Love Me Again

by Melissa Crosby

  Jenna rolled his eyes at him. “You don’t even know the lyrics!”

  “Or do I? Wait for it—” Dave smiled widely. “Woah, we’re halfway there. Oh-oh! Livin’ on a prayer.” Dave reached for her hand and used it as his microphone, “Take my hand, we’ll make it, I swear. Woah, livin’ on a prayer!”

  Laughter betrayed Jenna as it burst out from within her. “You’re way off tune!”

  “Sing it with me!”

  And together—just like old times—they sang out loud, without a care in the world. “She says, we’ve got to hold on to what we’ve got! It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not. We’ve got each other, and that’s a lot for love. We’ll give it a shot! Oooooh!”

  Chapter 16

  As they drove past the Willow Oaks boundary, Dave turned right towards the lake. It was almost 8:00pm and there weren’t many people around. They were most probably sitting down to dinner or watching the news. Parents would be putting their kids to bed—just as Macy and Rory would be fast asleep at their Grandma’s. For Dave and Jenna, though, the night was just beginning.

  “Uh-oh,” Jenna said, when she realized he’d turned off the main road. “What are you up to now?”

  “Just a small bit of adventure.”

  “I’m actually a little tired. We’ve been out all day, Dave,” Jenna whined.

  “We won’t be long,” he promised. “This’ll be great for those tired nerves.”

  Dave led Jenna across the park and towards the dock. He sat on the edge where his legs dangled. Dave patted the space next to him. “Come sit down with me.”

  Jenna didn’t protest. She put a hand on his shoulder and sat cross-legged next to him.

  Across the other end of the lake, they could see the lights of the White Willow B&B reflect against the water. “Isn’t this beautiful?” Dave asked. “It’s the small things, Jenna,” he sighed. “The small things.”

  Jenna nodded. “What are we doing here?”

  “Just appreciating what we have.”

  “Dave, I haven’t done any of my chores yet.”

  Dave glanced at her. “You know, it’s not your job to do all that, babe.”

  “The chores won’t do themselves.”

  “What I’m saying is”—Dave took her hand in his—“I should be helping you. We should be doing these things together.”

  Jenna shrugged. “But you’re busy at work,” Jenna said. “You don’t need to add house chores to your list of things to do.”

  “Well, I’ve been thinking... maybe I work too much.”

  Jenna said nothing.

  “I haven’t really been there, have I?” Dave said in a soft voice. “I am as much to blame for what’s happened between us, if not more. I haven’t been there for you.”

  Jenna looked into the distance. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t help it. You work hard to provide for us.”

  Dave turned to her. “Come here,” he said. “Look at me.”

  Jenna adjusted herself to face him.

  He tucked some loose strands of hair behind Jenna’s ear. “We have plenty, Jenna. We have more than what we need. Money... I mean—really. What value is there if I don’t have my family with me? If we can’t even spend time together?” Dave paused for a moment, glancing at the water. “You and I—that’s what’s important. If you and I aren’t right, then the kids won’t be either.”

  Jenna looked down at her hands and pressed down on her pressure points.

  “You know how you said it’s your job to look after the family? Well, it’s not. Your job—first and foremost—is to be the happiest you can be. And only then can you look after others. All this perfection—”

  “What perfection?”

  “Our perfect life! We have the perfect house, from top to bottom. Our kids are perfect. They’re well-mannered—”

  “Of course they are! I teach them to be.”

  “They get good grades.”

  “Because they work had. Every day they sit down to do their homework!”

  Dave could feel Jenna’s defenses rising. “They’re always so clean and tidy, with every strand of hair in place.”

  “That’s because you only see them in the morning, after I’ve dressed them for school,” Jenna argued. “That’s all you see because you’re never home!”

  Dave took a slow breath in. “Then that’s all the more reason I should be with you guys more. I don’t know my own family,” he sighed.

  Jenna pressed deeper into her hand. “It’s not your fault, Dave.”

  Dave felt the mood shift. He needed to take it slow with Jenna—slower. Dave stood up and took his shirt off.

  “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Jenna asked. She looked behind her in case there was anyone around.

  Dave took his shoes and socks off. “I’m living, Jen!” And with that, he jumped into the lake.

  “Dave!” Jenna shouted as water splashed on her.

  Dave resurfaced. “Woo-hoo!!!”

  She got up to her feet. “Oh my goodness, what are you doing? Get back up here! Someone will see you!”

  “Come in, Jen. The water’s great!” Dave splashed more water on her.

  Jenna put her hands up. “Stop it! I’m going to get wet.”

  “That’s the idea! Come in—you’ll love it. Trust me!”

  Jenna stood back as she nervously bit her fingernails. She looked around once more and then rolled her eyes. “Oh, whatever!” She took her shoes off and jumped into the water, fully clothed. As Jenna hit the cold water, she let it engulf her, submitting to gravity. And almost like a cleansing, she felt the water slowly wash away any remaining sorrow left inside her.

  “Yeahhh!” Dave shouted once again.

  Jenna propelled herself upward, and when she resurfaced, she took in a deep breath. “It’s so cold!”

  “It’s invigorating!” Dave countered as he swam towards her. Dave took Jenna in his arms and she responded by wrapping her legs around his waist. “I missed you, baby.”

  “I’ve missed you too,” Jenna said.

  Water trickled down his face. “If I kiss you now”—Dave asked with a smile—“would you hit me?”

  Jenna looked up at him. She remembered those words. Her heart beat as quickly as it did the night that they shared their first kissed. “If I say I won’t hit you... would you kiss me?”

  Dave slowly brought his lips close to hers. “Last chance to take it back,” he whispered.

  “Are you telling me, or telling yourself?” Jenna wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, kissing him just like it was the first time.

  “What’s going on down there?” A voice called from dock.

  Jenna put her hand to protect her eyes from the bright light that alternated between their faces.

  “Brad?” Dave called from the water. It sounded like Brad—or Chief Knight, as he insisted they call him when he was working.

  “Dave? Jenna?” Chief Knight asked. “Are you guys alright?”

  “We’re great! How’s it going?” Dave asked.

  “Geez! Get your butts up and out of the water,” Chief Knight said.

  “You should jump in, Brad!” Jenna yelled out. “It’s beautiful!” She hung on to Dave’s neck and they giggled like two teenagers caught red-handed.

  “Better get out of the water before I call for backup!” Chief Knight threatened.

  “Who you gonna call?” Dave egged him.

  “Ghostbusters!” Jenna joined in.

  “Very funny, guys! I was on my way home when I got a call about a couple of rambunctious teenagers,” Brad said. “Why am I not surprised to find the two of you here?”

  “Rambunctious?” Dave asked.

  “Teenagers?” Jenna followed, and again they burst out laughing.

  “Come on, guys. Set an example here! There could be kids watching.” Brad was frustrated and they could hear it in his voice.

  “Okay, okay—but only if you help me up,” Jenna said.

  Brad tucked hi
s flashlight onto this belt and bent down to help her up. “You better not pull me down, Jenna, or I swear—”

  “I’m not! I promise,” Jenna said between giggles.

  Dave pushed himself up from the water and shook the water off his hair.

  “Hey, watch it!” Chief Knight said, wiping off the spots of water on his uniform. “What are you guys up to, anyway?”

  “We’re living on a prayer, man.” Dave grinned.

  “Go home, guys,” Chief Knight said in his most chief-y voice.

  “Sorry, Chief,” Jenna said. “Can I give you a hug?” Jenna stretched her arms out, clothes soaking.

  “Uh, thanks,”—Chief Knight put a hand up to stop her—“but no, thanks.”

  “I’ll take a hug!” Dave came up from behind her and carried her over his shoulder.

  Jenna screamed. “Dave! Put me down. Put me down now!”

  “Get a room, you two,” Brad said. “Don’t forget your shoes!”

  “Aye, aye, Chief!” Dave said and ran off with Jenna giggling.

  Chapter 17

  Once home, Dave locked the door behind them. “You wanna go up and shower while I make a fire?” He took his shirt off and used it to rub his hair dry.

  Jenna smiled at him. Her eyes sparkled almost invitingly. “I won’t be long,” she said. “Make sure you get changed, or you’ll catch a cold.”

  “Yes, ma’am!” Dave stood with his hands on his waist and watched her as she disappeared around the hall and up the stairs. He liked the story that her damp hair told. “I’ll be waiting right here.”

  Dave turned his attention to the fireplace and threw some logs in. He couldn’t remember the last time that he had that much with Jenna. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had any fun at all.

  The day couldn’t have gone any better, he thought. It was perfect. He had enjoyed seeing Jenna on stage, doing what she loved. And seeing how much it meant to her—that was priceless. There was still more that he wanted to tell her, but for now, Dave was happy.

  JENNA CAME DOWN AND smiled at the sight of Dave asleep on the couch. Livin’ it up like a teenager, she thought. A gentle snore escaped from his throat.

  The fire warmed the air, and the sound of the crackling logs warmed her soul. She took a blanket from the throw basket she kept by the sofa and laid it over Dave.

  Dave’s eyes flickered open. He let out a stretch and smiled at her. “Hey, beautiful,” he said as he reached for her hand. His voice was raspy, almost husky.

  “Hey, yourself,” she smiled and whispered. “Go back to sleep.”

  “No.” Dave sat up and patted the seat next to him. “Come here.”

  Jenna sat down as Dave untangled himself from the throw and re-laid it over both of them.

  “You smell nice.” Dave placed an arm around Jenna and kissed the side of her head.

  “You feel nice and warm.” Jenna snuggled into his arms. She’d forgotten how good it felt to be in his big, muscular arms. It had always been her weakness when it came to Dave. He was both brains and brawn.

  Dave flexed his arm like a body-builder. “You like that?”

  Jenna laughed and buried her face in his chest. “Silly!”

  “I know you like my arms. Okay, here—I’ll allow you to touch them,” he teased. “Just this once because I know I’m so irresistible.”

  Jenna giggled like a schoolgirl, and it felt good.

  Dave pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. “This is nice, isn’t it?”

  She had to admit—it was very nice. Since Macy and Rory came along, Jenna had not had any real time off to herself. But she’d never really thought of it that way. It just seemed like it was what was expected of her. It was her role as their mother to be with them and make sure they never wanted for anything. “It is.”

  “Hey, Jen,”—Dave smoothed her hair—“when we were at the lake earlier...”

  “Mm-hmm?” Jenna closed her eyes and breathed his scent in. Only Dave could make her feel what she was now feeling inside.

  “About the divorce papers...”

  Jenna opened her eyes, but she didn’t dare look at him.

  “I know that I haven’t explained things properly. And I know that I haven’t made any real sense either. I’ve tried explaining it to myself, and the truth is, I struggled to. So I’m just gonna go ahead and say it.”

  Jenna braced herself.

  Dave let out a breath and buried his face in her hair. “I want you to know that I didn’t see a lawyer.”

  “You didn’t?” Jenna sat up. “What about those papers?”

  “They were online templates.” Dave took his arm from around her shoulders and shook his head. “I foolishly filled them in one day at work, in between patients. I was feeling out of sorts—desperate, you could say. It was a dumb thing to. I shouldn’t have done it,” he said. “And you finding it the way that you did—that wasn’t cool. And I know I hurt you.”

  Jenna leaned back into Dave’s arms. She’d let out a breath she’d been holding since she first found the papers, replacing it with a new one. She didn’t know what to make of all of this. Filled it in between patients? What was she supposed to say? “I don’t understand.”

  “It was a stupid thing to do and I never intended for you to find it. Nor did I ever intend to do anything with it.”

  “And what about this past weekend?” Jenna asked. “What was all this about?”

  “It’s everything I’ve been planning—been working on it for a while now. Look, I love you, Jenna. Always have, always will.” Dave put a hand on her leg. “Do you remember that time when Macy got the chicken pox?”

  Jenna nodded. “That was six months ago.”

  “I watched how you took care of her. How you’d get up in the middle of the night when she would cry from the itch. You even washed her in that powder bath.”

  “Baking soda.”

  “Yeah, baking soda.” Dave nodded.

  “It soothes the itching.” Jenna shrugged. “She needed me.”

  “I know. And I realized that I need you. Without you, my life is meaningless.”

  Jenna said nothing.

  “But more importantly, I also realized... that you need me too.”

  Jenna fought to keep her tears from falling.

  “I wasn’t there for you. I kept working and working—telling myself that I needed to keep climbing that ladder. Bring home more of the bacon.”

  “We don’t need—”

  “I know that now.” Dave held her hands in his. “I hate who I’ve become.”

  “Don’t.” Jenna looked at him and put her hand on his cheek. She knew what he was going to say. “You are not your father.”

  “I realize now how close I’ve come to losing you—and the children. And I don’t ever want that to happen. I’ve wasted so much time.” Dave sat up and ran a hand through his hair. “Jenna... I’m leaving the hospital.”

  Chapter 18

  Dave knew that it would come as a surprise to Jenna. How she would take it—he didn’t know.

  “What? Why?” Jenna asked.

  He felt her hand rub gently across his back. “I’m not happy there,” he mumbled.

  “What do you mean?” Jenna leaned forward. “You love your work.”

  Dave rubbed his hands together. He’d been thinking about it for the past year. He just never had the courage to do it—much less acknowledge how much he wanted out. “It no longer feels like what I’ve initially set out to do.” He glanced at Jenna.

  Jenna’s face was calm. She was listening.

  So he continued. “The reason I wanted to be a doctor was so that I could be of service to people. You know what I mean? And somewhere along the track... it became about making money. Competing for the top spot. I just kept going for it—days, weeks, hundreds of hours.”

  “Could you cut your hours back?”

  “It’s not just that.” He shook his head. He’d thought this through. “I want to be home more—with
you and the kids. They’re growing up and they don’t know me. And I feel like I don’t know them, you know? I don’t even know who Rory’s best friend is.” Dave leaned back into the sofa. “Dad of the year...”

  “Dave...”

  “How many more years of the kids’ lives should I miss before it’s finally enough? I mean, how much more of our family time do I need to give up before the pressure stops building up?” Dave rubbed his face. “What’s the point of being so successful, if I lose you and the kids in the process? That kind of sacrifice just isn’t worth it, Jen.” He looked at Jenna and took her hand in his. “And you—us—I miss us.”

  “Oh, Dave... how did I not know this? How did I not know that you were so unhappy?”

  “It’s not you, Jenna. Don’t put one bit of it on your shoulders.” Dave let out a sigh. “I haven’t been very good at sharing my feelings. This one’s on me.”

  “Whatever you need, Dave. We will make it work.” Jenna stroked his hair. “What are you thinking of doing after you leave the hospital?”

  Dave grinned at her. He stood up and offered her a hand. “Come with me.”

  Jenna smiled and eyed him with a sideways glance. “Uh-oh... don’t tell me you’ve got another surprise in the wings. What is it this time?”

  Dave pulled her up from the sofa and led her to his office. He turned the lights on and went straight for the filing cabinet. “Have a seat,” he said, pulling his chair out for her. “I wanna show you something.”

  Jenna sat down as she was told and waited.

  Excitedly, Dave put a manila folder in front of her.

  JENNA FROZE FOR A MOMENT. Another manila folder. She looked questioningly at Dave.

  “Go ahead... open it.”

  Inside the folder was a picture of a chapel. Jenna knew the one. The old chapel on Oakwood Drive, on the eastern side of the lake. “That’s the old church,” she said, as she ran a hand over the picture. It was at least a hundred years old and had been abandoned some years ago.