Chapter 55
After the New Year, we move in with Jameson. It’s been a few weeks now, and I don’t have a single regret. I love coming home to find him waiting in the kitchen for me, sharing a bed with him every single night, and learning all his little quirks.
We still haven’t been able to get away to meet with Rose, but I did have lunch last week at Dorothy’s and I filled her in on everything that’s been going on.
Her face lit up with hope when I told her about our big lead, then fell when she realized we haven’t been able to go.
She wants that closure so badly, I can see it written so plainly on her face.
I want to get it for her. Before I left her house, she paused and said one last thing: “If do you find her, tell her…I understand.”
Today my dad and Ella are coming over for dinner. They’ve been home a lot lately since he’s in a rest period before starting another week of chemo soon. I’ve realized through his journey how much I didn’t know about how all that works. But I’m learning. Everyone’s treatment plan is different.
He looks strong. Most people probably wouldn’t even realize he’s sick.
And they’ve both been in good spirits. We talk about normal things over dinner, like how brutal the snow has been and how Jessica’s school is going, and before they leave, they ask if Jess wants to come over for her usual Saturday visit. She nods enthusiastically.
“Are you guys sure?” I ask.
“Yes. Ella’s perfectly fine, and I’m feeling all right this week. We miss our girl.”
Ella leans closer to me. “And I’m sure you two could use a whole day together. Just the two of you.”
To be honest, we already get plenty of alone time. Jess is at school during the day, and she sleeps like she’s in deep hibernation at night.
“Okay. I’m sure we could think of something to do. Go on a date or something.”
Jameson raises one eyebrow at me. I still have no idea how he does that so effortlessly. I’ve tried and it was a giant failure. He laughed at me.
“What?”
“I’ll tell you later,” he says so only I can hear.
**
After they leave and Jess is in her room, Jameson and I get ready to start a movie.
“I have an idea for Saturday.” He plops down next to me with a bowl of popcorn, looking hot as ever in his black sweatpants and black shirt. He really doesn’t like to wear colors. Even his loungewear is always black, grey, or white. I realized that soon after we moved in together.
“What?”
“I can arrange a flight so we can make it to Bozeman and back in a day,” he says casually.
I stare at him. He tosses some popcorn in his mouth, waiting patiently for my response.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“Well…you know what? Yeah. Let’s do this. We’re going to crack this thing.”
“That’s my girl.”