James could not help stealing glances at Jessica. The sunlight picked up the color in her hair. He almost missed the volleyball once or twice because he was looking at her instead of the game. It was during one of those times that the car rolled up. He watched as a small human got out, someone that walked up to her with purpose, but not malice. His scent was human, but with something underneath. He lost track for a moment as the ball came toward him. He swatted it to another player and looked to Jessica. He tried to listen as he could while playing the game.
"Is he...please don't tell me...."
"No, Miss Hamby. He isn't. I do not know why he has not been in contact or what has been going on...but..."
Whatever was on the photo rattled Jessica and he was about to walk over when she spoke.
"Vincent, wait. I'm glad he knows. Since...I know nothing about him. Maybe she can keep him happier, since I wasn't enough."
"Miss Hamby, wait a moment...The woman in this photo is closer to Mr. Quinn than his own blood sister. It is nothing inappropriate like you have assumed...though I can see why you would see things that way and yes I am certain that your friend over there can hear us, and I do not care. I will not have you assuming a falsehood about Mr. Quinn. He swore faithfulness to you until such time as you chose to leave him. As far as I am aware, that has not happened and therefore he will remain faithful. He must have his reasons for not coming back yet, and when he returns, I would hope that you will at least give hi the chance to speak before assuming the worst. You did not see him before he left, Miss Hamby. He looked haunted....even scared...that smile is more welcome than you can imagine, and we have no way of knowing the context of the moment that photo was taken."
Jessica looked as if she had been slapped. James batted the ball away as he listened.
"Don't be happy for something I don't understand. James is...a friend. Whatever you think it is, you're wrong. So I guess we both made the wrong assumptions."
Her words were like a slap to his face. A friend. He had hoped she saw him as more than that.
He lost track of the conversation for a minute while the ball came to him, then heard the car leaving.
He walked away from the game, motioning for someone to take his place. Her words still stung, but she looked upset.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just an old friend."
"Who's Quinn?"
He was not sure about the expression in her eyes as she said, "James, we need to talk."
"Of course, Jessica. Out here or inside?"
"Is he...please don't tell me...."
"No, Miss Hamby. He isn't. I do not know why he has not been in contact or what has been going on...but..."
Whatever was on the photo rattled Jessica and he was about to walk over when she spoke.
"Vincent, wait. I'm glad he knows. Since...I know nothing about him. Maybe she can keep him happier, since I wasn't enough."
"Miss Hamby, wait a moment...The woman in this photo is closer to Mr. Quinn than his own blood sister. It is nothing inappropriate like you have assumed...though I can see why you would see things that way and yes I am certain that your friend over there can hear us, and I do not care. I will not have you assuming a falsehood about Mr. Quinn. He swore faithfulness to you until such time as you chose to leave him. As far as I am aware, that has not happened and therefore he will remain faithful. He must have his reasons for not coming back yet, and when he returns, I would hope that you will at least give hi the chance to speak before assuming the worst. You did not see him before he left, Miss Hamby. He looked haunted....even scared...that smile is more welcome than you can imagine, and we have no way of knowing the context of the moment that photo was taken."
Jessica looked as if she had been slapped. James batted the ball away as he listened.
"Don't be happy for something I don't understand. James is...a friend. Whatever you think it is, you're wrong. So I guess we both made the wrong assumptions."
Her words were like a slap to his face. A friend. He had hoped she saw him as more than that.
He lost track of the conversation for a minute while the ball came to him, then heard the car leaving.
He walked away from the game, motioning for someone to take his place. Her words still stung, but she looked upset.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just an old friend."
"Who's Quinn?"
He was not sure about the expression in her eyes as she said, "James, we need to talk."
"Of course, Jessica. Out here or inside?"