When I pull in the driveway, I see Garret’s car there. He’s supposed to be at class now. Maybe he got out early.
I get that fluttery feeling inside because I can’t wait to see him. I know I see him every day, but when I’m away from him all day I get excited when I’m about to see him. Maybe that’s crazy but I can’t help it. I love that man.
26
GARRET
Jade bursts through the door. I’m standing there waiting for her because I heard her drive up.
“Hey.” She gives me a kiss. “What are you doing home? Did you get out of class early?” She sets her backpack by the door.
“Class was canceled.” I try to act normal, hoping she doesn’t pick up on the fact that I’m a fucking mess right now.
“So no swimming today?” She loops her arms around my neck.
“I thought I’d take a day off.”
“Good.” She hugs me. “I want you home. I missed you.”
“You see me all the time.”
“I know. But sometimes I have these days where I miss you even though I just saw you. Like I don’t want to be apart from you. It’s weird. I can’t explain it.”
What the hell? Does she have psychic powers now? Could she feel that my grandfather was here, trying to take her away from me? The thought of that makes me hold her tighter.
She laughs. “I think you’re cutting my circulation off.”
“Sorry.” I loosen my arms a little. “I guess I missed you, too.”
“Do you want to show me how much?” She bites her lower lip and her eyes dart to the bedroom.
This may be the first time I’ve ever thought this in the entire time I’ve known her, but I’m not really in the mood for sex. Not after what happened earlier.
“Maybe later. Maybe after dinner.”
“You’re turning me down?” She slides her finger down my chest. “What if I do all the work? I’ll be on top.”
My wife wants to have sex and I’m telling her no? What the hell is wrong with me? Now I’m letting my asshole grandfather control my sex life?
I dip my head down to her neck and kiss just below her ear.
“I thought you said later,” she whispers.
“I changed my mind.”
We make our way to the bedroom and I slowly undress her, taking time to look at her. Memorize her.
As we’re having sex, I pay attention to every detail. The way she feels, her scent, how we move together. I did this last spring, too, when I thought I’d never see her again.
But this time is different. This time, I’m savoring every detail, burning it in my brain—not so that I don’t forget her, but to make myself stronger. To make sure I never even let myself think I can’t fight this. Jade will never be taken from me. My grandfather will never win this battle. I don’t know how I’m going to defeat him, but I will find a way. Because he is not taking Jade from me. Not now. Not ever.
We have dinner later but I’m not hungry and can only eat a few bites. Afterward, I lie on the couch but Jade remains in the kitchen.
I look over and see her taking stuff out of the fridge. “What are you doing?”
“I thought I’d clean the fridge before we go out of town. I need to toss stuff out and wipe the shelves down.”
“Just leave it and come over here.”
“I’ll be done in a few minutes.”
“Jade. Just come over here.” I need her next to me, held safely in my arms.
She tosses whatever she took from the fridge in the trash and comes over to the couch. I put my arms out motioning her to get in her spot.
She smiles and lies down in front of me. “Are you trying to get me to be lazy with you?”
“I just want you here.” I wrap my arms around her, tugging her into place.
She turns the TV on, then rotates her head back to kiss me. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
We remain there and Jade falls asleep. At midnight I take her to bed and watch her sleep until my eyes finally fall shut.
On Tuesday morning, as Jade’s filling her travel mug with coffee, I say, “I forgot to tell you. My dad’s coming by here today.”
She sets the coffee pot back on the warmer. “Your dad is coming? Here? Today?”
“Yeah, he’ll be here later this morning.” I reach in the fridge and grab the milk and hand it to her.
“And you just forgot to tell me?” She pours some milk in her travel mug, making her coffee so light it almost doesn’t look like coffee.
“I just found out last night. He called and said he’s out here for a meeting and wanted to know if he could come by and see us.”
“Where’s his meeting? I mean, like where in California?” She screws the cap on her mug.