Chapter Thirty-Four
After Jeremy left, Jade finished wrapping the last of her friends’ gifts. Though she didn’t celebrate Christmas, a sense of loss crept in as she stared at the towering pile of gifts for Mia.
Sliding open the drawer of the hutch, she tucked the tape and scissors away, pausing to brush her fingers lovingly over the silver menorah still sealed in its original packaging. It was the first investment she’d made in her future and it hurt knowing next Chanukah she wouldn’t be sharing her family traditions with a little one. Sighing, she closed the drawer.
She wasn’t allowed to dwell on the could-have-beens. She needed to live in the present and presently, she had a mess to clean up.
Selecting a small gift from the top of Mia’s pile, she grabbed her coat and went to fix a few wrongs. Ty opened the front door as soon as she knocked, but for the first time ever, he didn’t step aside and invite her in.
“Jade.”
She hated how awkward she’d made everything. “Hey, Ty. Can I come in? It’s cold out.”
“Kiki!” Mia’s voice rung from the rafters, as she bounded down the stairs and shoved Tyson’s towering body aside. “Who’s that present for?”
“Well, I have so many to carry over for Christmas, I figured I might as well bring one now.” She held the small wrapped box out for Mia and she snatched it right up, giving it a firm shake.
“Can I open it, Daddy?”
Tyson pretended there was a debate, but everyone knew he could deny her nothing. “Go ahead. What do you say?”
“Thank you, Kiki!”
Jade smiled. “You’re welcome, munchkin.”
Mia took off, gift in hand. “Momma! Kiki brought me a present!”
Kat appeared at the end of the hall, wearing an apron with gingerbread men dancing on the front and a distrustful expression.
Jade raised a hand. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
She looked at Tyson and back to Kat. “Can you give us a minute, Ty?”
He hesitated, then turned and went in the direction Mia had gone, kissing the top of his wife’s head on the way and whispering something in her ear that Jade couldn’t say.
Jade shifted her feet as she stood in front of the door. “He’s mad at me.”
“He doesn’t like seeing me upset.”
“Neither do I. I’m so sorry about the other day, Kat. Everything got so messed up and it was my fault. I shouldn’t have made you worry like that.”
“You shouldn’t have put yourself in a dangerous situation. Any one of us would have gone with you.”
“Tyson would never let you go with me to meet Nathan.”
“No, but if it was that important that you see him, he would have gone himself. Or Jeremy. Jade … you have to be careful.”
“I was. That’s why we met in a public place and I left a note. I never meant to upset everyone. Please don’t be mad at me anymore. I can’t take it. I love you, Kat.”
She sighed. “I love you, too. If anything were to ever happen to you…”
“I promise I won’t do anything stupid like that again.” She waited for Kat to meet her gaze. “Hugs?”
“Hugs.” They crossed the distance and squeezed each other tight. “Am I ever going to know what you two talked about?”
Jade rested her head on her friend’s shoulder, not quite ready to let go. “I think you can figure the gist out. I wish I could say, but I can’t. It’s private and sad and I don’t want any more ugliness touching the holidays. Just know, I went there prepared to call the cops on him and left ninety-three percent sure he wasn’t my guy. He was trying to help me, Kat.”
She made a disbelieving sound in the back of her throat and pulled back. “I don’t think people like Nathan Lithe know how to help anyone but themselves.”
“That’s why I said trying. Everything he told me… It changes nothing and doesn’t get me any closer to finding justice.”
Letting it go for now, Kat gave her a remorseful smile. “How about some cookies? I have fresh ones coming out of the oven in about a minute.”
“This is why I need you in my life. Lead the way.”
Christmas was a wonderful distraction and she planned on losing herself in the excitement with her friends, rather than focusing on what she’d lost. Jeremy returned to load the gifts to take to her parents while she finished getting dressed, her mind trying very hard to push her unsettling thoughts aside for a few days.
She and Jeremy were still on shaky ground since his hypothetical ultimatum, and deep down she knew she would have told him everything to keep him in her life, but principles were involved and she was trying very hard to keep her word to Nathan. The man, after all, gave her a little more clarity on the situation if nothing else.
When they arrived at her parents’ it was typical pandemonium. Just an average day at the Shultz home. The house was lined with blue twinkle lights, and a menorah sat in the front window of the house. The hall smelled of her mother’s cooking and Elvis crooned from the stereo.
“There’s my angel!” Her father greeted as he pulled her into his arms. He turned to Jeremy and stuck out a hand. “Jake, nice to see you again.”
“Jeremy, Daddy,” Jade corrected.
“Nice to see you again, sir. Happy holidays.” Jeremy shook her father’s hand.
“Is that them?” her mother called, as she bustled out of the kitchen. “There’s my beautiful girl!”
Releasing Jade from a smothering hug, she turned and embraced Jeremy, her small body dragging him down to her stout height so she could squeeze his cheeks. “Jeremy, so glad you could join us. Larry, take their coats.” She brushed some flour off her apron. “I’ve been cooking for two days straight. Dinner should be ready in about an hour. Jeremy, why don’t you make yourself at home while Jade helps me set the table?”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Aw, bubeleh, what manners you have. No, you sit here and relax while we get everything finished. I’ll have Jade bring you something to drink.” She bustled Jade into the kitchen. “What a nice boy. I hope you appreciate those manners. Your father has none.”
Pots bubbled over and mismatched casserole dishes lined the counters. “I appreciate him.”
“He’s a nice man.” Her mother poured a glass of iced tea from a pea green pitcher that dated back to the seventies. “Handsome too. You think he’ll marry you?”
Dear God. “Mom, don’t start. We’ve only been dating for a few months.”
She clucked her tongue. “But imagine the babies you two would make. They’d have his height and your striking features. I get verklempt just thinking about it. Don’t you want me to be alive to see my grandchildren?”
She rolled her eyes and took the glass of tea out to Jeremy, struggling not to let her mind splinter at the mention of children—or marriage, for that matter.
Jeremy sat on the couch next to her father discussing various types of—batteries?
“You know, the generic ones hold up just as well as the pricey ones, Jake. What makes no sense is the packaging. They’re batteries. Yet a light bulb comes wrapped in tissue and loose cardboard. I need to carry a Swiss army knife to open things nowadays. You own a Swiss army knife, Jake? A few weeks ago, I purchased scissors and do you know what I needed to open them? Scissors! How am I supposed to open scissors when I clearly purchased scissors because I don’t own any? Makes no sense!”
“No, sir, it doesn’t.” Jeremy winked and took the glass from her.
“That’s some dress you have on there, Jadinka. You better ask your mother for an apron so you don’t spill anything on it.”
Ah, the loony bin, we have arrived. “I will, Daddy.”
Turning back to Jeremy, her father said, “Hey Jake, did you ever wonder why we drive on parkways and park on driveways? Makes no sense!”
After dinner, the four of them shared cocktails in the living room and were entertained by her father’s explanation of the Lights and an in-depth account of ancient practices. Jeremy was wonderful. He laughed at all her father’s corny jokes, complimented her mother on her cooking, and even helped do the dishes, which nearly gave her mother a coronary.
They left around nine o’clock and Jeremy called Mia on the way home to tell her good night. It was nice the way he, Kat, and Tyson could all work together to give Mia a nice Christmas. Not many split families were so lucky.
She and Jeremy planned on exchanging gifts that night so as not to interfere with Mia’s morning. He helped her carry her bags into the house and they made some coffee—well, Jade did.
As she settled on the floor by the tree, decorated in pink Disney Princesses ornaments, she slipped off her heels and waited as he found Christmas carols on the radio. When he finally joined her on the carpet she handed him a small wrapped box.
They took turns opening one present at a time. He seemed to like all the gifts she purchased for him. He, however, had some things to learn about shopping for a girl.
“Do you like it?” he asked, grinning expectantly.
“It’s a … jar opener.”
He nodded. “Because you’re always asking me to open things for you.”
“I love it,” she pushed the words through a forced smile. Where’s the receipt? Next year he’d be going out with a list.
Next year. The thought sobered her. Would they be together next year? She hoped so.
Glancing down at her jar opener, new shoehorn, and various other odd presents, she genuinely smirked and chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“You. I love them. I’ll never forget our first holiday together.”
He brushed a kiss on her cheek. “There’ll be many more.”
Around midnight they headed to bed. Halfway up the stairs, he turned to her. “Can you check if I turned the coffee pot off?”
“I shut it off.”
“Can you just check?”
“Sure.”
She was right. The coffee pot was off. But while she was down there she set the timer and filter for morning so they wouldn’t have to wait or chance Jeremy getting up first and brewing a batch of sludge. On her way back up the steps, she paused. A piano solo of Silent Night played from inside the bedroom. She slowly pushed open the door and gasped.
Golden flickers danced up the wall as candles covered every surface. Smiling widely, her gaze fell on Jeremy who slowly lowered on bended knee.
Jade staggered back, her heart falling into a wild and unsteady beat. “What is this?”
A white satin box filled his hand, glimmering in the golden glow of candlelight. Her arms prickled with goose bumps as the gentle tinkling of Silent Night filled the air. “It’s for you.”
Her vision blurred, her voice shrinking behind the pressure in her throat. “You did this for me?”
“I love you, Jade. I never knew I could love someone the way I love you. No one’s ever made me feel the things you do. When I’m with you, I’m alive. And when we’re apart, I feel like every breath is my last. I want to be with you, not just now, but forever. Will you be my wife?”
He opened the box and there sat the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It didn’t matter what the cut was or how clear the stone. She couldn’t see it through her tears anyway. All that mattered was that this man loved her enough to want her forever.
She wanted forever with him, too. Taking a shaky breath, she laughed and rasped, “Yes.”
Jeremy stood on shaky legs and pulled Jade into his arms, kissing her. “I love you,” he whispered against her lips, clumsily taking her hand and sliding the ring onto her petite finger.
Lacing her fingers with his, she pulled him close, held his face and pressed her lips to his. “I can’t believe this. You really want to marry me?”
Was she insane? “Of course I want to marry you. You mean everything to me, Jade.”
She sniffled and laughed. “I thought you seriously gave me a jar opener.”
He laughed then frowned. “Wait. You don’t like the jar opener?”
Shaking her head, she smiled. “I think I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”
He pressed his mouth to hers, gently coaxing her lips apart. Soft piano notes swathed them in a timeless moment. His fingers gently pulled the tie of her dress until the fabric fell away.
He unwrapped her like a present, her velvety skin glimmering in the candlelight. Stepping back, he slid her dress down her arms as it puddled on the floor. A vision of exquisite beauty, the woman he loved, his future wife, the mother of his children to come.
He placed his hand over her soft belly. “Here,” he whispered, looking into her eyes. “Is where our love will grow, Jade. I want to give you everything.”
She rested her hand over his as a tear trickled past her lashes, her chin trembling as she met his stare.
Moving slowly, he pulled the thin strap of her bra down her shoulder, pausing to kiss the scar at her shoulder. His tongue gently traced the curve of her shoulder to the tip of her ear and she shivered. As he nibbled on her neck, his fingers reached between her shoulder blades and unclasped her bra, releasing her breasts.
She stood before him in nothing but a wisp of white, lace panties as his fingers unknotted his tie. She slowly unbuttoned his shirt, her eyes full of love and promise.
She pressed her lips to the center of his chest and whispered, “I love you. I might not always say or do the right things, but I know you’re right for me, Jeremy.”
Caressing the flare of her hips, he bent to kiss the side of her breast. He leisurely pulled her panties to her ankles, exposing her sex. She lifted first one foot then the other as she stepped out of the garment.
Running his fingertips up her inner thighs, a spattering of goose bumps appeared in the wake of his caress. He nudged her legs apart and gently swept his tongue over her clit as she trembled. Her head rolled back as she held his shoulders. Her long, blonde hair fell like a silk cape as he slid a finger deep into her pussy and softly stroked.
The first taste of her arousal was a promise for more. He stood, scooping her into his arms, and carried her to the bed. Her hair fanned over the middle of the mattress, an exquisite sight that stole his breath.
He ran his finger down the valley of her breasts, shucked the last of his clothes, and climbed over her. Her body was perfection. Every lush curve and sinful dip. He spent an hour simply making her cry out his name. Her pleasure was his and he loved seeing her come apart under his touch.
Gripping her legs under the knees, he pulled her closer. Suited up with a condom, he nudged her wet folds with his cock, his body thrumming with anticipation.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.
Her eyes only partially opened. “That’s my line,” she teased.
Resting her calves against his shoulders, he took himself in hand and stroked his cock along the cleft of her sex, and her hips rose. He rimmed her folds, teasing her until she begged.
“Please…” She lifted her hips, trying to force him inside and he pulled back. “You’re teasing me.”
“Tell me you want me,” he whispered, prolonging the torture.
“I don’t want you, Jeremy. I need you.”
She was the sexiest woman he’d ever known. There was no denying her now. Leaning forward, he slid deep. “I need you, too.”
Waves of pleasure wracked his body as he continued to drive into her. Their voices filled the room with incoherent pants and nonsensical words. A thousand tiny shards of pleasure splintered as they came apart, holding each other close, never letting her go.
Rolling to his back, he pulled her to him, belly to belly, chest to chest, as he shivered and kissed her. She sighed as he brushed the hair from her eyes, finding a soft smile on her lips. The poignant moment seemed to sharpen like a dream just before dawn and he feared this might be just that, a dream.
Pressing her forehead to his, her smile turned shy. “How do you feel about a fast wedding?”
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
She snorted. “Tomorrow’s Christmas, but my schedule’s pretty wide open for the rest of the week.”
“I think I can pencil you in.” He playfully bit her shoulder.
“Use marker, because I’m not changing my mind.”
Jeremy awoke some time in the middle of the night to find Jade sitting cross-legged at the edge of the bed. “Hey,” he said in a sleep-roughened voice.
She turned and smiled at him over her shoulder. “Hey.”
“What’re you doing all the way over there?”
“Looking at my ring. It’s beautiful.” She shyly smiled at him. God, she was gorgeous.
He sat up and joined her at the edge of the bed. “Do you like it? If you don’t we can take it—”
“I love it,” she said cutting off his words with a kiss. “As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure I’m never taking it off, so I hope you’re sure about this.”
“I’m sure.” He lifted her hair from her shoulder and kissed her neck. “Are you serious about not wanting a big traditional wedding?”
She reclined and pulled the covers over her body, nestling close to him. “Well, I was thinking about it. At first, it sounds fun. You know, every girl’s dream and all, but it’s also a lot of work. I’m sure Kat would do most of the planning, which I don’t know if I’d end up appreciating or using as an excuse to beat her to death with her clip board. She’ll start organizing things the minute she finds out.”
“Well, what do you want?”
“I want to be your wife. It doesn’t matter how it happens, so long as that’s the end result. But I also don’t want to rush to the finish and regret not taking the time to enjoy the journey.”
“Then we’ll have a traditional wedding. You can register for flatware, linens and a coffee pot that actually makes good coffee, all that girlie stuff, and I can have a bachelor party.”
Jade snorted. “First of all, I’ll be registering no matter what kind of wedding we have. No one’s taking away my right to go on a shopping spree with a scanner gun. Second of all, your coffee pot makes fine coffee. It’s you who screws it up. And third, you can have your bachelor party so long as I get a bachelorette party.”
He pressed his lips together. “You know what? Bachelor parties are so cliché. I’m already over the idea.”
She laughed and then sighed. “I don’t know. I like the idea of having a traditional wedding, but it’s so much money and I really don’t want to wait a year to be your wife. I have this beautiful picture in my head of me in a perfect couture gown, Mia as my flower girl, and Kat as my maid of honor, but all those expectations for perfection add up to a lot of stress that I don’t want. No matter what, my mother will insist on handing out yamakas to all the men and my father will walk me down the aisle holding a clarinet.”
He laughed. “What’s with the clarinet? I’m gonna be family now. I feel like I should know.”
“I don’t know. He came home with it when I was in junior high and it’s been around ever since. I think he thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt or something.”
“Well, if you want to get married under a chuppah we can. We can even step on a bottle if it makes you happy.”
“I think I’d actually prefer getting married somewhere exotic. We wouldn’t have to wait, we could hire a wedding planner, and my parents would be limited to seventy-five pounds of cargo, so there wouldn’t be room for my mom to over-pack tacky accents.”
“I like that idea. I could see you in some billowy white dress on the beach with your hair blowing and your feet bare. As a matter of fact, I find that image very sexy.”
She blushed. “Yeah?”
He nodded. “And I like the idea of not waiting. I know you just moved, but I really hate living apart. I want you here, and now that we’re getting married, there’s no need to hide our relationship from Mia anymore.”
Her smile bloomed as she let out a quick breath. “Then let’s just do it. Let’s get married.”
“What are you doing for New Year’s Eve?”