Frigid Affair(44)

I hated dwelling on what couldn’t be changed, but in the back of my mind it was always a distant concern. I made it a point to agree with Jensen, even when I knew he was wrong, because I feared he’d change his mind and want to get as far away from me as possible.

After the winter storm passed, and I didn’t have any real reason to stay with him except his personal request, I knew it was going to challenge us as individuals. Jensen was right about having things in common, even aside from our tragic losses. We’d both come from the same area and visited local places. We experienced harsh Pennsylvania winters, and all the activities spring and summer would provide for. We’d both spent vacations with our family on the sandy beaches of the ocean, and were brought up in a Christian environment. Despite being forced out of our comfortable confines, we’d both held onto the same morals.

As the days turned into weeks, Jensen bonded with Christopher. It became easier for me to stop worrying who he’d love the most, and realize how important it was for him to have both his parents close. It was obvious from the very beginning how much Jensen loved his son. He was like his light at the end of a very dark never-ending tunnel. As long as he had him his light would never dim again.

As for our relationship, I’d like to say we took our time, but who am I kidding? I couldn’t resist the things I knew he could do to me. I think in our first week back together we screwed more than I had in my whole life. We were like rabbits, humping whenever we got the opportunity. Before I’d always wanted to rest when it was naptime for Christopher, but now I was hunting down the handsome man who I’d been sharing a bed with.

When the weather was clear Jensen would venture out to chop wood and cleared a pathway for Ava to maneuver around. Once the satellite came back in, Christopher found a bunch of shows and characters to keep him occupied.

I kept up with the beautiful house we were living in, frequently checking on my cabin, but never really missing it. I think in many ways it represented a dormant time in my life. I’d always known from the moment I’d given birth that I’d have to leave, and now with time slipping away from me I knew a big decision was going to have to be made.

Since we were lower on the mountain I utilized the internet service at the house, researching properties closer to town. I contacted a realtor and set up a meeting for them to come check out the cabin to see if I’d be able to get a good amount of money for it, if I decided to sell.

I had money in the bank to live comfortably, but my priorities were different than before. I wondered if investing most of it in a new forever home would be the right decision. Christopher would need room to grow. He’d be in school and make friends he would probably want to bring over. I didn’t want him missing out because of my own selfish ways.

On most nights Jensen and I talked about a future. We tiptoed around the past as much as we could without making it awkward for either of us.

The next time Eve called to check on Jensen he told her how we’d come down from the cabin and been staying with him. Of course, she wanted to speak to me right away, assuming she’d been the one to set up us.

I remember sitting on Jensen’s lap when the call came in, and him handing me the phone quickly. He stuck his lips against my ear and tickled my lobe with his tongue while I answered the call.

“Hi, Eve.”

“It’s so good to hear your voice, love. I’m guessing things are going good for you. You don’t know how happy I am you two were able to connect. I knew from the first time I saw him on that computer screen you’d be smitten over each other.”

I smiled, while still being teased by Jensen. “Yeah, he’s pretty great.”

“How’s the baby? I suppose he’s growing up quick. I can’t wait to see him, but I’m not sure we’re going to make it to the house this year. Bob needs to have a double hip replacement and it’s just going to be too much. How is the house holding up? Jensen says it’s still good as new.”

“It is. Everything is going well.”

“So, are you excited about this new relationship, hun? Does Christopher like him?”

I don’t know what made me say it. Maybe it was the fact that I was so head over heels for him, or maybe it was because he was kissing on my neck, but the truth slipped out before I could catch myself. “Well, he is the child’s father, so yeah, he’s crazy about him.”

I watched as Jensen pulled away, suddenly realizing what I’d just done.

The line was quiet. “I’m sorry, love. I’m not sure I heard you right. Has Jensen offered to care for the boy as his own?”

I’d never felt like Eve was a threat, so I decided it was best for all of us if I just told her the truth. “No. Jensen is the man who saved me from the fire.”

I watched him get up and walk out of the room, knowing I was never going to hear the end of it when my conversation ended. “Are you telling me the same man you thought stole from me is living in my house right now? You have to get away from him, Amantha.”

“No. You’re wrong. Jensen wasn’t a part of those men. He came to town for a different reason.”

“Amantha, I need to go. Bob is calling me. I’ll call you back later on tonight. I need to hear all about this.”

“Okay, Eve. That sounds good. I have a lot to tell you.”

As soon as I hung up I sought out Jensen. He was upstairs in Christopher’s room pushing a toy car toward him. “We talked about telling Bob and Eve. I thought we agreed it was better if they didn’t know.”