33. Connor
Chris:
Anyone else heard from Jess or Connor?
*Lionel Richie “Hello” meme*
Chuck:
It’s been over a week, now, should we call in a well-check? I miss Connor at running group.
Oh, and I miss hearing from you, too, Jessie.
Jess:
Thanks, Dad.
Scott:
She’s alive!
Chris:
*Frankenstein gif*
Jess:
Haha, you’re all so funny.
Celeste:
We just want to make sure you’re breathing, dear, with Connor’s mouth attached to yours all the time now.
Jess:
MOM!
Connor:
I let her up for air during the day, Mrs. Berringer.
Jess:
SERIOUSLY?!
Alyssa:
Oh look, once Jess starts talking then Connor chimes in, too! I bet they’re together right now. Are you guys together right now?
*girl with closed eyes crossing her fingers picture*
Dad:
They’re definitely together, it’s date night.
Scott:
Wait what?
Chris:
Dad, how do you know it’s their date night? YOU’RE not with them, are you?
Dad:
Well obviously I am, they need a chaperone.
Chris:
…
Dad:
No I’m not with them, what’s the matter with you? I just gave Connor a little fatherly advice on how to get some balance now that he’s back at work.
Connor:
Appreciate it, Dad. She’s coming over in half an hour and I have a nice surprise waiting for her.
Dad:
Keep it clean, son, this is a family chat.
Connor:
DAD!
Celeste:
*Laughed at ‘Keep it clean, son, this is a family chat.’*
Scott:
Wait, Connor runs with you? Dad, why don’t you ever invite me to running group?
Alyssa:
Aww, honey, let’s not pretend you’d go if he asked, okay?
Chris:
Wait, I didn’t get invited either, what the hell? And where’s MY fatherly advice?
Dad:
…
Istand back and cross my arms, surveying my bathroom counter before swapping the toothpaste with the mouthwash so it looks more symmetrical by the new toothbrush holder. Then I straighten the hand towel I just bought (it’s Turkish cotton; I want Jess to feel pampered) and I make sure the hand lotion is angled to perfection. Once that’s done, I turn my attention to the shower, where I’ve installed a suction cup basket containing shampoo, conditioner, and a body wash that smells like something Jess would like.
It looks great, but if she doesn’t get here soon, I’m going to have to take it down and put it back up again just to have something to do. Where is she?
I walk towards the living room to grab my phone when I hear her knock on my door. It’s all I can do to keep from running to answer it. Work and school have taken up more of our time than we’d hoped and I can’t wait to see her and show her what I put together.
But the woman on the other side of the door is not the happy ray of sunshine girlfriend I’m used to seeing. It wasn’t even 45 minutes ago that Jess was joking with everyone in the family group chat, but here in front of me she looks pale and her stare is blank.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, gently ushering her in the front door. “What’s going on? Are you okay? Are you sick?”
“Um, I’m, uh. No.”
“No, you’re not sick or no, you’re not okay?”
“Neither. Both. Um, I’m not sick.”
I don’t know what the hell is going on, but she’s here and I will figure it out. I wrap my arms around her in a hug to give us both a minute to put our thoughts together. I’ve never seen her like this before and I already hate how it twists my stomach.
I gently grab her clammy hand and guide her to sit next to me on the couch, where she obligingly sits but continues staring ahead. Finally, she turns to me and says, “I just got off the phone with Alex.”
My blood instantly boils. “Alex, your asshole ex-husband, Alex?”
She nods. “Yeah, his, um, his dad passed away.”
That lowers my blood to a simmer. “Oh, man. I’m really sorry, Jess. Were you close to him?”
“Kind of. I mean, he was always super quiet, we didn’t speak all that much. But he sent me a letter not long after the divorce that said he understood why I left and he didn’t want me to think he was upset with me.”
“That was nice, at least.”
“It was, yeah.”
“I’m sorry you had to hear the news from Alex. Do you need anything? I actually have a surprise for you?—”
“He mentioned me in his will,” she goes on, still caught up in her thoughts. “He left me $80,000.”
Okay, that’s unexpected. “Jess, holy shit. Are you serious?”
She raises her eyebrows and nods again.
“That’s…that’s terrible that he’s gone, but what an incredible gift! Don’t you have student loans to pay off? Would that help?”
“It would cover my tuition entirely.”
I run my fingers through my hair, just trying to imagine what I could do with an extra $80,000 in my pocket. How many things could move up on the timeline with a lump sum like that just gifted to me? But this is obviously under terrible circumstance and I don’t want to seem callous. I’m sure she must have a thousand things going through her head right now on top of having to talk to Assface, so I just grab her hand and sit with her in silence for a moment.
“I’m not taking it,” she says finally.
That is also unexpected. “Wait, what?”
“Alex is threatening to sue me for it, so I just told him I’ll forfeit.”
“Jess, he can’t do that.”
“He’s pretty mad,” she says, like that explains everything. “I get it. His dad died. We aren’t together anymore, so I don’t have rights to that money.”
“Bullshit, his dad left that money to you specifically. Was the will updated after your divorce?”
“Yeah, but still. It’s not right.”
“How is that not right?” My voice is rising, but I can’t help it. Is she seriously turning away a five-figure check just because her ex is angry? “It’s a legal document, Jess. As long as he was of sound mind and body when he drew it up, then that money is yours without question. And he sent you that letter after you left Alex? He obviously cared for you and wanted to help.” Because even he could see how amazing Jess is despite his son being a giant bag of dicks.
I don’t want to fight with her, though. I want my happy woman back. “Hey,” I take both of her hands in mine and wait until she turns her gray eyes my way. “Come with me, I got you something. Maybe it’ll help.”
Her smile doesn’t reach its usual height, but I take the grin she gives me and stand up so she can follow me to the bathroom.
“Ta da!” I stand proudly with my arms out, displaying the organized caddy in my shower to the right and the newly decked-out sink to my left.
I figured it might take her a minute to register what the gift is, but her expression isn’t exactly what I was hoping for. She looks like I asked her to solve a Rubick’s Cube.
“What’s all this?” she asks.
“It’s toiletries for you. For when you come over.”
“I thought I told you I wasn’t ready to stay the night yet.”
Shit. “No, no, no, I didn’t mean for it to be like that! I just want you to feel comfortable when you’re here and I was kind of hoping that maybe between work and school, our date nights might eventually…” Shut up, Connor, you’re saying exactly what she doesn’t want you to say.
“Eventually lead to me sleeping here,” she supplies.
“I mean, yes eventually, but not now. Whenever you’re ready.”
She shakes her head and there’s panic in her face. “But you want me to be ready now.”
I shake my head no, but she’s nodding her head yes. “You do. That’s why you did this. So that I’d feel guilty, and I’d have to stay.”
“What? What are you…no, that’s not it all!”
“I can’t do this,” she spins away from me and rushes out towards the living room to grab her purse.
“Jess, wait!” I follow her frantically. “I’m sorry. I thought it would make you happy! I can take it all back, pretend this never happened!”
Her voice is firm, but her stature shows only fear when she looks at me. “I don’t want those things and I don’t want the money and I don’t want you to think you know what’s best for me.”
“I don’t, I swear, I wasn’t trying to…” What the hell is happening? Who is this woman? Where is my girlfriend?
“I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later.”
She’s gone without another word. No kiss, no hug. Not even a pat on the back.
I stand there staring at the door, trying to decide if I need to vomit or pour myself a drink.
Maybe both.
I may not be well-versed in relationships, but it doesn’t take a psychologist to know that Jess’ reaction was not about the new toothpaste. Is this what Alex does to her? No wonder Chris and Scott looked like they wanted to chop my balls off at Christmas.
Last week, I told my brother I’d kill anyone who hurt Jess. Murder is definitely outside the law and therefore not in my timeline. But I do have a phenomenal legal team in my office, and no doubt they have contact information for some equally phenomenal estate lawyers. Alex can keep his worthless insignificant life, but that money is going to my girlfriend.