My Better Life

She heads toward the house, the kids see her going, and take off after her. Then Scooter, I’m sure in hopes of dropped food scraps, lopes after them.

Jamie sighs and her shoulders drop. She looks completely drained.

“So…” I reach out and touch her hand.

She looks up and her lips shake.

“You didn’t get rid of me.”

She shakes her head, her cheeks wet. I’m not sure if it’s rain or tears.

“Why would you want to? Was I really that bad?”

She sniffs, the tip of her nose pink. “No. I wouldn’t want to. That’s just it. I never want you to go. I love you too much. That’s the problem.”

Even in the cold drizzle, a happy warmth settles over me.

“That does sound like a problem.” I step forward and wrap my arms around her. “But if you have that problem, then I have it too.”

She lifts her chin and stares into my eyes. “You’re going to hate me someday.”

I look at her lips. “I doubt it.”

Her tongue darts out, licking her bottom lip.

“I’m going to kiss you. That’s what we’re supposed to do right? Kiss and make up?” I smile at her, and finally her lips soften.

“If you forget everything else,” she says in a ragged voice, “I hope you never forget that I love you.”

I span my hands around her ribs and pull her close. I give her my promise when I kiss her beneath the gray, drizzling, wide open sky.