Wethering the Storm

Chapter SEVENTEEN

You promise you can’t see anything?”
“I can’t believe you’ve blindfolded me,” Jake complains.
“Makes a change, huh?” I whisper in his ear.
I feel him shiver.
Sliding my hands down his arms, I slip my hands in his and lead him forward as I take a step back, closer to the door.
Releasing a hand, I reach back. Catching the handle, I open the door.
I guide him through the doorway.
“Okay.” I stand in front of him, taking a deep breath. “I wanted to give you your present before we go out for dinner, because it’s been killing me waiting all day as it is, and I didn’t want to wait any longer.”
That’s only partly true. The other reason I wanted him to have it now is because we’ll be at the surprise party late into the night.
“I’m sure I’m going to love it, Tru,” he says.
Cocking my head to the side, I say, “How do you know?” He can’t have seen it, because I just took it out of hiding and put it in here.
I peer close to his face, making sure he can’t see through the blindfold.
As I near, his warm breath blows over my skin, igniting me. He smells so totally divine that I have the urge to kiss him.
Without warning, he grabs my face and kisses me. I melt into him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
Under my lips he says, “I know because I know you. Anything you get me I will love, because it came from you.”
“Smooth talker.”
“You bet your sweet ass I am. Now can I have my gift?”
“Okay, Mr. Impatient,” I say, laughing.
I free the blindfold from Jake’s eyes and stand beside him, watching with butterflies as he locks onto his present a few feet away.
He takes a step closer. “Is that…is that my old Strat?” His voice sounds quiet.
He turns to me.
I nod.
“How?” His mouth is open. “I—I thought it would have been long gone. I mean, after—”
“My dad kept it all these years.” I run my tongue over my dry lips. “You know what he’s like. He never could get rid of a guitar.”
“I—I…” He looks back at the guitar. Then he turns back to me, and I see the emotion on his face. It takes my breath away. “My mom wouldn’t let me take it…” He starts to tell me the story I already know. “…and everything had already been shipped to New York, and I thought I’d be able to take it on the plane with me, but she said I couldn’t and I had to leave it behind…”
“I remember.” I bite my lip.
Moving from me, he goes to the guitar sitting in its new stand and crouches down.
I go over and kneel beside him.
“It was a little worn,” I explain. “It’d been in the garage at Mum and Dad’s, cased up, but the damp gets in, you know, so I had Dad get it reconditioned and put brand-new strings on. Then he shipped it over to me, and then…” I bite my lip nervously. “Well, I had a little artwork done on it.” I point to the Mighty Storm’s band logo on the face. “I hope that was okay.”
Jake runs his finger over the emblem. “It’s more than okay.” His voice sounds choked with emotion.
Hearing him sound this way sends goose bumps racing over my skin.
“I had a little something else added.” Carefully, I lift the guitar from the stand. Resting it over Jake’s knees, I turn it over to show him the artwork on the back.

~ Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning ~

Jake & Tru
August 31st, 1989
July 21st, 2012

“The first date is—”
“The date you moved next door to me,” he finishes. “The second, the day we reconnected at the interview.” He meets my eyes, and the intensity in his gaze marks me, branding me with the love I know he feels for me.
“I thought we could mark each memorable date we have on it. The next one I thought could be the day the baby’s born.” I run my fingers over my stomach. “Then our wedding day.”
Jake looks down at the guitar and runs the tip of his index finger over the engraving.
“The quote is from Aleph by Paulo Coelo.” I indicate the worn copy on my bedside cabinet. “He wrote The Alchemist. Do you remember when we read it in school for English?”
“I do,” he says, nodding. “We worked on the assignment together, and I got an A, thanks to you.” He winks, then turns the guitar right side up and starts strumming.
“DRs?” he asks in reference to the strings.
“You know my dad, he likes the best.”
“They’re all I use,” he says, eyes down on the guitar, as he strums the chords from the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Woman.” “Your dad was my musical influence, Tru. I listened to everything he said and took it in, because he knows his shit.”
“He misses playing. He loves teaching, but he loves being in the thick of it more. He loved being at the concert with you in Spain that day. It’s all he’s gone on about since.”
“My best childhood memories consist of you, this guitar, and your dad…” His thoughts trail, and he starts to hum the lyrics, then stops. “Do you think he might be interested, when I do finally tour again, in coming with us?”
My face lights up as my heart gets all warm and fuzzy. “I think he would love that. My mum, not so much!” I laugh. “But you would make my dad’s year if you asked him.” I reach out and touch his arm.
His eyes smile. “I’ll talk to him at Christmas about it.” He puts the guitar back in its stand, and then, resting down on his knees, he pulls me into his lap so I’m straddling him and wraps his arms around my waist. “Thank you for the guitar. It’s the best gift I have ever received.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“I’m glad.” I smile. “Happy birthday, baby.” I kiss the corner of his mouth.
“I love you.” He shifts his face, capturing my lips with his, and kisses me. “So f*ckin’ much.”
“I love you too,” I whisper, running my fingers into his hair. “So I was thinking…when we’re in bed later, after you’ve had your dirty way with me, you could play me some of the old songs you used to play on it.”
A wicked grin spreads over his lips, making him look even more edible. “You know I was totally trying to seduce you with some of those songs I played when we were teenagers.”
I start laughing. “You were trying to seduce me with ‘Honky Tonk Woman’?”
“Maybe not that one.” He runs his fingers down my spine. I shiver under his touch. “But definitely ‘Touch Me.’”
I laugh again. “And I thought you were just crushing on Jim Morrison.”
“Only you, baby. Only ever you.” His face goes serious. “You know, back then, this was how I dreamed my life would be, what I have right now with you. Marrying you. Growing old with you. When we parted”—he lifts his shoulders—“I figured that dream was gone forever…I’m so glad I got a second chance at this.”
“Me too.” I lift my hand and brush the length of his eyebrow with my fingertip, then the bridge of his nose. His eyes close on a soft sigh. I lean forward just a little and kiss his lips gently. “Time for birthday present number two.”
Jake’s eyes flick open. “I get another present?”
“Of course, silly.” I rise to stand and go over to my dressing table, retrieving the gift box. I walk over to the bed, where he’s now sitting, waiting for me.
I sit on the bed beside him, facing him. “This is from me and the baby.” I hand the small box to him.
Taking it from me, Jake pulls the blue ribbon off the box and lifts the lid. He lifts the box sitting inside and cracks it open.
He smiles. “You bought me a Rolex.”
“We bought you a Rolex,” I say, tilting my head to my tummy. “It’s vintage, nineteen eighty-five. Since I was going for memorabilia, I thought I would get something from the year you were born.”
“I love it.”
“Do you really?”
“Yes, really.” He gives me an encouraging look before he leans in, bending his head down to my stomach. “Thank you,” he says to the baby and presses a kiss there.
Touched by his sentiment, feeling like I might burst into tears any second, I add levity to the situation. “Hey, don’t be giving the baby all the credit. I was the one hauling ass around the shops to find it.” I grin.
“She doesn’t mean it,” he says to my stomach in all seriousness. “I know it was all your idea.”
“You’re a geek!” I laugh, pushing his head away.
“Just having a one-on-one with my kid.” He smiles, sitting up.
He starts to take the watch out of the box.
“I had it engraved too. I was on a bit of a theme.” I bite down on a smile.
He gives me a curious look, and removing the watch from the box, he turns it over.

Everything Is You
J.W.
2012

“For the song,” I say.
He nods silently, staring down at the watch.
“I mean, if you hate the engraving, if it’s too much, I’m sure I can get it removed…”
“I love it.” He presses his finger over my lip. “The watch. The engraving. The guitar. You. I love you more than I knew possible, Tru.”
My heart is racing behind my ribs. I take hold of his hand on my mouth and kiss his finger. “I know I didn’t buy you a house…” I smile lightly. “But I was hoping these gifts would go to making up for the last twelve years of missed birthdays, like you’ve been doing for me.”
“They surpass them. But like I told you in Paris, I got all my twelve the moment you agreed to be mine.”
I slide my fingers between his, linking our hands. I glance at the clock. “We should get going.”
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” I give him a teasing smile, getting off the bed.
“Hold on,” Jake says. He takes his watch off—the one that probably cost ten times more—and puts on the Rolex. My heart fills with happiness, fitting to burst in my chest.
“I’m ready now.” He stands, taking hold of my hand, and I lead him out of the bedroom.


“You gave Dave the night off?” He doesn’t sound pleased.
I pull out of the drive, waving bye to Jackson. “Yep.”
He sighs loudly.
“Jake, I’m out with you. Nothing is going to happen to me. I wish you’d relax on this.”
Dave is waiting at the party with everyone else. No way was I having him or Ben working tonight. They are guests at Jake’s party just like everyone else. They might work for him, but they’re his friends too. More like family at times. They’re both bringing their wives, who I’m looking forward to meeting.
“I’ll never relax when it comes to your or our baby’s safety.”
He sounds pissed. I don’t want him worked up tonight of all nights.
“I know. I’m sorry.” I soften my tone. “In the future I’ll consult you about this kind of thing, okay?” I give him a quick doe-eyed look.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he says, trying to remain pissed off, but I can see him giving in already.
“Like what?” I give him the same look again.
“You know what. The wide-eyed, gorgeous stare. The one you think gets you out of everything.”
Grinning, staring out at the road ahead, I say, “It does get me out of everything.”
“That’s the f*ckin’ problem,” he mutters. Reaching over, he starts fiddling with the iPod.
“Can you put on some of the songs we used to listen to when we were kids?” I’m feeling a little nostalgic after our trip down memory lane.
Jake scrolls through the listings, and then I hear the Doors’ “Touch Me.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Starting the night off as you mean to go on, Wethers?”
“Abso-f*cking-lutely.” He grins that f*ck-hot grin of his, making me squirm in my seat. I want to pull the car over right now and do what we did after the show at the Wiltern. But I somehow refrain from doing so and step on the gas, heading downtown to Pizza Hut.
I see his face light up as I pull into the parking lot at Pizza Hut.
“I’ve got my old Strat back, a vintage Rolex on my wrist, and now I’m gonna be having Pizza Hut with my hot girl. Could this birthday get any better?”
Turning the engine off, I whisper, “I hope so.”
With butterflies swarming my stomach, I climb out of the car, lock it, and put the keys in my purse.
Jake meets me around the front of the car.
Looking at the darkened windows of the building, he says, “Sweetheart, it looks closed. Don’t worry, we can go somewhere else.”
He starts to turn back to the car.
“No, let’s just check it out.” Taking him by the hand, I lead him toward the door. “It’ll be open. This is Pizza Hut, they never close. Maybe the lights just went out or something.”
“Pizza Hut in the dark…I can work with that,” I hear him say from behind me, with sex in his voice.
I resist the urge to turn around, knowing my face will probably give me away if I do.
I push open the door and lead Jake through. “Hello?” I call out to let Stuart know to flick on the lights.
On cue, all the lights flash on, and we’re met by our family and friends, calling out, “SURPRISE!”
The look on Jake’s face is amazing. He looks overwhelmed and surprised, but best of all, happy. He looks so very happy.
The power of a surprise party.
I throw my arms around his neck and hug him. “Happy birthday, baby,” I sing in his ear.
“You threw me a surprise party?” His arms go around my waist. “At Pizza Hut?”
“I did.” I lean back, staring into his face. “With Stuart’s and Carly’s help. You like?”
“I love.” He plants a kiss on my lips.
I see his eyes lift, and then he releases me. I turn to see Susie and Dale approaching us.
Dale looks the same as I remember, just greyer around the edges.
“Happy birthday, darling.” Susie kisses Jake on the cheek. “Tru, you look beautiful tonight.” She leans in and hugs me, kissing my cheek.
“Thank you, so do you.” I gesture to her gorgeous fitted knee-length black dress.
“Dale, you remember Trudy.”
“I do. Hello again.” He smiles at me. Turning to Jake, he claps him on the back. “Happy birthday, son.”
I feel Jake stiffen next to me. I know Dale didn’t mean any harm using the word “son,” but it must still feel strange for Jake to hear it.
I exhale in pure relief when I see my mum and dad heading toward us.
“Daddy!” I beam, breaking away from Jake to give him a big hug. “Mama!” I reach an arm out and pull her into the hug.
“Hey, baby girl,” Dad says, hugging me back.
“How are you feeling?” Mum asks.
She’s always asking since she found out I’m pregnant.
“I’m fine, Mama.”
“No morning sickness?”
“No.”
“Fatigue?”
“I’m a little tired, but overall I’m good.” I smile.
“You’re lucky. I was sick as a dog when I was pregnant with you.” She tucks my hair behind my ear. “Has Jake stopped smoking?”
Hearing his name, Jake turns to us.
“No, Mama, he hasn’t, but he doesn’t smoke anywhere near me.”
“Passive smoke can be harmful to a baby.”
“Mama…,” I warn.
“Good to see you, Billy,” Jake says. “Eva.”
“Happy birthday,” Mum says, almost cracking a smile at Jake.
“Yeah, happy birthday, son,” Dad adds, putting an arm around Jake.
I notice it doesn’t seem to bother Jake that my dad called him son.
“You like the guitar?” Dad asks.
“Yeah, thank you for keeping it all these years.”
“Never could get rid of a guitar,” Dad says. “We got you a little something. It’s not much…”
“Thank you,” Jake says.
Dad waves it off. “It’s over there with the rest of the presents.”
“Dale’s and my gift is over there too,” Susie says, gesturing to the table. “Do you want to open it now?”
“I’ll open it later.”
“Okay, no problem,” Susie replies, but I see the disappointment in her eyes.
He’s still angry that she came to Paul’s funeral only after I called her. I really need to fix this rift, and fast.
“Go open your present from your mum.” I nudge him with my hip.
Jake stares down at me, giving me a less-than-impressed look, then turns to his mum. “Sure, okay.”
I watch Jake follow Susie and Dale to the gift table.
My mum gives me a “what gives there?” look. I shrug.
“I’m going over to see Simone. See you in a bit.”
I leave mum and dad and all but run to Simone.
This is the first time I’ve seen her since New York.
She’s with Denny and Tom. Denny has his arm around her waist, and I swear this is the happiest I’ve seen him in months.
Her face lights up when she sees me coming.
“Look at you, all pregnant and gorgeous!” She throws her arms around me.
“No bump yet.” I pat my flat tummy. “Won’t be long, though, before I’m big and round like a bowling ball.”
“I still can’t believe it! I can’t wait to be Auntie Simone!”
“I know!” I beam at her.
“It’s so good to see you, and you look flippin’ gorgeous in that dress.” I gesture to her deep-purple silk dress.
“Ah, this old thing? I just threw it on last-minute.” She winks.
I know Simone. She’ll have spent hours getting ready and changed her outfits about ten times before settling on this one.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve really missed you.” I wrap my arms around her again. I feel awash with tears at her being here.
“Me too,” she says, sounding equally emotional.
“I hate to break up this reunion of beauties,” comes Stuart’s voice from behind me, “but I need a quickie with the hostess.”
“Cock not your thing anymore?” Tom says, grinning.
“No. I saw the state of yours and it put me off rubbing the lamp ever again.”
Denny chokes on his drink and starts coughing. Simone pats him hard on the back.
“I got it,” Denny says, wiping his mouth.
“Hey, don’t mock the genius simplicity of the tattoo,” Tom says to Stuart.
“Please tell me girls haven’t actually fallen for it?”
“For it…on it.” Tom grins.
“My baby can hear this crap you’re talking.” I lay my hands over my tummy. “I don’t want him or her corrupted by you pervy lot. Especially not you,” I say pointedly to Tom.
He rolls his eyes. “Number one, this is Jake Wethers’s baby we’re talking about here. By DNA alone, it’s designed to be corrupt. Two, it’s a TMS baby and future rock star. Its rite of passage is to be corrupted by us. I’m just teaching it early.”
“You will not be teaching my child anything. What if I have a girl? I don’t want my daughter corrupted by stories of your pervy indiscretions.”
“No way are you having a girl,” Stuart pipes up from beside me.
“Why not?”
“Because like p-ssy cat over there said, we’re talking about Jake. With the level of testosterone in him alone, you’re definitely having a boy, gorgeous.”
I ponder this for a moment. A boy. A mini-Jake. I like the sound of that.
“What did you want me for anyway?” I ask Stuart, turning from the others.
“I just wanted to check that this is all okay?” He’s gone light on the decorations, knowing Jake doesn’t like too much fuss. There are some lanterns, balloons, and a few banners.
“I think you’ve done an amazing job. Thank you for doing this.” I reach up on my tiptoes and give him a kiss on the cheek.
“No bother.” He waves me off. “The cake is in the kitchen, ready for later; drinks on tap; and the pizzas will be out soon.”
“What would I do without you?”
“Your life would absolutely fall to pieces.”
“Which means you can’t ever leave. You’re stuck with us forever.” I slip my arm through his.
“Works for me. I’m kinda used to having you around now.”
“You’re so sweet.” I squeeze his arm. “Speaking of sweet—sorry, I mean hot—is Dr. Josh here yet?”
“He is. You wanna meet him now?”
“Do I wanna meet him now.” I give him a “duh” look. “I’ve been waiting ages to meet this guy. Lead me to the hotness.” I gesture.
“And this is why I haven’t introduced him to you yet.” He gives me a cheeky grin.
“I’ll keep it together for you. I won’t geek out on him, I promise.” I cross my finger over my heart.
Then I take the promise back almost immediately, as Stuart leads me toward a grade-A hottie. Like seriously hot. Blond hair, chiselled jaw, dark green eyes, golden skin. He’s dressed in jeans and a fitted black shirt.
Holy f*ck. He is shit-hot.
Now I know why Stuart calls him hot Dr. Josh.
“Josh, this is Tru. Tru, close your mouth, and say hi to Josh.”
Realising I’m staring, mouth wide open, I quickly close it, my face going bright red.
“Hi, Tru, it’s really nice to meet you.” Josh smiles.
Holy f*ck, he’s got dimples too.
Why are all gay men so ridiculously hot? I remember the first time I saw Stuart, I nearly died of heart failure. Or maybe it’s the fact that they’re gay that makes them hotter?
Nah, they’re just seriously hot. Stuart and Josh together look like an ad campaign for Armani.
“Hi, Josh.” I smile, composing myself. “It’s great to meet you. And I wasn’t staring.” I elbow Stuart. “I was just admiring Josh’s, um…shirt. It’s a really nice shirt.”
Josh looks down at his plain black shirt. “Thanks.” He grins.
I feel a pair of arms come around my waist, and Jake presses a kiss to my cheek.
“Hey, baby.” I turn my head to him. “Jake, meet Josh, Stuart’s new boyfriend, who’s wearing a black shirt.”
Jake doesn’t even blink at my introduction. He loosens an arm from around me and reaches over to shake Josh’s hand. “It’s good to finally meet you, man. Stuart never stops talking about you.”
I see Stuart flush beet red and shoot daggers at Jake.
“Excuse us a minute,” Jake says. “I’ve just gotta steal my girl away for a little while.”
Taking my hand, Jake leads me through the restaurant to an empty booth in the back, out of sight from everyone else.
He gestures for me to sit, so I slide in the seat.
“Everything okay?” I ask as Jake slides in beside me, but instead of answering me, he takes my face in his hands, leans into me, presses my back up against the wall, and kisses me.
I part my lips, and Jake’s tongue snakes out to meet mine. Then he starts to kiss me ravenously. Like he’s starved for me. I wrap my arms around his neck, winding my fingers into his hair.
“What was that for?” I ask breathlessly when he finally pulls away.
“I was making the one birthday wish I always had come true.”
My brow knits together.
At my confused expression, he continues. “I always wanted to make out with you in a booth at every birthday dinner we had at Pizza Hut, but I never had the balls to do it. I just made it come true.”
I stare at him, a little lost for words. Even when he stands and holds his hand out for me, I still can’t think of a thing to say.
“Come on, beautiful. Pizza’s out, and we’ve got guests to entertain.”
Taking his hand, getting to my feet, I say, “You’re totally gorgeous. You know that, right?”
“Oh yeah, I absolutely know that.” He winks, walking ahead, leaving me with a view of his very gorgeous ass.
He really is.
And I really am the luckiest girl in the world.