I wave him off. “It wasn’t for her it was for her Gran.”
“Uh huh. What’s it with you and decorating?” He yawns.
I yawn back, “Not me, it’s just the time of year,”
I am beyond tired. Bloody winter weather always mucking up my plans. I would normally be pleased I’m showing up on Saturday, technically, but as it’s two in the morning, I’m sure my wife is dead to the world in there.
“Good luck, lad,” Nigel says, clearly thinking I’m an idiot. I make a lewd gesture at him as I climb out and head to the keypad, hoping he’s wrong.
Janie didn’t scold me about the surprise, not really. We’ve texted every day since then, as is our norm now, and she hasn’t seemed angry even once.
I’m just so bloody glad she’s alright now.
My mind replays her sobs, her shaking in my arms.
Ugh. I thought I was past this.
I wait for the garage door to fully open, waving goodnight to Nigel as it does. I look at the giant Lincoln sitting there and get a whiff of some stale smell. Similar to her Gran’s room. Not old people smell, I don’t think, more like old things.
Still, I inhale deeply.
I cannot lose my shit like that again. I know she wanted to ask about the panic attacks, just like I want to know what’s going on with her and the Canton family. She’s cagey every time my sister-in-law, or any of her relatives, comes up.
Cagey is fine. Irritated, grumpy, also fine.
Sad though, sad I guess I still don’t handle well.
I put my hand on the doorknob and push in. Janie’s left a few lamps on for me. I inhale again and smell her in the house. My chest tightens and I have to close my eyes.
What the hell am I on about?
I’ve had birds cry with me. Penny wept when we broke up. I’ve seen both of my sisters-in-law cry. So why is that when Ja—
“Ben?”
Janie stands there looking like a mussed up angel, frowning and yawning. But awake and here, greeting me.
“Hey,” I say, my voice garbled.
“I wasn’t sure you’d make it in with all this snow.”
I walk to her, trying not to ogle her exposed legs under nothing but her sleep shirt. No, that’smyshirt.Bloody hell.
“I was determined to make it. Can’t miss my carriage ride.” At that she smirks. I get to her and drop my bag. I reach out to hold her face in my hands, but pause. “Can I kiss you hello? Is that a thing that we—”
She jumps me. Lips smashed to mine, legs wrapped around my waist.
Yes
Janelle
More more more
I moan, she moans right back. I squeeze her magnificent ass and she grips my hair.
“Bed,” I say.
But she drops down.
