Chapter 17
Holly
People are still congratulating us as we leave The Burger and Bunsen, slapping the boys and Jack on the back, shaking my hand. One lady has tears in her eyes as she tries to hug me. Wow. She whispers that we are her Christmas miracle.
It’s dark outside, and it only adds to my disorientation of the last hour or two. I mean, I want this—this man and these boys who hung the moon for me. But I never in a million years assumed it would happen this lightning fast. Deep breaths.
Jack hovers at the door to my apartment as the boys and I stumble through.
They kick off their boots. I tell them to make themselves at home…
and they do. Cliff takes Todd on a tour of my small space, pointing out anything he thinks is interesting.
“Look at that star picture! Look! A candy wrapper—she must really like peanut butter chocolates. Oh, a plant. She has a green thumb!”
I’m using all my might to keep from bursting out laughing, even as I give Jack dancing eyebrows to entice him inside. “Listen, I want to talk more, but I need to get these guys home.”
That pulls me up short. I grab his arm and haul him inside, closing and locking the door behind him.
“You’re doing so such thing. I bet you have an emergency bag in the truck.
You can get it in a few minutes. If not, we’ll hop down to the pharmacy and get toothbrushes.
But you are not driving that curvy mountainous road home in the dark, just to prove…
what? You’re steadfast independence?” He tries to interrupt me.
I step into his personal space and place a finger over his mouth.
“Listen to me, Jack Noel. I just found you. This has been the most depressing week of my life, and it’s all your fault.
All my colleagues are celebrating the comet, and I’m moping about, eating chocolate peanut butter Santa faces because I miss you.
Sure, I didn’t answer the phone, but you didn’t leave a message!
And now you’re here. You’re in my clutches, and I’m not letting you go. ”
Before I can suck in a large enough breath to continue my tirade, Jack pulls me into him and smashes his lips to mine.
Yes, that’s better.
The next day, after an evening of kisses, trying to find enough blankets and pillows for the boys to build a fort, and watching The Grinch, Jack and I sit down with coffee, my laptop, a notepad, and a calendar in order to figure out our new life.
He smolders at me as I sip my coffee, and I remember that same look last night, with his hand over my mouth again, keeping me quiet as I begged him for more. Get your thoughts under control, I berate myself, clear my throat, and begin.
“I’m teaching three days a week this semester. I have research, writing, student meetings, faculty meetings.” Already I feel like we’re losing. I love my work; I don’t want to give it up. But neither do I want to give him up—correction, them.
“I have…getting the boys to and from school, chores, snow shoveling.” He gives me a rare, sly smile as he leans in to whisper, “And lots of orgasms to give.”
My cheeks heat and my nostrils flare as I send messages through my eyeballs that say things like, knock it off, the boys are right there! and don’t tease me right now. His only response is a quiet chuckle and a sip of black coffee.
“There are probably some meetings with staff, Department of the Interior folks, something. My schedule isn’t memorized, and it is flexible.”
“Well, I guess if my TA takes over Thursday afternoon office hours, I can book it up the mountain as long as the weather’s good. I did not like driving that road in the snow!”
“Hold it right there.” He holds a hand up in the ‘stop,’ position, and I know I’ve already overwhelmed him.
“Don’t change anything. Send me a copy of everything.
Hans has been chomping at the bit to take over more work, though I think Anna is pushing him.
The boys and I can spend weekends with you for now.
And we’ll figure out the rest. Todd has grumbled about the lack of robotics at his tiny school. Maybe there’s something here for him.”
There’s more in his head, I can see it as his eyes dart around at the scheduling disaster that is my life, but he doesn’t tell me. Doesn’t let it out.
“The only thing I want you to consider is maybe us renting a larger place here, so the boys have a room. I’ll pay for it. All I need you to do is give the ‘okay.’
I look over at the boys sprawled on the floor.
They didn’t bring their game console, so they’re stuck watching my favorite Charlie Brown Christmas, which they’ve never seen before.
I may have to question Jack’s parenting methods.
Who doesn’t make their children watch Charlie Brown at Christmas? He’s a national institution.
They’ve been troopers—last week, last night, this morning. I did make them French toast this morning, and you would have thought they were dining on the finest fare. All the mmm’s and groans were too much praise for my doctoring up stale bread.
“Okay.” I say it with finality. Do I want to cringe at him paying?
Yes. But also, it feels good to think that he is taking care of me.
Taking care of us. Just like the ‘yes’ last night to Cliff.
I’ve studied the position. I’ve asked the questions.
I’ve looked at the data. And I’ve made my conclusion.
“Okay, then. It’s settled.” He knocks the table once as he sits back in his chair, as if he’s just banged the gavel that declares this is who we are now.
Two people who fell madly in love over a comet.
Four people who have decided that their lives are better with each other in them, even though it’s messy.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.