He winks.“Already on it, babe.By tomorrow we’ll be sleeping on a king-sized mattress inside an actual home, though I did enjoy camping with you.Our tent and air mattress will still get time.”He shifts his attention to the phone.“Janice?This is Jaeger.I need you to come over and do a full cleaning and some shopping.”He covers the speaker.“What color bedding?”
He’s asking me what I like?For his home?I tell him my preferences and he relays them to his housekeeper.
The call ends and it’s silent again, except for the sound of the water lapping the rocks below, birds chirping, pine needles rustling lightly on the breeze.I take in these sounds and enjoy them thoroughly.I hadn’t realized how much Kate’s presence brought the world down.It’s like the weight of a mountain has been lifted.
Jaeger grabs my hand.“We have some time while the house gets cleaned.Come on.I have something to show you.”
Hmm, everything he’s shown me I’ve enjoyed.I happily climb in his truck, relishing the freedom of going anywhere and doing whatever we want.
Jaeger drives us to a street named Beach Drive in the Keys.It’s right along the water, and the homes here are enormous.He pulls into a driveway with a four-car garage.The house itself is about a quarter of a block wide and overlooks the lake.Jaeger’s home is on the lake, too, but it’s up a rise with more distant views.This place is practically on the lake, with a façade of decorative shingles and stone.It’s impressive.
“Who lives here?”I ask.
“A client I want you to meet.I think you’ll like their newest art.”He grins mysteriously.
He’s taking me to see one of his pieces?Inside someone’s home?Isn’t that intrusive?
“Wait, this isn’t your client Danielle, is it?”
“No way.”He shakes his head.“I’m not doing business with Danielle anymore.This is a different client.”
“Okay-y-y.You’re sure it’s all right with the owner that I’m here?”
His smile widens.“Pretty sure.I’ve told them about you, and they want to meet you.”
What in the world?“Your clients want to meet your jailbird, dropout girlfriend?”
“Yup.”He leans over and sweetly kisses my lips.His fingers slide a lock of hair behind my ear.The kiss is innocent, but the look in his eyes is naughty and I like it.“None of that was your fault.Besides, adversity makes people stronger.Sometimes it makes them their best self,” he adds with a self-mocking grin.
He’s right.Where Jaeger is today is infinitely better than if he’d stayed on the Olympic track with Kate by his side.He could have permanently damaged his knees, been crippled.And God knows what would have happened if he’d ended up married to Kate.
I shiver in horror.That is a fate no one should suffer.
It’s easier to look at another person’s life and know they are better off, not so easy to do it with your own.The only thing I know for sure is that my feelings for Jaeger are the real deal.I never would have known this kind of love had I stayed with Eric or someone like him.
I cup my hand around Jaeger’s strong jaw and kiss him softly.I can’t believe he is mine.
We walk to the front door, and a man with silver hair and reading glasses answers.He greets Jaeger, and Jaeger introduces me.
“This is Cali?”the man says, as if he’s heard of me before.Jaeger said he wanted to shop some of my designs.Maybe he told this guy about my work?“Come on in.”The man smiles and waves us inside.
I glance at Jaeger, a big fat question on my face.
He grins and steps forward, following the owner through a large entry, which looks straight back to a wall-high view of the lake.We turn left into a living room about five times the size of the chalet.Wall-to-wall windows overlook mountains and lake, divided in the center by a stone fireplace.
I’ve never experienced this kind of wealth.I’m star-struck by the view and the elaborate furniture.A minute passes before I realize Jaeger and his client are staring at the wall behind me.It’s wide and tall, and blank—with the exception of a single piece of art.One of Jaeger’s wood carvings, only this one is on steroids.
The piece is the size of a small car, though the room accommodates it, and it isamaaaziing.I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.
Another full minute passes before I realize the design is one of my own.
It’s my yard—my backyard.The trees I sketch all the time.This is one of the first drawings I did after Gen and I arrived for the summer.
I open my mouth to say something, and nothing comes out.My throat is dry.I cough to clear it, which results in loud hacking, as the cough from my pneumonia hasn’t fully gone away.“Excuse me,” I choke out.
“I’ll get you some water,” the man offers, and walks off.
“Well,” Jaeger whispers, “what do you think?”
