The Perfection of Love

by J. L. Monro

  The day went well actually. Jakey enjoyed himself as Deborah fawned all over him and I enjoyed myself because Deborah was a really nice woman. We did a little sight-seeing and then we stopped at a little café for lunch. Deborah told me about Deacon as a child and I think she was well aware she was giving me ammunition for later. She talked to Jakey who seemed to really warm to her. After lunch we decided we’d had enough of sight-seeing and went shopping. I thought my sisters and I could shop like storm troopers but Deborah put us to shame. Every time I asked her if she was sure about a purchase her response was “I’ve never been to England before I may never come again. Life’s for the living if I don’t do it now who’s to say I’ll do it later?” And with that her card was in the assistant’s hand.

  By the time we all got back to Deacons flat we were exhausted. Deborah and I collapsed on the sofa surrounded by her bags. I left mine in the car.

  “Did you buy everything they had in the store woman?” Jules bellowed. He didn’t look surprised by the haul though.

  I suddenly found a glass of wine in my hand, followed by a kiss on my forehead. I stiffened but Jakey wasn’t looking. “I checked. He’s engrossed in the TV already.” He whispered. Deacon had guessed what had caused me to tense and his consideration touched me.

  We spent the rest of the evening eating pizza and talking. Deacon managed to maneuver himself onto the floor so he sat next to Jakey and they were talking about sports and school and probably any other topic that they could find. I wondered to myself what I had been worried about. Jakey seemed at complete ease and Deacon seemed to be making a real effort to build a relationship with him.

  By nine I couldn’t keep my eyes open and Jakey was flagging. I got us ready to go telling them goodbye as we made our way to the door. Deacon managed to hobble on crutches to show us out. Deborah called out “Dana, would you be able to come over tomorrow? I really enjoyed our day today.” For once the thought of shopping made me feel nauseous. There was no way I could shop again tomorrow. “Maybe we could all go out for lunch tomorrow?”

  “That sounds great Deborah. We’ll see you tomorrow.” She beamed and turned back to snuggle back into her husband.

  “Thank you for today Dana. I’ve not seen my mom so happy, I think she’s found a surrogate daughter. It wasn’t easy living with me and my dad. I think she misses female company.”

  “You’re mum is a lovely woman. I enjoyed today even though you manipulated the event.” He pulled me in with one arm but released me when Jakey cocked and eyebrow at him. “I’ll see you tomorrow Deacon.” I kissed him on the cheek and left with Jakey.

  The following day was a lot more relaxed. We found a restaurant not far from Deacons flat to go and eat it. It reminded me a lot of when I went out to eat with my own family. Without the death threats aimed at Lana. After we finished our food Deacon wanted to show his Dad some sports stores and other shops that I would never care to look in. I was surprised when Jakey asked if he could go as well and by the look on Deacons face he was surprised as well but happy. So the three of them went off and left his mother and I in the restaurant.

  “Since it’s just the two of us we might as well have some fun.” With that Deborah called over the waiter and got him to bring over the cocktail menu. Deborah was a blast. She had me laughing from the first cocktail to the last when the boys finally showed up. By that time we were both intoxicated beyond belief. I tried my best to sober up as Jakey was there but all it did was make me giggle uncontrollably. Jakey rolled his eyes. Unfortunately although I wasn’t a drunk, he was used to his aunts, grandmother and I plowing through several bottles of wine when we all got together for dinner. He usually escaped with Pops but this was not one of those times.

  “Can you two even walk?” Jules asked as he called the waiter for the bill.

  “Don’t know. Haven’t tried yet.” The giggling fit had started. Deacon laughed at me and tried to help me up. “You’re crippled. How are you supposed to help me?” I had moved to uncontrollable laughter and I could hear that Jules was having the same kind of problem with Deborah. In the end we managed to make the stroll back to Deacons flat and we had both sobered a little aided by the fresh air. I still didn’t want to drive as I was sure I was over the limit. I ordered a taxi for Jakey and I with the intention to pick my car up before work in the morning. Deacon had tried to suggest that we stay at his flat but even in my inebriated state I knew that couldn’t work. When Jakey and I got home we both crashed. The weekend had been fun but I was exhausted.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  I went to work as normal on Monday, giving Deacon some time alone with his parents. They were going back home the next day. The week had gone by fast and due to Deacons injury we had gotten a little behind our schedule so I was working late. When it was time for Deborah and Jules to leave I went with Deacon to the airport to send them off. Deborah was in tears while Jules merely stood back to let her get it out of her system.

  “Oh DeeDee I’m going to miss you and Dana. Oh and JayJay.” Deborah had managed to find her own nickname for Jakey which he absolutely hated but credit to him he tried his best not to show it to Deborah’s face. “You make sure you come and visit us soon. DeeDee you’re going to miss Christmas with us this year.” She started on another wave of tears.

  “Come on woman stop your blubbing and let’s go. The plane is not going to wait for us because you can’t let your grown ass son go. Dana it was a pleasure meeting you. Deacon. Behave yourself.” With that Deborah gave us a final hug and they left for their flight.

  Deacon and I made our way back to my car. We’d driven mine because it was easier for him to get in with his leg in a cast and Deacon had also been brave enough to mention he didn’t trust me driving his Porshe.

  “So as I’m incapacitated, I’m going to be needing a nurse at home to take care of me. I think you’re fully qualified for the position so you’re hired.” I continued to push him in his wheelchair.

  “About that. I was talking with Jakey and we thought maybe you might want to stay with us while you’re recovering so that you’ve got someone there for you. I can’t look after you while you’re at your flat because I need to be at home with Jakey but we don’t mind if you came to stay with us for a while.” Deacon kept his head straight so I wasn’t able to see his expression.

  “Stop pushing.” He wheeled himself around to face me. “Baby are you sure?”

  “Yes I’m sure. I talked to Jakey about it and he seems to think you’re cool. You’ll have to stay in the spare room of course. I don’t think he’s ready for someone sleeping in my bed yet.” I could practically see the cogs in Deacons head turning.

  “So I’d be like an in house patient and you’d be my nurse is what you’re saying.” He had turned back around and made the kind of clicking noise you make to a horse to get me to start pushing the wheelchair again. “In that case I expect attentive care all round the clock and sponge baths. Lots and lots of sponge baths. I really need to think about this. This has a lot of potential. I see a lot of role play in your future Miss. Daniels.” I groaned. I was beginning to think I might regret having Deacon as a house guest and yet at the same time a part of me was more than excited. His nurse comment had given me an idea.

  I helped Deacon pack up his essentials at his flat that he would need to bring with him over to mine. There wasn’t as much as I expected but then I guess he was a guy and as he wasn’t going in to work he didn’t need to wear suits or anything like that. I was shocked at how happy Jakey was to see him when he came home from school. They say that children usually have the right intuition about people and if this was anything to go by their relationship looked promising. After dinner Jakey and Deacon played on the Xbox for what felt like a lifetime while I tidied up and got on with catching up on work. At any other time I might have moaned at Deacon for not helping but Jakey looked so content I didn’t want to disturb him.

  After Jakey had gone to bed I helped Deacon upstairs to the spare room. Somet
hing told me he probably could have hobbled up them by himself but he like me fussing over him and to be honest I enjoyed having another person in the house to fuss over. For some reason there was awkwardness in the air. I put it down to the fact that although Deacon had slept over before but it had always been secret. Jakey had never known he was here but now it was different. We’d taken a step forward in our relationship albeit under the pretense that Deacon was just staying over so I could help him. I was now standing by the door wringing my hands with nerves that had bombarded me out of nowhere. Deacon had his head cocked and was looking at me.

  “Dana, are you all right?” He asked.

  “Yes.” I squeaked. “It’s just…um…It’s just that…” I don’t think even knew what I was trying to say to him.

  “A bit weird?” He offered and I nodded in agreement. “Have you ever had a guy stay over with you before?”

  “Well Joe has stayed with us plenty of times before.” I was playing dumb. I knew exactly what he meant.

  “Dana.” I shook my head. “Come and sit with me for a bit.” I cautiously approached the bed and sat down with my back rigid against the headboard. “Dana relax. I wish you would tell me what happened between you and Jacob’s dad. It’s hard to make someone feel better and fix a problem if you don’t know what the problem is in the first place.” He had taken my hands into his and was circling his thumb over the top of my hand. I studied Deacons face. There was no hint of playfulness. He wanted to know and I knew deep down that if we were to move any further forward then I needed to open myself up to him. So I told him. I told him the good, the bad and the ugly. There were parts that opened emotionally wounds that cut so deep that I couldn’t control the tears that spilled but Deacon wiped away every one and pulled me closer and tighter into him and whispered words of comfort.

  By the time I had got it all off my chest I was physically and emotionally exhausted. The last thing I heard before I fell asleep in Deacons arms were “I wish I had been there for you Dana. I would have never let him hurt a hair on your head. I promise you that as long as I breathe I will love you and protect you. I’m honored to have you and Jacob in my life and I’ll use every day to make sure you never forget that. I never want you to feel like you have to hide anything from me again. You’re the other half of my heart just let me love you.” Any remaining tension that I held in my body disappeared with his last words and I hugged him because I felt like a weight had literally been lifted off of my shoulders.

  “I love you Deacon. Thank you for just being you.” With that I fell into the most peaceful sleep I had had in years.

  When I woke up I was alone in bed. It was already morning and daylight was creeping in through the curtains. I shot upright panicking. I needed to get back to my own room before Jakey woke up and wanted to know why I’d slept in Deacons room. Come to think of it, where was Deacon? How was he able to creep out of bed so quietly and me not notice? Questions for later. Right now I needed to channel my inner La Femme Nikita and stalk back to my room. As I opened up the bedroom door the waft of pancakes filled my nose and I followed the scent all the way downstairs automatically. Pancakes were Jakey’s favorite breakfast. He loved them with golden syrup or chocolate spread. Between work and my love affair with my bed on my days off, I very rarely cooked pancakes but it seemed that he’d managed to rope someone into doing them this morning. I crept down the stairs fully in stealth mode and peered round the doorframe to watch the activity in the kitchen. Deacon was standing at the stove frying pancakes and tossing them like a professional with Jakey absolutely fascinated watching him as though his life depended on not missing one single action.

  “Good morning you two. Are you making pancakes for me as well?” I strolled in to the kitchen, kissed Jakey on the head and took a seat next to him. Deacon turned and gave me a smile then went back to his frying pan.

  “Mum, Deacon’s making pancakes. I’ve had two already. You were sleeping so we didn’t wake you. You need to try them they’re amazing.”

  “Sorry Dana, I heard Jacob getting up so we decided to let you have a rest in your comfy bed while we got on with breakfast. Deacon emphasized ‘your’ and I took that to mean that Jakey didn’t know that I had fallen asleep with him last night. Deacon put a plate of hot fluffy pancakes in front of my son and I and we both dug in. I loved mine with sugar and apple sauce. Chocked full of calories but so tasty it hurt.

  The perks of my job was that I could work from home so I called Colin to let him know I’d be working from home for the week but I would be coming in to do my tutorials. Once I dropped Jakey off at school and came back home I was ready to get on with some work in my home office. It seemed however that Deacon had other plans and taking full advantage of his incapacitation, which seemed to come and go, was part of it. He wasn’t downstairs where I’d left him when I looked around so I assumed he’d possibly gone back to bed. I knocked on his bedroom door and poked just my head around the door when he told me to come in. If he was resting I definitely didn’t want to disturb him. When I did look Deacon was watching me intently.

  “Sorry Deacon, I just wanted to make sure you were all right. I’ll let you get some rest.” He wasn’t wearing a shirt and although I’d had that chest on top and beneath me several times, I don’t think I’d paid as much attention to it as I was right now. He was so defined and smooth. I really did hate chest hair and Deacon didn’t have a strand. His chest was perfect. In fact his whole body was perfect.

  “Dana, do you want me to get you a tissue to wipe that drool from the corner of your mouth or do you want to come over and see how it feels?” Damn. I’d gone into my head again and he’d caught me gawping at him. I frowned. He didn’t need to point it out. Deacon smiled and then patted the bed. “Come and lay with me for a while. I got run over and I’m feeling sorry for myself so I need company.” I walked over and laid down on the side that I’d fallen asleep on last night. “This will never do. You’ve got more clothes on than me. You need to take them off. I believe in equality.” I arched an eyebrow at him but decided to play along with his game. I sat up to take my top off. Deacon’s eyes instantly flicked to my fingers and it occurred to me that this might be an opportune way to pay him back for the drool comment he had just made. I took my time undoing each button and could barely contain my smirk at Deacons frustrated face. By the time I got to the middle of my blouse, Deacons hand was reaching for me so I slapped his fingers away. His head snapped up at that point. “Why are you taking so long?” His voice had dropped a tone and I could see the sexual need in his eyes.

  I decided to play dumb. “I’m not. You’re just impatient. I like this top and I don’t want to accidently snag it.” Deacon huffed and sat back, allowing me to continue. Once I’d finished my task with the buttons I started to take off my blouse painfully slow. I think that pushed him over the edge as he whipped up and started taking my blouse of for me. I was laughing so hard but he didn’t seem to find it funny.

  “Damn cock tease. You made your point. Now come here.” He pulled me closer to his body but he didn’t attempt to take anything further. He moved so my head was nestled in the crook of his arm and began to trace circles over my stomach. We began to talk about anything and everything. Every now and then Deacon would pause and kiss the top of my head or the back of my hand while I spoke. It suddenly occurred to me that for once I felt completely whole. Although I loved Jakey with all my heart, I was missing a companion and a partner for myself and now I’d found it. There was absolutely nothing missing in my life.

  We spent the rest of the morning wrapped in each other’s arms and this became the routine every morning after I took Jakey to school. When Friday came I had a little surprise waiting for Deacon. I had ordered a nurses outfit to indulge his role play fantasy. Ma always said ‘if you’re going to anything, never do it by halves’ so I went all out. I had the dress the hat, the white fishnet stockings, hold-ups and some killer heels to finish off the outfit. I did my normal knock on his room
door and waited for him to say come in which was normally some variation ‘hurry up and get under the sheets with me’ or ‘stop knocking on the door doofus’. It very much depended on how playful of a mood he was in. I decided this time I was going to play so instead of walking in I pushed my leg through the crack in the door and wiggled my leg until I was sure he’d seen.

  “What have you got on?” His voice was thick with curiosity. “Hurry up and come in so I can see.” This was fun. I pushed the door open but still stayed hidden. I peaked my head around and caught the excitement splashed across his face. “Finally, a real nurse to take care of my needs. The woman I had before was terrible. She didn’t wear her uniform or anything.” I slowly brought myself around from behind the door and posed, leaning into the doorframe with my right hand above my head on the wall and my left had resting on my hip. “Oh God damn. You’re wearing that every day of the week. I want you to cook, clean and do your womanly duties to me in that uniform. Every. Damn. Day!” I wanted to laugh and in all honesty I felt a little embarrassed by the way he was staring at me. He crooked his finger beckoning me to come over and I shook my head. Normally I was all for giving over control in the bedroom to Deacon but that was more a force of habit. I used to love taking control and right now that was exactly what I wanted. Thanks to the mystic powers of Google I’d added some important knowledge to my tricks. As I crossed to the room to the bed I pulled out the black rope I’d hidden in my pockets. Deacon’s eyebrows shot into his hairline with endlessly amused me.