by J. Darling
“Alright then, follow me.”
Walking in, Jake was immediately inundated by the smell of cloves. The realtor was nattering on about room sizes, square footage, and property taxes, but he heard none of it. The rooms were crisp and fresh, in modern day color schemes, but the décor was definitely old world vintage made functional. Looking around at the furniture, he swore some of it had to be from Sweden, maybe had been her grandmothers.
Moving through the rooms, he saw her everywhere, in the richly jeweled-toned props against the soft, light colors of the walls and furniture, in the whimsical artwork she no doubt painted and collected over the years, in the passion of repeated themes throughout, and in the cherished keepsakes protected by glass.
Her kitchen was nothing short of exquisite, copper everywhere, on the walls, hanging from the ceiling, and then there were old fashioned jars and crocks in corners and on shelves full of fun and unique things. Dishes, dishes, dishes, and a long, long shelf full of every kind of cookbook imaginable.
“I told you I liked to cook...”
That was a lie, he thought. She didn’t like to cook, she loved to cook. Stepping into a little room off the kitchen, he found her den. Holy crap, the room wasn’t big, but she had one whole wall full of books on cooking. Noticing two of them on her desk, he stepped over and glanced at them. Oh boy, foods from the time of Shakespeare, and then the other, contrasting cuisines from the classical and romantic periods. No wonder she knew so much, if she liked reading this kind of stuff. “Could I see the upstairs, please?”
“Certainly, right this way. It’s three bedrooms and a bath up, and one bath down,” the realtor explained.
The smaller bedroom, still a decent sized room, had obviously been Linnie’s as there was still some Packer stuff present and a crap load of boxes with her name on them. The next room over was Jules’s bedroom, and he could, without a doubt, envision her nestled all warm and cozy in that old fashioned bed loaded with pillows.
Stepping further into the room and trying not to be obvious, he walked across to her night stand and glanced at the book she was reading. Oh good Lord, he had to catch himself from laughing aloud, Design Fundamentals of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco Movement. Yeah, some easy reading there, he thought, with a laugh. Shit, what had he really expected to find, the chronicles of Beavis and Butt-head?
Moving to the last and largest bedroom, Jake was overwhelmed when he saw her easel and painter’s palette. She had a shitload of brushes and tubes of paints. The walls and floor were lined with stacks of paintings. Walking around to look at her current work on the easel, he stopped, and stood staring. He didn’t quite know how to describe it, but it was a colorful piece with a strong romantic feel. A profile of sorts, of the two of them kissing. Then hovering around them in flowing curves and lines, was a wreath of flowers and vines tied at the top with an amber colored oval shape, that was remarkably similar to the one he was holding in his hand right now. When combined, it created the illusion of a heart around the two of them. At the very top of the painting were the words Ti Amo Anch’io. Those were the words she’d said to him right before the helicopter took her away.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” the realtor said, as she came and stood beside him.
He continued to study the painting, then answered, “Yeah, the style is kind of familiar, I just don’t know what it is.”
“Oh, I do. You see a lot as a realtor. It’s art nouveau, the predecessor to the art deco movement of the nineteen twenties. It’s prevalent throughout this house, and this is a pretty cute piece, rather resplendent in all honesty. I imagine it’s called, ‘I Love You Too.’”
He turned and looked at the woman, his brain skipping all over the place. “I’m sorry, I missed that, what did you say?”
“The painting, I imagine it’s called, ‘I Love You Too.’ My husband’s Italian, ti amo anch’io is Italian for, I love you too.”
After weeks of being dead inside, Jake’s heart came to life. “Has the owner moved already? Is the property available now?”
The realtor nodded. “Yes, she hasn’t been here for some time. She’s been convalescing elsewhere, and is in the process of relocating to another state due to employment.”
Moving to the stairs, Jake began going down at a clip. “Should I wish to make an offer, is the owner still in the area to close the deal quickly?”
“No, I’m sorry she isn’t. But we have the means to timely manage a sales agreement. Would you care to take a handout with information regarding the house?”
“Yes, please,” he answered, taking one more look around before heading to the door.
Handing him a sheet of paper, she said, “My name and number are on the sheet. Might I get your name for my records?”
Looking over the sheet he found her name. “Ms. Tamburo, I’m Jake Albrecht. It was nice to meet you. Thank you for your time.”
“You’re very welcome, I hope to hear from you soon.”
Getting in his truck, he took a minute to think. She loved him, and he loved her. They were meant to be together. He would find her, he absolutely would. He would go home. He would go back to Luck and regroup, get Linnie to help him. She had to help, she just had to. He wouldn’t allow it to be any other way.
*****
“Linnie, I really appreciate your taking me shopping,” Jules said, as she unpacked several bags of groceries. “I want to make a few nice things for the guys for Valentine’s Day.”
Linnie laughed at her. “How is this different from any other day around here? You’re spoiling them, Jules. They’ll never need to find themselves a wife because you spoil them with your cooking.”
Jules couldn’t help grinning as she unpacked more stuff. “I know.” She blushed. “But I like to cook, and they appreciate what I do, and that makes it all the better. I have years of not cooking to make up for.”
Linnie shook her head. “Good thing they work hard enough to appreciate your efforts. So what’s on the menu tonight?”
Jules shrugged. “Nothing big, I’m feeling something French though, I thought we’d do Cornish Hens L’Orange, served on sausage dressing, with some fire roasted vegetables, then we’ll finish with these quaint little individual lemon soufflés.”
Linnie snorted. “Nothing big, huh? I’m afraid to ask about tomorrow.”
“Oh, tomorrow will be a snap,” Jules said, making her point by snapping her fingers once. “It’s going to be Steak Au Poivre, marinated fresh mushrooms, a classic green salad, and these little fingerling potatoes. Aren’t they cute?” she asked, holding up a bag of small elongated potatoes. “I thought I’d roast them lightly, then sauté them in rosemary butter. Look, they even come in different colors. See?”
Linnie looked at the bag, then back at Jules. “Might the lettuce for this salad be plain old iceberg, with a few carrots and purple cabbage shreds, and come out of a plastic bag?”
Jules shook her head. “Ohhh no, it’s a mix of various fresh greens.”
“Aha, and might you be using salad dressing that comes from a bottle marked Hidden Valley, or Kraft, or Seven Seas or something?”
Jules shook her head again innocently. “Umm, no, it’s, aaah, vinaigrette, I’ll make it fresh.”
“And might the mushrooms be cooked with plain old butter?”
Jules looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “Ahhh, no, I said they’d be marinated, not sautéed.”
Linnie raised an eyebrow. “Just what’s involved in cooking this steak?”
“Mmmm, not much,” Jules answered, focusing on the groceries, while avoiding Linnie’s stare. “Seasoned on each side and lightly seared in butter, then kept warm in a low oven while a cognac cream sauce is whipped up in the pan with the drippings. Pour it over the top and dinner is served.”
“A snap, huh?” Linnie snapped her fingers on both hands multiple times to get her point across.
Jules rolled her eyes. “Stop. The steak can be seasoned ahead of time, and when sautéed, only takes two to
three minutes per side, the sauce, less than five minutes. The potatoes can be cooked ahead of time and be braised in the rosemary butter as the steaks cook. The salad and vinaigrette can be made ahead of time and tossed at the last minute. The same goes for the marinated mushrooms. See, easy peasy, and a snap,” Jules snapped her fingers once to make her point. “Besides, I want to have something nice ready in case Jake should come home.”
“Have you called him…yet?” Linnie asked, exasperated.
Jules shook her head. “No, I know I should, but I’ve been chicken. I almost texted him twice, but then lost my nerve. I know he’d be here in an instant, and then his studies would suffer, and well, I wanted to be walking better when I saw him.”
“You’re doing well, you’ve graduated to using a cane.”
Jules nodded. “I promised him if the Packers won I’d be in Luck come Valentine’s Day, and they did, so I’m hoping he remembers. It was part of the agreement for the job promotion. I couldn’t start until after Valentine’s week.”
Linnie shrugged. “Well, let’s cross our fingers then, shall we? Let’s hope that Jake remembers. And if not, then you could always call him, hint, hint.”
Jules took a deep breath. “Linnie, what if he doesn’t—”
Linnie put her hand up, palm out. “Stop. Don’t even think it. I know my brother, he loves you, Jules, he does. Now, I just realized you purposely left something off the “easy as a snap” menu for tomorrow.”
“Oh,” Jules said, turning a light pink as she bit her lip.
“What are the dessert plans, hmmm?” Linnie asked, as she narrowed her eyes on Jules. “I know you have some, so don’t try and hide it from me.”
“Ahh, not much, just a kladdkaka torte with raspberry filling and a chocolate ganache glaze,” Jules answered, trying out her best smile.
Linnie pursed her lips and shook her head. “Lord help us. I don’t even want to know how many layers. Come on, if there’s any hope of ever getting out of the kitchen today, we better get started.”
*****
Jake was exhausted, but the closer he got to Luck, the more alive he felt. It was so good to be home. Passing through town, he gave the horn a tap when he spotted Johnson in his patrol car off to the side of the road. He was rewarded with a flash from the patrol car’s spotlight. Turning down 280th, he crossed over the Gandy Dancer Trail, past the tree line, and up the hill, when he looked out the driver’s side window and stopped the truck.
Taking a deep breath, he stared upon the flickering auras of the northern lights. It was kind of early for them, but then March was right around the corner. Thinking back to the last time he’d seen them three months ago, made him remember their first kiss. Closing his eyes, he could almost feel her in his arms.
“I will never forget these moments with you for as long as I live.”
Yeah, well neither would he. He was going to find her, and bring her home. Putting his truck in gear, he turned and headed down the driveway. Pulling in the yard at half past midnight, he was finally able to say he was home. He sure the hell couldn’t figure out how Linnie’d stayed away for five years, when he’d barely survived being away five weeks. Grabbing his gym bag, he headed for the house.
Dropping his stuff by the door and kicking off his boots, he headed up the stairs and straight to the refrigerator. He was starving. Pulling out a plate, he peeled back the cling wrap and looked at the leftovers. Hmmm, from the looks of it, Linnie was getting adventurous. He didn’t care as long it tasted good.
Heating it up, he grabbed a glass of milk and sat, digging in and moaning with the first bites. Damn, that was some good shit. Inhaling the food like it was the first meal he’d eaten in months, well weeks actually, he went in search of something sweet.
“Dessert’s in the pantry.”
Jake spun around at the sound of Linnie’s voice. Walking over, he threw his arms around her and gave her a big hug, as he lifted her off her feet. Setting her down, he spoke as he headed for the pantry. “I need your help.”
“Is that so,” she responded, as she sat at the table. “With what?”
“Finding Jules. I have to see her. I can’t wait anymore. I’ve given her enough time to come to me first. She isn’t going to, so I need to go to her.” Setting down the dessert, Jake headed to the fridge for more milk. Sitting, he took a bite, chewed, then swallowed. “Damn, Linnie, your cooking’s improved in the five weeks I’ve been gone. Whatever these are, they’re some tasty grub.”
She nodded, looking amused. “Yeah, I’ve been working at it, getting a little instruction here and there.”
After smacking his lips from the tartness of the lemon, he asked, “Will you help me, please? Give me her address or something. I haven’t called or texted her because it would be too easy for her to just ignore it.”
“I’ll help. Go to bed and rest easy. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Bound and determined, he continued, “Just so you know, when I find her, I’m bringing her home. I am. If she refuses to listen to reason, I’m going to need your help. I refuse to take no for an answer.”
Linnie stood, then reached out and stroked his stubbled cheek. Speaking softly, she said, “I understand. Go rest. We’ll talk in the morning. All will be well.” Then she turned and left the room.
Feeling like she’d just opened the release valve on his anxiety with her calmness, he sat back in his chair. He didn’t know if he had the energy to get up. Thankful his room was downstairs because he’d have gravity on his side, he stood, turned out the lights, and headed for his room.
Going down the first flight of stairs, he grabbed his gym bag from the landing and headed down the second flight. Half way down, he saw a soft light coming from his room. He paused. She wouldn’t…be here…would she? Going down the rest of the way, he went and stood in the doorway to his room. There she was.
Rubbing his face, he suddenly remembered something Nate had said to him when Linnie’d gone missing. He’d said, “Man, I really hope for your sake, that when you find Miss Right, you never have to go through what I’m going through now. I think I’ve aged ten years in two weeks.” He could appreciate that statement a lot more now, but at the time he thought it was funny. Hell, in five weeks, he’d swear he’d aged fifty years.
Turning, he went to the bathroom and readied himself for bed. Soon he was standing next to her. Reaching out, he shut off the light, and ever so carefully crawled in next to her. He didn’t want her waking up and kicking him out.
“I understand. Go rest. We’ll talk in the morning. All will be well.”
There was a message in that statement, he was sure of it. Relaxing, he settled in while putting his hands over his head. It wasn’t long before Jules rolled up to his side and snuggled in, putting her head on his chest. Slowly he brought his arms down and around her. She was where she was supposed to be, right next to him, held safe within the love of his embrace.
CHAPTER 13
Hovering somewhere between asleep and awake, Jules felt warm on one half of her body, and cold on the other. I need to get closer to the warmth, she thought, but she wasn’t able to move. There was a slight breeze, then a tiny tickle on her face. She scrunched up her nose, trying to make it stop. I’m lying against a rock, she thought. I’m cold, and the rock is warm, I need to huddle down low and get as close to the rock as I can. She felt that breeze again. Why in the world am I laying outside, she wondered, the air is so cold. Go to the rock. Trying, trying, trying, she couldn’t move. The rock was so warm, so nice and warm. She drifted.
Wait, who was bouncing a ball? She strained to hear it, a muffled, rhythmic thump… thump… thump. There was that breeze again. She shivered, then felt a light brushing on her nose. Something feathery just tickled my nose. It happened again. Wait! There, there’s something on my nose. There’s a bug crawling on my nose!
Jules pushed herself up on her hands in a panic, then began frantically rubbing her nose. Opening her eyes, she tried to focus, but flinched from the
morning light, slamming her eyes shut. Her heart hammered rapidly. Rubbing her eyes, she guardedly opened them again. It almost looked like Jake was lying there with that grin on his face. She was most certainly hallucinating.
Hypnagogia, she thought as she rubbed her face and eyes. I’m in a hypnagogic state precipitated by the meds I’m on. Or was it hypnopompic? Her brain danced around, her synapses misfiring. It was hypnopompic, she was sure of it. Wow, she needed to get off these meds, her brain was logy. A shower would probably help, and then a cup of hot chocolate. Yeah, she was going to have a Swedish Snowdrift this morning.
Trying to sit up, she couldn’t and fell down onto one elbow. What the heck? Frustrated, she opened her eyes again and saw a grinning Jake.
With a raspy voice, he said, “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Jake?”
He nodded as he smiled widely. “It’s me, sweetheart. Come here and give me one of those kisses of yours.”
Her heart squeezed, and tears sprung to her eyes. Pulling herself up higher in the bed, she grabbed him by the face and kissed him with everything she had. “Oh Jake, I’m sorry, so, so sorry.” Then a long kiss, before she put her arms around him and hugged him tight. “I was in a bad place, Jake. I was in a bad place, and I was confused.” Pulling back she looked at him with sadness, and said, “Please, forgive me, say you’ll forgive me. Please?”
Reaching up he stroked her face. “You’re forgiven, bebis. Totally and completely forgiven.”
“Oh, Jake…I,” unable to continue, she kissed him again, longer and deeper this time.
Putting his arms around her, he rolled to his side and ran his fingers through her hair. “When did you get here?” he asked, as he studied her face.
Feeling ashamed, she looked away. She swallowed, and answered, “I, ahhh, arrived a little over three weeks ago.”
He turned her face back to him, then wiped his thumb across her cheek. “Please don’t cry. Someone as beautiful as you should never be made to cry.”