”

Julie snuggled up to him as he drove and rested her head on his shoulder.

A lot had happened in the following months. Julie was enjoying her long summer vacation by redecorating the house now that the significant work was completed. John had gotten a job with a home improvement firm in Andersonville, though he spent much of his free time still fixing the old place. That is when he and Julie weren’t making love in every room in the house.

Julie reluctantly moved to her mother’s old room, but only due to another development - Johnny moved in with her. He convinced her that it was the only room large enough for the bed they needed, and they rearranged the new furniture layout, giving the room a new look. With the new windows and the soft blue walls, it was virtually unrecognizable to how it had looked before. John further exorcised her mother’s memory by making love to Julie there so many times that it became synonymous with pleasure for them.

When she met John’s father, she was nervous about his reaction to her being older and his former teacher, but the older man took her instantly and said she was the best thing that had ever happened to his son. Julie offered to let him move in with them as they had plenty of room with just the two of them and Emily, but he scoffed at that suggestion.

“I’m cranky and set in my ways, and that’s how I’ll stay, thank you very much. Your kids are only a few minutes away if I need you, and as long as I’m on two feet, I’m staying put. But thanks for asking. Besides, I’m hoping you can better use those rooms.”

She blushed at his last, but she understood his decision. Only one thing troubled her lately. There were occasions when John seemed to be distracted by something. She’d been talking to him more than once, and he was oblivious to what she’d said. He’d always apologize and say he was thinking about something and didn’t hear her. There was even one time when he received a call on his cell, and he left the room to have a conversation. He seemed to still be in love with her, and there had been no decrease in the attention he gave her, but still, she worried a little.

Maybe that contributed to her feeling sick lately, as there seemed no other cause. Julie initially ignored her symptoms, but when they didn’t go away, she made an appointment to see her doctor. There was no reason to worry him, she decided. Knowing Johnny, he’d insist on taking the day off to drive her when she could go alone.

John arrived home late in the evening after her appointment as his boss had wanted the crew to finish a job that day. When he arrived, he saw her car in the driveway, but the house was dark and silent. As he entered the front door, Emily greeted him impatiently, looking to be fed. After attending to her demands, he headed upstairs. When he switched on the bedroom light, he was startled to see Julie sitting silently in a chair, looking like she had been crying. The joke he thought of about forgetting to pay the electric bill died on his lips when he saw her puffy-eyed face.

“Hey Julie, are you all right?” he asked as he knelt before her.

“Yes, no, I don’t know anymore,” she said, and it appeared like she was about to cry again.

“Come on, it can’t be that bad, can it?”

“Maybe, but that depends on you, Johnny. I have something to tell you.”

He couldn’t imagine what bothered her, but he needed to know.

“So tell me, “He said to her while meeting her eyes with his.

“I know we’ve never discussed it and should have. That’s our fault, but it doesn’t matter now. Johnny, I haven’t been feeling well lately, so I went to the doctor today.”

That caught him off guard, and now he looked at her with obvious concern. He took her slim hand in his while he waited for her to continue speaking.

“The reason I’ve been sick, let me just say it. I’m pregnant, Johnny; I will have a baby.”

“Whoa,” he managed to say, and Julie thought he looked shell-shocked suddenly. Without warning, he stood and headed towards the door. “I’ll be right back,” he called out to her, followed by the sounds of him stomping down the stairs and then the front door slamming.

She was speechless at his reaction. It was nothing like she expected. Julie had hoped he’d greet the news with the joy she had initially felt when she heard the diagnosis, although she realized it would catch him off guard, and he might not like the idea. But him running off never occurred to her.

Suddenly, she heard the front door close again and heard his footsteps as he bounded up the stairs. In seconds, he was in the room breathing hard.

“Johnny, I’d understand if you said you never agreed to this…” she began before he shushed her and knelt at her feet again. He looked down at the floor so she couldn’t read his emotions. He seemed to be fidgeting in his pocket with one hand.

“Sorry about that,” he began, “but that was unexpected. I wanted to talk to you but was waiting for the right time.
Well, this changes things, that’s for sure, so I guess there’s no time like the present. I hoped to do this fancier way, but your news has trumped my plans, so here goes.”
John turned his face to hers again, and she read joy there.

“Julie Jones, I fell in love with you when I was a dumb kid, and you were my sexy English teacher, though you didn’t know it, and I was too stupid to take a chance. Then I fell in love with you all over again, and I decided this time I wouldn’t give up without a fight, but luckily for me, you felt the same. And now you give me the greatest news I could ever imagine. Only one thing can make this day even better - would you do me the honor of marrying Miss Jones?”

As he said this, he removed his hand from his pocket, and she saw a ring in it, which he slid onto her slender finger.

“Oh my God! Yes, Johnny, yes!” Julie cried out, and before she knew it, they embraced and kissed.

A little later, they lay under the covers with John’s body lying on top of hers as they caught their breath.

“If I’d only known sooner, I’d have asked you earlier, Julie.”

“Known what?”

“That sex with one’s fiancé is the greatest in the world. Too bad that it won’t last long.”

“And why is that?”

“I figure you’ll want to be married before our daughter is born.”

“Our daughter? Why do you say that?”

“I just have a feeling, but don’t worry, we’ll work on making a brother for her afterward.”

“Oh, and then what are you doing now, sir, practicing?” she asked as she felt him start to move inside her.

“Practice makes perfect,” he answered as he thrust deep, filling her.

“Hmm, well then, let us keep practicing, Johnny,” Julie said before she kissed him.



To be continued