Getting To Know You
Chapter 13
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: Jed and Abbey's weekend away led to a heart to heart about taking their relationship to the next level
Summary: Jed sees the caring "doctor" side of Abbey
The end of the weekend in Martha's Vineyard also meant the end of an unforgettable summer for Jed and Abbey. Jed boarded a plane to fly back to Indiana, the thought of spending his days without Abbey crippling his emotions during the long flight.
Returning to school wasn't easy for either of them. Memories of their summer together invaded Abbey's mind. Jed starred in all her dreams, dominated all her fantasies. Their letters became even more frequent than they had the previous spring, each one laced with tokens of affection - a beautiful ribbon for her hair or a money clip for his wallet.
They both waited eagerly for Thanksgiving to arrive so they could be reunited for four special days, but the waiting seemed to be the hardest part. Abbey found it increasingly difficult to concentrate in her classes. She floated around campus like a zombie, her sour, sluggish mood only interrupted at home when Jed would call.
Noticing the trouble she was having, James surprised her with a plane ticket to Indiana during her first three-day weekend of the semester. Her father's generosity amazed Abbey. He was always a kind and loving man, but she expected him to dismiss her depression as nothing more than college angst and puppy love. She certainly didn't expect him to finance a trip for her to travel a thousand miles to spend the weekend at her boyfriend's bachelor pad.
With a gracious thank you, she packed her bags for Indiana. She hadn't told Jed she was coming to see him and instead, preferred to show up on his doorstep spontaneously. She took a cab from the airport and waited patiently outside his apartment. By the time Jed came home, she was leaning against his exterior wall, her bags sprawled out around her.
Jed walked to his door, completely oblivious to his surprise visitor until he heard that familiar voice the second he invaded the lock with his key.
"Guess who?"
The voice was the only thing he recognized. The perfume, the soft, delicate fingers that covered his eyes from behind. He'd know her anywhere.
"Abbey?" He turned around quickly and swept her up in his arms as she laughed at his startled expression. "What are you doing here?"
"My dad thought we were due for a visit."
"Your DAD is okay with you being here?"
"Who do you think bought me the ticket?"
"Wow."
"Well, what are you waiting for?" she impatiently asked. "Let's go in."
She reached for the key, but Jed held it just out of her grasp. "Wait. We can't."
"Jed?"
"It's just...we can't go in there, Abbey."
"Do you have another girl hiding out in there?" she teased.
Jed smiled coyly. "You know better. It's just...it's a mess, okay? I haven't cleaned up since I've been back and I don't want you to see it."
"Jed, you're a college student living away from home. Plus, you're a guy. I didn't expect it to be clean. Come on, open the door."
"If you're sure..."
He twisted the knob and let her in. She dropped her bag on the floor, completely shocked by the sight in front of her. He wasn't kidding. The clothes on the furniture were one thing. She could deal with clutter. But the dirty dishes on the table and countertop certainly got her attention. His television was covered with a fresh coat of dust and tiny crumbs of food dotted the carpet.
"I..." Abbey started.
"I told you."
"How do you live here?"
"It's not that bad," he replied as he moved some of his shirts from the couch to clear a place for her. "Have a seat."
"No, thank you."
"Abbey, it's okay."
Abbey walked over to the couch, careful to skirt around the large piles of books gathered all over the floor. "Jed, it's disgusting."
"It's really not bad."
She walked away from the sofa and headed towards the kitchen. "Look at your kitchen. You're breaking like 30 health violations just mentioning the word food in here."
"Please stop being my mother."
Abbey sighed deeply. "You're right. You're an adult. If this is how you want to live, then I've got three days to convince you you're wrong."
Jed lowered his head and chuckled. "Yes, Ma'am."
"First thing's first. I say we go out to dinner. My treat."
"Okay, we can do that, but there's no way I'm letting you pay after you came all the way out here. Dinner is on me." He grabbed his jacket and put his arm around her waist, leading her out the door.
The next morning, Abbey woke up early to begin working her way through the mess in the living room. She had already filled two laundry baskets with dirty clothes and one large trash bag with garbage by the time Jed joined her.
"We're not really going to do this?" he asked.
"You mean clean? Of course we are."
"Abbey, come on. You're only here a few days. I want to enjoy our time."
"Then let's get to work. If we can get this place cleaned up today, then we can enjoy our day tomorrow."
"I don't feel very well."
Abbey grinned at what she suspected was an obvious ploy. "Jed, you're not in grade school anymore and I'm not your mother. That isn't going to work."
"I'm serious. I have a sore throat."
Abbey felt his forehead, scoffing in response to his alleged illness. A simple sore throat wouldn't get him out of this, she warned, but he ignored her and retreated to the sofa. It wasn't until hours later that she finally noticed his symptoms.
"Jed, my God, you're burning up!"
"I feel really sick," Jed replied, his voice weaker than it had been before.
Guilt took over Abbey's emotions. "Oh Baby, I'm sorry." She left his side to dig through her bag for some cold or flu medicine.
"No medicine, Abbey. Please."
"Honey, it's good for you."
Jed turned his head. His eyes squinted, he looked at her adoringly. "You've never called me 'honey' before."
Even with a 101-degree fever, he still made her laugh. "Please take this. It'll help relieve your symptoms," She poured the Nyquil onto a spoon.
Jed gently pushed her hand aside, the force surprising him when he knocked the spoon right out of her hand and the Nyquil all over the sofa. "I'm sorry."
To his surprise, she wasn't upset. "It's okay, it's okay. Just lay back." She poured more of the medicine onto the spoon, this time holding the spoon herself as she looked at his pursed lips. "Jed, open your mouth."
"Abbey, I'm fine."
"If you open your mouth, I'll wear a special little number to bed tonight."
Jed's mind wavered from his condition as thoughts of Abbey's in a 'special little number' raced through his head. He was unable to resist the temptation. He opened his mouth and took the medicine in one gulp. Abbey wiped his mouth afterwards, then began to clean up the spilled syrup off the sofa.
"What if I'm not up to it tonight?" he asked.
"Then we'll save it for another day."
He closed his eyes as she placed a warm kiss on his forehead and stroked his cheek. But it was later, when she woke him up to feed him the homemade chicken soup she cooked for him, that Jed realized this wasn't just an ordinary relationship, the kind he was used to in high school. He loved many things about Abbey, but what made his eyes sparkle with tears was the uncanny ability she had to always make him feel better.
It wasn't the cooking or the cleaning she had done while he was asleep. It was the gentle touch he felt as she brushed the hair off his face, the tender kiss he felt on his lips when she walked away after she finished feeding him, the sweet caress of her hand on his leg when she cleaned up the spilled Nyquil from earlier.
She would leave in a couple of days, but the fact that she spent her short vacation caring for him and nursing him back to health was something Jed wouldn't soon forget. And someday, God forbid she was sick, he would be eager to return the favor.
TBC