CREE (4 page)

*****

Cree sat on Melody’s sofa retelling the entire story, desperately trying to keep her tears at bay. “How could he do this? We made plans. He was going to do his residency in Jackson if it was offered so that we could be closer to my grandfather. This is going to break his heart. I’m all he has left.” A few tears managed to escape and rolled down her cheek. Cree brushed them away.

Melody knew Cree was upset and didn’t want to upset her further, but they were friends. She had to be honest. “Okay. So, Cameron should not have made this decision without talking to you first, but he did. The residency is what two years?”

She nodded through glassy eyes. “Yes.”

“Okay, two years. Your grandfather is healthy as a horse. He’s still a relatively young man at sixty-seven. He has tons of friends and David, and I are here. You don’t have to worry about him being alone or lonely. You know that, so you can’t use it as an excuse.”

“Two years is a long time.”

“Yes. It is. But, between the two years Cameron spent at Jackson only coming home on weekends and the four years he spent at Cornell, you two have lived apart for almost six years. That has to be a strain. It would be a strain on any marriage.”

“I thought all of that would be over once he started his residency here.”

“But, he’s not going to Jackson. He has decided to take the opportunity in New York.”

“He could decline it and go to Jackson.”

“Come on Cree, you are being silly,” Melody shook her head. “How likely is that?”

Cree dropped her eyes to the floor. “I hate it there,” she stated quietly.

Melody was doing her best to sound optimistic. “It can’t be that bad.”

“It’s not just New York; it’s everything. I always feel so out of place and awkward around his friends. They’re doing great things, and I haven’t even figured out what I want to declare as my major. I just feel so inadequate around them. And…”

Melody softened her voice. “And what?”

“What if he realizes…I’m just a small town girl?” Cree studied her hands; a reminder that she worked as a cashier in a grocery store and was a part-time gas station attendant. Cameron was about to become a doctor. “What if he’s outgrown me? It’ll be so obvious there.”

Incredulously, she responded, “Is that what you’re afraid of? It’s as plain as day that Cameron loves you, Cree. Have faith in him and your love for each other.” She lifted Cree’s chin to look at her. “I promise everything will work out.”

Cree nodded. She pressed her lips together before speaking, “I hate this, but I need to trust him don’t I?” She sighed, “If he thinks Presbyterian is a better opportunity, I suppose I should start packing. I’ll still have to make it clear he can’t just go off making decisions about our lives all willy nilly.”

“Definitely! Give him hell for that.” Melody smiled.

Cree reached out and hugged her. “I’ll miss you. You’ve been in my life since I was thirteen.”

Her voice was thick with emotion. “I’ll miss you too. But we’ll text…”

Cree finished her sentence, “Everyday and we’ll snapchat too. You’ll tell me everything that’s going on around here.”

“I most certainly will!” Teary eyed they smiled sadly at one another.

“And, Cameron said we would visit every chance we can.”

“There you have it. It’ll be like you never left.”

Both Melody and Cree knew that was a lie. However, holding on to the lie was much easier than dealing with the truth. They were on the cusp of one of those life changing moments and hoped their relationship wouldn’t suffer because of it.

*****

The drive over from Melody’s to her grandfathers was only a few minutes. She pulled up to his ranch-style home. Mr. Cyrus Watson was sitting on the porch drinking lemonade. He lifted his head the moment her car pulled up into the driveway.

Cree’s feet felt like lead as she opened the door and got out of the car. How was she going to tell her grandfather that she was leaving him? It had been just the two of them ever since her mom died when she was thirteen years old and her father was killed in a car accident before she was old enough to remember him. Cree was all the family he had left.

He put the paper down. “I wasn’t expecting to see you and Cameron until tomorrow.”

“Hey, Pa Pa.”

“What’s with that sour puss look on your face? You should be levitating off of the ground.”

She walked up the few steps and plopped down on the bench next to him. “We had an argument.”

He looked out across the street at his neighbor’s driveway. Some of the kids were playing an intense game of basketball. “Yeah well, couples do that from time to time.”

“A big one.” Cree slumped. He could see that she’d been crying.

“They all feel that way at the time.”

“Was that how it was with you and grandma?”

He chuckled. “No. She won every argument.”

“I don’t need to win every argument. I just want to win
this
argument.”

“You should go to New York, Cree.”

She whipped her head around to face her grandfather. “How’d you know about that?”

He smirked. “How do you think? Cameron called a couple of hours ago looking for you. He told me about the whole thing.”

“I don’t want to sound like a broken record or like I’m whining but why doesn’t anyone else see the bigger issue. He made a life changing decision
without
me. We’re
supposed
to be partners…a team. It’s supposed to be us against the world!”

“And, he was wrong. I told him he was wrong not to discuss something like this without you.”

Cree threw her hands up in the air, “Exactly!”

“BUT…”

She frowned. “But what?”

Her grandfather turned to look her in the eye. “He’s right. Presbyterian is a better opportunity than Jackson hospital.”

“Pa Pa, it’s a two year residency.”

He said quietly, “I know.”

Cree laid her head on his shoulder. “I’ll be away from you for two years.”

“Not two years. He promised he’d make sure you’d visit.”

She hesitated, “You’ll be alone.”

A smile threatened the corner of his mouth, “Baby girl, you can’t worry about me. I’ve lived my life. You’re just starting yours. And, I won’t be alone. I have more friends than I know what to do with.”

“You
honestly
think I should go to New York?”

“You and Cameron have been apart longer than what’s healthy. In a marriage, sometimes you make sacrifices for the benefit of your family. This decision is going to be one of many.”

“I’ve already made so many sacrifices. What about school? I was supposed to enroll at Jackson U this fall.”

He lightened his tone. “Finish in New York. Then, I can brag to all my friends about my grand-daughter having a fancy degree from some school in New York.”

“I think you, Cameron, and Melody are all conspiring against me.” Cree scrunched up her face and smirked.

“No. You’ve sacrificed for so long, and you’re both so close to the finish line. We just want to make sure you make it there…together.”

Cree hugged her grandfather. “I love you Pa Pa.”

“I love you too. Now stop wasting time here with me, and go home to your husband. He’s worried sick.”

Stubbornly, she spoke under her breath. “Serves him right.”

*****

Several hours later, Cree finally went home.

Cameron was sitting on the couch waiting with his eyes closed and his head thrown back against the sofa. He immediately stood up when he heard her keys jiggle into the key hole.

He stuck his hands in the front pocket of his jeans. Cameron knew that he was wrong and should have discussed this decision with her. Still, he said a silent prayer that Cree was calm enough to understand why he thought this was the best decision for
them
.

As soon as she stepped through the door, he spoke, “I shouldn’t have made this decision without you. I’m sorry.”

Her voice was soft. “Would my opinion have changed anything?”

He breathed in deeply. “Cree, I want to say what you want to hear. I want to say yes, but that wouldn’t be true. I honestly think this is the best decision for us. Presbyterian is one of the most coveted residencies in the country. I would have been a fool not to take it.”

Disappointed in his answer her face fell, as she nodded. “Granted, I would have been mad. I would have argued with you, but if this is truly the best decision, then I would have wanted you to take it. But, you should have at least trusted me to talk to me about it first.”

Cameron looked sheepish and apologetic. “You’re right. I should have trusted you and this is a decision we both should have made. So, you’re okay with it then? You’re willing to move to New York?”

Cree hesitated for a moment before answering, “I hate this. I hate it even more that you just went off on your own. Cameron, you have to promise me that you won’t ever do something like this again. No matter how big a fight it might cause between us. Successful marriages don’t work that way.”

“I promise. We’re a team.” He crossed his heart and gave her the Boy Scout salute.

Resigned that in eight weeks, she would be a New Yorker, Cree responded, “Then, yes to both questions.”

Cameron picked her up and twirled her around and around in circles. “I promise. You won’t regret this.”

She didn’t know if that was true or not. Right now though, he held her in his arms, and she would trust that they loved each other enough to get through anything.

Eight weeks arrived faster than Cree would have liked. Before she’d known it, her entire life had been packed up in several boxes. Most of the furniture in her apartment had been ready for the garbage anyway and was trashed. There wasn’t much left after that, but what remained was stored in her grandfather’s garage or shipped to Cameron’s apartment.

Cameron came home to attend their going away/graduation party and to take the train back with her to New York. Cree couldn’t imagine not needing her Kia, but Cameron said they wouldn’t so she stored it in her grandfather’s garage. She had already put her trust in him for the big decisions; it would be silly not to trust him with the little things too. She shivered slightly as she thought about packing up her life, and leaving everything and everyone she loved behind.

Cameron pulled her body closer to his as he held her in the crook of his arms. The top of her head leaned against the bottom of his chin. He whispered while absentmindedly kissing her on the temple. “Are you cold? The train can get a little chilly especially at night.”

He was right. It was a bit cool, but that wasn’t the source of her chill. The train sped along the tracks rocking in semi-darkness somewhat jerkily however, it was pretty quiet. Most of the riders were probably sleeping.

Her hand rested lightly on his chest as she turned into the cocoon of his embrace intent on getting as close as she could. Cree spoke softly, “No. I'm all right; just thinking.”

Cameron closed his eyes as he breathed in the coconut scent of her hair. It was always like a balm to his soul…comforting. It gave him such a feeling of peacefulness. After a moment, he spoke against the side of her temple. “Yeah, about what?”

The warmth of his breath against her skin not only made it tingle but was also calming. Cree slowly exhaled. “I left everything behind today.”

Cameron knew she was scared. Who wouldn’t be? But she didn’t need to worry. He made vows to take care of her and would do everything in his power to make sure she was happy. “Not exactly everything. I’m here. It’s us against the world remember?”

She looked up into his eyes and gave him a shaky smile. “I do. That’s why I’m here with you.”

“Good. I know leaving home was a big step, but I’ll take care of you. I meant it when I made that promise on our wedding day.”

A half smile formed across her face. “We’re a regular old Bonnie and Clyde.”

“And don’t you forget it.” He took her hand in his hand and kissed the tips. “A medical residency salary won’t have us living in the lap of luxury, but it’ll be enough to take care of us. I also understand how important going back to school is to you, so if we budget, you’ll be able to go back starting this semester.” Cameron continued to nibble on her fingers. “You’ve already carried more of the financial burden than I’m comfortable with. It’s my turn.”

“I never minded one second of it. I just wanted to help you reach your dreams. Look at you now, you’re more than on your way to becoming Dr. Cameron Jacobs.”

“I know you didn’t…but I did. Now, you don’t have to worry about it. If you want to work fine. If you don’t. That’s fine too.”

Cree lifted her face to his for a kiss and he didn’t disappoint. Passionately, he captured her lips in his.

His kisses always had a way of making her toes curl. Breathlessly she pulled away, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Cameron looked around them, and a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes, “What’s the equivalent of the mile high club for a train?”

She giggled, “I don’t know if there is one.”

He raised his eyebrows up and down as he reached in front of them for one of their blankets. “Hmm…if there isn’t one we should start one. If there is, then we need to join.”

Cree looked around then whispered into his ear. “What if we get caught?”

He pulled her into his lap by her waist and nuzzled her neck, then covered them with the blanket. “Who’s going to catch us? We’re all the way in the back and most everyone is asleep. You just have to be quiet.”

Cameron’s hands slid down under the waistband of her sweat pants and into her lacy panties. His touch never failed to send her body into overdrive.

Cree melted into him and closed her eyes. Her mouth parted. “Mmm…that feels good.” Her body tingled all over.

“Shhh…” He whispered into her ear. “You can’t make a sound. Think you can do that?”

She nodded. Cree parted her legs to give him better access while he caressed her. She threw her head back on his shoulder and basked in the sensation of his hands. She grew moist underneath the pressure of him gently stroking her tender flesh.