Kennedy left Sunday night and she made sure to text me when she made it into her apartment safely. I finished up the last edits on a young adult science fiction wizard book we acquired a few months back. I sent the last draft off to my boss and decided to watch a little TV before bed.
I was in a deep sleep when my cell phone buzzing woke me. I opened my eyes and reached for my cell. It was on my bedside table but it stopped buzzing. I grabbed it and placed it as close to my face as possible. Parents panic hit me in my chest. Aaron is at home. I saw him in bed but I worried about Kennedy who was an hour away at college. My eyes focused on the screen and I had three missed calls, all from Jagger. It was three in the morning. He never called me late but that was his name JBA. He knew the time difference everywhere he landed. He had one of those nice expensive watches that displayed multiple time zones.
I went to return his call and it rang again. I answered right away.
“Hey,” I whispered because my voice had been asleep with the rest of my body just seconds ago.
“Kat, come here.” His voice flowed like hot chocolate.
“Come where?”
“To your front door.”
“My front door?”
“Yes.”
“Right now?”
“Yes, love, right now.”
I jumped out of bed and thankfully landed on my feet. My cell went dead. He’d hung up. I looked at the screen just to be sure. I slipped my feet into my slippers and headed to my open bedroom door. I turned to enter the hallway and Aaron was peaking out of his bedroom door across the hall. Why? I tiptoed toward him with a look of worry on my face.
“Ma.” He called out in a whisper. “There’s a man on our front porch.”
“What?”
“A man on our front porch. Should I call the police?”
“No,” I whispered back. “I think I know who it is.”
“You think. You better know.”
I gave him my best motherly scowl. “Boy.”
“It’s three in the morning Ma.”
“Yeah, just go back to your room and close the door. I’ll be back in to tell you what’s up. I know who’s at the door.”
“Who? Is he dangerous?”
“Aaron.” I gave him a stern look.
“Okay. I’m calling the police if you don’t come back.”
“Boy, I’m coming back. Gone back in your damn room.”
Aaron ducked back in his room but he didn’t close the door. I made my way down the hall. I quickly ventured down the stairs. The stairs were right at the front door and I could see someone was standing right outside my front door. I could only see the shadow of a body but I knew it was Jagger. I knew his built.
I opened the door and he was standing there with a huge duffel bag over his shoulder. My motion censored porch light was bright and shining directly on his six-four powerful frame. He looked like a Greek god with that heavenly glow behind him. He picked up a few pounds and it looked good on him.
“Hey, love.”
“Heyyy.”
“Kat.” My name coming from his voice gave me chills. “Can I come in?”
I shook off my fairy-tale haze and opened the door wider. I took three steps back and watched him as he entered my house. I couldn’t believe he was here at my house. It had been an entire month since we’d seen each other in person.
I looked out the door and saw nothing out of the ordinary in my driveway. How did he get here? He was in London. I hurried and closed the door behind him. I made sure I locked the door. I had a really valuable person in my house. Now I had to worry about the safety of my son and this famous guy.
He bent to place his black duffel bag on the floor. I wanted to ask questions but I took a step toward him and fell into his outstretched arms. I cozied into his broad chest. He smelled so good, like roasted nuts. His arms held me tight and I was transported back to our time at Sweet Treats. I closed my eyes and prayed this wasn’t a dream. I’d had this dream so many times since that summer in Galena.
When he pulled me back I was able to look up at him and ask, “Are you really here?”
“Yes, love. It’s really me. I don’t have a doppelgänger.”
“How are you here?”
“I took the jet and flew into Midway airport, then I took a taxi here. I needed a break from everything. I had to see you.”
“I’m happy you’re here.” I couldn’t hold in the goofy smile on my face.
Jagger bent to kiss me on the lips before I could say anything else. His long arm snaked around my body pulling me close. When he pulled away his face looked strained. Maybe he was just tired. He had to have been on a seven or eight-hour flight. I didn’t think he was back using. I hated myself for even thinking it. He wouldn’t do that.
“Babe, I’m totally exhausted.”
“Oh yes, come get in bed.”
“I need to shower first.”
“Okay, follow me.”
I watched Jagger pick his duffel off of the floor. The bag looked too heavy for me to pick up. I hoped it meant that he was going to be here for a few days. I walked around him and started up the staircase. I tried to be as quiet as possible.
I turned as I walked to look at Jagger behind me. I whispered. “My son’s here, in his room.”
Jagger shook his head without saying a word. I never stopped moving. He followed me down the hall and into my bedroom. I knew Jagger didn’t have a house of his own. He stayed in hotels. He sometimes stayed in a house that the record company owned with his band. That house
