Wagering Home

by C. M. Boers

  I nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head. “She means nothing now, just a distant memory of a bad mistake. My dad tried to warn me about her . . . wait, is that why he brought this up? Did he say something to you about your intentions?” His face changed so quickly, to concern and worry.

  “No, actually the opposite. He said I didn’t have a gold-digging bone in my body. He thinks I’m just what you need.”

  Jack sat back in his seat and stared blankly at me. “He said that?”

  “Yeah.”

  He offered a smile, then pulled the car back onto the road, my hand clutched tighter than before.

  Late one November night, when Jack and I came out of the movies, there was a missed call from Grace. Though, when I called her back from the car, she didn’t answer.

  Jack walked me to the door, and we were greeted by a suitcase sitting on my doorstep.

  “What in the world?”

  “There’s a note.” Jack pointed.

  Since someone ignored my call and they weren’t here for my surprise, I went to the club to wait.

  Don’t wait up!

  Grace

  “She really is full of surprises,” Jack said, laughing.

  “That’s Grace. I’m so excited to see her.” I bounced on my toes. “Will you help me bring all this in?”

  “Sure. Oof, this weighs a ton!”

  I shoved the door open and held it for him to come in.

  He dropped the bag just inside the door and kicked it shut. “Does this mean I get to hang out until she comes back?”

  He grinned at me eagerly, urging me to say yes. Like it really took convincing.

  “Oh, you think you get to stay, huh?”

  He nodded.

  “And what do you suggest we do while we wait?”

  He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me in. His lips found mine like a magnet drawn to the fridge. I held my breath, letting the warmth of his touch spread through my body.

  My hands found their way around his back and slid upwards, drawing him in closer. His straining muscles of his back lured me to feel them better. I pushed my hands under his shirt and relished his warm, bare skin on my arms.

  Behind Jack, the door sprang open, knocking against the wall, jarring me back to reality.

  “It’s about time . . . oh . . . uh, I’ll just wait out here. Take your time.” The naughty grin lit up Grace’s face, and she slowly started to shut the door.

  I laughed against Jack’s lips. “Stop!”

  Jack spun away from me, and I could see all of Grace when realization struck. I staggered.

  “Grace! You’re standing!”

  “I know.” Her voice paled in comparison to her normal loud tone. She was proud, and emotional.

  I threw myself at her, careful not to knock her over. “How long have you been walking?”

  “A little while now, but completely without the wheelchair for a few days.”

  “That’s seriously the best news I’ve heard in a long time. I’m so excited for you.”

  “Me too. What’s up, Jack?”

  Jack nodded in her direction. “Two legs looks good on you.”

  “They do, don’t they?”

  “I will say, I think I’ll miss seeing those wheelchair dance moves though,” I said.

  “They were pretty good, weren’t they?” She giggled. “Wow, you’ve really come a long way since the last time I was here. A whole living room now!”

  “Yep, finally got all that a few weeks ago. Jack wouldn’t stop teasing me about my floor pillow furniture.”

  “That’s because floor pillows are not furniture.”

  “Exactly!” Jack chimed in.

  I stuck my tongue out at the two of them.

  “So, where am I sleeping?” Grace asked as she dropped onto the couch.

  “Right there?” I said. “Unless you want me to pull out the air mattress you slept on before?”

  “Nope this is good.” She settled herself down further into the cushions. “This is a really comfortable couch. Did you know that?”

  “Ah, yep.” I laughed.

  “That’s because I helped pick it out.” Jack puffed out his chest.

  I shoved his shoulder. “Oh hush, nobody asked you.”

  “Mmm, I’m so tired. I’m just going to fall asleep now, okay? Night-night.”

  “Okay.” I giggled, flipping off the light.

  The next morning, I woke to Grace in my bed, staring at me.

  “Whoa,” I groaned. “Why are you already awake?”

  “Early bird, remember? Already done with all my exercises, and you’re still asleep.”

  “Yes, because it’s the weekend, and on weekends, normal people sleep in.”

  Air whooshed from her mouth. “Listen to that snark! You sound like me.”

  “I’d think you’d be proud.”

  “I kind of am.” She leaned back against my wall, dazing for a minute.

  But it gave me the chance to wake myself up more. I rubbed my eyes.

  “Come on.” She slapped the bed. “Let’s go!”

  Not long enough.

  “Where are we going?” I knew better than to try to plan anything when Grace came to town. She always had ideas that kept things interesting.

  “Shopping! I haven’t been this excited to try on new clothes in forever.”

  “Okay, but I need coffee first.”

  “Duh. That’s the first stop.” She jumped up and smacked my butt through the covers on her way out of the bed. “Hurry, I’m ready and waiting!”

  I threw back the covers and pried myself out of bed.

  We hit the coffeehouse on the way to the closest mall. I got to the counter, and Jack stood up from behind it, yelling something about being out to someone in back.

  “What can I get you guys?” he said, turning. And then his face lit up. “Hey.”

  “Hey, you. I didn’t know you were going to be here this morning.”

  He leaned over the counter to give me a quick peck.

  “Aww,” Grace purred. “You didn’t tell me he worked at the coffeehouse too.”

  Jack shook his head, trying to hold back a smile. “Hadn’t planned on it, but they were having some issues with some things, so I figured it would be easier just to come in. Where are you guys off to?”

  “Shopping,” Grace said.

  He raised his eyebrows. “Fun.”

  “Anything with me is fun.” Grace grinned. “But first, I need caffeine. Large mocha, please.”

  He turned back to me. “White mocha?”

  I nodded.

  He called our drink orders over to the barista working at the bar, then came around the counter and put his arm around me and hung with us until our paper cups were slid onto the hand-off counter.

  “If you want to cancel for tonight, don’t worry about it,” Jack whispered in my ear.

  “No, no, but do you mind if she joins us?”

  “Of course not.”

  “I think she’ll really like that place.”

  “Mmm. This is exactly what I needed.” Grace closed her eyes, savoring her coffee.

  I kissed Jack and turned to leave. Grace followed, making kissing noises in Jack’s direction.

  “Bye, honey bunny,” she called.

  I turned in time to see him shaking his head. Not many could resist her humor.

  By the third store, it became apparent Grace wanted to try almost everything on. Well, maybe I was being dramatic, but she seemed to take twice as long as me in there, which had me wondering if she was sitting for a lot of the time, resting. I wouldn’t blame her if she needed to, but I doubted she’d ever admit it. She was too proud.

  “Hey, should we take a break and get something to eat?” I suggested.

  “Oh, yeah. I’m starved.”

  “So, what made you decide to come out so suddenly?”

  She opened the door and looked at me with an arm full. “What? You aren’t happy I came?”

&nb
sp; “Of course I am. I’d never turn away a visit from you, but I was just wondering if there was more to it.”

  She groaned. “You know I don’t like talking about depressing crap.”

  “Yes, I do, which is why I asked.”

  She was quiet the entire time we ordered our food until we sat and started eating. I gave her the time she needed, knowing her quiet meant she was thinking.

  “My parents threatened to kick me out when I told them I wanted to come visit now that I can walk.”

  “Why would they care? It’s just a few days.”

  She didn’t lift her eyes from her plate, but I could see her bite her lip. “I’m technically not supposed to be without the wheelchair yet.”

  “Grace!”

  “I’m fine! They’re just being overprotective.”

  “They love you.”

  “I know they do, but nobody knows what it’s like to have something like your leg function taken away. Now that it’s back, I never want to go back to that chair.”

  “I don’t blame you, but if the doctor’s . . .”

  She glared at me.

  “Look, you aren’t going to like what I’m going to say,” I started.

  “Then don’t say it.”

  “But I had to do a lot too when I was recovering. I can understand wanting to just be yourself all over again. If anyone can understand that, it’s me. I may not be limited physically anymore, but you know how much this memory thing has held me back.”

  She crossed her arms, but she didn’t argue.

  “Everyone just wants you to have everything back, but why risk it if you aren’t supposed to be up all the time? Is the freedom really that hard to wait for that you’re willing to risk losing it all?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “Grace.”

  “I get it, okay? I just wanted one weekend. I couldn’t even last two days.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Do you really think it takes me that long to change?” She cocked her head to the side.

  “You need to call your parents.”

  She stuck her tongue out at me. “I will. Tonight, when my plane lands.”

  “You fly out tonight? Already?”

  She nodded. “I told you I only wanted a weekend. It was short, so I figured it would be fine.”

  “Are they going to let you come home?”

  She shrugged. “I doubt they’ll actually kick me out.”

  “Good. Let me know either way.”

  “Fine. Can we be done with this . . . yuck, please?”

  “Yes. When does your plane leave?”

  She looked at her phone. “Three hours.”

  “Grace! You hardly gave us any time to get there!”

  “What? I didn’t really want to go back.”

  I shook my head.

  We rounded the airport an hour later, with all her bags in tow.

  “Good luck.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m really glad you came.”

  “Me too. And for what it’s worth, you’re so much happier with Jack. I never saw you smile as big as you did when he was with you.”

  “Thanks.”

  She gave me a quick squeeze and let go.

  “Blech.” She shook like a shiver had run through her whole body. “I hate that mushy stuff.”

  “Don’t forget to call me when you talk to your parents. I mean it.”

  She gave me a thumbs up and shut the door.

  She never called, but I did get a thumbs-up text from her later that night while I was cozied up on my couch with Jack. Her way of avoiding talking about hard things, but at least I knew she was back home where she belonged.

  I snuggled deeper into him, focusing all my attention on the movie in front of us.

  The next thing I knew, someone was rubbing my back, coaxing me awake. His soothing voice tickled my ear. “Wake up.”

  “Jack?” I mumbled.

  He kissed my forehead. “It’s time to get up, beautiful.”

  “What time is it?” I searched the darkness for a clock, coming up empty. “The sun isn’t up.”

  “Almost. You’ve got to get up.” He waved a steaming paper cup in front of me. The smell of coffee hit me, tricking my brain into waking up more for the warm reward.

  My mind couldn’t comprehend why he would be here, let alone waking me up before the sun, but I pulled myself up and reached for the coffee.

  “What are we doing?”

  “Just get dressed. Dress warm, it’s chilly.” He lifted me from the couch and guided me towards the stairs.

  I dressed, moving only as fast as my sleepy body would allow, my curiosity growing the more I awoke.

  Jack was waiting at the front door when I emerged from my room. “Ready?”

  “I don’t know. What do I need to be ready for?”

  A grin lit up his face. He relished keeping this unexpected surprise from me.

  He opened the door and gestured for me to go ahead of him.

  “You aren’t going to tell me, are you?”

  He leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “Nope.”

  The street was silent, all businesses closed and dark. There wasn’t a single car in sight.

  I shivered against the cold leather seat in Jack’s car. As if anticipating my cold, he reached forward and switched on the heated seat. Before long, the crisp cold was just a memory.

  The car swung away from my street, then away from the city, leaving the lights hidden behind the tall tree branches of the forest. Not a single light shone in our rearview.

  Jack turned the car off the highway onto a dirt road. It ended shortly in an empty parking lot. He stopped the car in the closest place next to the trailhead.

  “We’re going hiking?”

  “Sort of.”

  “Sort of.” I eyed him.

  He made to zip his lips and got out. He’d pulled a basket out of his trunk before I’d even exited. I followed him to the opening between two huge boulders and glanced down at my shoes.

  “You didn’t tell me to wear hiking shoes.”

  “Those will be fine.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me along.

  The trail itself wasn’t much different than walking on a sidewalk—it was firmly packed, with not many rocks or debris. The darkness that surrounded us was a little creepy at times. It felt like there were eyes on us, though we couldn’t see them.

  When the sky began to lighten, the trail gave way to a flattened mountaintop. It was still too dark to see anything below, but I couldn’t wait to see the view when the sun rose. And then it hit me as I watched Jack spread a blanket on the ground.

  A smile crept up on my face, and I crossed my arms. “Mister Bridges, did you wake me up at a god-awful hour to go on a hike so we could watch the sunrise?”

  “Maybe.” He patted the blanket next to him and pulled out a thermos. “I may have also brought your favorite coffee.”

  “You’re the best.”

  He handed me the lid of the thermos, filled with creamy white chocolatey warmth. It couldn’t get much better. And then he proved me wrong when he placed a blueberry scone in my hand.

  “Mmm, breakfast too. What did I do to deserve this?”

  He leaned over and put his arm around me. “You don’t have to do anything. You deserve the world.”

  The sun brightened the horizon. Slowly it rose from just peeking out, to fully exposed, casting light out onto everything below. The view below was breathtaking, more than I could have imagined.

  “How did you find this place?” I asked.

  “I think I’ve hiked every trail within a thirty-mile radius.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded. “Before I met you, work was the only thing that occupied my time. I needed something to blow off steam.”

  “You’ll have to show me some.”

  “This one . . .” He paused. “This is where I come to think.”

  “It’s amazing. I usually just go into the woods beh
ind my house.”

  “Anything good back there?” He leaned back on his hands, watching me rather than the sunrise.

  “There’s a stream. I like to sit on this rock and watch it. I haven’t gone much further than that though.”

  “With all the time I’ve spent at the coffeehouse, I don’t know why I never thought to go back there.”

  “Probably because when you went hiking, it was to think, to get away from all influences, but back there. . .” I shook my head. “It’s too close.”

  I looked at him, wondering if I was getting my point across. He just nodded. “You’re right.”

  I laid my head on his shoulder as the sky turned golden. Birds around us seemed to come to life the second the light touched their tree, their sweet song surrounding us.

  Then voices carried up to us. Others wanting to take in the sights early in the morning.

  I sat up quickly. “Should we go?”

  “Nah, they can move around us.”

  I moved so I could put my back against his chest and leaned back, relaxing into him, stealing all the warmth I could from him.

  “Are you cold?”

  I nodded. “Once the coffee was gone, the cold started coming on.”

  He reached for the basket and pulled out a blanket, wrapping it around me. His hands rubbed my arms until the blanket warmed.

  “Thanks for bringing me here. I love watching the sunrise.”

  My experience watching the sunrise was a mystery to me, but I was sure, no matter the previous encounters, nothing could ever compete with this. Watching the sun fill in the darkness between the trees and valleys, with Jack by my side, couldn’t be rivaled. Nothing could make this moment better. I sighed.

  He mimicked my sigh with a dramatic display, falling over and taking me with him. I couldn’t contain my laughter as I fell backwards. My head fell back to look at him, and I caught sight of three people just coming up over the ridge, staring at us like we’d just sprouted a new body part right in front of them.

  My mouth clamped shut, and I pulled myself upright, turning back to look at them right side up. “Hi.”

  They smiled, nodding, but continued over to the edge to look out at the view. Jack righted himself and picked up things around the blanket, stuffing them back into the basket before settling again. He gently pulled me back against him, still chucking, and kissed the top of my head.