The Locked Door

Part 21

It was later that night that Jaya broached the subject of was going to happen when the week was over. “What are we going to do after this weekend? I have to go back to town.”

“I don’t know” Walker said in a flat tone.

“I mean we don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. I was just wondering what you were thinking.”

He looked over and met her gaze. “I want to see you but I can’t leave here.”

Jaya nodded “no I know you can’t” she said.

“I don’t feel right asking you to come up here either” he said. “You have a life in the city.

Jaya chest tightened. “So what are you saying?”

“I guess I’m saying that this week might be it.”

Jaya looked away. It was hard for her to contemplate walking away from him but there seemed no option. Turning towards him again she wrapped her arms around his neck.

They were quiet for the rest of the evening, each lost in their own thoughts.

In the morning before Walker left for work he said “would you rather end it now?”

“Would you?” she said. It wasn’t what she wanted but if he wanted it that way then she didn’t want him staying for her benefit.

“I would rather use all the time we have left” he said.

Jaya gave him a sad smile “so would I.”

Walker returned her smile “so you’ll come over tonight?”

“Text me when you’re home” she said.

Walker bent down to give her a heated kiss. Easing back he winked at her and said “see you tonight.”

“Have a good day” Jaya said and Walker left.

Jaya did nothing productive that day. Her mind was pre-occupied with the thought of saying goodbye to Walker. How was it fair she brooded, that she had finally found a man that she had a connection with, could maybe even love and geography was going to keep them apart? It wasn’t fair, that was the answer she decided. It just wasn’t.

Unable to distract herself Jaya felt the time dragging. She could find no enthusiasm for anything and in the end she decided to walk. Grabbing a hat and putting her runners on, she walked out of the front door and kept going with no real direction until she was beginning to tire. Then after sitting down to rest for a few minutes, she began the long journey back.

Back at her grandmother’s house, by the time she had showered and changed Walker texted to say he was home and throwing some clothes in an overnight bag, she set out for his mother’s house. If she was going to lose him because of distance she was damn well going to make sure she made the most of the time they had while they were in the same vicinity.