I snap my eyes to hers, surprised, and I laugh. “Well, that’s direct.”
“In this stage of my life, I don’t see the point in beating around the bush,” she replies. “Aiden, I want the best for my son. I kept my mouth shut, which I regret, given the current circumstances,but I always had a bad feeling about Ray. Heather was vocal about her feelings, but I felt Jayson was an adult and needed to make his own choices without my interference. Maybe I over-corrected too much by doing that.”
Her eyes fill with tears, and her voice trembles. “Sadly, I’ve watched him change into a different person over the last few years. He’s lost his spark. Seeing his battered face and hearing what Ray did to him almost broke me. He needs time to heal, and I’ll do whatever it takes to help him. But you being here, dropping everything and showing up for him, speaks volumes.”
Grasping her hand, I give it a firm squeeze. “He means a lot to me,” I say, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “I know he needs a friend more than anything right now, and that’s exactly what I plan to be.”
“Thank you, Aiden.” Her tears are falling freely. “I hope one day the two of you get the chance to be what you were always meant to be. You deserve that.”
We drift back into simple conversation, talking about the past and reminiscing about the fun times our families shared. When Jay and Heather return from the police station, something inside me shifts. Talking with Ronda has loosened an old knot; the ache I feel is softening into something clearer. There is no doubt in my mind that I love Jay, and I’ll do whatever it takes to be there for him.
“Okay, I think we’re all set,” Heather says, standing up from Ronda’s kitchen table. “I’ll get the notice to vacate served to Ray by the end of the week.”
The four of us spent the last hour planning Jay’s next steps to untangle his life from Ray’s. There are so many things I wouldn’t have even thought of. Heather has handled this kind of situation with numerous clients, so she’s completely on top of every detail.
We persuaded Jay to stay in his mom’s spare room while he gets ready to sell his house. He resisted at first, but in the end, I think he was too tired to argue. He doesn’t want to go back to his house if Ray’s still there, and none of us wants Jay near him.
The officer in charge of his case called and said they would question Ray at the station tomorrow. While that’s happening, Jay, Heather, and I will go to the house and pack what we can.
I’m relieved Jay filed the police report. After how Ray reacted when he showed up last night, I was worried he’d come after Jay again, and I’m not leaving him alone to deal with that. I’ve decided to stay in Portland for at least a couple of weeks to help him and ensure he’s safe.
I found an affordable short-term rental nearby. I’ve been considering looking at commercial property on the West Coast, and being here will give me more opportunities to look at options. Thankfully, Martha agreed to keep Maisy and Daisy in her apartment while I’m here, so I don’t have to worry about them.
Heather heads home, and Ronda goes out to buy groceries since she just returned from vacation. That leaves Jay and I alone for a bit.
“Have you done much hiking around here?” I ask as I help him unpack the few things he has with him in the spare bedroom.
With him taking a leave of absence from work, we have some breathing room, and I’ve been brainstorming ideas for simple distractions to break up the monotony of unraveling his relationship.
“I did, when we first moved to Portland,” he says, folding a T-shirt into the pile. “But since Ray and I got together, I haven’t. He isn’t the outdoorsy type.”
So many of the things Jay used to love got shelved while he was with Ray. I can see how that quiet erosion must have chipped away at his confidence. Part of what I want to do while I’m here is to help bring some of it back.
Flying in, the stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge and the tall, snow-capped mountains that towered over the landscapes of Oregon and Washington struck me. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve always loved hiking and being outdoors, but I don’t get enough of that living in New York City.
“There are some great trails nearby,” I tell him. “You need to be careful with your ribs, but it looks like there are some easy hikes along the Gorge that won’t be too hard for you.”
Jay looks up, a small smile ghosting his face. “Yeah, the trails down by the river are some of my favorite spots. Give me a few days to rest, and I’m in.”
The next day, we head to Jay’s house to pack what he needs. This will be the first time he’s going back since the assault, and I’m not sure how he’ll respond. Heather also seems to gauge his reactions as we walk through the door.
“You doing alright?” she asks him as he pauses and looks down at a spot on the floor.
He’s silent for a few moments, his fists clenched. I want to reach out, wrap him in my arms, but I know I need to be careful. Instead,I place my hand on his shoulder to let him know I’m here if he needs me.
Finally, he nods. “I’m okay. I won’t let him get the better of me.” Steeling his shoulders, he marches down the hall without looking back.
The three of us move quickly through his house, packing clothes and personal items into boxes and totes. We’re fast and efficient, not lingering too long in case Ray comes back.
Being in his space gives me some insight into his style: neutral walls, a few sleek modern pieces, and warmer, older accents that make it feel lived in rather than staged. I try not to picture what our own home might look like—my movie collection beside his books, our clothes sharing the same closet—but the image keeps slipping into my mind, anyway.
Before long, we have everything jammed into my rental car and Heather’s SUV, and we’re back on the road to Ronda’s house to get Jay settled.
After that, the days blend into a comfortable, slow-paced routine. During the day, I work on last-minute school projects and investigate property listings in Portland while Jay rests and completes the tasks Heather assigned him.
We’ve kept our conversations superficial, avoiding deeper topics because I can tell he’s not ready for those yet. With his injuries still fresh and obvious, staying at a friendship level is easiest for both of us.
We hang out at Ronda’s in the evenings, watching shows, having movie marathons, and eating loads of ice cream. Ronda reads in the den, and we take over the living room. It’s like we’re teenagers again.
