CHAPTER THIRTEEN #2
Malcolm cupped her head, nestling as close as he could, given their surroundings. “When Trev shared your itinerary, I booked a flight. I didn’t want you coming all the way home alone.” He kissed her temple, and Jessie practically dissolved into a puddle of conflicting emotions. “I’m here, baby.”
Jessie clung to him and that statement with all her might. “You’re here,” she said, savoring this bright moment in the middle of her grief.
Malcolm had flown down to find her, to comfort her in her darkest hour. If that wasn’t love, she didn’t know what was.
*
Everything was different; there was a new normal.
Frankly, Malcolm hated it.
His chief, mentor, and role model, was gone. Malcolm knew he should stay and take advantage of the counseling sessions, help his team begin to heal. What he knew would really help get him through this shock and grief was seeing JJ as soon as humanly possible.
Due to transit limitations, Jessie couldn’t simply hop in a rideshare and speed off to the airport like in the movies. It would take a few days to coordinate her journey, which left him plenty of time to burn his airline credit card miles on a ticket.
“Sugar, you don’t need to do this. Picking Jessie up in Atlanta is more than helpful,” Daisy had assured him that first night. He’d joined Trevor at the family home to pay his respects and offer his help, however that looked.
When he’d followed Trevor inside, the house already felt different.
It had only been a few hours since the great man’s heart stopped, but everything had changed.
Daisy’s eyes, which were usually bright as starlight, were dull and vacant.
Her voice was weighed down with the loss of her partner; of her own heart.
“Ms. Daisy,” he’d said, licking his lips to stop from crying himself, “I need to be there for JJ. I can’t let her get on that plane alone.” His bottom lip trembled, but he would not lose it in front of the widow. Chief wouldn’t want that.
Covering her heart with her hand, Daisy nodded once before pulling herself to standing and plodding off toward her bedroom.
“You’re a good man, Malcolm,” she offered over her shoulder before closing the door.
A few seconds later, her sobs echoed throughout the house.
Poor Gus had stayed by Daisy’s side, a sad woof here or there to remind everyone he was mourning, too.
Seeing the devastated basset hound was almost too much for Malcolm to bear.
“I’ll walk you out,” Trevor offered, clearing his throat and clapping a hand on Malcolm’s shoulder.
As the pair headed into the sweltering summer sun, Malcolm let the first tear fall.
He’d been to the Mays’ house countless times over the years.
First as a friend of Trevor’s, then as Jessie’s beau, and finally as a member of the force.
He could not fathom a life without the chief and his family in it, which is why he needed to get to Jessie.
“You’re sure you want to fly halfway across the world, man?
I’m with Momma, a ride from the Atlanta airport qualifies you for hero status.
” His lip quirked up for a millisecond before Trevor’s somber expression took hold once more.
Malcolm couldn’t imagine what his buddy was going through, losing not only his father but his boss.
There was no question he’d be chief one day, it just shouldn’t be this soon.
“She’s all alone,” Malcolm admitted. His stomach clenched at thoughts of Jessie in the middle of nowhere, grieving this terrible loss. Nick and Jessie had been thick as thieves her whole life, and the heart attack had come far too suddenly.
Trevor coughed, clearly uncomfortable showing his emotions in the front yard. Neighbors had begun to hear the horrible news, and a slow procession of casseroles, punch, and cookies was about to commence.
“I’ll bring her back as soon as I can.” Malcolm shoved his hands in his shorts pockets, his palms slick with anxious sweat. With a simple nod, Trevor turned and headed back inside.
The journey was ridiculous, Malcolm would be the first to admit, but he almost enjoyed the flight. He’d brought a paperback crime novel he’d promised himself he’d read before the movie adaptation released, but despite the twisty plot, he couldn’t pay attention. Instead, he thought about Jessie.
Whether they were friends, exes, or lovers, he loved Jessie more than ever.
In his haste to hit the road, he wasn’t sure if his messages would arrive to her Peace Corps office, but he knew from Daisy and Trevor that Jessie’s flight out wouldn’t leave until that evening. He would be there when she arrived.
Fortunately his flight was on time, which gave him an hour to find food and freshen up in the airport. While clearly not a romantic reunion, Malcolm still wanted to look good for his girl. She deserved nothing less.
After dusting sandwich crumbs from his hands, Malcolm checked the arrivals board and saw that Jessie should be arriving at her gate any minute. He quickly purchased her a bottle of water and a stack of magazines, in case she needed a distraction that didn’t require Wi-Fi—or him.
Just as he reached the gate, he saw her approach down the concourse.
Her hair was pulled haphazardly into a ponytail, swishing past her neck in time to her steps.
She clutched her carry-on bag in one hand, her other dragging a duffle behind her.
She was dressed for time in the jungle, hiking boots stomping as she trudged forward, her khakis worn yet comfortable.
Jessie paused at the board, checking on her flight time. Malcolm approached with caution. Her eyes were dry, but red-rimmed. Clearly exhausted, she dropped her bags and wrapped her arms around her middle.
“JJ!” He practically shouted her name. For a moment, she didn’t look up, so he kept calling for her as he closed the distance.
Finally, she froze. “Malcolm?” Blinking, a single tear slid down her cheek. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to take you home,” he said with a shrug. “I didn’t want you flying alone.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Jessie got on tiptoe and flung her arms around his neck, pulling him so close he could smell the faint hint of her shampoo. “You’re here,” she sighed into his chest, soaking the front of his T-shirt.
Malcolm cupped the back of her head, cradling her against him and away from prying eyes. “I’m here, baby. I’m here.” Without thinking, he kissed the top of her head and held her while she wept, body shaking with every sob.
They stood like that, seized with grief. Malcolm bit his cheek, unwilling to show his own emotions. Pulling back slightly, Jessie covered her face and groaned. “I can’t believe ...” but she didn’t finish the thought. She didn’t need to.
“Let’s have a seat, hmm?”
Jessie collapsed beside him, reaching for his hand as soon as he deposited her bags at their feet. “Thank you,” she breathed. “How did you get here?”
Malcolm lifted a shoulder, leaning down to retrieve the bottle of water for her. “Drink this, you need to stay hydrated.”
She dutifully took the water and slugged back half of it before covering her mouth and belching. “That was lady-like.” She huffed, a faint smile toying at her lips.
“JJ, you’re first class.” He winked and she snorted, the pair briefly falling back into their old rapport.
“But how did you get here?”
Malcolm tipped his head, tapping his chin as if he were deep in thought. “There’s this crazy thing called an airplane. It literally flies through the air and can take you all over the world.” He nudged her shoulder. “You’re in the Peace Corps, I’m surprised you’ve never heard of this.”
She chuckled, draining the other half of her water bottle and tossing it into the nearby trash can. “I’m aware of the wonders of aviation,” she teased, exhaling until she folded into herself. “But why are you here?”
Malcolm didn’t hesitate, snaking her hand in his.
“Your daddy,” his voice hitched, but he rallied, “he wouldn’t want his best girl flying home alone.
I couldn’t stand the thought of you making this trip, JJ.
Let me help you.” He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her temple, savoring the moment of intimacy despite the situation.
“But after everything, I can’t ...” He placed a finger over her lips, shaking his head.
“Let’s not go there now, okay?”
Jessie nodded, dabbing at her damp cheeks with the hem of her shirt. “Thank you,” she said on a shuddering breath. “This is the worst day of my life, but you made it better. I’m so glad you’re here.”
So was Malcolm. “You want anything to eat before we board? That shop over there isn’t half bad considering it’s forty dollars per sandwich.”
“I’m not really hungry, and you should save your money. How much was this flight?”
“Approximately a million airline miles, which I was never going to use anyway before you complain,” he warned, reaching out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “I want to be here, JJ. Let me be here for you.”
Jessie nodded, nibbling her bottom lip as her eyes welled again. “You know what’s funny?”
Malcolm huffed out a laugh. “In this moment? Absolutely nothing.”
A smirk toyed with her mouth as Jessie sighed. “I was walking through customs, and all I thought was I was alone. I usually relish the chance to be by myself and do my own thing, but when I came through the gate, I wanted to collapse. And you know what else?” she asked, turning to face him.
“What?” Malcolm leaned closer, until there were mere inches between them.
“I wanted you to be with me,” she said, closing the distance and resting her forehead on his. “When I felt your hands on my waist, I felt like I was home.”
Malcolm enveloped Jessie in his arms, his own tears joining the party. “You are home,” Malcolm promised, crushing her against his chest. “You’re home, JJ.”
He wasn’t sure if Jessie realized it, but he would do anything for her until he took his last breath. She was endgame for him, and Malcolm wasn’t going anywhere. He had the airline miles to burn.