Beyond Eighteen(84)

I’m fully aware most people will look at us and never ever understand our relationship. They will judge me at the surface of what they see and call me fucked-up names and hate me for stealing her innocence. Some people will always look at me, no matter what, as the teacher who took advantage of his student when she was so vulnerable. No matter if we are together 5, 10, 50 or 100 years, there will always be those people who say what I did was wrong. There will never be a day that goes by where I don’t question my actions and the repercussions of what I have done, simply because of the judgment of strangers. It’s just something that I will have to endure for now.

But at the end of each day, when she walks through the door…she has found her home. At the end of the day, she has found someone who loves her enough to stop the world for her; and no matter what anyone says, thinks, sees, or feels…that’s the only thing that will ever matter to me. I’ve found the person I am going to spend the rest of my life with.

“Well, Max, surprisingly everything went smooth at Wesley. Now here in Mendocino, well, that’s a whole different story,” she muttered and I heard her tone shift again.

“Why? What’s going on? Joanie’s there with you, right?” I prodded.

“Yeah, J is here. As a matter of fact, she drove the whole way up and we literally just got here about 10 minutes ago. It’s really foggy, damp, and cold. Joanie’s trying to make a fire in the stove, and well, the fence looks like it’s falling down,” she rambled on.

“Wilson? Did you find the paperwork the lawyers are asking for?” I said, redirecting her focus.

“Well, no, but we haven’t looked yet,” she answered.

“What’s really going on?” I could tell by the way she was rambling off random things that something was on her mind.

“It’s just…I think I got a letter in the mail from Candi,” she sighed.

“You think?” I repeated.

“I haven’t opened it yet. I don’t know if I want to. I don’t think I want to know why she’s trying to contact me now,” she spat. I could hear it in her voice that she was getting all worked up.

“Alright, babe, listen, you don’t have to open it. What did Joanie tell you to do with the letter?”

“She said to burn it.”

“Okay…well, we don’t even know if it’s technically from Candi. I’ll tell you what; just put the letter in a drawer. I’m trying to button up a few more things, and after tomorrow I should have a pretty good idea of when I can leave and come out there to be with you. Sound good?”

“I’m meeting with the lawyers tomorrow at 2:30. I really wish you were here with me, and I didn’t even think about it being New Year’s Eve. Maybe I should look for the deed tonight,” she yawned. I could hear her open and close a couple of drawers. “I just wish I wasn’t so tired,” she complained.

“Well, Wilson, you’ve had a pretty stressful day. Did you guys eat dinner already?”

“No,” she answered quickly.

“Well, maybe the deed can wait until tomorrow morning. Go get something to eat and then just go to bed early. What is Joanie doing?” I asked.

“She’s talking on the phone with—” she stopped speaking abruptly.

I knew who she was about to mention, and I respected her for not saying his name. Truthfully, I didn’t understand what Joanie was doing with him anyway. That whole relationship was…well, it wasn’t any of my business. I just wanted to get to Wilson as soon as possible.

“Listen, sweetheart, I think you should get something to eat, relax, and then look for the deed in the morning.” I knew she was getting tired because she didn’t argue with me.

“God, I just left this morning and I miss you already,” she moaned.

“Hah, I miss you too babe; but it won’t be long. Promise,” I answered.

“I love you,” she said clearly.

“I love you too,” I whispered back before I clicked the button on my earpiece and we were disconnected.

I could feel the frustration gurgle in my stomach as a sharp pressure thundered against my ribcage. I lowered the window and let the bitter Aspen wind scratch and claw through my nostrils, skim across the back of my tongue, and eventually drown my lungs with a burning cold sting.

One more day and I will be with Wilson. My mind swirled off into memories of how she’d bite her bottom lip when she’d tease me, how she dragged her fingers across my arms when she wanted my attention, and how she’d sink back against me when I’d sneak up behind her. God, I craved pushing my nose against her hair and inhaling the aroma of her coconut shampoo. Pressing my lips between her shoulder blades, skating the tip of my tongue along her spine, floating to the bend of her neck, letting the taste of her sweet skin drift deliciously against my mouth to the curve of her bottom lip.