CHAPTER EIGHT
“Thank you for helping with the dishes, Craig,” Jessie said, hoisting the stock pot back into the cabinet.
The older man chuckled. “Happy to help, Jessie.” He leaned back to check the living room, where his wife was currently babying Malcolm to the point of insanity. “Although I should probably get back in there before Malcolm smothers his mother.”
Jessie bit back a smile. “She’s worried about him. We all are.”
Craig nodded, putting a lot of focus into the wine glass he was drying. “I hope Estelle didn’t upset you at dinner. We’re grateful you’re here, for as long as you can stay. We both understand the importance of a career.”
It wasn’t missed on Jessie that he didn’t say the three of them understood. Malcolm was just as career-focused and driven, yet he never seemed to understand why Jessie did what she did.
“Speaking of,” she said, trying to change the subject. “Malcolm said you’re thinking of retiring next year.”
Craig was an engineer, his job taking him and Estelle to Nashville after Malcolm graduated from the academy. He was meticulous, detailed, and incredibly bright, the perfect balance to his wife’s sometimes emotional theatrics.
Putting the glass down, Craig leaned against the counter, his brow furrowed. “It’s a possibility. The firm is looking at shifting departments around, and, frankly, I think I’m too old to start over with another team.”
With a huff, Jessie shook her head. “My momma would spank me for calling out someone’s age, but you’re not even sixty, right?”
Craig’s frown shifted into a grin. “Yes, young lady. You’re correct.
” He tossed the tea towel over his shoulder, cocking his head to the side as he thought.
“Estelle still gets her royalties from reruns of Atlanta Hearts, and I’ve saved up a little nest egg.
While we love where we live in Tennessee, and we love still being fairly close to Pinegrove, we’ve always wanted to travel more.
You know the retired cliché, go see the world. ”
Now that was something Jessie could relate to. “Granted, my travels take me to different places, but if y’all ever want suggestions on the best airports and travel tips, I’m your girl.” She pointed to herself and beamed.
“You’re our girl for what?” Malcolm asked behind her, practically scaring Jessie to death.
She gasped and whirled around. “How in blazes are you so quiet with that walker? I’ll have to put on a bell or something.”
Craig looked around, and asked, “Where’s your mother? I’m surprised she let you sit up on the couch, let alone leave it.”
Malcolm rolled his eyes, the effect slightly less impressive with the bandage on his face. “She’s in the bathroom, and, to be honest, I think y’all can head back to the hotel for the night.”
Father and son wore matching sour expressions, but Craig relented.
“I’ll ignore the lapse in manners since you’re recuperating.
” His tone had a bite, but Malcolm didn’t seem to care.
“We’ll come over for breakfast and relieve Jessie for the morning.
” Jessie opened her mouth to protest, to say that’s why she was there, but all she got was a polite shake of the head.
“We are grateful, but we’re also here to help.
Plus, I’m sure you’d like to see your family while you’re here. ”
That was certainly true enough. “Makes sense to me.”
“Malcolm! Baby, where are you?” Estelle cried from the living room.
Craig snorted. “Maybe the bell isn’t a bad idea.”
Ten minutes of tears and hugs later, Estelle and Craig finally bid them good night. Jessie put on the kettle to make tea before getting Malcolm’s medications ready for bedtime.
Malcolm stood at the entry to the kitchen, leaning on his walker more than Jessie liked.
“Why don’t you take a seat while I fix us some tea and your nighttime cocktail of miracle meds?
” He shuffled over without a word, unceremoniously plopping onto the chair with a wince.
“Careful of your stitches!” Jessie warned.
“Oh, really? I totally forgot that I was incapacitated and useless.” He attempted to cross his arms over his chest before realizing he couldn’t. “And I don’t want tea. I’m not an old lady in one of your British mysteries.”
Gone was the jovial, carefree Malcolm she loved, replaced with a broken man with a bitter continence.
It broke her heart. His curls were matted to his forehead, proof he was ready for a shower.
His pajamas were rumpled, and his eyes were heavy.
Although never considered a fashion plate, Malcolm always looked put together.
He never missed a trip to the barber, he stayed in shape, and he liked to buy nice clothes.
The man sulking now looked like he’d been chewed up and spit out by life, and she hated that she couldn’t snap her fingers and make it all better; couldn’t carry the burden of recovery.
“Do you think you can handle a shower before bed? Maybe that’ll help?”
Malcolm shook his head, his gaze laser focused on the tabletop. He toyed with the salt and pepper shakers, the only sound in the room the kettle whistling. Jessie wordlessly poured two cups of water, dunking in the tea bags and sliding a mug in front of Malcolm.
No matter how much time passed in between her visits, Jessie could still read the man like a book. This was more than the pain of recovery and the frustration of a broken body; this ire was directed squarely at her.
“The way I see it, we have two choices.” He didn’t respond, but his fingers stilled over the shakers.
Good, the goober was at least listening.
“Option one, we focus on the here and now. I’m back in Pinegrove for a while, and I want to help you in your recovery.
We can be the adults we are and save the future talk for the future.
” Taking a sip from her scalding tea, she flinched.
“Option two is I call Estelle and make her wildest dreams come true by babying you to literal death. I spend a few days with Momma and Trevor and hit the road.”
She let out a long sigh, willing Malcolm to engage with her. Granted, she didn’t want another fight, but she certainly didn’t want the silent treatment.
After another minute of quiet, Jessie pushed off her seat and collected his pill bottles, dutifully lining up his nightly regimen. “I’ll get you some water,” she said as she stalked to the fridge and poured a glass.
She slid it in front of Malcolm, and he stopped her by looping his arm around her waist. “Stay.” The word came out as a whisper, a soft plea.
Jessie exhaled, not realizing how much she needed to hear that. “Okay.” She covered his forearm with a splayed hand, hanging onto him like a life raft. She could have clung to him forever. “Time for pills, buster.”
Malcolm took his pills with a trembling hand, downing all of them in one gulp of water.
Finally he met her gaze before dropping his chin to his chest. “I’ll try not to wallow about all this,” he muttered, gesturing with his good hand to his air cast and bandages.
“But what I’ll really try is to not pressure you, JJ.
I can’t lie and say I’m not happy you’re here.
Hell, I’d gladly have another warehouse fall on me if it meant you’d be here in my kitchen having a nightly cup of tea. ”
She scoffed, swatting the back of his hand. “Hush up.”
The corner of his lips quirked up, but he continued.
“But you need to know, even if we’re not talking about it, I want you here.
Not just here in Pinegrove, but here, in this house with me.
” Jessie didn’t miss the tear that slid down his cheek, her own eyes misting over.
“You’re still my best friend, JJ. You’re the first person I think about when good things happen, and you’re the only person I want by my side during the bad.
I can’t pretend that you leaving, even if it’s for a wonderful opportunity, doesn’t gut me.
” He swiped angrily at another tear and groaned.
“I love you, okay? I’m simultaneously so proud of you, I want to rent a billboard and tell all of Pinegrove.
But I know you could do amazing things anywhere, even here with our community. I wish you believed in yourself more.”
He’d rendered her speechless, caught off guard by his observation.
She did believe in herself, didn’t she? Hell, wasn’t that why she was obsessed with getting that promotion?
She poured nearly a third of her life into this organization, into the field.
It only made sense to want to move up the ranks, right?
“I love you, too,” Jessie whispered, even though his words cut her.
Sensing their chat was over, Malcolm scooted his chair back, leaning on the walker as he found his footing. “Well, since we’ve confirmed option one, let’s get ready for bed.”
Jessie placed their mugs in the sink and turned off the kitchen lights. “Did you want to take a shower? It might feel nice.”
Malcolm started to shake his head, but he stopped himself. “Yeah, why not.”
“Good!” Jessie squeaked with a little too much enthusiasm. Despite all the roiling thoughts and feelings running through her head, the thought of seeing Malcolm naked brought the temperature up fifty degrees.
“I’ll uh, get the medical tape and plastic sheets.”
“This is going to be so relaxing, I can tell,” Malcolm deadpanned, but he kept pace to the bathroom.
Before he was discharged from the hospital, the nurses gave Jessie a bag of accoutrements to help Malcolm settle in at home. Part of that goodie bag were the essentials for a shower, since he couldn’t get his cuts wet yet.
By the time Jessie made it to the bathroom, Malcolm was doubled over the tub, one arm stuck in the hole of his shirt. “Little help,” he said through clenched teeth.