Page 109 of Kaine

Chapter Thirty-Nine

HIM

The next week passesin a blur.

My days are filled with preparing for the launch.

My nights are filled with Jade.

And I sleep.

The deep, deep sleep of the exhausted and the content.

Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night, and she has turned towards me, her face peaceful in sleep, the silver glaze of the moonlight through the windows framing her body, covered in the soft silk of her nightie. She is rarely covered by the bedsheet, kicking them off mere minutes after she’s fallen asleep, her body constantly running hot. She looks just like a sleeping angel. A guardian angel. Mine.

Our routine doesn’t change; my mornings start right, with her happily jabbering away in the car as I ride with her to work, one ear on her chatter, one eye on my email.

Most nights are spent enjoying food and making love. But some nights I’m stuck at the office and she’ll come to visit, bringing dinner for everyone, asking insightful questions and giving her own opinion without fear, sometimes to the sounds of agreement, sometimes to laughter. But she gives it fiercely nonetheless.

And I just sit back and watch.

I hope my life is like this forever.

***

I know you’re busybut please call me ASAP

Jade’s text message catches me by surprise during an early morning meeting. I’ve just left her side barely an hour ago, what could she need?

I’m in a meeting, sweet. What’s so important? I text back, trying to stay focused on what’s being discussed.

It’s barely a minute before the phone vibrates again on the table. It’s a picture message this time. I open it and my blood runs cold.

The text contains two pictures. One of the same white envelope that I’ve received three times now.

This time, it’s addressed to Jade.

Inside, an embossed card.

This time there’s a time.

“One week” in black ink and underneath, the words, “I do so hope you can make it, Jade.”

Signed J.

The same J.

I push myself away from the table and speed dial her number even before I’ve reached the reception area.

“Kaine?” she answers right away, an edge to her voice that gets my hackles up.

“It’s me, Jade. Are you okay?” her well-being the most important thing to me these days.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just... is, is this what I think it is?” she asks, referring to the other envelopes she knows I’ve received.

I don’t want to worry her. But I can’t lie to her. “I think so. Where did you find it?”

“It was sitting in the return book bin. It looked so fancy, Harriet thought it was from you, so she put it on my desk.”