Moments II: A BWWM Short Story Collection

V: Coming Back (Pt. 2 of 3)

"He is six years old, Brad. He is not ready for that much weight!"

"But moooooom!" Daniel started.

"Don't you "but mom" me, young man!" Jewel said as she adjusted her blonde hair. "We'll talk about going up when you're older, but for now, you'll-"

She cut off as Daniel walked out of the room, arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face. He was never one for temper tantrums, but you could always tell when he felt cheated. Jewel breathed out as I walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder as I fought for the right words. I didn't want to accuse, but I had to know.

"Are you afraid I'm going to hurt the kids because of what happened?" I asked.

Jewel was silent for the longest time. Then, she covered my hand with hers, bowing her head as her eyes grew misty with tears.

"A little. I just... I don't know what it's like to be you right now. I want to trust you, but this is basically your first week raising kids... well, ever. I know you're a responsible adult and great father but... but there some things that you can only know through experience, and... and that was taken from you... like you were taken from me..."

Jewel broke down and began to cry, and before I knew it, I'd turned her around and pulled her into my arms. We both paused for a moment, then she pushed her head into my chest and wept aloud. After a full minute of awkward indecision, I placed one my hands in the small of her back and used the other to cradle her head.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize how scary this must've been for you." I whispered as her hot tears mingled with cold sweat. "You've been so brave, and I didn't see that."

"No... no, I'm sorry, Braddy Baby. I've been so selfish these last few days." Jewel blubbered. "I was so desperate to get back where we were that I didn't stop to consider how much I was pushing onto you. Can you forgive me?"

"Only if you forgive me." I replied.

Jewel sniffed as she looked up at me, and my heart skipped a beat at the teardrops clinging to her fake lashes. I was desperate too. Desperate to remember how I'd gotten such a beautiful and loving woman to agree to be my wife.

"There's nothing to forgive, sweetie." she said, running pearlescent nails through my beard. "Although... I would like it if you didn't sleep on the couch tonight."

I took Jewel's hand from my face, kissing the palm as her plump lips spread into a smile. As incredible as Jewel's body was, it was her smile that truly captivated me. It wasn't the heart-stopping gap between her two front teeth, or the way that her lips unfurled like a blossoming rose. It was the warm feeling that welled up within me every time I saw it, a feeling that told me everything was going to be alright.

"That depends on how well you do on our date tonight." I said playfully.

Evening arrived, and with it, a tense but excitable mood. I decked myself out in my best jacket for the encroaching cold weather, then sat down at the foot of our bed while I waited for Jewel to finish getting ready.

I hadn't entered the master bedroom since I'd gotten back, despite Jewel's insistence that I tour it to try and jog memories, and I now I knew why. There were multiple framed pictures hanging from the walls and sitting on the furniture, each containing a story that felt like it belonged to another life. But I had to admit, the photograph of a young me next to Jewel in her wedding dress made me wish It was still my life.

"I got everything arranged with the sitter, she'll be here in couple minutes!" Jewel said from beyond the bathroom door. "Any hints on where we're going?"

"You'll see when we get there!" I shouted back with a grin.

"You and your secrets." Jewel shot back with a laugh.

I leaned back on the quilted covers, letting my eyes roam the pictures as a sense of belonging snuck over me. A picture of baby Shawna doodling on the table. Daniel holding up a tooth and cash. Me in a poorly stuffed Santa suit lighting a Christmas tree. On and on they went, and though I couldn't recall them, it was beginning to seem more... real. More tangible despite my lack of memory.

"Here's Miss Universe." came a sultry voice.

I turned to find the bathroom door ajar, and for a moment, I didn't recognize Jewel. She'd swapped out her blonde wig for a black one done up in a high tail, which swished back and forth as she stepped towards me. The steady clack of six-inch heels rang in time with every bounce and sway of her voluptuous form, which was currently testing the limits of a maroon cocktail dress with bold black highlights.

Silhouetted in the light of the bathroom bulbs, Jewel might as well have been an angel personally sent to rescue me from my distress. Sadly, due to a numb brain and dry mouth, my response was less than divine.

"Hot mama."

I squeezed my eyes shut with a groan, but Jewel just gave a tinkling laugh that set fire to my soul. I peeked open an eye to find her doubling up with laughter, tears of mirth threatening to ruin the flawless touch of eyeshadow crowning her eyes. She took a deep breath and straightened her hair with a flick of her nails, then smiled.

"You said the exact same thing to me the first time I wore this dress for you."

I stood up, fighting between the desire to take Jewel in my arms and the continued feeling of awkwardness in the air. I had to keep reminding myself that the goddess in front of me was, in fact, my wife of eight years and I had every right to hold her to me. But no matter how many times I repeated it mentally, it refused to stick.

"Then I'm glad I get to experience that first time all over again." I said.

But maybe that was for the best. Maybe my memory loss just meant I'd get the chance to experience all the wonderful things I'd gone through a second time. Yeah. When I thought about it like that, it was actually kind of... exciting.

Jewel seemed to think so too, as she was quick to respond to the doorbell ringing. "A handsome man like you should be careful about using the phrase "first time" around an innocent lady like me. It might give me the wrong impression."

She put a not-so-innocent sway in her hips as she walked past me, and I was surprised by the smirk that crested my lips as I watched her walk out the room. She was the one who needed to be careful with a beast lurking about.

"Wow mithuth Carter, you look tho beautiful!"

A teenage girl with thick glasses and a generous splash of freckles looked up from the living room table. Shawna was already making free use of the crayons the babysitter had bought, and my eyes roamed the colors as I groped for her name.

"Oh no, Stacy, I look terrible. But thank you for humoring me." Jewel trilled. "We might be back late, so make sure Daniel is in bed at the proper time."

Daniel scowled, but I leaned over to whisper. "Your mother's right son, for more reasons than she knows. You go to bed early, and we'll hit the weights tomorrow."

Daniels' bad mood evaporated instantly. He extended a tiny brofist to me, and I took it, before walking over the front door. I opened it for Jewel in a gentlemanly manner, and she giggled as she stepped onto the front porch.

"Byeeeeeee!" Stacy sang from the house. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything here! You two jutht have a great time, okay!"

Jewel slicked the door shut with a "she's an eager one" look, and I looped my arm around her waist. Jewel hesitated for a moment, then snuggled close as the evening winds tinkled the chimes overhead. The warmth of my wife's body was refreshing when coupled with twilight's chill, and I couldn't help but pull her in a little closer.

"Someone's eager." Jewel said. "So, where are we going?"