Authors: Jennifer Labelle
“I must be so appealing right now, huh?”
“Very.” He leaned in for a kiss. “I can’t wait to get you home. I’ll be able to properly show you how pretty you are then.”
“Now that’s appealing.” Going home was something she looked forward to.
“I need to see Jayden,” she whispered. She could feel the lump in her throat and couldn’t help the tears. She was still worried about her little boy.
Tyler nodded, wiping the tears from her face. “That’s a good idea. He misses you just as much.”
Her mother walked in alone. “Mom? Where’s Jayden?”
She’d pictured him running in with excitement.
“He’ll be up in a minute. He suckered your dad in, when they passed by the gift shop. Now let’s hope they don’t buy the whole store.”
Jenna smiled but was impatient for his arrival. She hadn’t even had the chance to hug him the last time. She’d been so distracted and confused to discover that Tyler was alive, or feeling like she was dead, or whatever it was she’d felt at the time.
“He’s coming, Jenna, have patience.” Tyler smiled and laughed when she childishly stuck out her tongue.
When he came in, Jayden hid behind a large bouquet of flowers, but remained by his grandfather’s side.
Jenna’s smile soon turned into a look of concern. “Jayden?” She reached out to him, trying not to show how much his reaction hurt.
He didn’t move.
Tyler got up and spoke her parents. “I know you just got here, but could you give us a few minutes?” He lifted Jayden into his arms and moved to stand beside Jenna’s bed. “Jayden, don’t you want to see Mommy?”
His little head bobbed, peaking at Jenna from behind the flowers before hiding his face again.
“
It’s okay, honey, are you feeling afraid?” Jenna asked.
He nodded and finally looked at her. “Mommy, are you going to die?”
“
No, Jayden, I’m not going anywhere. Why would you think that?”
“Because last time you said you were dead.”
She laughed humorlessly at her stupidity. “I did, and I’m sorry. Mommy was overwhelmed and a little afraid at the time, but I was never dead, Jayden, and I shouldn’t have said so.” She felt terrible. What kind of mother put her child through so much trauma? It was unspeakable.
“I missed you.”
“
I missed you too Mommy.” Jayden leaped into her arms, cuddling close, flowers in her face, but she didn’t mind. “When are you coming home?”
“Soon, baby, I promise.” She took the flowers he offered and put them next to her bed. “Thank you, they’re beautiful, and I feel so much better already, especially having you here with me. I love you, Monkey.” She had to make it up to him and was now determined more than ever to go home.
* * * *
Her father poked his head in the doorway to make sure the coast was clear. “Did we come at a bad time?”
“Perfect timing, come on in.” Tyler got up to socialize across the room with her parents, giving Jenna and Jayden some much needed bonding time. Visiting hours came to an end way too soon and nobody but Jenna thought it was good that Jayden stay. She was being selfish.
Jayden cried and clung to her. “No, I want to stay with Mommy.”
She needed to reassure him before he left, but her mother acted too fast and tried to take him away. “Give me a minute,” Jenna snapped. “Everyone out, please. I need a few minutes with my son, and I would appreciate the privacy.”
Ignoring their protests, she concentrated on calming her son. “Jayden, I need you to know that Mommy isn’t going anywhere. Do you understand? I need you to know that you can come see me anytime now that I’m feeling better, and I need you to understand that I’m going to be coming home soon. So, I don’t want you to be afraid because there is no reason to be. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Okay?” She had to make things right and could only hope that he understood that there was no need to be afraid.
“But why can’t I stay?” he whined, making her laugh.
“
Because it’s almost bedtime, and Grandma needs you to stay with her right now. She loves when she visits you, and she knows I’ll be coming home soon. When that happens, Grandma and Poppa will be going back to Cornwall.”
“
But it’s not the same when Grandma puts me to bed,” he whined. “She doesn’t tell me any good stories, and when she tries she never says them right.”
She laughed again, trying to picture it. “Okay, my tired boy, I will tell you your bedtime story tonight if you promise me that you’re going to be brave for me. After the story, you’ll have to go back with Grandma for the night, and I’ll see you in the morning. So remember the faster you go to sleep, the faster we’ll see each other again. Okay?”
She stuck to one of his favorite stories and sighed when it worked. It didn’t take long for Jayden to fall asleep.
Tyler walked in on an already sleeping boy. “Are you ready to part with him until tomorrow?”
She nodded. “I don’t think he’ll be putting up much of a fight.”
“I’m not surprised.” Tyler chuckled. “It was quite a day, and he always felt safest with you.”
“Momma’s boy,” she whispered with more confidence than earlier. She just had to make up for scaring him so badly.
Tyler laughed when he returned, telling her, “I was impressed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen your mother speechless before.”
“It wasn’t my intention to upset her.” The last thing she needed was more guilt. “It’s just Jayden has a fear of losing me, and I needed a few more minutes to calm him down.”
“I understand why you did it, Jenna, and you don’t have to justify yourself for it. I honestly thought your mother would’ve known better than to try to come between you and your son. Hell, I even know better than that.”
She laughed at his teasing tone. “What can I say; he’s the love of my life.”
“Well, I hope that I’m still on that list.”
She cradled his face to bring him closer. “Of course,” she whispered, brushing her lips next to his. He had her heart racing. His lips were full, delectable, and waiting for her to taste. Her lips moved and re-explored the lips that she never thought she’d touch again. Their tongues touching in perfect synchronization, and she could feel his erection pressed against her side, aching for release. She pulled away. It had been way too long without Tyler, but it just wasn’t the time for anything more.
It wasn’t until two weeks later that Jenna happily saw the hospital fading in the background as they drove away. She was on her way home, and there was no sweeter feeling to be free again.
Chapter Five
“
It’s good to be home.” she whispered, taking a deep relieved breath. The day was beautiful and so was the view. The ride from the hospital seemed to take forever. Although, she appreciated Tyler’s thoughtfulness, he drove like an eighty year old woman after church on Sunday. In any other circumstance, she probably would have laughed or got frustrated with him. Instead, she was touched.
Home—she was finally home, admiring Tyler with Jayden in his arms. Their faces lit up with excitement, and it made her smile. It felt like a dream, too good to be true. She took in her surroundings as if seeing them for the first time. Her square, average-sized, brown-brick home never looked better. She jumped when Tyler wrapped his arms around her.
“
Wha’chya thinking about?”
His lips were close to her ear, and his hot breath felt like a caress to her whole body, making her go weak in the knees.
“
Hmm, I’m thinking that it feels like a whole new beginning, that I’m so glad to be home, and I was admiring you with our son.” She laughed, looking around. “Where is our little monkey?”
“He ran off.” Tyler shrugged. “It’s so good to have you back, Jenna.”
He looked choked up, and she couldn’t help herself, leaning forward to embrace him. She needed to feel his lips against her own.
“
I love you,” she whispered breathless. She was actually with Tyler, at home. Tyler was alive, and it still wowed her.
“Geez, Tyler, she’s been home all of two minutes and already you’re hogging her.”
Jenna chuckled happily. “It’s great to see you, Sam.” She turned to see Sam holding Jayden’s hand and her parents standing behind them waiting patiently.
“
Damn straight,” Tyler remarked. “And I’m not sure that I want to share.” Pulling Jenna towards him, he winked playfully and kissed her before letting go.
“
Later.” She winked back, laughing as he swatted her butt.
“
That’s a promise, Welcome home, Jenna.”
She was coddled, loved and completely pampered the entire day. It wasn’t surprising, but it was tiring. She’d been in the hospital for too long. It was time to fend for herself and take care of her family as she had before. One day wasn’t going to kill her though, so she bit her tongue and spent the day spending quality time with her favorite people.
“It’s great to see you, Sam. I missed you at the hospital.”
Sam looked guilty. “I went to see you once. It was after your surgery, and you looked awful.” Jenna laughed, making Sam smile apologetically. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just, I couldn’t handle it. There were complications, and you looked so lifeless. I should have been there, but I couldn’t. I got updates about you, but I just preferred to remember you full of life. Can you forgive me?”
“There is nothing to forgive.” Jenna knew Sam cared and could understand, because had the roles been reversed, she might have preferred not to have haunting memories of a lifeless Sam.
They stepped outside admiring the sunset. Fall was approaching, the nights were beginning to get cool, and she shivered. “So how was your trip?” Sam was a professional photographer and travelled the world. Jenna envied her adventures, especially with her last destination, beautiful Ireland.
“Wonderful. I went to St. Stephen’s green, Merrion Square, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and the Four Courts. I took a ton of pictures. I can’t wait to show them to you.”
“
Of course,” Jenna smiled, still envious of her friend’s adventures. Ireland was a place she’d always dreamed of going.
The front door opened, distracting Jenna and Sam.
“
Dad and I are leaving now.”
“
All right, Mom, thank you for coming today.”
“What’s going on here?” She glanced between Jenna and Sam.
“I was just telling Jenna the same thing,” Sam said with perception Jenna appreciated. “I’m calling it a night.” She stretched and forced a yawn. “You and I should get together real soon.” She whispered as she gave her a hug. “And then maybe you can see those pictures I was talking about.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
Several hugs and kisses later, it was just Jenna and her two favorite men left in the house.
“
Okay, Jayden are you ready?”
“
Ready?” he repeated.
“
Yes, Monkey, it’s time for a bath, then bed.”
“
Aw, no fair,” he whined, making Jenna and Tyler laugh.
“
That’s tough, little man. We’ve all had a long day, and your mamma needs her rest.” Tyler looked adoringly towards his wife and son and helped Jayden up the stairs for the nightly ritual of bath, bed, bedtime story, tucking him in, and a kiss goodnight.
* * * *
“He’s finally asleep,” she announced, joining Tyler in the living room once more. Jayden had been abnormally hyper throughout the day, and it took longer than usual to put him to bed.