I was also worried about Alissa and if she would leave me now that the danger and excitement were over. I did not voice this last concern, however. To say it aloud would bring it to life, and I was too much a coward for that. Apparently, Alissa was braver than me.
“Jackson?”
“Yes, dear?”
I could feel her smile as she turned her head against my chest.
“I just...” she hesitated. “I know that we really haven’t known each other very long, but I kinda feel like we’ve been through a lot together already.”
“I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I’m hoping for quieter times to come, at least for a little while.”
“Yeah. I’ll be glad to get back to normal, but I’m a little worried about something.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, I really do appreciate everything you’ve done for me lately, but I’m afraid that I’m going to lose you now that you no longer need to be my guardian superhero.” I opened my mouth to speak, but she continued. “My heart is invested now, and it’s going to hurt a lot if you leave.”
Oh, thank God.
I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her back against my chest, holding her as tightly as I could without hurting her. I brushed my lips against her neck right below her ear.
“Alissa Allen, I never want to hear you say anything so ridiculous again. My heart is invested, too, and I am not going anywhere. You are stuck with me for the rest of eternity as far as I am concerned.”
“Eternity huh?” she turned to face me, and I kissed her gently. “That’s a long time.”
“Not long enough,” I replied, and I meant it. I could never grow tired of this woman. We sat in a comfortable silence for a while longer, but the water was cooling quickly, and I wanted to be in a warm bed with her instead.
A few minutes later, I had Alissa towel dried and tucked into bed beside me. We leisurely explored each other’s bodies and made love slowly, whispering words of endearment that never meant more. Eventually, we fell asleep with our limbs tangled together and our hearts entwined.
I had never felt more at peace, despite the trying day. It was like I had finally found my home. Wherever Alissa was, that’s where home would be.
Alissa
I woke around 7:00 the next morning to a disappointingly empty bed. After such an amazing night, I had wanted to wake up beside Jackson, but I knew that he had a lot of work to do. He left a note, folded into a delicate origami bird, on the bedside table. Origami? Was there anything that man couldn’t do?
I pushed aside my feelings of inadequacy. Jackson told me last night very clearly that he was serious about being with me. I was going to trust his words.
I smiled as I read the note.
My Dearest Alissa,
I can’t tell you what torture it was to leave your warm bed for a cold office. I hope
you’ll forgive my absence and allow me to return this evening... and every evening. I’ll think
of you twice a second until then.
With love,
Jackson
With love...
I rolled out of bed and made my way downstairs. I was completely incapable of keeping the ridiculous smile off of my face.
I made some coffee and then set to work arranging my new tables and chairs. I would reopen the restaurant tomorrow, and I had a lot to do before then.
Tyler came over around lunchtime to help me sort out the food situation and get everything ready. We started by going through the kitchen. I bought many of my ingredients fresh daily, but we always had a lot of food in the place. We hadn’t been open for three days, and some of it wasn’t going to be good for much longer. I had very high standards when it came to quality, so I wasn’t going to use them when we re-opened, but I always hated to throw food away.
We started cooking, and I easily fell into a comfortable pattern, like I always did. I had really missed my kitchen, so much in fact, that I might have gotten a little carried away.
....Okay, I got really carried away. When we were done, we had a massive amount of food ranging from sandwiches to full dinners to baked goods. I had no idea what we were going to do with it all.
We packed everything back in the fridge as a temporary solution. We were going to have to get rid of it today so that I could bring in all of the new groceries before tomorrow morning.
I called Jackson. I told myself that I was calling because he might have a good idea for what to do with the food, but if I was honest with myself I knew I just wanted an excuse to talk to him. I was such a sap.
I rang his cell. He picked up after the first ring.
“Alissa?”
“Hi, Jackson.”
“I miss you.” I could hear the smile in his voice. I was glad I called.
“I miss you, too. Are you busy?”
“Yeah, kind of, but I have time for you. What’s up?”
“Right, um Tyler and I did some cooking to make room for the new groceries that I am going to buy today, and now we have a ton of food and no one to eat it. Do you know anyone who might want it?”
“How much food is a ton?”
“Oh, about forty dinners...”
“Really?”
“Well, yeah, and I needed to use up the sliced meats so we made some sandwiches... and some other things...” When I said it out loud, it suddenly seemed like a ridiculous amount of food.
“Alissa? How much food are we really talking about?”
“Well maybe fifty or so sandwiches, too... And a couple pots of soup... And some baked goods... Tyler made pies to use up the berries. They were getting moldy, Jackson. I can’t have that.”
I suddenly felt the need to explain my random cooking spree. I don’t care what his note said. I made massive amounts of food for no one. He was going to think that I was nuts.
“I just... well... I got to cooking, and I’ve kinda’ been missing the kitchen. Please don’t think I’m crazy. I really did need to use this stuff up.” He laughed into the phone, and it was the most wonderful sound. “I don’t think you’re crazy, and I have an idea for where we can send the food.”
“Really?”
“Really. Let me make some calls, and then I’ll come over and help you deliver it. I have a quick 4:00 meeting, and then I’ll be over. You can do your shopping now if you want, and then we’ll put the old food in your van and bring in the new food. Sound like a plan?”
“Perfect. Thank you, Jackson.”
“You’re welcome. See you soon.”
I felt better knowing that we would have somewhere to send the leftover food. Tyler came with me to get the new supplies. I usually shopped alone, but I needed the extra help for a full kitchen re-stock. I could manage the market in the morning, but I needed things like potatoes, which came in fifty-pound bags that were a pain.
Two hours later, Tyler and I returned with a van full of food to find Jackson leaning against my kitchen door. He was talking to someone on the phone. He looked happy, and I hoped that I might be a small part of the reason why.
When I got out of the van, he announced that Jason and Ben were coming to help us with the food. The plan was to take the hot meals and soups to a church that had a soup kitchen. They would be served as part of dinner the next day. The sandwiches were going to a shelter tonight, the same shelter that Jackson had stayed in just a short week ago. I asked if I would need more food. I was willing to put together some extra sandwiches if we wouldn’t have enough, but Jackson said that fifty was perfect. He’d also picked up a couple of cases of bottled water to go with the sandwiches.
We took all of the food to donate out and brought all of the new stuff in for tomorrow.
Jason and Ben followed my van in Jason’s Jeep. We went to the church first and loaded the food into the refrigerators there. We were just going to leave the pots and trays. I could pick them up tomorrow.
We arrived at the shelter about twenty minutes before the men would be allowed inside.
The staff let us in the back entrance, and we set up just inside the front doors. The plan was to hand each person who wanted one, a sandwich and a water on their way to find a bunk. Jackson and I stood side by side, armed with food and water, and Jason and Ben took the other side so we could have two lines.
I will never forget the look on Jackson’s face as he handed my simple sandwiches to those men. He was clearly humbled, and he seemed truly grateful for the opportunity to serve. It was clear that he preferred being on this side of the line this time, but I thought that Jackson would probably have a lot more experiences like this one in the future. He’d learned something about what it means to be hungry, and he’d learned that there are more important things in life than working hard all of the time. I thought Jackson would probably be more of a hands-on giver from now on.
Jason looked up at one point and winked at me. It was obvious that he was very proud of his brother. I was proud of him, too, not to mention madly in love with him.