It’s been days since Jake’s mother pulled her stunt which her son barely noticed. She had acted all really sick like she could not even get off her bed or something which was why the young man thought it best for her to rest some more. Claire had been rather too busy for him or perhaps the memory of that kiss was still etched on her mind. He wanted to see her and not just when she waves past or is in a major hurry but all to no avail. Coupled with the fact that she no longer worked at the restaurant which he would never approve of, she had disappeared totally. Something was telling him that if he kept it up, she would eventually slip away from his fingers and into the hands of someone else for he could swear one thing, Claire Willows was a gem and it would not take anyone close to her much of a time to discover that aspect of her. Jake was seriously missing her and the sound of her carefree laughter. He actually had gotten something for her which he was hoping that someday at the right time, he would give it to her as a gift.
He had just come home from work which apparently he had been slacking off on thanks to his sick mother and went to take his bath. The water felt really good as it came in contact with his skin yet, all Jake could think about was Claire. What if it was her soft body there with him or rubbing against him. That would be so heavenly and something he was hoping to look forward to. He took his time in the bathroom and had just come out in time to hear the knocking against the door. The person must have been knocking for a while which was why he walked out with just his towel around his waist. He did not get guests very often and truth be told, he could not remember when last there were guests in his home. That must ha have been during the new year when family and friends had come to celebrate with them. It was occasionally during celebrations that the people here tried out some aspect of being good. No one really cared as everyone was busy mowing their lawn or minding their business. Funny right? I thought as much.
But as he approached the door, Jake hoped he would not be disappointed this time around and looked in the peephole. He had never been more excited to open that door, it was Claire and she seemed to have gotten tired of knocking and was actually turning around when he opened the door. Claire turned to look at him and was kind of stratled at first to see him on just his towel.
“Hi Claire. Sorry, I just got out of the shower.” he apologized.
She nodded trying hard not to stare at him. But Jake wanted her to stare. He wanted it to happen as it does in the movies when the female lead stares into the eyes of the male lead and the next thing, they are tearing at each other. Then he would slip a family heirloom ring into her finger while she sleeps, waiting until she wakes to ask her to marry him and then a big wedding would follow. But come on, that was just in the movies and Jake knew better than push his luck. Claire was not that kind of girl and he could tell that her seeming innocence was no charade. She was pure inside out
“It’s fine. Is now a bad time?” she asked him softly like she was being skeptical
“Of course not. Come in and make yourself comfortable while I throw on some clothes.” he said to her side stepping out of her way.
Claire nodded and entered the house allowing him to shut the door. She walked off to the kitchen area and grabbed a bottle of water which she drank quickly. She looked like she had actually walked directly to his place from work and was yet to go home. Jake knew better than start with the question that instant when he was kind of indecent. He asked her if she was okay only to which she said yes and she only had a sort of busily annoying day. He chuckled and went to his room and found himself clothes to wear. It was high time he took his clothes to the laundry man because his mother was one not to overlook things like that. She was one neatness freak and would definitely try to do his laundry which it seemed he had no time for. Jake would not want that definitely. She was sick and he would not contribute to her stress.
He finished up rather quickly, taking a short time to organize himself and his hair before going out of his room to meet Claire. The girl looked really stressed out from the last time he saw her and he could bet it had very much everything to do with her overbearing boss. He went to sit close to her on the couch and asked what had happened. In truth, he also wanted to know details of what she was doing for her boss which he could not hire other people to do. Everyone knows the powerful Tristan Jenkins and this was one reason why he could not understand what would bring the man to relieving Claire of her job at the restaurant only to give her another at his place. It was so fishy that he had to wonder if perhaps by some way, he had seen that which is embedded within Claire and wanted a piece of it too. That was actually something he would fight anyone for. Claire was his woman and tampering with her was like tampering with him as well let alone a well known playboy plus chronic womanizer.
He was confused when she suddenly asked him to tell her if her cooking was bad. He asked her if all was okay and had someone criticized her cooking. She said no but the fact she had put her efforts into making food for Tristan which he ate a little and gave her no compliment whatsoever ever before making her overwork herself all through was confusing. She had begun doubting if she was even a good cook.
“Claire you are a good cook and you do not need nobody bringing you down low on whether or not you can cook.” Jake said to her
“Are you sure Jake?” she asked him again
“You don’t believe me right, only one way to find out then,” he said to her
“How?” she asked him.
Jake explained that he was about to go to the grocery store and pick out things to fix his mother’s meal. Perhaps she could join him and they would make something. Okay, correction on that bit. She would make the food while he accessed alongside his mother. Claire smiled widely as she normally would when she was happy for the first time since she came to his place. Jake was glad he got to make her smile and asked if she wanted to come with him. She merely thought about it when she agree immediately saying she did not want to go home at the moment. He could understand how she felt. Lucille and her kids were no child’s play to deal with after all. It was to the grocery store with them and he quickly fetched his keys, locked the house and they left together.
Shopping with Claire was really fun actually. She seemed to know what she needed for the meal and he followed her with the trolley. They were like high school lovers really which he believed they would have been before had her parents not divorced. Perhaps then he would not have a hard time coming over to see her and neither of their parents would be throwing shades and blames at each other. Well that was all the what ifs but right now, he wanted to evade all that and align with Claire. They got all they needed for cooking and then went to get themselves ice cream. Practically, he had gotten her ice cream to get her calm and for himself, it was the chocolate bar.
Jake noticed that instant she had grown rather quiet once they got into the car. He could not understand and tried to study her as she slowly dug into the ice cream and had a taste. A single tear drop fell off her eyes and landed on her jean causing a wet patch. Jake realized Claire was crying and felt he must have done something to upset her.
“Are you okay Claire?” he asked her looking her over.
She sniffled and quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. The next thing was a feigned smiled at him.
“I’m fine Jake.” she said
“But you were crying just now.” he said to her
“Oh was I? I’m sorry about that. It’s nothing really.” she said.
But he was not convinced.
“That certainly was something…” he pointed out.
She paused deep in thoughts as she sought the right words to say to him. Claire sighed and scoffed.
“Jake, I’m just emotional.” she said
“Why?” he asked
“Because this is my first time in many years that I’m having an ice cream. It’s been ten years.” she said to him and he was confused.
How was that even possible. Ice cream was something he usually gets whenever he feels down or at least, once every two weeks. He asked what she meant. Claire smiled at him and explained that the very last person to buy her ice cream was her father before he gaslighted her by never showing up. Before him, her mother used to. She really was glad as she had even forgotten the sweet taste of the cold ice. Jake was more than touched she was sharing this with him. It meant he was actually the first person in many long years to get her ice cream. He smiled and then told her that henceforth, on Fridays after work, it would be ice cream hangout for both of them. She was more than delighted and he meant every bit of what he said. He really wanted to be a part of her life.