“Well, you guys turned out okay,” I grin, teasing him. “For the most part,” I add with a cheeky smile.
He chuckles. “When Jess was about twelve, she went through a phase where she was obsessed with horses. She was determined to convince my father to get her one. I knew it would never happen, but we spent two full days making a poster. She had this massive plan. A presentation that she would make in front of him, like a business proposal, for how she would take care of the horse and do all the work. I remember that poster so vividly in my mind. She cut out pictures from magazines, researched food and stables, and pretty much everything. It was very impressive. And honestly, a lot of fun to help her put together.”
“And?” I ask, flooded with curiosity. “What did your father say?”
He scoffs. “My father never saw it. She tried over and over again to get his attention for the smallest moment, to book a meeting with him, but he never had time for us.”
“That really sucks. It must have hurt her,” I say, picturing a very young Jess, chasing her dreams but not even having the chance to voice them to her father.
Kristopher laughs to himself. When he looks up at me, his eyes are bright.
“I dressed up in one of his jackets. I was in my early twenties then. I set up a fake meeting for her to attend and acted like my father so she could do her presentation. She went all in. I acted like a dick, you know, to play the character properly. We ended up laughing till we were crying.”
My heart swells, picturing him as an older brother, doing such a sweet thing for her.
“That’s amazing, Kris. I’m sure it meant the world to her. She never told me that story…but…I just realized—she still hasthat poster. It was stuck on the inside of her closet door for the longest time.”
“Really?” he says, happy to hear this. “If she kept it, that means it became a fond memory for her, not another moment our father let us down.”
“It’s probably a very special moment she’s holding onto between the two of you,” I agree.
Dinner comes to an end, and while I did manage to get Kris to open up a bit more, he still hasn’t told me what’s bothering him, and as our conversation fades, his face becomes shadowed with worry again.
“Please tell me what’s bothering you,” I say, pushing him again.
“I’m going to head to bed. I need a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is a new day.” He smiles and stands up. “Thank you for a lovely dinner, Georgie. And congratulations again on your exam results.”
He nods politely and walks from the dining room.
For a moment, I just sit there, annoyed. Frustrated. Thinking again about how I live with this man, how I’m actually married to him, but our connection is still so basic.
Looking towards the door, I decide, to hell with it. I stand up and storm after him, refusing to let this go.
He’s almost at his bedroom door when I run in front of him and block his path. “Georgie?” he exclaims in surprise, coming to a standstill.
“It’s your father, isn’t it? That’s what’s bothering you,” I demand.
“I’m tired and…”
“Why can’t you just talk to me, Kris? I’m right here. I want to listen. It might really help to just get it out so whatever you’re worried about can stop looping in your head”.
He sighs and pushes his hand through his thick hair.
Kristopher steps around me, walking into his bedroom. Boldly, I follow him, blocking his path again.
We’re standing near his bed. I’m in his personal space. But I won’t back down. Not this time.
For some reason, I just know in my heart that if I walk away now, it will form the basis for all our interactions in the future. And I want more than shallow conversation. I want him to trust me. To let me in.
This strange, intense need fuels a determined fire in my soul, and I tilt my chin up, my lips pressed together, and a fierce confidence in my eyes as I stare him down.
Chapter 11 - Kristopher
There’s that same fire in her again. The one that tempts me beyond belief. The one that drives me towards her, triggering me, setting my mind ablaze with yearning for her.
She stands in front of me with her fists clenched at her sides and her eyes fiercely locked onto mine.
I tried to excuse myself, to avoid her questions, but she’s not having any of it.
