My heartbeat accelerated as I drove up the dirt path that lead to the house that I had been so anxious to see. I had spent the last day and a half imagining and picturing what she had done with the place. Would she have the big, open spaces she had always talked about? The beautiful master bathroom with the clawfoot tub she dreamed about? The driveway made a slight turn and opened up to a lot of land that showcased a modernly gorgeous home. Modest, though. It was a smaller home but held a level of character you often see with luxury. There was a garden that enclosed the sidewalk up to the main door. She had always talked about wanting to garden.
I parked my car next to a Silverado that had dirt all over the body. I stepped out into the Texan heat of July and took a moment to try and calm myself. Why was I so nervous? I hadn't seen her in almost ten years. I couldn't imagine what she looked like, what her life was like. When I found out where she was, I was surprised, but I wasn't. It had been her dream, ours at one point.
I looked at the time; three-thirty. It was a Friday, so I wasn't sure if she would be home or not. I walked my way up to the front door and gave it a solid knock. My hands were shaking, what was wrong with me? I heard heavy footsteps approach the door and I straightened my posture.
The door swung open, and I looked up to see a man, a smidge taller than me, standing there. He had scruff along his jawline, dark hair. His grey t-shirt clung to his chest and arms.
"Can I help you?" His deep voice broke silence.
"Uh, hey bud, I was just wondering if you could tell me if Cora was home,"
He put one of his hands on the door, "I'm sorry, who are you?"
I shook my head and held my hand out, "I'm sorry, I'm John, I'm an...old friend of Cora's," He shook my hand in return and smiled.
"Oh, yeah, I've heard her mention you a few times. Look, she's not going to be home until about five, but you can come in and watch some TV, drink a cold one?" He opened the door and turned his back to walk into house. I was surprised. This man had never seen me, or knew me, and he was inviting me into his home. I shrugged my shoulders and took off my sunglasses as I closed the door behind me. The house was cooled, and I took my time looking around. The wood floorings, the earth tone walls, the light decorating. The house smelled fresh, like soap and flowers. I made my way into the kitchen where the man who had answered the door was. He handed me a crafted beer and sat down on one of the barstools at the kitchen island.
"I'm Jacob, by the way," He nodded his head at me. "What brings you out here? Kinda out of the way, ain't it?" He chuckled. He had a slight southern drawl.
I sat for a moment, I wasn't exactly sure how to answer that question myself. What was I doing here?
I ran my hand through my hair, took a swig of beer, and met his gaze, "Honestly, it's just one of those things I wanted to do before I couldn't anymore. Me and Cora used to be close, and I haven't heard from her in ten years," I shrugged.
"Yeah, she told me that you two spent a lot of time together when she was in college," He looked at the clock above the sink, "Oh, damnit, I gotta get back to work. But, uh, make yourself at home, okay? Seriously," He downed the rest of his beer and headed out the front door. I sat there in silence and took in my surroundings,
her
surroundings. The house was exactly what she talked about all those years ago. Open floor plan, big windows. She had some plants around. I took notice of the wine cabinet, fully stocked. I made my way into the living room and sat on the couch. The end table had a framed picture. I picked it up and looked at it; a wedding picture. She looked happy, so alive. Her smile hadn't changed over the years. I was glad she was able to have her fairytale wedding that I always swore we wouldn't have. I stared at the photo for what seemed like minutes, the last fifteen years flooding my mind. After spending five years with someone so intensely, so intimately. And to just lose that, to have that bond between the two of you served in a moment of sheer emotion. It had been one of the most powerful things I have ever felt in my life.
I wasn't sure how long I had been there, looking out the large window letting in the sunlight, but the front door opening took me out of my reverie.
The same heavy footsteps I heard earlier were coming down the hall, and I stood up to turn and greet Jacob.
"Everything alright?" He smiled at me as he washed his hands in the kitchen sink.
"Yeah, just been enjoying the view," I motioned to the large, green backyard.
"Yeah, it's a beauty, isn't it?" He chuckled, "Let me tell you, though, Cora is always on my case about upkeeping it. Except the gardens; she spends every Sunday morning in her gardens," He smiled and was waving his arm to the flowers I could see outside. He opened the fridge and took out another beer, "She should be home any minute, she's usually here before me," He shrugged his shoulders and started walking out to the patio. His body language told me to follow him, and I did. The patio was generous size, nice lawn furniture and a fire pit in the center. He handed me another beer and told me to take a seat; they'd planned on grilling tonight, salmon.
The sound of the front door being open and closed drifted out to where we were, and it made me a bit more squirmish than I already was. I really didn't know what to expect from her. After all, the last time I had seen her she was packing a suitcase with mascara painting her cheeks.
"Hey, Cora, someone's here to see you," Jacob shouted as he went into the house. I could hear heels strutting across the wood floors. My heart was turning my veins into an ocean current.
She stepped out onto the deck and I finally lifted my eyes to see what was before me. She was in business casual, black slacks and white button-down tucked in. Her heels were black; she always knew how to walk in them. Her hair was blonder than I remember, and the obvious signs of age were beginning to adorn her face. Laugh lines, crows' feet next to her emerald eyes. I usually didn't like these on women, but she wore them as fine jewelry. I wasn't used to seeing her in such attire, mostly due to the fact that a grand majority of the time spent together was on the weekends, when I would watch her drink her coffee, do her homework, and sit in an old t-shirt of mine.
Her face twisted into a small, confused grin, "John? Is that you?" She slowly said as she approached the outdoor couch I had been sitting on. Her voice was sweet, just as I remembered it.
"Uh, yeah," I stood up in front of her. Though she was wearing heels, I still towered over her and seeing her looking up at me felt all too familiar. Her soft grin slowly left her lips.
"Um, why are you here? Is everything alright?" She gave me a pondering look. That's something I never realized she did until she left. No matter the situation, she always put my needs and wants above hers: always making sure I was taken care of.
