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NATE
Damn, seeing Jade again after all of these years got to me more than I thought it would. I hadn’t seen or talked to her since she said goodbye to me before going to Chicago for school.
For a long time I thought I hated her. I couldn’t believe she would leave me and wonder why she didn’t love me enough to stay with me. I loved the mountains of Alaska and our home town; I wanted to stay here and raise a family and I couldn't understand why she didn’t want to as well.
Eventually I forgave her. It was actually a long conversation with her father that changed my mind. Mr. Thompson always said she’d come back home, even to me. I would smile and disagree, but he insisted. Now he was gone and she was back, but I bet she left as quickly as she came.
I’d heard she arrived in town about five days ago to say goodbye to her dad, but I hadn’t seen her around at all. I assumed she was with her family.
I never found love after her. I dated a few girls, but no one excited me like Jade did. Jade was a gorgeous woman with her long red hair and green eyes. She ran and did yoga back in high school and always had a killer body.
It was more than that though. She was so smart and she challenged me like no other. We would sometimes fight like cats and dogs, but making sure was fun. My mom always said we had a lot of passion, but she was full of shit. Why else would Jade leave me?
I found it interesting she hadn’t gotten married yet either. I shouldn’t be surprised though. Whenever I brought it up to her in high school, she would wrinkle her nose and change the subject.
I thought I wanted marriage and family but I guess that had been something I’d only wanted with her.
I drove back to the state park with my radio turned off. I was glad I’d been able to get to the funeral today. Jade’s dad and I had always been close, even after she left town. It was a shame the cancer got him; he was way too young. I knew Jade was super close with him and not so close with her mom and my heart ached for her, knowing her heart was broken.
It was evident by the way she collapsed in my arms earlier. She felt as amazing as ever there - like that was where she belonged. I had a flash of the love I once felt for her, but I buried it deep. It would be silly to get attached to a girl who would just leave me again.
The afternoon was busy at the park and I didn’t think about Jade again until I was driving home from work. I had a cabin up in the mountains, but I needed to get a few groceries first.
As I pulled into the parking lot of the small grocery store, I noticed Jade walking in. At this point of the day, she’d changed into some leggings and a baggy sweatshirt. Her hair was off to the side in a low ponytail.
My heart started racing and my stomach was uneasy. I hadn’t been nervous around Jade since we were probably thirteen and I wanted to kiss her for the first time.
I smiled fondly at the memory of stealing a kiss from her at the park behind the pavilion. When we were seventeen, I took her virginity. I’d been pretty nervous that night as well. I’m sure it had been awkward and not at all what we’d thought our first time to be, but I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with any other girl.
I parked my truck and went inside. I held my breath around every corner, wondering if I’d see Jade. I didn’t run into her until we were both in the checkout lane. Of course there was only one open and I had to get in line right behind her.
“Hi, Nate,” she smiled at me. My heart ached at her tired eyes. They were red and swollen from all the crying today and the past few days.
“Hey you.” Damn, I couldn’t deny it was good to see her again. “Everything go okay today?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I guess so. I’m glad it’s over though.” Jade set her basket on the conveyor belt. “I still can’t believe he’s gone. It happened so fast.”
“I know, Jade. I’m sorry.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks. “When do you leave?”
“I don’t. I’d been planning on coming back to help Mom and Dad anyway in a few weeks. I’m here as long as Mom needs me. Maybe forever.” She shrugged and turned to the cashier to pay for her few groceries.
As I unloaded my basket, my mind started to race. Jade wasn’t leaving? I used to swear I wouldn’t even give her the time of day ever again but seeing her here in front of me had me thinking about what could be.
“I’ll see you later, Nate.” She had her groceries in her arms.
“Sure.” She started to turn away and I stopped her. “Hey Jade, wait. Maybe we could get together some night for dinner or something. Or you could come to the park for a hike.”
Jade smiled at me like she used to when we were kids and my stomach did a flip flop. “I’d like that, Nathan. You know where to find me. I’ll see you around. Have a good night.”
I nodded my goodbye to her and I couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the evening. I was sorry it was a tragedy that brought her back to me, but I never forgot how Mr. Wilson said we belonged together and we would find our way back to each other. Maybe that time was now.
3
JADE
The next couple of weeks were insanely busy but that was okay; it kept my mind off of the fact Dad was gone. Of course I was reminded of it constantly since we were going through his things and taking care of all of the things.
Sometimes the grief would hit me like a wave out of nowhere and I’d have to hide in the bathroom to cry or take a break for a few hours, going down by the lake where he used to fish. Grief was funny like that. I had a cousin tell me that grief like that had to come in waves because if it hit all at once, we’d never be able to handle it. She was totally right.
