Chapter 1426 - Incoming Changes (5)

"You left Jeff and JoAnna by themselves?", Sophia asked as soon as she stepped out of the car with disapproval obvious in her face.

Sarah confirmed cautiously while doing her best not to get Sophia more upset. "They are married, and they have issues to discuss. They are both grownups, capable of communicating. We should not meddle in their marriage unless they ask us for help."

Sophia narrowed her eyes, showing that she does not approve of this situation.

Earlier in the morning, she called to instruct the pilot to take their jet to Las Vegas so that Sarah and Aiden can use it to take the girls to their families. While at it, she checked her schedule and saw that her meeting with Jeff for that afternoon was canceled. Sophia called Steve to see the reason for cancelation and then she found out that Jeff is in Las Vegas and she didn't need more than a second to connect that Jeff found out where JoAnna is and that he followed after her.

Under Sophia's stern gaze, Felix admitted that it was him and Aiden who revealed to Jeff where JoAnna is. Sophia didn't delay in calling Pam and giving instructions to Lia's nanny while going to the car and asking the driver to take her to the airport. Her call to the pilot was right in time to inform him that she will be on board the flight to Las Vegas. Of course, Felix followed and here they are.

"I don't want to meddle.", Sophia responded to Sarah. "But the two of them were by themselves so far and the only thing they managed was to mess up. I believe that they need our help."

Sarah can see that Sophia will not back off and she decided to give some time to her oldest sister to cool off. "I agree with you, but they reunited only ten minutes ago, and both of them are emotional. Let's give them some time to calm down before we storm in. How about we all go and grab breakfast?"

Sophia found this acceptable. Worst case, Jeff and JoAnna will come up with something and she will tell them that their ideas are a pile of complete rubbish. Actually, the worst case is that they find them naked, solving their problems in the bed… Sophia didn't want to think about it.

About ten minutes ago, in the bedroom…

Jeff put JoAnna on the sofa and he kneeled in front of her, resting his forehead on her knees, not daring to look up at her.

"I didn't forgive you.", JoAnna told Jeff.

"I know…", he responded without lifting his head. "I know that you will not forgive me just because I showed up and said that I'm sorry, but the fact that you are willing to give me a chance is enough. I'm sorry Anna for messing up this badly."

JoAnna was quiet. Her hand hovered over his head and she wanted to pat him gently or maybe to whack him a few times, but after a few seconds of hesitation, she kept her hand by her side on the sofa.

They were like that in silence for some time. Neither of them knowing from where to start.

Jeff looked up at JoAnna and his heart ached while guilt was eating him from the inside. He gazed at her belly and remembered how excited he was and his over-the-top pampering when he thought that JoAnna was pregnant (when he saw Sophia's pregnancy test). He was all over the place with flowers and foot massages and bringing JoAnna whatever she wanted, and now when she is really pregnant, he spent most of the time away from her. Truly despicable. He is excited by the prospect of becoming a father, but he ended up focusing on his work for most of the day, tuning out the fact that JoAnna is pregnant. And here she is, with a big belly, and she can't tune it out not even for a minute. Jeff cursed himself internally.

Jeff's stomach grumbled, reminding him that he didn't eat anything for almost twenty-four hours (other than whiskey he had with Steve). The sound was unusually loud in an otherwise silent room.

"Go and have breakfast.", JoAnna told him.

Jeff looked up at her. "Are you hungry?"

"I am always hungry.", JoAnna responded.

"Do you want to join me, or should I bring the food here?"

JoAnna was about to respond, but she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in…", JoAnna called.

The door opened, and Bridgette, Sarah, Aiden, Sophia, and Felix entered.

The five of them agreed to have breakfast and give them space, but they were only thinking about Jeff and JoAnna and they decided to come up. Each of them had full hands with plates of food and juice.

"We came to check on you, and we brought food.", Bridgette said while trying to pretend not to notice that they interrupted an awkward atmosphere. Why is Jeff kneeling in front of JoAnna?

They all sat around the table and Jeff reached for the Danish pastry and offered it to JoAnna.

"You eat first.", JoAnna refused his offering.

Jeff took another Danish pastry. "There is no need to take turns."

Reluctantly, JoAnna accepted.

Aiden started eating immediately. How this morning started, who knows if he will get another chance to fill his stomach? So many interruptions. He glanced at Sarah and he felt like crying. Why are they getting involved in all this mess? This is their honeymoon, damnit!

"Did you guys make up?", Sophia asked while her eyes darted from JoAnna to Jeff, even though based on their sour expressions and that Jeff is kneeling, she knew the answer.

Jeff lowered his gaze and JoAnna shrugged. Neither of them knew how to answer this question.

"Do you have any ideas about how you got here? How are you going to fix it?", Sophia continued asking impatiently. 

Jeff got up from his knees and carefully sat next to JoAnna on the sofa, mindful not to be too close because he fears that if he touches her, she will disapprove. And he can't handle her rejection.

Jeff responded to Sophia's questions: "I took JoAnna's lack of complaints like a green light to focus on work and other things, and I ended up neglecting her. Apologizing is not enough, and I am willing to do anything to show her that she is the most important person in my life."

Sophia observed Jeff and saw that he is serious. Her gaze moved to JoAnna and she can see that JoAnna is uncomfortable. Sophia exhaled and with that breath most of her fighting spirit was gone.

"Don't think that we came here to judge you.", Sophia spoke to Jeff and JoAnna in a tone that is so calm that she surprised herself. "You might be aware or not, but all of us had our share of disputes, and we know that this is the biggest bump the two of you encountered so far. We came here to offer our advice and support because we know that the two of you love each other and you want this marriage to work."

JoAnna looked at Sarah and Sophia and smiled gratefully. She knows that her sisters mean well.

Sophia started with Jeff. "Jeff, you said that you would do anything. I'm sure that you have something on your mind."

"I will leave everything and focus on Anna. The company and the White foundation and anything other than Anna will need to wait. None of those matters."

Sophia's expression showed that she does not approve. "I support your desire to fix things, but why are you always going into extreme? Do you think that Anna will support you in abandoning everything and becoming a house-husband? That is not who she married."

"I don't know what else to do.", Jeff admitted.

"Anna, how about you start by telling him what is bothering you?" Sophia saw that JoAnna is hesitating, and she continued: "Even if it's small and you think that it's not important… now is a good time to speak up. And remember that going forward, all those small grievances add up. The more you hold them back, the more they swell and then you blow up."

JoAnna sighed. "There are so many. I admit that it was my fault for not speaking up. If I was more resolute, Jeff would know about these things and we would not be here now. But if I start talking, I will end up complaining for half a day and still not say everything."

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