Page 76 of Somewhere Only We Know
“You look beautiful, Bee.”
“Thank you.”
Nate takes my boots from my hands and kneels on the floor to put them on my feet. His brow is furrowed in concentration, likely hoping to not accidentally pinch my skin when he zips them up.
“I like you in this position,” I tease.
He smiles as he stands back up to his full height, keeping his hand on my waist. “I was just thinking the same.”
I feel him growing against my hip and I back away because I’m starving. “Nope. I’m starving and you do not want a hangry wife on your hands.” I turn away and grab my black small purse from the dresser that’s housing some of our smaller items.
“Well, what my wife wants, my wife gets.” Nate says and wraps his body around mine and together we walk out the door and to our date.
34
NATE
After eating breakfast at one of the popular spots in the area, we’re finally headed to my parents–my mom’s–house. I purposefully drive down all of the back roads I can possibly take until there are no more back roads to take and the road to the neighborhood looms right up ahead. Jax has kept our hands linked together the entire drive. Maybe she knew what I was doing and I love her even more for not calling me out on my stalling.
Mom retired last year, so her car and Kayla’s are parked in the driveway when I pull up and park on the street. My thumbs tap out a mindless rhythm on the steering wheel. It could be that I’m mimicking my heartbeat. I should see a cardiologist. This isn’t normal.
“Natey,” Jax says softly from next to me.
I look over at her sitting patiently in the passenger seat and give her a soft smile. “Ready? I ask instead.
She nods and leans over the center console, offering me a kiss that I will never refuse. Her hand comes up and cradles my face. The small touch calms me down just slightly.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Bee. Let’s go.”
I take the key out of the ignition and meet Jax around at the front of the car with my hand outstretched. She leans into me as we make the walk to the front door which swings open before I can ring the doorbell.
“Hi, LaLa,” I greet my sister. Jax drops my hand right as Kayla launches herself at me. I’ve mostly stuck to FaceTimes to see my family. Every once in a while they’ll fly up to see me, but it’s been about a year since we were all in the same place. I can admit that I’ve failed as a son and a brother on more than one account.
“Stop being gone for so long, Nana.” Kayla scolds me.
She’s about to start her second semester at the local community college, with no clue what she wants to do with her life. And that’s fine. This year is all about Kayla exploring her options.
“I’m a terrible brother.”
“Yeah you are.”
Kayla steps back and I get a good look at her. Maybe I expected tired eyes and a gaunt face, but my sister is healthy. I hope the same can be said for Mom.
“And who is this?” Kayla asks when she looks next to me.
I hold my hand back out to Jax and tug her forward, tucking her under my arm. “This is Jax.”
Kayla rears back and holds up her hand. “Wait,theJax?”
“Am I famous?” my wife asks teasingly.
A gust of cold January wind hits us, forcing us to finally cross over the threshold. Nothing like jumping in with both feet. I take Jax’s coat and hang it up on the hooks that have been here since college and then place mine on top of hers.
“Famous? No. Legendary? Absolutely.” Kayla gleefully boasts while I let loose a groan.
Tentatively we walk deeper into the house. I feel him everywhere. I keep expecting him to be sitting on the couch or stomping down the stairs or hear the popping of the Orbit gum he was always chomping on. But I know I won’t because he’s gone. It’s a sobering realization as the hallway opens up to the kitchen and living room that he’s nowhere to be found. And it’s strange because these two rooms are the heart of the house and have been since we first moved here decades ago. So for him to no longer be here—it’s something I have to come to terms with, while Mom and Kayla have been living in it.
