Journey (18 page)

              “Ditto.”

Munching on our lunch, I can’t help but grin like a fool at Journey.

              “What?” she asks, shoveling a bite of salad into her mouth.

              “What do you mean, ‘what’?” I feign confusion.

              “You.  You’re grinning like the Cheshire Cat.  What gives?”

              I purse my lips.  Turning my eyes to the ceiling, I remain silent.  

              “You’re playing coy.  Okay…  I know year three is leather, so I can only imagine what sort of gift you’ve decided to get.”

              “Oh, there are plenty of gifts I could’ve gotten you, but the name of the game is working against the obvious, so you’re going to have to use more of that pretty brain of yours.”  

              She rolls her eyes and eats more salad.  

              “Just a hint: You’re never going to guess.”

              “You know how I know that you know that I hate surprises, right?”

              “I know.  That’s what makes them so fun.”                     

Journey

I take off from work at one o’clock as I do every Friday afternoon and head to Jack’s house.  He said that the work on the house’s shingles is complete and they are repainted, but I wasn’t prepared for how drastic the transformation would be when I see it for the first time.  Pulling up the drive, the main home is a stark contrast against the landscaping of the grounds around it.  Its freshly painted, muted grey exterior with white trim looks crisp and stately.  This is a home that not only deserves to be called an estate, but it seems to feel more cozy and comfortable now.  Almost like
my
home.

              I steer my Porsche into the garage and note a sedan I’ve never seen before parked in the drive.  I wonder if it belongs to someone who’s doing work on the structure.  

Entering the house, I call out, “I’m home!”  Rounding the corner from the mudroom into the kitchen, I continue talking.  “I’m so ready to get in the shower with you and let you-”

I halt, blinking my eyes.

              “Let me do what, exactly?”  Lexie flutters her eyelashes.  “I knew you missed me, but I didn’t realize you missed me that much.”

              I remain speechless until Lexie, Emily, and Anna rush to me and we all embrace.  “What the what?  What are you all doing here?”

              Everyone turns toward Jack, who is standing with his hands shoved into his jean pockets, appearing bashful.

              “Jack arranged for us to come for the weekend,” Anna says smoothly.

              “Who was going to pass up the chance to come visit you on his dime?” Lexie raises an eyebrow.  “Seriously, you have him so whipped.  I need to know your secret.”

              I break our group embrace and saunter over to Jack, keeping my eyes locked with his.  “You set all of this up?”

              I watch each subtle movement of his lips as “Happy third anniversary,” is released from them.  

              He places a sprig of forget-me-nots in my hand as well as a card that is identical to the others.

                           
Forget me not, for my heart you must spare

Forget me not, for my soul I will bare

Happy 3rd Anniversary, my Wildflower

Love,

A Vegetable

My eyes make his lips their target, and I press mine to them in a thankful and loving kiss.  

The cognition of everyone’s presence returns to me when I hear Lexie say, “Oh please…  You act like you don’t ever see one another.  Share the wealth or something.”

Jack and I break our embrace, laughing at Lexie.  “Group hug?”  I open my arms to invite my three friends over to us.

Lexie, Emily, Anna, Jack, and I all hug just as we did many years ago.  My curiosity breaks the silence and the multi-person embrace.  “This is one of the best gifts I could have ever received, but what about this is leather?”

All eyes are on Jack as he runs his hand over his dark hair.  “Well, this one is a bit of a stretch, so just go with it.”  I raise an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.  “It just so happens that your four closest friends- Lexie, Emily, Anna, and Teresa - begin with the letters L-E-A-T, and so I thought I might invite them over and send you on a spa day tomorrow.  Or a
Her
day.”  He smiles sheepishly.

“I get it.  It all spells out leather.  You are amazingly clever.  I think it’s the perfect leather gift.”

“Well, if that isn’t the sweetest, most syrupy thing I’ve ever heard.  I mean, come on!” Lexie goads.

“You’re just jealous,” Anna scolds her.

“Damn straight I am.”  Lexie smiles in admiration toward Jack, then to me.  “Thank you for being so wonderful to my best friend.”  

I run behind Lexie and jump onto her back, as we have done in many years past, planting a giant kiss on her cheek.  “I love you, Bestie.”

“Yeah, yeah…” she smiles, looking ahead.  “I’m taking you to the shower so you can hurry up and uncork some wine with us.”  I laugh, still trying to keep my grip on her shoulders.  “Quit moving or I will drop you!”

Some things never change, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

              Slightly disappointed, I shower alone, but quickly.  When I rejoin my friends, they are sitting outside on the patio by the pool, overlooking the ocean.  Waves ebb and flow in the fresh, spring air.  The cork is removed from the wine, and we all toast to friendship, to anniversaries, and to Jack.  Laughter fills the once silent and overgrown grounds of the Croft Estate as afternoon turns to dusk.  

              Jenny appears on the steps to the side of the great outdoor area.  “You started the party without me?”

              “Hey Jenny,” I chirp brightly.  “You know the party is wherever you are!”  Jenny smiles and bounces over to us.  “These are my friends from college.”  

Jenny politely greets each one of my girlfriends as I introduce them.

              “Wow, Jack!  I knew you had skills, but I didn’t know you were this good.”  Jenny’s smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

              “How are you feeling?” I ask.

              Jenny’s eyes dart to the ground and her smile falters some.  “Oh, you know…  Taking it one day at a time.”

              “That’s all you really can do.”

              Jack, sensing that Jenny could use a distraction, invites her to help him in the kitchen.

              “I don’t know why you keep trying, you know my culinary skills are hopeless, but who can turn down that baby face?”

              Jack nods farewell and walks with Jenny into the house as she gabs on about school and tests.

              “You said he’s the one who’s whipped, but Journey is completely smitten, Lex.  Look at her,” Anna commands.

              Not realizing that I had completely checked out of the present, smiling and watching Jack interacting with Jenny inside, Anna jolts me out of my head space.  I return my attention back to the three women who came from out of state to visit me, and we pick up our conversation where it had left off.

              Dinner and dessert go down easily, then we all move into the living room.  We let Jenny choose a board game, and she chooses her favorite,
Scattegories
.  Jenny, Jack, and I can get very competitive in board games, so we decide to divide and conquer on teams.  We pair Jack with Emily, Jenny with Lexie, and Anna with me.  Jack and Emily would have performed better if she hadn’t been so busy staring at Jack’s features and if he hadn’t been distracted in gazing at me.  The burning look of desire coupled with love in Jack’s sparkling eyes distracted me from my game.  Jenny and Lexie came out victorious.  Together, they were a dangerously snarky combination.  It was then that I saw so much of Lexie’s traits in Jenny, and I understood why we cliqued from the beginning.  She seems to be the newest incarnation of Lexie, which both delights and disturbs me.  I don’t know if this world can handle two Lexies.

              Jenny bids her goodbyes, hesitantly.  She has been a bit off lately.  I can’t put my finger on it, but being a high school senior, trying to decide your next path in life is sure to weigh heavily on anyone.  I don’t try to push the issue; I simply remind her that I’m available should she ever decide to talk.  In the wee morning hours, we all retire to our respective bedrooms in an attempt to try and get a few hours of sleep, but it is of no use to me, I am too excited.

Lexie, Emily, Anna, Teresa, and I have a fabulous
Her
day at a high-end spa and end it with a nightcap at Jack’s house.  Teresa admires all of the remodeling Jack has commissioned for the estate.  Exhausted, I am sad to go to bed, knowing that my friends depart tomorrow, but happy to snuggle with Jack.

Closing the bedroom door behind me, I exhale wearily and drag my feet into the bathroom to brush my teeth.  On the vanity sits a white box with a red satin bow and a large bouquet of blue forget-me-nots.   My name is written in lovely black script across the front of the envelope which houses a short note that simply reads,  

Forget me not, for you, my heart sings

Forget me not, for you, devotion I bring

Forget me not, for it’s you that I covet

Forget me not, for your spirit I shan’t forget

Happy 4th and 5th anniversaries.  

                                     All my love,

                                     Just Jack

I swallow down the weight that has appeared in my throat and gently untie the ribbon.  Inside of the box sits a lovely, emerald silk negligee.  I delicately lift it from the box and place the soft fabric to my cheek.  I suppose for the gift of silk, he decided to remain traditional.  Under the garment lays a brass key.  I don’t know how it pertains to either silk or the fifth anniversary tradition of wood, but I have no doubt I’m soon to find out.  I put on the green gown and place the key in my palm.  Turning the corner from the bathroom doorway into the bedroom, I clear my throat, cueing Jack to look up from his laptop.  

His eyes, hot with lust, become heavy-lidded as he places the computer on the nightstand.  “That color looks more amazing on you than I imagined.”

I’m glad we both agree.  I make my way to the bed, sure to keep my eyes locked on Jack.  Crawling on my hands and knees across the bed, watching Jack’s erection spring to life in his boxers, I speak sweetly.  “Thank you.   I have an excellent personal shopper.”  Before moving in on Jack, I sit back on my heels and lift the key, holding it out in front of me.  “I have some questions before I move any further.”

Jack swallows and the left corner of his mouth lifts upward.  “An interrogation?”

“Something like that.  I’m assuming my wood gift is not what’s happening in your boxers and instead has something to do with this key.”

He grins.  “You assume correctly.”

“Care to expound on that?”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I go into the bathroom, change into some frumpy sweats, and it’s a tundra all up in this bedroom until you answer.”

“You drive a hard bargain, but okay.  I will make this easy.  I could have been all clever and said it’s the key to my heart or something, but I don’t need to give you a key to it- you have it in its entirety.  Instead, it’s the key to my home, which is framed and made from wood.  There are some original pillars which my family has used to shelter them for hundreds of years, and there are some very new pieces that only you and I have enjoyed.  I would like to share all of it with you and make it our home.  I guess what I’m asking is-”

“Yes I will move in with you!” I interrupt him.  I can’t help it.  I’m super excited.

“You didn’t even let me finish.”  Jack smiles widely.  “But, that’s a yes?”

“Yes, it’s a yes.”

Jack blinks his eyes slowly and excitement dances wildly in his deep eyes.  “I love you, Journey.”

He gently pulls my face into his, placing his lips lightly against mine in a grateful kiss.  

I place my forehead to his, beaming.  “I love you too.”

***

A week later, Jack surprises me with a trip to New York City.  He remembered that I have never spent a great deal of time in NYC.  A driver meets us at the airport, which is a bit unexpected.  Jack is usually one to drive himself or take a cab.  Aside from the occasional limo here and there, I’ve always taken the transportation of the common man, and have never had a personal car service or driver.

              “Journey, this is an old friend of mine, Jimmy.  Jimmy, this is my girlfriend, Journey.”
What is it with everyone I meet having a name that starts with J?
 

              Jimmy’s eyebrows raise, “Is this the same girl who you used to talk about years ago?  The doctor?”

              I grin in Jack’s direction, who is running his hand over his head, and extend my hand.  “I think you’re right.  It’s nice to meet you, Jimmy.”

              “A pleasure to meet you too, Doctor.”

              “Just Journey, please.”  I silently chuckle, realizing that I’ve repeated Jack and Jenny’s joke.

              We slip into the back of the dark sedan, and I feel very important.  Jack would never be so ostentatious as to hire a limo to drive us around town, but everyone knows, unless you’re trying to make a particular statement, some of the wealthiest people on this planet are in the backs of those black full-size sedans with the darkened windows.

              I notice that Jack never tells Jimmy where to take us.  Of course Jack would have it all set up in advance; that’s how he rolls- planned and precise -which is one of the reasons I love him.  I’m not quite as organized or meticulous as he is, so we balance out one another.

              Like a young child full of wonder, I look out all of the windows, taking in the sights of the proverbial city that never sleeps.  “How long did you live here?”