HIM
The next week passes in a blur.
My days are filled with preparing for the launch.
My nights are filled with Jade.
And I sleep.
The deep, deep sleep of the exhausted and the content.
Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night, and she has turned towards me, her face peaceful in sleep, the silver glaze of the moonlight through the windows framing her body, covered in the soft silk of her nightie. She is rarely covered by the bedsheet, kicking them off mere minutes after she’s fallen asleep, her body constantly running hot. She looks just like a sleeping angel. A guardian angel. Mine.
Our routine doesn’t change; my mornings start right, with her happily jabbering away in the car as I ride with her to work, one ear on her chatter, one eye on my email.
Most nights are spent enjoying food and making love. But some nights I’m stuck at the office and she’ll come to visit, bringing dinner for everyone, asking insightful questions and giving her own opinion without fear, sometimes to the sounds of agreement, sometimes to laughter. But she gives it fiercely nonetheless.
And I just sit back and watch.
I hope my life is like this forever.
***
I know you’re busy but please call me ASAP
Jade’s text message catches me by surprise during an early morning meeting. I’ve just left her side barely an hour ago, what could she need?
I’m in a meeting, sweet. What’s so important? I text back, trying to stay focused on what’s being discussed.
It’s barely a minute before the phone vibrates again on the table. It’s a picture message this time. I open it and my blood runs cold.
The text contains two pictures. One of the same white envelope that I’ve received three times now.
This time, it’s addressed to Jade.
Inside, an embossed card.
This time there’s a time.
“One week” in black ink and underneath, the words, “I do so hope you can make it, Jade.”
Signed J.
The same J.
I push myself away from the table and speed dial her number even before I’ve reached the reception area.
“Kaine?” she answers right away, an edge to her voice that gets my hackles up.
“It’s me, Jade. Are you okay?” her well-being the most important thing to me these days.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just… is, is this what I think it is?” she asks, referring to the other envelopes she knows I’ve received.
I don’t want to worry her. But I can’t lie to her. “I think so. Where did you find it?”
“It was sitting in the return book bin. It looked so fancy, Harriet thought it was from you, so she put it on my desk.”
“So, someone had to have put it there. It wasn’t delivered by post,” I reason.
“No. They were here,” she says, her voice shaking.
“Do you know who might have put it there?”
“No. And we don’t have security cameras here. It was pretty busy last night, being our genealogy group night. So, lots of people were walking around.”
Whoever it was knows about me and Jade and was near her. I want to kill him. I’m almost afraid I will.
“Is there anything else?” I ask.
“No, just what I showed you. What does it mean?”
“I don’t know, honey. I don’t know,” I admit. And it kills me not to be able to ease her fears.
“What’s going on?”
“I wish I knew, sweetheart. But I’m going to find out. Don’t worry.”
“Okay.”
“Hey. I mean it, don’t worry,” I try to comfort her.
“I just… I just want your launch to go well.”
“It will. What are your plans for lunch?”
There’s a relaxed sigh on the line and I can see her smiling at my obvious attempt to cheer her up with the talk of food.
“We’re all going out for lunch, to celebrate our new smoke alarms.”
“Oh, they’re all installed? I hadn’t heard an update yet.”
“Yep, all done yesterday, so we can actually close up for about an hour today and grab a quick drink next door to celebrate not turning into roast humans.”
“That sounds great. Have a drink for me.
“I will.”
“I have to get back to my meeting.”
“Okay. Kaine? I love you.”
And for a split second, everything is okay.
***
“It’s not Jacob.” Xavier breaks the news to me.
“Shit. I don’t know if that’s a relief or if it’s disappointing, because then we’re back at square one.”
“I don’t know about that. Jacob? We might’ve been able to deal with him.”
“How do you know it wasn’t him?”
“Because he’s in Atlantic City losing his monthly allowance on cheap hookers.”
“Shit. The one time I thought I could rely on the asshole being Jacob and he doesn’t come through.”
“Yeah. No kidding.”
“What now?”
“I’ve got eyes on the library. And Jade,” Xavier tells me.
“Shit. I better tell her.”
“Why?”
“Don’t ask. Just. Fuck, find out, who it is. We have seven days till launch. I’m going to be on edge the whole time.”
“Yes, boss.”
***
“And to all of the spouses and boyfriends and girlfriends who have not left you, for working late the last 18 months, this is to you!” Thomas, head of my special projects department declares, raising his champagne glass to the sounds of “hear, hear!” from the crowd.
“And now, I’d like to pass you onto our most esteemed employer and brains of this whole outfit, Mr. Kaine Ashley.” He does a dramatic bow and gestures to me.
I can’t help but laugh. On the eve of our launch, we’ve gathered the entire staff into the lobby after hours to celebrate our achievement. Because it is ours, my employees are the heart of this place. I might have a mission, but they share it through and through.
“Um,” I start, trying not to fidget with my collar or pull my hoodie up. “Firstly, thank you, Tommy. For your eloquence as usual.”
There’s a smattering of laughter and Tommy winks and grins at me.
“This was, is, a labour of love. Not just for me, but for you all. I know this. Borne of a dream for a future free of fires that kill thousands of people a year. It’s not for a few, for the rich, for the privileged. This is for everyone. Let’s make homes safer for everyone. You guys did this. With your heart, your hard work, your dedication to ASH Industries, to the project and to the community. This is your legacy! To you! Zero House Fire Deaths by 2020!”
Everyone raises their glasses and there’s the sound of clinking as we toast each other.
I look around and I’m proud of every smiling face I see.
And of myself.