Page 28 of Consorting with Romance

Chapter 8

Ash

Time is a funny thing, and before we knew it, a year had passed since that first Holiday we spent together.It’s strange the way time works. Some moments, like a first kiss, or a milestone birthday, seem so significant that they are seared into memory forever.

Others, like cooking dinner with someone before falling asleep in their arms on a random Wednesday night, are all to quickly lost in the mind’s internal shuffle as it struggles to hold onto facts like appointment times, train schedules, and remembering not to burn the rolls.

These simple moments come and go each day almost without notice, but these are the moments that matter. A year filled with Jesse. A year filled with small moments that matter.

While I gave our Holiday plans little thought, Jesse, it turned out, had other ideas. The thoughtof meeting his large, happy family was terrifying, but I knew it had been hard on him the previous year when he’d been unable to go home to see them. When he asked if I’d spend the Holiday with his family, I was helpless to say anything other than yes.

I packed carefully and conservatively, unsure of what to expect. Jess had told me his family knew that I was coming and what I did for a living. He assured me that no one cared, but he was blind when it came to me, and it was entirely possibly they were less accepting than he realized.

I’d carefully dug up a small strawberry plant and packed it in an organic transport unit that I tucked into my suitcase. Hopefully, the gift would help ease any concerns a family of farmers might have about someone like me dating one of their loved ones. As I made sure it was safely ensconced in my bag, Jesse walked into the bedroom, unceremoniously shoved a couple more shirts into his already overstuffed case and slung it over his shoulder.

“Ready?” he asked as he made his way to my side.

His arms slid around my waist as he nuzzled into the bend of my neck. The way he held me always made me melt and when we were together, it was a feat of pure will that I ever accomplished anything.

“Ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.” I said in a deflated tone that was only half sarcastic.

He chuckled. “They’re going to love you. Calm your pants.”

I wiggled an eyebrow. “Since when do you want what’s in my pants to be calm?”

He stepped closer, his scent and warmth overwhelming my senses. His hand tightened on my low back as the other slid down to cup me gently.“Valid point. I hardly ever want that. But, unless you want to miss our train, rain check on the not-calm pants?”

I brushed my lips across his. It was something I seemed to do a hundred times a day.

The train ride was long, close to sixhours. The only place I ever went was to the office and as I wasn’t used to that type of travel,I spent a large part of the day napping on Jesse’s shoulder whilehe studied.

When we arrived in the parking lot of the station, a beautiful woman in an old-fashioned pickup truck honked at us and waved through the open driver’s window. When we finally arrived at the truck, having barely managed to dodge a handful of sketchy drivers and harried travelers weighed down with too much luggage, she flung herself into Jesse’s arms. As they embraced, he picked her up and swung her around for a long while before lowering her back to the ground and reaching a hand in my direction with a smile.

“Sarah, this is my boyfriend, Ash. Ash, my sister Sarah.” He made formal introductions.

I held out my hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Sarah.”

She just laughed, bypassed my hand, and hugged me briefly. I hadn’t expected that. “Good to meet you too, Ash. Jess speaks of little else these days.”

I dropped my eyes, slightly embarrassed, and concerned over what he might have said. They both chuckled a bit and started talking about family things as Jess slipped his hand to my back and guided me to the passenger side of the truck. He settled into the center seat, and I followed, settling in against the window. As they talked about random things, I found myself distracted by the beauty of the countryside flying past through the window.

For miles,there was nothing but fields of wheat and corn and vegetables. I rolled the window down and let myfingers play in the wind, chin resting on my bicep as I took it all in. The sights and smells of nothing but earth and vegetation were something I was unfamiliar with. They said little to me as they caught up, but Jesse’s fingers never left my back; gently drawing random patterns through the thin cotton of my t- shirt.

His fingers tapped on my back a bit harder, and I rose from my reverie and turned my head. They both wore amused smiles.

“I said, have you ever been to farm country before?” Sarah asked.

Color rushed to my cheeks. Clearly it wasn’t the first time she’d asked the question.

“When I was young,” I said briefly. “We passed through a place like this once when we were moving to another city.”

She smiled and nodded. “What do you think?”

“It’s amazing. I could stay forever I think,” I repliedwistfully.

They both laughed kindly, and I went back to my study of the scene on the other side of the window. It seemed like only moments had passed when we pulled into a long drive with an end that branched out in multiple directions, each leading to small houses; bright shades of white and blue specking the landscape amidst large fields. Much larger buildings rose up a half mile or so behind them, greenhouses that held hydroponic crops.

When we stepped out of the truck, a large fluffy white dog was on us before our feet hit the ground. Jess dropped to his knees and the thing covered him completely, licking his face as it whined and yipped happily.

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