“The bathroom is in there. I have towels in there, soap, everything.”
“Thanks, babe.”
There was never any serious discussion about us seeing each other in the flesh. I couldn’t believe he was here. He just popped up out of the blue. I was concerned and happy about it. Any other man showing up unannounced at 3 AM would’ve pissed me off but Jagger was different. He was special to me. It wasn’t because he was famous? I just had a rare set of feelings for this man, deeper, more intense feelings. Simply put, I loved him.
Once I heard the shower water I crept from the bedroom. I didn’t have anything rehearsed to say because I was in shock. I didn’t think I was ever going to have to tell my son anything about Jagger. I initially thought I would never hear from him again.
After the phone calls and text messages, I thought I would never see him in person again. I had it all wrong, completely wrong because Jagger was in my shower inside my home.
I reached my son’s room and walked into his open bedroom door. He was sitting on the bed in the dark. The moonlight piercing the window gave the room a blueish glow. Aaron was waiting for me with a Negan replica bat from The Walking Dead. There was no real bob wire but it was heavy like an actual bat. I closed the door behind me.
“You can put the bat down.”
He placed the bat in the small space between his headboard and his bedside table.
“Ma, what’s going on?” He asked in a hushed tone. My son was truly my protector. I had to make sure he didn’t worry about me but I still hadn’t figured out exactly what to say.
“My friend just got in from out of town. He’s going to stay the night.”
“What friend?” He asked.
“Jay.”
“You don’t have any male friends.”
Well, that was sort of true. “Look, child, I do now. We met over the summer.”
“Where?”
“Galena.”
“You know him well enough to spend the night.”
“Boy, it’s almost morning and yes I know him very well. He flew a long way and he’s tired and he’s staying over. You need to go back to bed.”
“What’s his name?”
“I told you Jay, Mr. Adkins.”
“He sounds like a grumpy old man. Is this the dude you always smiling into your phone for?”
“Ugh, boy. Go to bed. I will tell you all about this man tomorrow.”
“Is he supposed to be your boyfriend?”
“No, we’re friends.”
“I was supposed to meet him first before he stays overnight. That’s in the parenting handbook. You don’t know how to do this Ma.”
“No, I do not. He had a long flight. He’s tired. I’m tired. I will fill you in at a later time.”
“Where did he fly from?” This child had more questions then Alex Trebek?
“London.”
“London, I thought you met him in Galena.”
“I did.”
“Is he going to be here when I get out of school tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. If he is I can introduce you to him.”
“I don’t know if it’s safe to leave you alone with old man Adkins.”
“He’s very safe. Good night. I love you.” I stood. “Lay down clown cause you going to school tomorrow.”
Aaron fell back into the mattress. I walked over and kissed him on the cheek. I backed to the door and turned off his light. I pulled his door closed leaving just a small crack in it.
Chapter 22
KATRINA
Sleeping next to Jagger all night was challenging. He was really tired and he didn’t try to make love to me. He kissed me, told me he loved me and snuggled his clean, lean body into mine. He held me close. I fell asleep with his strong arms wrapped around me and with his face buried in my big hair.
My alarm went off and that meant I had to get up and see my son off. I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I brushed my hair into a poufy ponytail. I didn’t normally cook breakfast every morning but today I made pancakes, bacon, and eggs for Aaron. Last night his sleep was disrupted and I wanted to make sure he got some real food in his belly this morning.
I had already finished cooking when Aaron ambled into the kitchen making more noise than necessary. At sixteen he was already taller than me. He was five-ten and he still had more growing to do. After middle school, he lost all his body fat. That’s why I was so worried about all the fast-tailed girls that were looking to lock boys into lifetime commitments in high school. If I could just get him out of high school with being a teenage dad I would be so proud of myself. Even though Aaron had a father I always felt like I was doing the parenting all by myself.
“I don’t know Ma. I feel weird about leaving you here with this man.”
“Little boy, don’t you know I spent time alone with men before you were born and before I was married.”
“That’s a good point.”
“I told you. You can meet him after school if he’s still here when you get home.”
“I could meet him now.”
“Aaron, he’s still sleeping. He was very tired. He hasn’t moved. He’s really knocked out.”
“Did he really fly in from London?”
“Yes.”
“That’s far. Is he British?”
“Yes.”
“He seems old then. How old is he?”
I twisted my lips. “He’s not that old.”
“Good. You look too good to be with some bald-head old gray man. My friends think you’re a legit MILF.”
“I know what that means and I take it as a compliment. My guy is not bald or gray or old.”
“Your guy?”
“No, I meant the guy.”
Aaron eyed me curiously. “Whatever. Ma, you’re not going to eat?”
“No,
