An Understanding

An Understanding

Summer was drawing to an end.  Chad confided in Jerry about his revenge on Julie.  Far from being destroyed, Jerry had conceived a new justice in his hatred for Mark.  Not sure of how he should proceed with Rachelle, he bided his time while he mulled it all over.

It was she who eventually brought up the discussion.  Rachelle had noted Julie's change, and she took this opportunity to explore Jerry's thoughts about it.  “Julie certainly seems to have blossomed under Chad,” she ventured.  “Has she said anything to you, about it?  I know the two of you are close.” 

It was a quiet time of day, and Jerry successfully repressed a belligerent response.  He looked her directly in the eye: “Chad's comments were instructive,” he said, a little testily. 

Rachelle endured a pregnant pause. If it was Chad, and not Julie that had informed him, she was fairly sure that a certain biological construct had been the subject of his discourse.  “Do you hate me?” she finally asked, her eyes continuing to meet his gaze. 

A river of questions coursed through his thoughts.  Why didn't she tell him?  He knew from experience that only fools go around saying the first thing that comes into their heads.  The experience of fearing lost love and trust was new to him, but as his mind groped for an explanation, he felt that this was another BIG piece of the puzzle.  “Who did it to you?”

For her part, Rachelle felt a tremendous relief that she had finally made him know.  Now that he knew, she could tell if he really loved her.  He could never know everything about her, all at one moment in time, but she could now believe that his love for her was not predicated upon some lie; not the byproduct of some misunderstanding.  Her answer was true.  “I love you Jerry.” 

Words that had never before crossed her lips, fell upon ears that had never heard them.  With heart too full for words, he enveloped her in a tearful hug.   

Wildcatters can go bankrupt on one dry hole, and Jerry felt relief, as well as jubilation; his love was not fated to be unrequited.


He held her to him fiercely for a time.