Jade

Chapter 26

He put on a white snowsuit.  I got up and let the skin pick.  It picked a white snowsuit that wasn't as bulky as the one I had previously worn, “Is this going to be enough?”  He looked at me, “it is perfect.”  When I was done my hair was in a bun inside the hood, which was fastened tight under my chin.  I wore matching gloves and boots.  It was the same for him.  He looked like a taller version of me.

He grabbed a hold of my hand and pulled me out of the room.  He put a finger to his lips telling me to be quiet and pulled me down the hallway.  We went out back.  No one was there.  “Want a smoke?” he asked.  “Yes,” I whispered.  “You do not have to be quiet anymore.”  He lit me a cigarette, then one for himself.  “So what are you going to show me?”  “Just wait,” he answered.  I noticed that the sky was getting lighter.  When we were almost done smoking, “ okay.  Turn around and watch.”  I turned around.  The sun was rising above the mountains.  Down below the mountains was a lake that was mostly frozen over but still reflecting the mountains and the sunrise.  It had to be the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  “Wow!” was all I could say.  And then, “I need to paint this.”  “That can be arranged,” he commented from behind me.

The backdoor opened and out stumbled Max and Lia.  “You had the same idea as us?” I asked.  “We just came out for a smoke,” Max stated, “The view is an added bonus.”  Aris lit me another cigarette.  We stood and watched it until it got bright enough to look away.

“I am taking Jade to show her our cabin,” Aris told Max and Lia, “Can you check on Reagan.  Feed her if she feels up to eating.  If she gives you trouble, push her to go back to sleep.”  “Will do,” Max promised. “Later, after we have had some sleep, I will be asking for ideas on how to handle her.”  “Sounds good,” Max replied, “I am looking forward to some sleep.  I will wake Ripley up in a few minutes.  He has next watch.”

Aris jumped down off of the porch and uncovered the same snowmobile that we had previously used.  He unhooked the trailer and topped off the gas.  He hopped on it and sat down.  It started right up and purred like a kitten.  Okay, a loud kitten.  He offered me his hand.  I climbed down off of the porch and sat behind him.  I slipped my arms around his waste and held on tight, remembering our first time, but he took off slow and smooth.  We headed in the direction of the lake.  The trees became more dense as we travelled.  Soon I realized that we were following a path through the forest.

“Are you ready for it?” he asked.  “Yes,” I answered.  “It is right there,” he pointed to our left.  All I saw were trees.  “Where?” I asked.  “Oh, I forgot,” he turned around and touched my forehead.  I got kind of a startled feeling, then things started to come back into focus.  He took a hold of my arm to keep me from falling, “Are you okay?”  “I think so,” I put my arms back around him to hold on.  “It is right there,” he pointed to our left again.  Now there was a two story log cabin where there were only trees before.  “How did you do that?” I asked.  “I cloaked it so that no one would be able to find us unless we want them to.”  “How do you do that?”  “I just do.  I do not know how to explain.”  “Okay.”

“So, what do you think of the cabin?” he asked.  I looked at it again, “it's beautiful.”  “Would you like to go inside?”  “Yes.”  He drove us around to the back and pulled up right next to the back porch.  He turned off the snowmobile.  “Do not step in the snow.  It will be deeper here.”  He offered me his hand and I stepped from the snowmobile up to the porch.  He actually stepped down in the snow so he could cover the snowmobile.  The snow came just above his knees so it would probably be mid-thigh on me.  He finished up and climbed up onto the porch.  I followed him to the back door.

“The security system is set to automatically recognize the both of us, so the doors just open for us.” The door just swung open, then automatically closed behind us.  “This is the mud room,” he changed into a gray sweatshirt and pants and house shoes.  I did the same.  He led me through a door to the left.  “This is the kitchen and dining room.”  “It's beautiful,” I whispered, running my hand across the granite countertop of the island that divided the kitchen from the dining room.  The cabinets were all light cherry wood.  The dining room table and chairs, and the barstools under the island, matched the kitchen cabinets.  The floors were polished dark hardwood.  The walls were ornately carved white paneling.

I was drawn to a painting on the dining room wall opposite the kitchen.  I walked to it.  It was a beach scene, looking out at the water.  “Who painted this?” I asked, expecting it to be someone famous.  “I did,” he answered, “do you like it?” I smiled at him, “I do like it.  It makes me feel as if I am there.”  “I painted all of the paintings in this house.  There are some bare spots waiting for yours,” he told me.  “I don't know if any of mine will be good enough to decorate this beautiful house,” I told him.  “I know they will.”  “Do you think that we could get some of mine from my house?” I asked.  “We will when it is safer,” he answered, “right now your house is being watched.”

He led me to a door opposite the mud room.  We entered a living room with the same flooring and wall paneling as the kitchen/dining room.  A large fireplace was clearly the centerpiece of the room.  A large television was mounted to the wall to the right of the fireplace.  A sofa, loveseat and recliner, all in dark brown suede surrounded the fireplace and television.  A glass top coffee table sat in front of the sofa.
Another painting caught my attention on the wall opposite of the fireplace.  I made my way to it.  It was a portrait of me at the beach.  A very good one.  He came closer.  “You have an excellent imagination,” I told him.  “What do you mean?” he asked.  “I've never been to the beach before,” I answered.  “No, but you will,” he replied.  That made no sense whatsoever, but I didn't push it.

“So what do you think?” he asked, looking around the room.  “You have an excellent interior decorator,” I answered.  “I did it myself,” he replied, “Thank you.”  “I really like it.  Do you usually do all of the decorating?” I asked.  “My own spaces, yes.  I allow the others choices for their spaces.  If they do not care, I do it.”  “Did you decorate this whole cabin?”  “Yes,” he answered, “if you would like to change anything just speak up.  We can always redecorate.”  “Well, so far, I love it.  I wouldn't change a thing.  Except, maybe, ask you to light the fire place.”  He smiled, clearly pleased, “Have a seat.  I will light it.”  I sat down on the sofa.  He started putting kindling in the fireplace.  “Have you been staying here any?”  I asked, for small-talk.  “I have some.  It just felt really empty by myself.  Mostly I have stayed just trying to get it ready for you.”  “Will we be staying here tonight?”  “Yes,” he paused and looked at me, “if you want to.”  I smiled, “I want to.”  He smiled again, clearly pleased.

I relaxed back into the sofa and closed my eyes just to rest them for a moment.  I felt heat as he got the fire going.  This sofa is so incredibly comfortable.  I felt it dip next to me.  I felt him pull me close and cover us up with a warm blanket.  He gave me a squeeze from behind, then I felt a feather light kiss on my right cheek and a drop of wetness.  I reached up with my right hand to feel his cheek.  It was wet.  “Why are you crying?” I asked sleepily, “Did I do something wrong.”  “No, not at all,” he answered, “I am just so relieved and happy to have you here with me.  I feel like I am in a dream, sometimes, and I am afraid that I will wake up and you will be gone.”  “I am not going anywhere,” I whispered.

He kissed me on the cheek again and I turned to face him.  He leaned down and kissed my lips.
“How about we get some sleep and we finish the tour after?” he asked.  “Sounds good to me,” I whispered, “are we okay here or do we need to find a bed?”  “I am fine here if you are,” he answered changing into dark green shorts.  “I'm fine here,” I changed into matching dark green shorts and a tank top.  He tucked the blanket in around us and somehow the lights dimmed.  The blinds in the windows closed, making the room dark.  I was so comfortable it didn't take long for me to fall asleep.

I awoke with a start.  A loud blaring noise, like a fog horn, sounded.  I jumped and screamed.  “It is okay, Jade, it is just the door bell,” Aris said calming me down.  He turned the lights up and opened the blinds a little.  It was now dark outside.  How long did we sleep?  “It is okay,” he explained, “It is just Lia and Max bringing dinner.”  We both changed back into sweats and went back to the mud room to greet our guests.

Aris opened the door.  Max and Lia, all bundled up, carried in two large trays and two medium size Rubbermaid bowls.  Aris took the large trays and I took the bowls so that they could get out of their coats and boots.  “We have house slippers for you right there,” I indicated a closet to their right.  “Wonderful,” Lia exclaimed, “my feet are never warm.”  They put some on and followed us to the kitchen.  We set everything on the island.

“I brought chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice and refried beans,” Lia announced, “unfortunately, it all needs warmed up now.”  She set the preheat on the oven.  “It all sounds great,” I told her, “I'm hungry.”  “Yaris, have you been starving this girl?” she accused.  “I’m the one that fell asleep first,” I told her, “you just woke us up.”  “Ahhh, you need a cigarette, right?”  “Yes,” I answered.  “We just had one, you go ahead.”

Aris and I walked to the mud room, dressed warm and went out the back door.  He lit a cigarette for me, then one for himself.  “Did you know they were coming?” I asked.  “Yes.  I just did not expect to sleep so long.”  “Can you change that doorbell?”  “Yes.  Definitely.”  “Did it scare you too?”  “Yes,” he smiled, “I was ready to drop to the floor and take cover.  Then I remembered what it is.”  We finished our cigarettes and went back in.  We changed back into our sweats and made our way to the kitchen.

“That smells so good.  I can't wait to try it,” I complemented Lia. “I was hoping that fried chicken wasn't the only food you like,” Lia replied.  “Oh no.  I like all kinds of food,” I stated.  Lia put one of the bowls in the microwave and set the timer.  “Can I help with anything?” I offered.  “No, I have got it.  You just sit and relax.”  Max got drinks out of the refrigerator and handed me a can of Diet Coke.  I thanked him, opened it and took a long drink.

I heard the oven timer go off.  “It is ready,” Lia announced, dishing the food up.  Max brought plates to the table for each of us.  Lia brought plates for herself and Max.  They waited for me to take a bite.  I closed my eyes to savor it.  It tasted just as good as it smelled.  “It's just wonderful,” I commented, getting my next bite ready, “Thank you for this Lia.”  “Oh, I did not make it,” she replied.  “Who then?” I asked puzzled, “Max?”  “No,” Max answered, “Ripley made this.  I do not cook.”  “Please let Ripley know for me.”  “Of course,” Lia agreed.

We finished eating and Max and Lia cleaned up.  I was so full I could have gone back to sleep, but it was time to discuss business.