Page 110 of Crave

Josh ran after him, and I took the kids outside again until I got a text from Jake saying it was okay to come back inside. When we came back in, Josh and Troy were visiting Tracy, but Lil was in the waiting room, her eyes red and puffy. Jake was sitting next to her, rubbing her back, trying his best to console her. Tracy ended up staying at the hospital overnight and put on modified bedrest. Jake and I took the kids to his parents’ house for a sleepover, and Troy spent the night at the hospital.

I’m not sure what was said. The only thing Jake told me was that his mother promised Troy she would apologize to Tracy. I assumed Troy took a stance and kept his mother away from Tracy. A few days later, I learned that Lil went to visit Tracy at home, and since, she’s spent time at their home helping with the kids. On a few occasions when Troy had to be in the office, Lil stayed with Tracy.

My daydreaming abruptly ends when Jake’s aunt and uncle walk in, followed by Troy holding onto a waddling Tracy. Her stomach is huge, but her smile is tentative. I imagine she’s thinking about the last time she was here, the fight and her decision never to step foot back on her in-laws’ property.

After hug between Lil and Tracy where their bodies don’t even touch, Josh helps Tracy to a chair and Lil grabs Troy’s hand, guiding him inside the house. The kids come running to Tracy the minute they see her.

“You okay?” Jake whispers in my ear. “I don’t want you to ever feel uncomfortable, and if this shower is a problem for you, I can tell Mom and Aunt T this is too much.”

“I’m great. You love me.” If there is one thing I’m certain about in this world, it’s that Jacob Clark loves me. Even though he says he’s forgiven his brother and Tracy for himself, I know a big part of that is because of me. His history with his sister-in-law is complicated, but like Tash said, that’s history.

“I do,” he says. “More than Super Bowl Sunday.”

“Oh, that’s a lot,” I say with a smile.

“And you love me.”

“More than I love the color pink.”

“Holy shit! I’ve hit the mother lode. I can’t top that.” He scoops me up in his arms and spins me around, both of us laughing.

“Jacob! Put Sandy down. Sandy, we need to get to work.” Aunt T pats the empty chair next to her. Jake puts me down, walks me to the table and pulls out my chair for me. One thing I’ve learned about the Clarks is that they love to throw parties, but the difference with this shower is that we’re planning it instead of the party planner they seem to have on speed dial. Even though this was Aunt T’s idea, Lil has now become very involved in the process.

“Can you get my iPad for me, baby? It’s in my purse,” I say to Jake.

“Yes, dear.” Aunt T laughs at him as she shoos him away. “You want some water, Dee? Can I get you some water too, Tracy? Aunt T?” The entire table goes silent. Aunt T looks from me to Jake, to Tracy. Tracy looks confused, almost as if she can’t believe what she just heard. She opens her mouth like a fish and promptly closes it. She looks at me for help, and I shrug.

“Um, yes. Thank you. With some crushed ice, if you don’t mind.” He nods and walks inside the house.

“Girl, I don’t know what sort of magic you worked on that man, but we all thank you,” Aunt T says.

A few minutes later, Troy walks out with his mom, and Jake follows behind with water and crushed ice for everyone.

“Shall I stand here and hold your purse, Dee?” he jokes as he hands me my iPad.

“Sure. Stand there like a creeper.”

“Go away, Jacob. We have work to do.” Aunt T waves him off.

“Don’t act like we don’t do everything together, Dee. We even go to the bathroom together.” Tracy chokes on her water. Aunt T cackles and I turn around and look at Jacob, mortified.

“We do not.” I turn towards his aunt. “Wedon’t.”

She just laughs at me. “Honey, I don’t believe a word he says. He’s our jokester.”

“I don’t even know why I put up with you.”

“You love me,” he reminds me.

His aunt smiles at us. Tracy looks from Jake to me, as she sips her water, a slight smile on her lips.

“I don’t know why I bother.”

“I’ll remind you later.” He leans in and kisses my cheek before he walks inside the house.

Troy comes back out, and just like Jake did to me, he puts a necklace around Tracy’s neck. It’s a silver chain with a sapphire at the end. She looks up at him confused. He pulls a chair next to her and whispers an explanation in her ears.

She shakes her head and goes to take off the jewelry, but he stops her and whispers something else. He pulls away, looks into her eyes and I watch, like a voyeur, as they have an entire conversation with their eyes. He’s imploring her, almost begging with his eyes. She finally capitulates and nods. He smiles adoringly at her and kisses her nose in gratitude.

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