****
Sunday morning found Trish already packing up clothes and toys before it got completely light outside. She worked for the next two or three hours on filling boxes and loading them in her car. Jake had given her the keys to the house the day before, so she took the first couple of loads over before eight in the morning and had begun loading the car full of stuff again when Jake pulled into the driveway.
“Good morning, Jake.” Trish arched her sore back.
“Hey. Looks like you’ve been busy.”
“Yep. Almost finished. I took the first two loads over earlier. I’m just loading up the rest, so I can take the last of it.” She bent down to pick up the next box.
Jake hustled over to take it from her. “Let me get that.”
“I’ve got it.” She put it in the back seat of the car.
Jake gritted his teeth, which had become a habit since he’d been seeing Trish. He figured in another week he’d have to get dentures, because his teeth were likely to either break or be worn down to nothing. He’d never met a woman as hard-headed as Trish. Independence was fine, but she took it to a whole new level. What was wrong with accepting a little help now and then? Damn it, he wanted to help.
“What’s left inside?”
“Mostly books, and they’re really heavy.”
“How about I load them in my truck for you?”
“Sure, that would be great.”
“Halleluiah,” he grumbled. He went into the house and started loading the last of the boxes which were left. The woman was insane. There was such a thing as independence and such a thing as being foolhardy. Trish crossed that line daily. He needed to find a way to get that point across to her without making her mad or making her feel threatened or like she was giving up her precious control. Jesus Christ.
They finished loading boxes and headed over to the house. Jake talked Trish into unpacking while he brought the rest of the boxes inside. He walked into the garage and was amazed at how much she’d carted over by herself.
“Honey, I wish I would’ve known you were going to start so early, and I’d have come to help you. There must be twenty or thirty boxes here, and some of them are damn heavy. You shouldn’t be lifting some of these. You could hurt yourself.”
Trish looked around and shrugged her shoulders. “I never really thought about it. I woke early and started in. It had to be done, so I did it. My back’s a little sore, but I’ll be okay.”
“Trish, I know you’re used to doing everything all by yourself, but I like helping you. I’m used to helping people I care about, and I definitely care about you, okay?”
“Okay, Jake. It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, and as far as helping me move goes, I don’t mind the help. This morning you didn’t happen to be here, so I got busy on what needed to be done, that’s all.”
“Oh, listen, I’m having a security system installed next week in the house. I’ll arrange for someone to be here, so you won’t have to take any time off, okay?”
“Jake, this seems like a pretty good neighborhood. Do you really think that’s necessary?”
“I had already planned on doing it. It adds value to the property, and there will be things here of great value that I want to protect.”
Trish snorted. “Like what? All my diamond jewelry? I don’t have it anymore. I don’t have anything of significant value anymore. Save your money.”
Jake walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “I wasn’t talking about property, sweetheart. I was talking about you and the kids.”
“Oh. That’s really sweet, Jake.” She placed her hands on his chest. “Really sweet.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a wet kiss. We’ll have to christen all the rooms you know. We should start sometime today, don’t you think?”
“Great idea, Trish. I like the way you think. Sometimes.” He smiled into another kiss.
“Yoohoo! Anybody home?”
“Back here, in the living room, Callie. To be continued,” Trish said with one more quick kiss.
Not only had Callie arrived, but she’d brought the troops. Eva, Cade, and Josh came with her.
“Thought y’all could use some help.” Callie stepped into sight and put her hands on her hips and looked around.
Trish smiled. “Thanks, you guys. Jake just brought in the last of the boxes, so you men can help him unload the heavy stuff, if you don’t mind. Ladies, if you can help me unpack, I’ll put one of you in Lexie’s room and one in Trev’s room. I’ll take my room, and then we can move on to the kitchen and baths. Thanks so much for coming.”
Jake stood stupefied. Why could everyone else pitch in and not get any grief, but when he tried to help, he ran into a brick wall?
Everyone started in, and things moved very quickly. They unpacked all the boxes, and put everything away in a couple of hours. Trish ordered pizza delivered for lunch, but she didn’t know when it arrived. Jake paid the bill and brought it inside, calling everyone in to eat a bite.
“I didn’t even hear the door bell. Who do I owe?”
“I got it, Trish, don’t worry about it.”
“No, Jake. You guys are all helping me, so I’ll pay for the pizza. How much do I owe you?”
Jake did a mental count to ten, recounted twice, and handed Trish the receipt.
“Thanks.” She reached into her pocket and handed him some bills. “I picked up some beer and sodas, and they’re in the fridge. I’ve got to go grocery shopping some time. Ugh – it’ll be a long list.”
Everyone but Trish knew that Jake was ready to blow. The two other couples put their heads together and decided to try to head off the steadily building explosion. The guys steered Jake out to the garage, while the girls grabbed Trish and took her into the master bedroom.
“How’s it going, Jake?” Josh handed him a cold beer.
“Just fine,” Jake grumbled. “Why are you two looking at me like that?”
“We’re concerned about your blood pressure, brother. You look like those cartoon characters with steam coming out of their ears.” Josh popped the top on his own beer and looked at his obviously frustrated brother over the top of the can.
“I do, huh? Is it that obvious?”
“Oh yeah. Josh and I thought we’d detour you, so you can let off some of that steam before you blow. Wanna wrestle? Box? Run a race?” Cade smiled and took a swig of his own beer.
“Very funny, Cade. You know, I just don’t get it. Why can you guys help whenever you want to, but I can’t? You heard her last night when I offered to buy her some bedroom furniture. She packed up nearly all the boxes and loaded and unloaded them herself. I barely got there in time to help with the last trip over. She wouldn’t even let me pay for the damn pizza, for God sake. What the hell?”
Josh put his hand on his shoulder. “Did you know Eva insisted on paying for my legal services when I handled her divorce? Even after we started seeing each other.”
“No shit? You let her?” Jake looked shocked as he asked Josh the question.
Josh shook his head. “Jake, there’s no ‘letting’ these women do anything. They don’t answer to anyone, much less their men.”
Cade added, “I tried to tell Callie – note that I said ‘tell’ instead of ‘ask’ – that we were getting married, and she stormed off and called me an ass. Furthermore, she told me off good saying that even her granddad asked her to do stuff, and that nobody told her what to do. That’s how they are, man. The more you try to take control of the situation – any situation – the less control you gain. I’ve learned to ask, rather than tell. If I try to read Callie the riot act, she’ll do the opposite just to spite me. I think all three of them are like that. It sucks sometimes, but I figure that’s one of the reasons we love them.”
Josh jumped in again. “Eva has always insisted she keep her own bank accounts. I don’t think she has any intention of
changing things after we get hitched. She makes her own decisions. She lets me know now what she’s going to do, but it’s not like she asks for permission or anything. I can’t imagine her ever doing that. Eva told me some things about how Trish’s marriage went, and it wasn’t easy on her. Those things will shape her from now on. Unfortunately, you’ll end up paying for mistakes that her first husband made. Not fair, but true.” Josh shook his head in sympathy.
Jake looked at the men who were trying to console him. Actually, he did feel better. “Trish told me about what all Pete had done, and you’re right, it does shape her. But how long am I going to have to pay for what Pete did? I’m not anything like him.”
Josh looked at his brother again. “That’s just it. It’s not about you. It’s about her. She has to do what she has to do. The sooner you get that, the better things will be. The fact that Eva needs to have her own bank accounts bothered me at first, just because it seemed like she was prepping for the day she’d leave, but then I realized she needed to do that for her own peace of mind. Her happiness means everything to me, as I’m sure Trish’s means everything to you, so if it makes her feel better and more at peace knowing she has her own accounts, no biggie. Maybe someday she won’t need them anymore. When I first started seeing her, she swore she’d never remarry, and now we’re working on a date. Things get better with time, bro.”
“I hope so. Thanks, man. I guess what they say is true. Knowing you went through some similar shit makes me feel better. You guys look pretty happy now.” Jake took another long pull on his Coors light.
Josh toasted him and took another sip of beer. “Bottom line, and I know Cade will back me on this, it’s worth the pain in the ass in the long run. I’m thinking you’re wanting long term here, not just killing time. If you care about her enough, you’ll give her the time she needs to work through it.”