Taken

Chapter Thirteen--DENNY

The cabin was warm and cozy, with a fireplace and a large sofa that looked like someone could just sink into it and disappear.  I was surprised there weren’t any pictures or anything on the mantle.  It was empty.  I wondered if she had any kids.  Surely she would have pictures if she did.  Oh well.

          It wasn’t that I was completely over Jeremiah trying to leave, because I wasn’t.  It was just that it was so tiring trying to be mad at him.  Besides, around Sarah I tried to act civilized, so I decided to just give in, to not pretend anymore.  We were together now and I could see my anger was hurting him. 

          Around eleven at night, Sarah pulled her extra twin bed into the den by the fire.  She changed the sheets and put extras on the couch too before saying goodnight and retreating to the back room again.  I tucked Haven into the bed, sliding in next to her to run my fingers through her long hair until she fell asleep.  She always loved it when I did that, and she drifted off quickly. 

          Jeremiah settled onto the couch and watched  us.  After a while, he said, “Denny?”

          “Yeah?”

          “Do you remember your parents?”

          I was caught off guard. I glanced over at him.  “It wasn’t that long ago, Jere. Why?”

          He looked distressed, his eyes sparkling in the dim firelight.  “It’s slipping away Denny.  The memories of my mom, and even scarier: my Dad.”

          The expression on Jeremiah’s face was enough for me to quietly slide away from Haven and settle by him on the couch.  I felt his arms wrap around me and the old feeling of butterflies fluttering emerged in my stomach.  I laid my head on one of his hands, feeling it pressed against my cheek.  I  placed my hand underneath his.

          “It’s okay, Jere.”

          “I’m sorry I ever tried to leave you,” he whispered in my ear, sending shivers throughout my body.  He pulled me closer and grabbed another blanket.  Funny how he thought I was cold.

          I breathed in sharply, smelling the scent of him and taking it in.  I loved the way he smelled and I saved it to my memory, making a note.  Evergreen and a little bit of cinnamon, almost like Christmas.  It was an odd combination, especially for him, but I loved it anyways.  Must have been Sarah’s soap or something.

          “I won’t ever do it again, I promise.”

          I listened to the way he said the words, sure and willing.  I started to see why he did it though, why he left in the first place.  He was right, we were just moving too slow.  I would have been more willing if we could have talked it over and found me a place to stay first.

          “It’s okay,” I replied.  “I don’t want to hold you back.  I know we are moving at a snail’s pace, I just needed you to at least tell me before you disappeared.  I panicked when I saw you gone.”

          “I know,” he said with a sigh.  He sounded miserable.  “I won’t ever leave you,” he repeated, a little out of it as if he was drifting off to sleep as well.  “Not again, not ever…”

          “It’s fine, it’s alright.” He didn’t reply though, and I knew he was asleep.  I pulled the blanket tighter around myself and closed my eyes too.

-

          “Good morning lovebirds!” sang Sarah as she went around and opened the curtains, shedding tons of light into the room.  I squinted at her, perched on the window sill looking outside. “I always thought you two were together.” She winked.  “Oh, and it stopped snowing! The sun’s out.”