32. Miles
MILES
T he rest of October passes by in a blur.
Halloween comes and Jenna buys candy to give out to trick-or-treaters.
We only get two at my condo and Jenna ends up giving them the whole bowl.
Friday, November first, the entire town switches over to Christmas.
The streetlamps have wreaths and angels that light up at night.
The Washington Street Mall is ornately decorated with twinkling lights, greenery, and ornaments.
The speakers play Christmas music twenty-four-seven for everyone to hear.
The excitement in the air is infectious.
Even I catch myself whistling along this year.
I would be more excited if I weren’t so nervous about dinner at my parents' tonight. I want them to like Jenna as much as I do because I like her so much . After only a couple of months, I like her more than anyone I have ever been with. More than I liked Erin at this stage.
Jenna and I have fallen into an easy rhythm, waking up and drinking our coffee together on the balcony overlooking the ocean before going our separate ways for the day.
When the end of the day comes, I can hardly wait to get home.
I drive as quickly as possible, knowing a hot meal—and Jenna and Pete— are waiting for me.
They are both as happy to see me as I am them.
To be fair, Pete has always been thrilled when I get home, but I wasn’t always in such a hurry.
Now, someone is waiting for me—someone I can’t believe I’ve gone my whole life without.
Obviously, we shouldn’t live together permanently.
It would be way too soon. But calling her my girlfriend and coming home to her every day? It feels so right.
I don’t think I’ve really been living these past couple years since my divorce. I’ve woken up, gone to work, gone surfing, and did the mundane adult things that are required of me. But Jenna lights everything up again. I can hardly believe my dumb luck that I found her.
I still haven’t gotten the courage to tell her about her dad though.
I know, I know. It’s bad. We’re having a great time together, and I am so afraid of what this information will do to us.
What if it shakes everything up, and Jenna doesn’t want to be with me anymore?
The longer I wait, the worse it’ll be for me if she finds out before I tell her.
That’s why I decided after kissing her goodbye this morning, that if everything goes well tonight with my family, I will finally tell her. So, that’s the plan.
Nate’s already at the office when I get there this morning. He’s busy at his computer and doesn’t even look up as I walk inside, whistling “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”
“What’s with you?” He smirks without looking up.
I scowl at him from across the room. “What do you mean, what’s with me? I’m just happy.”
Nate grins, “Oh? And that happiness wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain client you’ve been entertaining, would it?” In true Nate form, he can’t help himself from antagonizing me.
“I’d say she’s far from a client now, wouldn’t you?” I frown, pulling out my desk chair and booting up my desktop.
“I don’t know, bro. You’re the only one who knows the answer to that,” Nate says, still not looking my way. He clicks through on a listing he signed yesterday, adding photos and a description of the house.
“Well, considering I made her my girlfriend this week, I’d sure hope so,” I say, tipping back in my chair and daring my brother to look my way.
He spins in his chair to face me. “Girlfriend, yeah?” He raises his eyebrows. “So, you told her about your suspected connection to her dad?” The question sounds accusatory, and I know Nate already knows what my answer will be.
I push back in my chair and walk to the coffee pot in the back of the office, selecting a K-cup and pressing brew before I answer him. He clears his throat as if to encourage me.
“Not exactly,” I say, hemming and hawing. “I will. But I wanted to see how dinner with Mom and Dad goes tonight.”
“Dinner?” Nate’s jaw drops. “No one told me about a dinner.” He scowls.
I laugh, slurping my coffee and then hissing when it’s too hot. “Now you know how I felt the other night.”
“Yeah, well, at least we tried to invite you. You just didn’t answer,” Nate retorts sourly.
“Maybe Mom and Dad just want to meet Jenna without your input,” I suggest. “Did you ever think of that?”
Nate furrows his brow. “Absolutely not. I’m calling Mom.” He crosses his arms indignantly.
“What are you five?” I growl. “I don’t care if you come, for what it’s worth.”
But Nate is already on the phone asking our mom why he wasn’t invited to dinner. Mom must give in like she always does with her Nathan, because he offers me a smug grin upon hanging up. “Guess I’ll see you at dinner.” He looks pleased with himself. “Me and Caden.”
I smack my lips. “Great.”
It turns out that Jenna is putty in Caden’s sticky little hands.
As soon as he sees her, he is dragging her from room to room, giving her a tour of my parents’ house.
I follow behind to make sure he doesn’t show her anything embarrassing but I’m trying to remain inconspicuous.
Jenna didn’t get more than two minutes with my parents before Caden latched onto her like Velcro.
Jenna takes it in stride though and seems to be enjoying my sweet little nephew. I’m standing at the end of the hallway watching Caden show Jenna every bedroom in the house when my Mom comes up beside me. She and I watch them moving down the hallway together for a few moments.
“Now I see why you didn’t invite Nate from the start,” I joke. “We’ll never get her back.”
My mother snorts. “You know Caden loves the ladies.”
“Like father, like son,” I say, glancing sideways at her to see if I can get a rise.
My mother doesn’t take my bait and instead says, “She seems lovely, Miles, really.”
I grin, draping my arm around my mom’s shoulders. “That’s because she is.”
“And this,” Caden bellows from down the hall, “is Uncle Miles’s room.” He kicks the door open with his foot and turns proudly to Jenna. “Come on!”
Jenna looks at me amused and holds up her hands, following Caden into the room. There is nothing in there anymore but my old full-size bed, my desk with a cork board displaying high school memorabilia, and a few old surfboards leaning against the back wall that I don’t use anymore.
Jenna peeks her head back out the door. “How many surfboards do you have?” she asks with a laugh.
I give her a lazy smirk. “A lot.”
“Well, you coming? Or can I root through your things?” she teases before disappearing into the room.
I walk down the hallway and into my old room. It’s impeccably clean because my mother has nothing else to do. There are some of Caden’s superhero toys stashed in the corner.
“This is my room when I sleep over!” he tells Jenna proudly, tugging her arm over to the corner with his things.
I watch them from the doorway, my feelings for her growing with each passing moment.
Jenna is crouched down beside Caden, listening intently as he shows her his most prized possessions at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
She gives him her full attention but periodically she meets my gaze and smiles. I am so crazy about this girl.
We’re saved by the bell when, a moment later, Nate peeks his head in. “Mom says dinner is ready.”
“Great, I’m starving,” I say, gesturing for Jenna to lead the way. “After you.”
Jenna grins at me over her shoulder.
“So, Jenna, Miles tells us you came to Cape May after discovering a house that belonged to your parents?” my father, John, asks, taking a bite of pork roast.
Jenna nods as she swallows a bite. “That’s right. I didn’t know the house was still ours. Miles says your family has been the property managers all these years, so thank you for that.” She takes a sip of water.
“Of course. Happy to do it.” My dad smiles.
Mom must sense we’re in dangerous conversation territory; she interjects before he can ask any more questions. “What is it you do, Jenna?”
Jenna’s cheeks blush, and she looks down at her plate. “Oh, well, I’m taking some time off with the passing of my mom but…interior design.” She takes a nervous bite of food and chews it carefully.
“Oh, I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t realize your mother passed away recently.” My mother’s face softens with empathy. She clearly didn’t realize she was broaching a sensitive subject, as a look of guilt flickers across her face.
“Oh, it’s okay.” Jenna waves her hand, dismissing my mother’s guilt, but I can see the tears glistening behind her eyes. “She was sick for a long time.” Her voice wavers, and my heart breaks just a little.
“Still. That doesn’t make it easier.” My mother pats Jenna’s hand from across the table and shoots me a pained expression I can’t fully read.
“Let’s change the subject, shall we?” my dad interjects.
Jenna swallows audibly. “Great idea.” She forces a smile. “Tomorrow night, I’m having dinner with my aunt—I haven’t seen her in years. Maybe you know her? Leona Walker.”
Dad’s gaze shoots to my mom and I watch as a conversation silently passes between them. Jenna doesn’t seem to notice. My dad clears his throat. “I do know your aunt, yes,” he says, offering Jenna a warm smile. “That will be nice for you to reconnect.”
Before Jenna can respond, Caden interrupts with a loud declaration that grown-ups are so boring and he wants to talk about the new Sonic movie instead. A laugh bubbles out of Jenna, and she looks fondly at Caden who happens to be sitting right next to her.
“Why don’t you tell us about it, bud?” I suggest, hoping to lighten the mood.
Things can only go up from here.