Page 21 of Winter's Surprise
After locking his car, she hung his keys next to hers and removed her coat and boots. When he came in and did the same, she felt a sliver of hope.
Michelle found the bottle of Glenfiddich 18 in her cabinet and poured some into two glasses. She grabbed one and his hand, as he stood lost in her living room, and pulled him to the couch. After handing him the glass, she set out to fix them a warm fire.
In one hand, the silence was deafening. Yet she noticed her home felt right with him in it, no matter the mood and emotions he was experiencing.
She gave him space and set out to clean the food they never ate. Once everything was in its place, she grabbed her drink and the bottle and moved to the couch. He barely drank from his glass as his mind traveled to an unseen place. His elbows rested on his knees with his drink dangling between two fingers.
Michelle grabbed her throw and settled into her spot. There was a foot of space between them, but she didn’t want to intrude on whatever mental trip he was taking. She sipped her drink and became lost in her own thoughts as she stared into the pretty flames.
She didn’t know how much time passed, but the flames had died down when Jake finally spoke.
“The roads were slick from the rain. Emily was on her way home when she must have hit an oily spot. She lost control of the car and slid into oncoming traffic. The semi driver didn’t even have a chance to hit the brakes, let alone swerve, before he T-boned her. The impact caused her placenta to separate. Both of them died before the medics could get to Emily... she bled to death. I never got to hold my daughter…”
The last of his words were choked out. Michelle moved onto his lap and pulled him into her arms. His sobs reached deep inside of her and tore big gaping holes into her heart. Hot tears poured out of Michelle at Jake’s soul-crushing anguish.
Jake was meant to be a father. She’d seen the way he held Bobby in his arms. To hear him say he had never held his daughter broke Michelle. She didn’t think this was a pain he would ever truly recover from. The need to make him feel better, to know he wasn’t left to deal with his loss by himself, overwhelmed Michelle.
He cried out his sorrow, and she vowed she wouldn’t let go. Now she understood why no one had dared to take Bobby from his arms. She searched her memories for any that included Janey telling her about this accident, but her mind couldn’t seem to find any. For as close as he seemed to be to her friends, she hadn’t heard a peep about him. It made no sense to her.
When he was left with no more tears, Michelle held him and told him how sorry she was for the lives stolen from him.
Jake cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.” His voice was raw, and the words were forced.
“Shh… you don’t have to ever apologize to me for what was stolen from you,” she told him as she wiped his ravaged, tear-stained face. “Let me get you some water.”
Jake disappeared into her bathroom after she got up. When he returned, she noted the puffiness around his eyes and the exhaustion that settled from his emotional rollercoaster.
She grabbed the glass and met him. “Stay the night,” she said and locked her fingers with his.
He didn’t fight her but rather followed her lead. There was nothing sexual from her invitation. Only the need to keep him safe, and she didn’t want him alone.
Michelle changed into her pajamas, and when she returned, Jake was under the covers. She slipped in and placed her head on his bare shoulder.
“Good night, honey.”
“Night, sweet Elle.” Jake kissed her head, and a sigh escaped her lips at the sweet gesture.
The slow circles of his thumb on her hip, and the exhaustion that caught up to her, put her into a deep sleep within moments.
It was dark outside, and Michelle didn’t know what time it was. What she did know was the smell of Jake. The heavy arm around her waist kept her body flush against his front. Michelle’s brain tried to recall the events of the last twenty-four hours. Her mind was foggy with exhaustion one moment, and her eyes were filled with tears the next.
Bobby. Emily. Jake.
Jake.
Michelle bit her lip, holding back the pain she felt for this man. He was asleep, and he needed it. His mind and heart needed the rest, and she refused to bring him back to reality.
Taking slow breaths, she finally calmed her emotions. Only now, her bladder wanted her attention. She carefully slipped from the bed after prying his arm from around her. As quickly and quietly as possible, Michelle did her business and returned to bed.
“Elle?” Jake’s groggy voice called.
Michelle slipped back under the covers. “Right here, honey. Go back to sleep.”
Jake’s head cuddled on her breasts, and his arm wrapped around her midsection. Somehow, his larger frame didn’t suffocate her. She rubbed circles on his back, hoping to ease him back to sleep.
“Think… I’m… love…” His mumbled and incoherent words were spoken against her body.
Her body froze as she stared down at the top of his head. “I think I’m falling in love with you too.” Her whispered words barely reached her own ears—a confession in the middle of the night after a hard, emotional day.
