Love Thy Neighbor

Chapter 32

Two weeks after our beach trip, I am on campus for my first day of grad school. The campus is not far from the condo, though it's too far to walk. I have to actually start using my car regularly.

I have no trouble finding my classes, partly because I'm the nerdy student carrying a map with me. I feel nervous all day, but it's a good type of nervous. I like the feeling I get from being back in the classroom. I especially like that I am pretty much only taking math classes from this point on. I enjoyed getting a well-rounded education as an undergrad, but math was what spoke to me.

It takes a week to fully get back into the routine of school. I go on campus each day around 9:00 AM. I go to my classes, which unfortunately are not back to back, and then get home around 3:00 PM. I try to get work done in the breaks between my classes so that I have my evenings free for Shawn.

Our routine is not changed much, except that we actually have more time together than when I was interning. We usually cook dinner together or order take-out. We watch something at night. Sometimes he plays guitar for me.

He's been spending his days getting ready for the tour. He's been perfecting his guitar solos so that they will be amazing live. He's also been working to really learn all the lyrics to his new songs. It sounds crazy that someone can forget their own lyrics, but it apparently happens all the time. The biggest thing he's been working on is the set list for the tour. He has to pick the best of his previous catalog of music and then decide which of his new songs he wants to highlight live. When songs are performed live, there are sometimes changes made to them- additions or deletions to the music or lyrics. In the past, a lot of Shawn's music was very collaborative. It still is to an extent, but he's slowly taken over more control. So he's coming up with all these tour ideas that he'll workshop with his band come rehearsals. Soon they should have everything perfected. They hit the road in early November.

Shawn is going to Europe first, which is pretty standard for him. He's headed to South America after the European leg. He'll then be home for a long break around Christmas. After that he heads to New Zealand, Australia, and Asia. He finishes the tour in North America, with his last show in Toronto. Between the Asian and North American legs of the tour he gets another couple of weeks at home. He's added multiple venues on each leg of the tour and many of the shows are for two nights instead of one. It's incredible how each tour grows.

So I get around five weeks with him between November and May. Five weeks is not much. I'm glad I have school to keep me busy.

On a cloudy September Saturday, we're still in bed even though it's no longer morning. We'd gotten up and eaten a couple muffins earlier, but had returned to bed after. The reality of the impending separation was making both of us a bit clingy.

Shawn gently strokes my hair as my head rests on his bare chest. My fingers graze his lower stomach, causing his muscles to alternate between tightening and relaxing. He's so responsive to touch.

"Jessica?"

"Shawn?"

"I have a hypothetical question, ok?" he asks.

"Ask away, babe," I say lazily. I'm so comfy and relaxed.

"If we were to get married one day, and if we were to have kids, what religion would they be?"

I lift my head up so that I'm looking at him and stop with the touching for a second.

"That's quite a question," I say.

"Have you ever considered it?" he asks.

I am torn for a second. Of course I've thought about a future with Shawn. I've imagined a wedding. Maybe I even picked out some baby names. I had never really thought about religion, though. My fantasies about our future were focused on simpler things. So do I admit that I've had thoughts about marriage?

"I've thought about our future, but not our kids' religion," I answer honestly.

"You are thinking about it now that I brought it. Tell me what you think."

I move into a sitting position, pulling the comforter around my naked body.

"I think I'd want our children to be raised with both our religions. They could celebrate both Judaic and Christian holidays."

Shawn nods, his face pensive. "But what would they be? Technically."

"I guess they could make that decision for themselves when they are older," I suggest. "We'd give them experiences in both religions and they could pick one or choose to do both."

"So I wouldn't have to convert? Your parents wouldn't expect it?" he queries.

"You know my parents. They are pretty laid back. They'd be fine. God knows I would never push you to do that." I recline again, resting my head on his shoulder. "What prompted all this?"

Shawn laughs nervously. "I was talking with the guys at rehearsal about us and how we'll probably be moving in together after the tour."

"Go on."

"There was a little teasing about how serious we are. Andrew said that I'd probably have to convert. He also said that would mean I'd have a bris. And then he told me what that was."

I bust out laughing. "Hold on. Hold on! Andrew convinced you that you were going to have to get circumcised to marry me?"

"Yes. Which sounds pretty painful."

"I bet it is," I said, still chuckling. "But no one is going to make you cut your dick."

Shawn kisses my head. "Thanks, baby."