The Price (38 page)

“I don’t care.” Kate shook her head. “Just get me home!”

“I’m working on it,” he smiled at her. “You ready to get out?”

Kate nodded and Jack shut off the shower. He stepped onto the mat, and then helped Kate. He wrapped her in a towel and carried her to the bedroom, setting her gently on the bed. Jack dressed her in a fresh pair of sweatpants and t-shirt, then dressed himself. He packed their bags and placed them by the door.

“You ready, baby?” he asked, but Kate had an odd expression on her face.

“No.” She shook her head and covered her mouth. “I think I’m going to be sick again.”

Kate stood from the bed and the room began to spin. She stumbled and grabbed for the blanket on the bed. Jack was at once by her side. He wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her to the bathroom. Kate almost didn’t make it as she hugged the porcelain and threw up. Jack stayed by her side the whole time, holding her forehead steadying her every time she needed to extricate the poison from her belly. After a while, there was nothing left except for the retching sound of dry gags.

The episode passed and Kate felt spent again. She could barely lift herself off the floor. Jack washed her face with a wet cloth.

“I can’t take this anymore.” She began to cry.

“Don’t worry, baby, I’ll take care of it once I get you home.”

Jack lifted her into his arms and carried her through the bedroom and out the door. He made his way to the stairs and carried her down into the foyer.

“Adam. Clara,” His voice carried through the house.

He saw them emerge into the hall along with Maria and his son.

“Time to go,” said Jack, and he saw them staring at both of their shaved head. “What?”

“Nice look,” said Adam, before he went upstairs to get the bags.

“Hey, Kate,” said Clara, and she brushed a kiss to her shaven head.

“Hey,” she mumbled on Jack’s shoulder, too weak to lift her head.

Clara opened the front door and Jack went to leave with Kate still in his arms.

“Jack, please wait-” He heard Marnie’s voice as she came rushing up to the front door.

“This is the last time I will ever address you again,” hissed Jack with eyes as cold as steel. “Don’t ever contact us or show up at our door. I never want to see or hear from you again.”

Jack didn’t wait for her to respond. He carried Kate out the front door and to the truck. He gently laid Kate on the passenger seat then opened the back of the cab for Maria and his son. He waited for Jesse to be secured in his car seat before closing the door.

“Go, get out of here, Jack.” Clara hung on the truck’s door and watched him climb in. “We’re right behind you.”

She closed the door and stepped back. She heard him start the engine and watched as the truck rolled out of the driveway and disappeared from view.

TWENTY-NINE

HOME REMEDIES

“I got it!”

Clara barged into Jack and Kate’s bedroom with a mischievous grin. She closed the door, locked it and ran to the bed, jumping up at the foot.

“You sure this is going to work?” asked Jack, as he glanced at Kate lying beside him, who was looking rather green again.

“It’s supposed to be the most potent thing around.” Clara pulled a prescription bottle from her purse. She opened it and held up a plump, fat looking cigarette. “Welcome to medical-grade marijuana!”

She handed it to Jack. He rolled it in his hands then brought it to his nose and took a whiff.

“Shit,” he exclaimed, the aroma tickling his nose and Clara laughed.

“I feel like I’m in high school again,” she said, crisscrossing her legs on the bed. “Go ahead Jack, light it up!”

“What do you think, Kate?” he asked her.

“I’ll try anything if it makes me stop puking,” she answered.

“It should settle your stomach and give you back your appetite,” stated Clara. “Oh my God, I’m so excited. I haven’t had the munchies in years.”

Jack reached for the lighter on the night-stand and lit the rolled joint. He inhaled way too much for his first time and a wave of smoke came choking out his mouth, along with a coughing spasm.

“Jesus, Jack,” exclaimed Clara, snatching the joint from his hands. “Didn’t anyone tell you how to smoke a joint before?”

“No,” he choked on his words.

“You take a toke,” said Clara, as she brought it to her lips and did a thin inhale. “Now hold the smoke for as long as you can,” she said, while holding her breath. She held it in for a minute then exhaled as a gray cloud blew across the bed. “And it blows your fucking mind!”

A silly smile formed on her face that transformed into a grin.

“Wow!” she laughed and handed it to Kate.

Kate took a hit and did as Clara instructed. She held it in then blew a line of smoke from her lips.

“You aren’t kidding, wow,” exclaimed Kate, and she too, produced a little giggle. She took another hit and repeated the process then handed it to Jack.

He tried it again. This time he was able to hold it for a minute before breaking out into another coughing fit. Both Clara and Kate laughed.

“I think we got a newbie with us,” said Clara, as she took the joint from Jack and did another hit then passed it Kate. “You’ve never gotten high before?”

“No,” said Jack. “Mind alteration was never my thing.”

“His vice was sex and control,” blurted out Kate before she took another hit then handed it to Jack.

“The operative word is
was
,” Jack frowned at Kate. “But I’m hoping to rekindle at least one of my old vices.”

“Well this is the stuff to do it,” said Clara, watching him take another hit. “Not only do you get the munchies, but it makes you horny as hell.”

“That’s good to know,” said Jack, taking another toke. “So how much of this stuff do we need to smoke?”

“That all depends,” said Clara, taking the joint. “Are you looking for a good buzz or do you want to get wasted?”

“I’m enjoying what I’m feeling now.” Jack leaned back against the headrest and closed his eyes.

“How are you feeling, Kate?” asked Clara, as she looked at her friend. She didn’t look so green anymore but then again what did Clara know. She was feeling it, and Jack was right. It was quite enjoyable.

“I think my nausea is gone,” said Kate.

“Good, then it’s working.”

Clara laid back and spread out across the foot of the bed then took another hit. She blew the smoke upward toward the ceiling. She stretched out her arm and handed it to Kate. Kate took another hit.

Her body felt so relaxed and gooey inside. The pain in her gut ceased and for the first time in a long while, she actually felt better.

“Here,” said Kate, as she leaned over and flopped her head on Jack’s chest before handing him the joint.

Jack opened one eye and saw a goofy smile etched across her face as two glazed eyes looked up at him. He took the joint and snuffed it out in the ashtray on the nightstand.

“Hey, don’t put it out!” exclaimed Kate as she reached over and tried to retrieve it.

“Oh, no,” he grinned, and grabbed her hand, preventing her from going anywhere near the snuffed joint. “Pace yourself, baby. This stuff’s got to last us for a while.”

“You’re a party pooper, Jack!” Clara said, continuing to stare at the tiles above. “Did anyone ever tell you that you have the
Three Stooges’
faces in your ceiling?”

“No, we don’t,” Kate giggled and she rolled on her back to look up at the ceiling.

“You do,” said Clara, pointing up to the white tiles. “See there’s
Larry,
and
Moe
, and over there is
Curly
.” She pointed at Jack.

“Jack is
Curly
!” Kate laughed and slapped her hand on the bed. “Who am I?”

“You’re
Tweety Bird
.” Jack looked over at her and grinned.

“I am not!” Kate shook her head. “I’m
Woodstock
!”

“No,
Woodstock
doesn’t say anything but-wawawawawaaaaa,” laughed Jack. “
Tweety Bird
always has to put in his two cents, just like you.”

“Hey I want in on this,” said Clara as she rolled onto her stomach and fanned her feet in the air. “Who am I?”

“You’re
Peppermint Patty
,” Kate giggled.

“I don’t want to be
Peppermint Patty
,” frowned Clara. “She likes girls!”

“No that’s
Marcie
,” corrected Jack. “Get your
Peanut
characters straight!”

“Oh, I never thought about it like that,” said Clara, as she contemplated the underlying theme. “Okay, I’ll buy that. So who’s Adam?”

“He’s
Elmer Fudd
,” laughed Kate. She crawled over to Clara and lay beside her. “You’re married to
Elmer Fudd
.” She nudged her.

“No, he’s not
Elmer Fudd
,” Clara grinned.

“He is,” said Kate, planting her face inches away from Clara’s. “Shh…I’m hunting
wabbits
!”

They giggled together acting like school girls. Clara grabbed Kate by the head and gave her a noogie then settled on her shoulder. She took her hand and entwined their fingers together.

“You’re both wrong,” stated Jack, remaining in the same position, not wanting to move a muscle. “He’s that little Martian guy who wants to blow up the Earth.”

“Oh my God,
he so is
,” yelled Kate, startling them both in the process. “I bet Adam was just like that as a kid—all techno and geeky.”

“He was,” replied Jack, and he chuckled to himself thinking back to when they were in grade school. “But don’t tell him I said that.”

“I’m going to call him right now,” said Clara, taking her cell phone out of her pocket.

“Don’t you dare.” Kate reached over and snatched her phone.

She tossed it to Jack who placed it on the nightstand.

“I’m hungry,” said Clara.

“Me too,” said Kate.

They looked at each other and grinned.

“What do you got that’s good?” Clara asked, as she pulled herself from the bed and stood.

“I haven’t a clue,” said Jack. “Check the pantry. There must be something decent to chow on.”

“I’ll see what I can find,” said Clara, and she headed for the door.

“Wait-” Kate sat up abruptly. “In the pantry, third shelf and all the way in the back is my secret stash.”

“Oh, we are so going to score!” beamed Clara, and she left the room.

Jack looked at Kate and narrowed his eyes.

“You have a secret stash?”

“I did,” she giggled.

“How’s your stomach feel?” He looked down at her.

“Much better.” She smiled at him.

“This is a good sign, my little bald Barbie,” he smiled back. “Come here!”

“No, you come here.”

He saw her blue eyes sparkle. She was feeling better and he was relieved. Jack sat up then flopped back against the bed frame. He tried again with the same results.

“I can’t,” he chuckled. “You’re going to have to come here if you want me to fondle you.”

“You want to fondle me?” Kate’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.

“Oh baby, I’d like to do more than just fondle you,” he said with a grin. “But for now, I’d settle for a kiss.”

Kate slunk toward him on all fours, sliding between his legs and pressing her torso against his.

“Well, I’m here.” She looked up smiling into those deep green eyes of his.

“So you are,” he said, lifting his finger and tracing the freckles around her nose and cheeks. “Now lower those sweet lips right here.”

He pointed to his mouth. Kate happily obliged, lowering her lips to meet his. It was slow and the minute he felt her skin-to-skin, he held her face in his hands and parted those delicious lips, twirling his tongue, savoring every drop of her. He went delirious, slowly exploring her mouth and it was like nirvana, getting lost in the sensation.

A sweet, warm feeling settled in around his belly and like a pin prickling against his skin it seeped through sending droplets of slow sensual arousal to his groin. He rolled her over onto her back and pressed her into the plush mattress, covering her body like a cocoon and wrapping her tight beneath him.

“Let me know if you have a hot flash,” he whispered on her lips, then kissed her again.

But it was no hot flash Kate was experiencing this time. It was the burning flame of passion as he ignited her womanly desires. Her body rejoiced and welcomed the passion she thought she lost. But it was still there, sparked by a plant that overrode the effects of chemotherapy.

“Jack, I want you to make love to me,” whispered Kate, and she closed her eyes, getting lost in the feeling.

“Now?” Jack raised a brow, knowing Clara was to return at any moment.
Damn
,
her timing sucked
. He needed her in the worst way. For it had been over a month since she allowed him to touch her and now she wanted him to make love to her. He could have taken her right on the spot—ripped off her clothes and devoured her flesh. His need ached just hearing her ask him.

“Yes, now,” said Kate as she pulled him to her and kissed him again.

That was it for Jack. He slammed his mouth hard on her and tasted her sweetness.

Just then Clara walked back in the room, carrying as much junk food as she could hold.

“Oh, gross,” she stated, tossing the contents of her arms on the bed. “Hello, I’m back!”

They ignored her.

“Not in front of the company, okay,” she shouted, then raised her hand and brought it down on Jack’s jean’d buttocks, giving him a full-blown slap. “Yuck! If you don’t stop you’re going to make me go blind!”

The spell was broken, and Jack was brought back to reality. He glared at Clara before rolling over and away from Kate.

“Munchies first.” Clara returned to her spot at the foot of the bed. “Afterward I leave, then you can have sex.”

“You are a pain in my ass, Clara,” growled Jack, as he returned to his original seat. “Literally!”

He placed Kate between his legs and she rested her back against his chest. Clara laughed and opened a bag of tortilla chips along with a jar of salsa.

“It may not be the best in nutrition,” said Clara, handing them to Kate as she opened a bag of potato chips for herself. “But it was the healthiest thing I could find.”