The shower feels like heaven, hot water spraying across my skin, the Advil I took helping my headache.. I know I need to get my life straight. Easier said than done. After the shower, I quickly change into fresh clothes. I glance at the time on my phone: 9:00 am. Jesus, I could have gone back to bed.
Sizzling and popping comes from the kitchen. I round the corner, finding Seamus wagging his tail at Alexander’s cooking. He’s barefoot in my kitchen, as if it’s his home too.
“There better be coffee, or else I’m kicking you out of my house,” I grumble as I sit at my island.
“As if I’d ever disappoint you.” He slides a cup of hot coffee over to me, accompanied by a plate of bacon and eggs. Damn, how long was I in the shower for?
“Hmm, the love of my life, finally.” I bite into the bacon as Jackson whips back around with a startled look.
“Chill out Erickson, I was talking to the bacon. You better start talking. You didn’t come over just to smack my ass.” Food and coffee are the answer to my hangover, and damn, are these some good ones.
He quirks an eyebrow in my direction. “And if I did? Last I checked, you were dripping.”
I don’t dignify that with an answer. “Stop deflecting. Talk!”
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Teresa, I wasn’t joking around last night. I took a look at the information you were talking about, and I don’t think the noise and the mess at the site was a coincidence. I think someone is looking into you and you stumbled into something bigger than anticipated.”
I freeze. Am I actually involved in something? People missing, I knew that, but I didn’t mean to involve myself in anything dangerous. I shake my head. “Keep talking, Jackson”.
“Someone’s been watching you and my guys are looking into it. My question is, what did you get into, darlin’?”
A small tear rolls down my cheek. All I wanted was to be a social worker and make a change. Jackson reaches to touch my cheek, but I jerk away before he can. I can’t do this. I’m a mess. My emotions are all over the place. I trust too easily and then pull back. Everything seems like it’s crumbling down around me. My heart races, and I stand to pace around the kitchen. I look through the window, the outline of the mountains in the background. Jackson doesn’t move. He doesn’t chase me.
Driftwood is burning blue, wild walk the wall shadows
Night winds go riding by, riding by the lochie meadows
On to the break of day, close Mira stream singing:
Caidil gu la laddie, la laddie. Sleep the dark away
“What’s that?” Jackson walks a little closer. Was I singing?
“Cape Breton. It’s a lullaby my granny and momma used to sing to me.”
“Sing more.” He inches closer to me.
“Stop deflecting.” I huff out. Maybe I need to go back into my shell.
“I needed you safe last night; I didn’t know what people would do. From what we found, it doesn’t look good.” He stands behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. “Where did you go, Teresa? Don’t hide from me. I like you fiery and edgy. It’s who you are.”
“Jackson, I need you to include me, none of this cryptic crap. I can’t be left in the dark, having to pick out what’s fact versus fiction. You can’t suffocate me and smack my ass into submission…” I try to say.
“Unless it’s in the bedroom?” he finishes.
“Deflection,” I grit out.
He turns me around to face him. If he keeps doing this, my stomach may make an appearance. “I’m not fucking around, Teresa. Until the threat of someone stalking you, hurting you, putting a hit out on you, is neutralized, I need you to think before you act. Once everything is over, then you can be the wild person you want to be. As long as it’s with me.” The soft kiss on my forehead seems to seal the deal.
“I should let Seamus out,” is all I say in return. I really wish I had a bottle of whiskey and a pair of sunglasses right now. Seamus trots around the yard without a care in the world, as if my internal struggle doesn’t exist. I’m surprised Jackson didn’t follow me, but I’d much rather this silence. I’ll keep my distance, knowing there could be something worse coming my way. If I ignore it, maybe the problem will resolve itself or disappear completely. The last month has been a roller coaster, and I’m due a break. I walk back inside and find my house empty. I see a cleaned up kitchen and spot a note next to my coffee cup.
One breath at a time. I’m here when you need me, Little Cub. Don’t hide from me.- A
What did I get myself into? How did I, a simple social worker, get into this? Time to get some work done. Maybe hiding is the best way to protect myself.
Chapter 12
Aweekorsohas gone by since my ass got handed to me by Jackson. I haven’t been able to see him, and part of me is worried that I’ve truly scared him by the way we left things. On the other hand, I have tried to reach out, but my fingers always hovered over the call button. Perhaps my notion of hiding and keeping quiet put him off. Another part of me is sayinglet it goand to remember the last time we put someone else’s happiness before our own.