“Shut up. Well?” In my head I’m pleading he has something already in motion.
“Of course, I’m getting plans in place as we speak. I’ll need forty-eight hours, though.”
“Fuck, I want her out of here before then!” I’m cursing louder than I should be.
“You don’t think I know that? I’m trying. Just sit tight and watch your back.”
“That’s your job. Keep the target off me.”
“Always!”
Silence in my ear signals the conversation is over and he’s gone.
There are two other people I need to call, and this is never easy.
Walking outside, I sit on the chair under the tree to watch the ocean, taking a deep breath of the salt air that always breathes life into me. I don’t know how long until I’ll be able to do this again. Savoring the moment for just a few minutes, I pick up my phone and make the call.
“How is my favorite son?”
“Hi, Mom, how are you today? Enjoying the sunshine?” I run my hand through my hair in frustration of the heartache I’m about to cause again.
“It’s heating up, but I’ve got your father in the garden, finally pulling out the weeds that have been there for weeks. He walks past them every day but just ignores them. Damn man. I’m sure it’s been like a standoff between us as to who was going to give in and do the weeding.”
Listening to the sweetness of my mom, I can’t help but start laughing. “Poor Dad, I can imagine the nagging he was coping with.”
“Kurt Dolan, I do not nag!” she screams in the phone.
“No, of course not,” my dad yells in the background. “To you that’s just asking politely.”
God, I hope they never change.
One day I want what they have. A love that never wanes regardless of the good and bad you both bring to a marriage. Nobody’s perfect, right? And we are crazy if we think we are.
“Mom,” I say, getting her attention back.
“Yes, Kurt.”
“I’m just calling to remind you how much I love you.” I hear the instant gasp in her voice. “Please don’t ask any questions or say any names. I just need you to remember I love you and will see you soon.”
A few seconds of nothing but I hear the little quiet sniffle. “But you gave it up.” A pained whisper is all I hear.
“I know, but this means more than the job ever did. I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be, just come home safe. Both of you. Otherwise, you think I nag now. That’ll be nothing compared to what will happen if you don’t.” And that is where I get my humor from, that I use to break the moments when the emotions are just too hard.
I don’t even get to say any more to her because I can hear her handing the phone to Dad.
“Hey, Son. You don’t need to say anything. Listening to your mother, I know it’s time.” As big and tough as I always thought my dad was when I was growing up, it’s times like this I understand what a softie he is inside.
“Yeah, it’s time. Not sure exactly, but any time now. So, I need a couple of things.”
“Sure, you name it.”
“I need you to keep the business going until I’m back. Hire someone to work with Ricky and you supervise. I don’t want you overdoing it.”
Hearing him chuckle a little is like music to my ears. “Are you calling me soft, Son?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. But you know what I mean. And make sure you give Ricky plenty of shit, will you? Don’t want him going soft while I’m not here.” Both of us are laughing now. “Also, can you come and get Coco, take care of her until we get back?”
“Sure thing. Your mother will love her in the garden, I’m sure.”
I doubt that’s true, but we can’t take her with us, it just makes things too hard.
“Thanks, Dad, for everything. I’ve got to go now.”
“Kurt.” I hate hearing the emotion in his voice.
“Yeah?”
“Stay safe.”
“Roger that. Love you and see you soon.”
“You better. Now go look after her. Love you both.” By the wobble in his voice, I know there is nothing more to be said, so I hang up.
This is one of the reasons I got out of the job.
Every time it just got harder. My parents are getting older, and every day is a bonus.
As much as I will always love them, as much as I have since the day I was born…
My love for Asha is more.
Now to get on with the day and try to sit tight until I get more news.
The next forty-eight hours are going to kill me.
ASHA
The alarm on my phone starts chiming to let me know that it’s almost time for Davina to arrive. I don’t want her talking to Kurt before I talk to her. She will give away that I called her this morning, and I don’t know what she’ll say. I need to see what she thinks before he knows anything.
Still unsure how I’m going to handle it, I walk out into the kitchen to see Kurt scrubbing out my fridge.
On his knees, head inside the fridge, shirt off, his tight ass up in the air with his shorts sitting snuggly. The top of them slides down just a little, showing the top of the elastic on his boxers. There is a part of me that is tingling at the kitchen porn, even though I shouldn’t be thinking about Kurt like that right now.
But seriously, he looks so freaking hot like that.
The muscles in his shoulder ripple as he wipes the back wall of the fridge.
I could probably stand here and just keep ogling, but I really should be ready for Davina.
I clear my throat to let him know I’m there.
“I know you’re behind me enjoying the view.” I’m sure he’s smirking at letting me know I’ve been busted.
Trying to dismiss his cockiness, I ask, “Umm, what are you doing?”
“Just a bit of cleaning, keeping myself busy while you
