by Natalie Ann
She laughed on the other line. “I think I like your grandmother.”
“That’s good to know…because she’s holding her hand out for my phone right now to talk to you.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Afraid not. I’ll put you on speaker phone, though.” He placed the phone on the table and hit the button. “All set, Grandma. Say hi to Amber.”
“Hello, Amber,” his grandmother said.
Amber cleared her throat. “Hello, Mrs. Monroe. It’s nice to meet you.”
“She called me Mrs. Monroe,” his grandmother whispered. “Nice manners.”
“She can hear you whispering, Grandma,” Zach said, laughing.
“Oh dear,” his grandmother said. “Sorry about that. Amber, I want you to know that Zach seems very happy right now.”
Zach choked back a cough when his grandmother said that.
“He’s happy he is home and away from me?” Amber asked.
He heard the laughter in her voice and smiled again. His grandmother didn’t get it, though.
“No, no, dear. He just seems happier now than before he went to Lake Placid. Did you know he was looking for you?”
He hadn’t expected his grandmother to rat him out like that.
“No, I didn’t,” Amber said.
“Well, I’m glad he found you. Now you two just need to figure this long-distance thing out, you hear?”
“We will, Mrs. Monroe,” Amber said.
“Okay, Grandma. You’ve said more than enough. I’m taking you off of speaker phone now.”
He picked the phone up, hit a button, and then said, “Sorry about that. I didn’t know what she would want to speak with you about or what she’d say.”
“It’s okay, Zach. At least you had a better conversation with your family than I did with mine today.”
“Why, what happened?”
“Nothing more than what happens all the time.”
“Did your parents give you a hard time about me for some reason?”
“Again, nothing I’m not used to.”
He didn’t like the tone of her voice now. Sadness mixed in with hurt.
“I’ll call you later when I’m home alone and we can talk more about it.”
“Yes, call me later. No, we don’t need to talk about it. I’d rather just talk about us.”
“We’ll talk about that, too.” He hung the phone up a minute later and looked at his grandmother to see her grin. “What?” he asked.
“You. Just that determined look in your face and your voice. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. It’s all good.”
And it would be. He’d make sure of it.
Butterscotch
A few weeks later, the week before Christmas, Zach made his way to his grandparents’ house.
“Hey, Grandpa. Where’s Grandma?”
“She just ran to the store quick. I thought you had a flight to catch today.”
“I’ve got an hour before I need to get on the road. I’ll be back on Tuesday, though. Just a four-day weekend before the holidays.”
He was happy Amber had been able to get Friday and Monday off on such short notice to spend some time with him. They were going to try to do their own holiday celebration of sorts. Taking a late flight on Thursday and arriving in the middle of the night would give them the entire four days. He wasn’t about to waste any time with her if he could avoid it.
“You really like this girl, don’t you?” his grandfather asked.
“Yeah. She’s one of a kind.”
He never thought he’d find someone so funny, so open, and so honest. Many of the traits he shared. And the plus was even with as much talking as they did, they never got on each other’s nerves and they always had something to say.
Thank God for unlimited data plans on their phones, because it seemed like all he did was spend time waiting on her to call, then have trouble hanging up.
“You look really happy, Zach. I’m glad to see it. So the distance isn’t much of an issue?”
“It doesn’t seem it just yet. It’s only been a few weeks though, but I guess we’ll know more when I see her.”
He was pretty sure Amber was as antsy as he was to get together in person. She even promised to try to fly to see him next time, after the holidays when she could schedule a long weekend again. Once Rene had the baby next month, it probably wouldn’t be as easy as she thought, though.
“You did a good thing by your mother,” his grandfather said out of the blue.
He didn’t want anyone to know. He didn’t do it for his mother. “How did you find out?”
“Your mother called last week and asked if it was us that paid her rent until summer. I guess the landlord wouldn’t tell her who.”
He’d asked to stay anonymous. “I bet she was surprised to find out it wasn’t you guys.”
“That was putting it mildly. Why did you do it?”
He sighed, not really wanting to explain. “It came down to a couple of things. If I didn’t pay it, she’d hit you guys up and we both know you’d pay it. Or she wouldn’t ask, and then she’d uproot the kids and come move in with you. A few thousand dollars is nothing to keep her there and the kids in their school.”
“So it was for the kids and us?”
“Of course,” he said.
He had no lost love for his mother and probably never would. Though he wasn’t close to his siblings, they weren’t bad kids and he felt for them. He knew what it was like to be tossed around and forgotten at times. Having to go without.
“Are you ever going to tell anyone why you feel the way you do about your mother?”
“What way is that? I don’t feel anything at all for her.”
He really didn’t want to talk about this either and was glad his grandmother chose that time to arrive home.
“Zach, honey, will you help me bring in the groceries?”
He jumped up from where he’d been sitting. “Coming.”
He grabbed all the bags in one trip, put them on the counter, and then started to unload them onto the table while his grandmother put them away.
“I’m not keeping you from the airport, am I?” his grandmother asked.
“No. I’ve got time.”
“Good, because I’ve got something I want you to take and give to Amber from me.”
He stopped and looked at her grin. “What’s that? It’s not a naked picture of me in the tub as a kid, is it? Or worse yet, a picture of me in some ridiculous outfit my mother dressed me in?”
“Unfortunately there aren’t that many pictures of you and you know it. And there is no reason to show Amber a naked picture of you as she’s seen the real thing.”
He started to cough, never expecting her to say that.
It just went to show the difference between his grandparents and Amber’s parents, even though they were similar in age. Then again, having a pregnant teenage daughter pretty much wiped out the ability to be judgmental on his grandparents’ part.
He’d felt horrible the way Amber’s parents were treating her over their relationship. He wanted to fix it but didn’t know how, or the first step to take.
So these four days were going be crucial to him. He wanted to try to mend the bridge between Amber and her family, but had a feeling it might never happen.
The least he could do was try, though.
“Do you guys need me to do anything before I leave?” he asked, trying to change the subject.
“We’re all set. The house is ready for winter. Thank you for coming out and helping Grandpa last week.”
“No problem. Anytime,” he said, and he meant it. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his grandparents.
“Will you be able to bring this on the plane?” she asked, handing him a sealed container she’d taken from the freezer.
“What is it?”
“Butterscotch cookies.”
His favorite. “Why are you giving Amber my favorite cookies?”
“Because if she doesn’t like them, then she isn’t for you.”
He tried not to laugh over that silly statement. He didn’t want to hurt his grandmother’s feelings. “We don’t like all the same things.”
“Like what?” she asked, her hands on her hips.
“Pizza. She likes mushrooms.”
“You hate mushrooms,” his grandmother pointed out.
“I do.”
“But I bet you give her half mushrooms on a pizza, don’t you?”
“Guilty,” he said.
“And if one of her mushrooms gets on your half, she removes it for you, doesn’t she, so you don’t have to touch it?”
He didn’t know where she was going with this conversation. “She does. I don’t even have to ask her.”
“Then she’ll like these cookies. But you won’t know unless you give them to her.”
He shook his head and just decided to go with it. Butterscotch hadn’t come up in any of their conversations.
“I really have to get going now.”
He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Now he had to go home and pack a different bag to carry on the plane because he wouldn’t have room to bring these in the duffel he had planned to use. He had to bring them, because his grandmother asked. And he always did what she asked of him.
***
Amber yawned and stretched her arms over her head.
She was exhausted and should be home in bed, but decided she couldn’t wait until the morning to see Zach.
She’d missed him more than she thought she would in the last few weeks and she wanted to be there when he walked through those doors. She wanted to make sure he really did come back for her.
They’d talked just about every night and never had to worry about finding things to say.
Sometimes they just told funny stories about their days, other times they talked about more serious subjects, like her family and bits and pieces of his.
She didn’t know as much as she wished she did. Just the basics and that he was worried his mother might try to disrupt his grandparents’ life.
He was fiercely loyal, she was learning. A trait they shared, and that loyalty was slowly giving her the faith she’d been lacking regarding his commitment to seeing them try to work out this long-distance relationship.
This small amount of time they’d be spending together should be telling. He was going to stay with her. Originally, he was going to see if he could get the cabin again, but she told him no.
It could be a test of sorts to see if they got under each other’s skin. They didn’t have a ton of plans, but they would be together day and night. No work on either of their parts.
She heard his flight announcement and stood up and made her way closer, just dying to see his face when he walked through the gate.
It wasn’t a long wait as the airport wasn’t that busy.
When he saw her, his jaw dropping was nothing compared to him holding his arms wide and her running over and jumping into them. The need to have him by her side was immense.
“Wow, this is a welcome surprise. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Then it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”
“Not at all.”
He swung her around and kissed her quickly, giving her the image of a soldier coming home from war. He was far from a solider, but she knew in that brief moment what it was like to welcome someone back and dread when they would leave again.
“You’ve got to be tired,” he said. “You worked all day.”
“So did you.”
“Yeah, but I was able to take a nap on the flight.”
“Then you will be all rested up to show me how much you really missed me.”
“I didn’t need a nap for that. I already have my bag so we can go. Guess I don’t need a rental then.”
“Not unless you want one. Otherwise, we can just share my car this week.”
“Are you going to trust me to drive it? I know how much your baby means to you.”
Her red sports car was a symbol to her of all her hard work. Maybe it was ostentatious, but she didn’t care. Nor did she care that it caused her mother to shake her head whenever she saw it and mumble what a waste of money it was. If her parents were going to think she was rebellious, might as well drive around in something that shouted it.
“I trust you since I know you’ve got your own little luxury vehicle at home.”
“Who told you?”
“I might have heard Rene cracking a joke about your Jag. Do you really have a Jag?”
“Would it be a problem if I did?”
“No. Just that I find it funny.”
“Any funnier than a minister’s kid driving a red Mercedes turbo?”
“Good point. Come on, let’s go. I’m hungry, so maybe we can see if there is some all-night fast food place open.”
“I’ve got just the thing. I’ll grab it in the car.”
He followed her to the car and opened his suitcase, then pulled out a sealed container. She had no clue what was in there and was afraid to ask, but had to.
“What’s that?”
“Just taste one and give me your honest opinion.”
He handed over the cookie. It was bigger than the palm of her hand. Lifting it to her nose she sniffed and said, “Are these butterscotch?”
“Maybe.”
“I love butterscotch. My grandmother always had butterscotch candy at her house. I don’t think I’ve had a piece since I was a kid. What is it about old people and butterscotch?” She took a bite and sighed in pleasure. “These are so good. Wow, the memories are flooding my brain right now. They’re all mine.” She grabbed another after she finished off the first one.
“Guess we have another thing in common,” he said, smiling back at her.
“You like butterscotch, too?” she asked.
“I do. It’s my favorite.”
“Then I’m glad to eat your favorite,” she said, laughing and kissing him on the cheek.
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Zach rolled over, taking the covers with him and trying to smother his yawn. Amber was sound asleep next to him still.
They’d gotten in well after midnight last night, both exhausted, but running high on sugar after consuming more than half of his grandmother’s cookies.
Rather than climb into bed to sleep, they dove on the comforter, ripping each other’s clothes off.
Fast and urgent, the way they always seemed to be. And like always, once wasn’t enough. Whether it was the weeks apart from each other—with the nonstop teasing over the phone—or something more, it didn’t seem to matter.
All that mattered was they shared the same oxygen for the moment and would for the next several days.
“Morning.”
He turned his head and looked at her watching him. Guess she wasn’t sleeping as soundly as he’d thought.
“Hey,” he said back, his hand pushing some of her hair out of her face. “I like this messy wrinkled look on you.”
“Are you saying I’ve got wrinkles?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
He grinned. “No. You wouldn’t let that happen so young. How about I say I like this messy look on you? Kind of dirty, maybe?”
“You like making things dirty,” she said, kissing him quickly.
“Being clean isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.”
She slithered over the top of him, her naked body rubbing against places on him, quickly waking them up, proving they thought alike in more ways than one.
Twenty minutes later, his eyes were starting to close and his mind was shutting off. “Don’t you dare fall back to sleep,” she said.
“Again?” he asked. “You can really wear a guy out.”
She giggled. “You weren’t complaining a few minutes ago. Or were those shouts meant for me to stop? I could have sworn you said ‘don’t stop’ but maybe I misheard.”
She was the devil. “You heard correctly.” He sat up and put his back a
gainst the headboard. “So what’s on the agenda today?”
“It’s past ten already, so half the morning is gone at this point,” she said.
“Sorry,” he said, yawning. “You could have woken me sooner.”
“It’s okay. No plans. I haven’t slept this late in a long time, but I guess I needed it. I just don’t want to sleep anymore. We have limited time together, so I want to make the best of it.”
“Then let's make the best of it together in the shower.”
***
“I’m not as good of a cook as Celeste, but I can manage. What can I fix you for breakfast?” she asked when they were both in the kitchen a short time later.
“Coffee is good. Don’t go out of your way. We can go get breakfast if you’d like.”
“I’d rather get some lunch, if you don’t mind. I’ll just have something light right now.”
“That works too,” he said. “So, what’s the plan today?”
She wasn’t used to spending so much time with someone and having to entertain them. She worried it might be troublesome. “Do you need to be doing something all the time?”
“I just want to spend time with you. It can be right over there on your couch for four days for all I care.”
She smiled. “Well, maybe we can leave now and again.”
“You’re in control of our time together. When you come visit me, I’ll be in control then.”
It sounded fair. “Do you like the outdoors?” she asked.
“In the winter, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“You do know I live in Virginia, right? We might get snow once in a while, but nothing like here.”
“I’ll take that as a no. Where did you live before that?”
“Four years in Massachusetts for college.”
“Harvard, right,” she said, smirking at him. It wasn’t the first time she joked about his Ivy League schooling. “Where before that? You said you moved to Richmond with Nick and then moved your grandparents there shortly after.”
She was warmed when she’d heard he’d done that. Not many twenty-somethings would buy their grandparents a house before they even bought themselves one. But he had, and lived in a small townhouse with Nick for a short period, then bought his own.
