The Impossible Art of Falling (Impossible Art #1) (21 page)

"Well, I suppose that’s alright. There isn't much left to do anyway," Rob said.

"You two go on, I'll help Rob finish up."

Jena got up and walked over to thank her aunt and uncle. She couldn't say anything, or she knew the tears would begin to fall, so she hugged them both. Luke grabbed her hand and led her out.

"See?" Jena said, once they were on the porch. "I knew they wouldn't kick you out."

"Yeah, well, I just thought… Hell, I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I’m just so used to people walking when things get tough." Luke helped her into the cab of his truck, kissing her nose before shutting the door. 

"Hey, I'm still standing next to you," Jena said, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Yes. Yes, you are," he answered, before starting his truck.

They ambled down the driveway and out onto the road in silence, before Jena clicked the radio on. She fumbled through some channels; the reception in Luke's old truck could be spotty, deep in the mountains. Finally, she settled on a station that played classic country. Luke reached over and grabbed her hand again. Jena again felt the electricity shoot up her arm. She moved closer to him and hummed along to the song.

"Where are you taking me?" she finally asked. The sun was just beginning to set and the mountains were casting shadows, which crawled across the road.

"You'll see. It's just up the road here." Patsy Cline continued to croon on the radio, and Jena softly hummed along. A mile down the road, Luke pulled over. She looked around, expecting a driveway or a house, but there was nothing. The road before them forked. Staying to the right, would bring them up a small hill. A sharper turn to the left went down the hill. There was gravel splayed around the edges, and it was evident that cars often took this corner too fast. She glanced around, still trying to figure out what they were here to see, when she caught sight of the large willow tree that stood between the two. Her breath caught for a moment. Luke got out of the truck and was walking around to her side. She opened the door and nearly fell into him.

"This tree, this is… this is where your sister… “ She couldn't even finish her sentence.

"Yes," Luke murmured back. "This is the tree that my sister crashed into. We lived down there," he said, pointing down the hill. "It was dark, she was angry, and had too much to drink. This is where I found her. Or what was left. The car was wrapped so tightly around the tree, that you couldn’t even tell what kind of car it was" He walked over to the tree and placed his hands on the wounded bark. "God, I haven't been here since it happened. In fact, I have gone miles out of my way to avoid this intersection."

Unlike other accident sites, there was no cross, no memorial set up with flowers or a marker. How strange and sad, Jena thought.  In fact, people must drive by this site everyday and not realize what had happened. There were marks in the bark, but an outsider would never know that it was where the metal of the wreck imbedded itself.  She joined Luke at the tree. Placing her arm around him, she laid her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry.” She paused, biting her lip. “I feel like that is a stupid thing to say. In fact, I hated when people said that to me, but I guess I just don't know what else to say right now."

"It's fine. There really isn’t anything else to say."

Jena moved to stand in front of him and placed her hands on his chest. She looked into his smoky blue eyes before reaching up and kissing him lightly on the mouth. She felt him sigh and relax a bit, and her arms wrapped around him.

“I couldn’t save her, Jena. I didn’t get to her in time.” His voice was full of sadness before it cut off. Jena knew there was nothing for her to say right now. She had felt this way herself on many occasions. She just needed to let him talk, so she stayed silent and gripped him tightly.

“I’m sorry, Ali. I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Luke’s voice faded to a whisper.

They stood like that for some time. Jena held him. She continued to hold him, even when she felt him begin to sob. They sank to the ground and still, she held him, pulling him tightly to her and letting him cry. It was clearly the release that he had been denying himself. Finally, he pulled away enough to look at her.

"You're still here," he whispered.

"Of course."

"I'm sorry. You must think I’m crazy right now. I did not think it would be this way." His fists swiped at his eyes and cheeks, trying to get the offensive tears away. Jena had tears in her own eyes. She knew the kind of pain Luke was in right now.

"Luke, you lost your sister. And not just your sister, your twin. You don't have to play the big man around me and hold back your tears." She held his face and her fingers brushed the rest of the tears away.

"I love you. I love you so much," Luke said. "I haven't had the strength to come here, but I thought that after today, with you by my side, I could actually do it. That I should do it."

"You are stronger than you think," Jena replied. "And you've given me some of that strength." She pulled him toward her and kissed him, hard. Not in lust, but because she loved him, too, and they both needed each other. "I love you, too," she whispered against his lips.

They lingered like that for a moment, before standing up to leave. It was getting dark, the only light coming from the headlight beams of passing cars, shining on the pavement as they drove off into the night.

Rob and Meg were still up and were sitting on the porch when Luke and Jena pulled up to the house. After they left the tree, they had driven around. They talked at times but mostly had stayed silent, clasping each other’s hands, never wanting to let go. They were thinking of the past that they each carried. Jena had figured that her aunt and uncle would long be asleep by the time they came back and was surprised to see them still waiting.

“Hey,” she called out, as she shoved her hands in her back pockets. She felt Luke beside her.

“We were just wondering whether or not to call out the Cavalry for you two,” Rob jested.

“I took Jena to the tree. To the place where my sister was killed,” Luke offered, and Jena wrapped her arm around his waist.

“Oh?” said Meg.

“Honestly, I hadn’t been there. Since she died, I mean. I just couldn’t do it. But I thought after today, it was something I needed to do.” Luke stood on the porch looking exhausted. The day had taken its toll on him.

“Well, I am glad you two are back, safe and sound,” Meg answered and walked over to give him a hug. “We want you here. I hope you know that by now.”

“Thank you, Meg. Rob. You don’t know how much I appreciate both of you and all that you have given me.” He gave Jena’s hand a squeeze and leaned down to kiss her on the forehead.

“I guess I’ll head down to the barn. I think I need to sleep.” He turned and walked away. Jena watched him go. She ached to walk with him but knew she would only have to wait a little while before she could be with him again.

“I suppose, I’ll follow suit,” Rob said and got up. “Don’t you ladies stay up too late.” He chuckled and walked inside.

Once Rob was inside, Jena caught herself looking longingly toward the barn.

“Why don’t you just go change and go to him, sweetie,” Meg offered.

Jena turned toward her aunt as if to say something.

“Oh, come on. Like I said, I know you don’t sleep in the house anymore. It’s okay, really. Your uncle and I don’t mind. You two are both adults. And you’re a couple of old souls.”

“Thanks, Aunt Meg,” Jena said and gave her aunt a squeeze around the shoulders. She slipped inside and grabbed her pajamas and a change of clothes, but decided to take a shower before heading out. She let the hot water run over her bare skin, while she thought of the events of the day. So much, yet so little, had changed over the course of twenty-four hours. Watching Luke at the tree had stirred something in her and an idea was forming. Something she couldn’t yet grasp, but it was slowly working its way through her mind.

She ran a comb through her long, blonde hair, brushed her teeth, and put on her pajamas. She grabbed the change of clothes she had thrown on her bed before deciding on a shower, and took off toward the barn. Meg was already back in the house, and she breathed a sigh of relief, feeling strange to have been given permission to go to Luke. Going off to spend the night with a boy wasn’t something she wanted her aunt to watch her do.

“Hey, baby,” Luke greeted, as she slipped through the door. “I wasn’t sure when you would come.” He was already lying on the bed in only a pair of boxers. The side table light was on and a book rested on his torso.

“I decided on a shower first.” She climbed into the bed next to him and placed her head on his chest. “They know that I’m down here. Meg actually told me to come.”

“Really?” Luke asked, stroking her still wet hair. “She told you to come?”

“She said we are both adults, a couple of old souls, and if we needed to be together, that was okay.”

Jena turned her face upward, her eyes searching for him. Luke studied her face. She looked tired, but her eyes were bright and her cheeks were flushed. She looked alive… happy… and it thrilled him to hope that he was the cause of this change. His fingers reached under her chin and tipped her face up until their lips touched. He instantly felt at home, and all of the worries from the day seemed to disappear. He deepened the kiss, his tongue seeking entry into her mouth. She melted into him. His hands moved to her shoulders and he pulled her tightly on top of him. Jena wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close.

She pulled away, letting their foreheads touch. Her breath came in short and shallow wisps.

“I love you. I love you so much. I can’t even explain how you make me feel. I’ve never felt this way in my entire life,” she said, her breath a soft whisper against his lips.

“I feel the same way. I love you, too.” His hands rested on her hips and then ran up her shirt. Her skin was soft under his touch, and he longed to see more. She slipped her shirt over her head, then pulled down her pajama shorts. They touched each other, letting their hands and mouths explore. Within a few seconds, they were both tangled up in each other, their naked bodies already becoming familiar to one another. And when their world exploded together, there was an intimacy that neither one had ever felt. It was different this time. There was no desperation in their lovemaking, just a beautiful desire and love for each other. And it was like this that they fell asleep, in each other’s arms.

chapter 21

T
HE SUN WAS SNAKING THROUGH the trees when Jena awoke the next morning. She felt a chill in the air, the warmth beside her, and the strong arms around her. Luke was still asleep and she turned to look at him. In the peace of sleep, the worry that had lived on his face last night disappeared. His bright, blue eyes were hidden behind long eyelashes that brushed his cheek. He smiled in his sleep, and Jena snuggled closer into his side. Her thoughts floated back to last night. To Luke taking her to the tree, and his emotional release. She thought about how different she felt since coming to the farm and meeting Luke. She thought about the two of them together, their bare flesh becoming one and realized that she had never been happier. But Luke's healing moment had brought old feelings back to the surface for her, because for as far as she had come, she still had her own demons to deal with. Now, she too, knew what to do.

Jena rolled over and glanced at the clock, knowing that they would have to get up soon and get to work. At her movement, Luke stirred, his lids fluttering awake as he pulled her back into him.

"Good morning, beautiful," he murmured into her hair.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. I wanted to see what time it was. We need to get up soon."

"I know," he answered, reaching his arms far above his head. "Just one more minute though. Especially since your aunt and uncle know you’re down here. I don't feel like I have to hide you in my bed anymore."

Jena giggled and buried her head in the pillow to hide her reddening cheeks. 

"Well, I don’t necessarily want to be found down here. Come on, I'll help you feed the horses this morning. I bet we can get it done before my uncle Rob comes down."