Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 21094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
I want to stay here and talk to her. Who am I kidding? I would love to have her in my arms and feel her against my body the whole night, but I know that’s not possible. Not only because it’s too fast but also these night terrors are impossible to predict. “Go on up to bed. I’m going to lock up down here.”
She starts to walk away and then stops. She pounces on me, wrapping her arms around my waist. Even though her voice is muffled, I can hear her plainly. “I’m so glad you’re home, Grant. Thank you for coming back to me.”
I wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head. It’s at this moment that I’m one hundred percent positive that I’ve made the right decision. Now I just hope I don’t screw it up.
CHAPTER 6
JANE
I moved to this smaller bedroom months ago when Grant mentioned retiring. I’ve stayed in here night after night and have slept just fine, but it feels different tonight. It feels good knowing that Grant is here in the bedroom right downstairs. I don’t have to worry about where he is or if he’s okay. I know he’s safe and that he’ll be here in the morning.
I roll to my side and close my eyes, waiting for sleep to come, but I know it’s going to be awhile. My body is still tingling from being held in his arms and that kiss. Wow, that kiss. I turn to my back and look up at the ceiling. I’ve dreamed about having Grant home, and now that he’s finally here, I’m wondering if maybe dreams do come true.
There’s a part of me that fell in love with him that first day he asked me to marry him. I know that sounds ridiculous, but the fact he wanted, or as he said, needed to know I was safe, made me fall for him. I may have only seen him in person once since then, but we’ve gotten to know each other on the phone, and even though we’ve been thousands of miles apart, he still goes out of his way to take care of me.
It’s the little things like sending me flowers on a random Thursday. Or the times he knew it snowed and he had people come to clear the sidewalk and driveway. Or when I was sick, he had food delivered and had his friends check in on me. Over and over, he’s gone the extra step, letting me know that he’s thinking of me and even though he’s so far away, he’s still going to take care of me.
I force my eyes closed, and when I do, I hear a thud from somewhere in the house. I sit straight up in bed and listen, wondering exactly what it is. Maybe instead of going to bed, Grant is walking around the house. Or maybe he’s having trouble going to sleep.
I hear a noise again, but this time it sounds like a moan and yelling. I think about it for a split second and then jump out of bed and go out into the hallway. When I hear it again, I jog down the stairs and stop outside Grant’s closed bedroom door.
Knocking softly, I call his name. “Grant.”
The scream is louder this time, and I open the door to see him on the bed, thrashing around. I’ve read about this and know that the absolute worst thing I can do is wake him up, but I can’t just stand here and do nothing.
I move closer to the bed and say his name louder. “Grant!”
He’s screaming at this point, and I can’t stand to see him like this. The guttural sounds coming from him are a man in pain, and I can’t just stand by. I put my hands on his shoulders. “Grant!”
It all happens in an instant. I’m on my back on the bed and he’s hovering over me, his hand around my neck.
He’s covered in sweat, eyes bulging and muscles straining. I grip on to his hands, trying to get him to let go.
When he finally realizes what he’s doing, he’s off the bed and across the room staring at me as if I have three heads.
I gasp for breath as tears stream down my face.
“Jane.”
I hold my hand up to stop him, and he shrinks into himself. As he turns away from me, he says, “Leave. Please go.”
I sit up on the edge of the bed. Panting, I tell him, “Grant, it’s okay….”
He has his arms crossed over his shoulders, and he’s staring at the wall. He doesn’t even sound like himself. “Please, Jane. Please go.”
I get up and slowly walk out of the room. When I get to the hallway, I run the rest of the way to my room as my tears continue to flow.