“Honestly, I’ve never taken a vacation since living at home with my parents. I broke up with my cheating boyfriend a few months ago and realized that I needed a break. A change of scenery, you know? I did some research on several different places and ended up deciding on Tucson,” she explained, then took another bite of the sandwich.
Her face had filled with heat at the mention of her ex-boyfriend, and again, I thought it was adorable. Everything about her was adorable. I watched her as she took another bite of the sandwich.
“What was it about Tucson that made you decide to come here?” I asked, leaning back and crossing my arms. I wanted her to be more specific. I wanted to find out what had driven her to come here of all places. Curiosity had made me ask.
“Well, the mountains. That’s why day one of my vacation I ended up there. The hike was peaceful and invigorating. I’ve always enjoyed hiking, and Kansas City doesn’t exactly have mountains,” she replied, and I laughed.
“Kansas or Missouri?” I asked next, and she quickly looked back up at me in surprise.
“I’m impressed. No one ever realizes that there is a Kansas City in Kansas as well. Everyone just assumes Missouri. I’ve actually lived in both, but currently, I live in a suburb on the Missouri side,” she replied. “My parents live there too. Oh shit! My parents!” she exclaimed in alarm.
“Can you hand me my bag?” she asked anxiously, and I lifted it from the floor and set it beside her on the bed. “Mom’s going to kill me,” she said in what sounded like exasperation. I think I even saw an eyeroll.
Grabbing her cellphone from the bag, she placed a call and held the phone to her ear. I could hear a frantic voice on the other end and decided to give her some privacy. Stepping from the room, I left the door open. I had not intended to eavesdrop, but I was fascinated by the woman who was currently in my bed.
“Mom, no, I’m fine. I just didn’t have service for a few hours…I promise you. I am fine…Yes, in fact, I went hiking in the mountains today…It was beautiful. You know how I like doing stuff like that. It’s why I came here…I promise I will make sure to call you earlier next time. I didn’t mean to make you worry…Okay, I love you too. Tell dad I love him too.”
I heard her sigh and wondered what that sigh was for. It was obvious that she loved both her parents, but she seemed to be relieved to be off the phone with them. It surprised me even more that she hadn’t told them what had happened to her. I waited a few more minutes before returning to the bedroom.
“Everything okay?” I asked when I saw the expression on her face.
She sighed again and looked down at the empty plate in her lap. When she looked back up at me and her eyes met mine, I could see a sadness there that had not been there before. For some reason, it brought out a protectiveness in me that I had not even known I was capable of.
“They are…protective. Overly so. It just frustrates me sometimes. I’m twenty-eight years old, and I still have to check in with my parents every day. Who does that? I haven’t lived with them since I was in college. It gets old, but I feel like I owe it to them,” she replied softly.
“I couldn’t even tell them about what happened today. If they knew that I had been injured, they would both be on the first flight out of Kansas City. There was a reason that I took this vacation alone, but they just don’t understand my need to have space. Freedom,” she continued quietly.
“Have you tried talking to them about it? About how it makes you feel?” I asked gently.
She gave me a funny look, then looked at the plate in her lap. I did not have to know her well to read the vulnerability on her face, and I felt bad for putting it there. I should not have pried, and I was about to apologize for interfering when she finally replied.
“I was adopted. I know that’s why they are the way they are,” she began softly.
I could not imagine what that was like for her, knowing that the people who had raised her were not the ones who had brought her into this world. My heart broke a little for her. I reached for her hand and held it while she continued.
“They lost their first child when he was just four years old. A drowning accident. It was a series of miscarriages after that, and the last one resulted in a complete hysterectomy. Adoption was their only choice if they wanted children. Because of that, I let them be overly protective. It just…gets old sometimes,” she admitted.
This woman had a lot of heart and a lot of compassion. That, and she did something to my insides that made me feel all sappy. But now, she needed some sleep. I could tell that she was exhausted, and it was already after midnight.
“Let me help you get these blankets down. I’m sure you are exhausted after your day,” I told her, and she nodded.
Once she was settled comfortably on the pillows, I pulled the blankets over her. Before I could pull away, I felt her hand on my arm and turned and looked down at her.
“Zeke, I just wanted to say thank you again. You didn’t have to help me. You didn’t have to bring me to your home and feed me. I appreciate it. I want you to know I really mean that,” she said softly.
I patted her hand on my arm and smiled down at her. She had no idea what those big green eyes were doing to my insides.
“You are very welcome.
