“Okay,” Amber drawls, stepping from the Jack and Jill bathroom into the bedroom I’ll be sharing with my daughters. “So he hasn’t furnished much. At least it’s clean.”
“And cool,” Delta sighs before flopping onto the made floor bed. I’ll give her that. It’s so much easier to breathe now that the humidity and temperature are at a comfortable level.
When there’s a brief knock at the door, I turn to find Jonah peeking through the crack. “I have towels for you.” Delta opens the door, but he stays right where he is and hands her the stack. “Use the tub and shower. Use anything in my home. Seriously.”
My daughter carries away the tower of towels, and I step closer. “Thank you. This is very kind of you.”
The way his lips turn up causes a deep dimple to appear. He scrunches the fabric of his black rugby shorts in his fists, and if I had a little privacy, a little more time, I’d let my eyes wander down his colorful floral arm tattoos and admire the rain-made sheen coating his tan skin.
“Anything for you,” he says. “I mean, anything you need, or want, just let me know. Or just take it. I’m gonna go checkon the animals one last time tonight and then I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks, Jonah.”
He leaves, but calls back from down the hall, “If you see Yogi puttering around, be extra nice. He’s drugged up.”
After showers and rebraiding of hair, we slip into pajamas. Since I’m staying in someone else’s home, I opt for a comfortable sleeping bra under my light blue summer pajama set.
The entire time I am readying myself for bed, I think about him. How he just showed up with his SUV and coolers and took charge. It’s been a long time since I let someone else do that.Let.For many years when I was married, I had no choice and no control. I crave it now. I expect it now. I rely on myself, and sometimes on Amber, but never another man. But tonight, unexpectedly, it feels good. I’m still on alert; I’m still in mama bear mode, but I breathe a sigh of relief at someone else doing something helpful for me.
I think about how he respected my wishes. He waited on my porch and didn’t try to enter my home. Even when he stood at the guest room door, he didn’t make a move to come inside. He just handed over the towels and gave us our privacy.
That’s not the same Jonah I had as a student. Student Jonah never respected my boundaries.
When he called Delta Ladybug, my stupid heart fluttered, and it made me want to let him in where I never thought I’d let another person go—whereno oneshould have access.
And then there’s the way he checked on his family—offering them a safe place to stay, just like us. I would have never thought that Jonah, the irritating, careless boy I knew from my class, the one who thought the world revolved around him, the one who could charm his way out of any circumstance, would be here offering my family his home.
For someone who seems to wear his heart on his sleeve,he’s a weird little puzzle I’m having a hard time piecing together.
By the time I’m ready for bed, I make my way downstairs and find everyone sitting around the large kitchen island, poking at a strange charcuterie assortment.
Jonah flashes his pearly whites when he spots me. “Delta said you already had dinner, but I thought you might like a snack before bed.” He gestures to the spread of cheddar cheese, apple slices, lunch meat, mustard, pretzels, and some kind of ball about an inch in size. “These are chocolate protein bites. I eat them after a workout.”
“They’re fantastic,” Amber mumbles through a mouthful.
Lo doesn’t seem to care about the food, opting for a spot next to Yogi on the floor. She rubs her finger through his long white hair and lays her head on his side, as if this giant guard dog is just another one of her stuffies.
I pluck an apple and cheese slice from the cutting board. “Thank you again.”
“I didn’t have much in the fridge, but I can go into town tomorrow and get more.”
“It’s okay, Jonah. We’ll be out of your hair tomorrow, anyway. Your animals are good?” I ask with a nod toward his back door.
“Oh yeah. Ginger’s happy with Rugger close by and fresh hay. The ducks have settled in. I gave them watermelon to munch on, and they are loving it.”
“Ducks eat watermelon?” Delta asks.
“They love fruit and veggies. I also learned they eat bugs! Isn’t that gross?”
“Like Timon and Pumbaa,” she replies with a smile.
“Exactly. Hey, would you ladies like a tour of the house?”
“Yes,” Amber replies in haste, like she’s been dying to accept the offer. And, truth be told, I am too. I will not deny myself the pleasure of snooping through another person’s home.
Jonah leads us through the six-bedroom, six-bathroom estate that was built in 1880, with additions done in the 20s and 70s. Incredible stonework and arched ceilings are everywhere, and there’s a magnificent fireplace I would kill to curl up next to with a good book and a piping hot mug of Earl Grey.
A drugged-up Yogi follows us from room to room where Jonah lights up, explaining everything. I can’t help but wonder where he got the money for this place. I want to ask more questions even more than I want to use his decadent soaker tub, which appears unused.Ugh, men!They don’t deserve tubs like this—deep, and wide enough for big hips—with a gold freestanding faucet.
