The Locked Door

Part 24

Two days later it was the night before Jaya had to go home. She was once more staying at Walker’s mother’s house. Jaya didn’t mind it so much second time around and she made sure to go up and speak to the older woman for a few minutes when she arrived. Not wanting to tire her though, Jaya didn’t stay with her long. Afterwards while Walker spent some time with his mother Jaya made them some dinner. As usual the nurse that came in during the day had given the older woman dinner before she left for the day.

When Walker came back down Jaya had everything ready and they sat at the island bench to eat. Walker took a couple of bites but then stopped. Jaya looked over at him wondering if he didn’t like what she had prepared.

His eyes on his plate Walker said “you’ve made things so much easier Jaya” he said “I mean I don’t mind being here. I want to spend what time Mum has left with her but having you here has changed things. It’s easier not being alone. It’s better.” He turned his head and looked at her. “I just wanted you to know.”

Jaya had to swallow hard around the lump in her throat. His words had filled her with emotion. She reached out and clasped his hand but she could get no words out. Blinking away tears, she gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand.

Walker smiled at her and after a moment they went back to eating.

After they had eaten and cleaned up Jaya and Walker moved into his bedroom to watch a movie. They had just got comfortable on the bed when Jaya came to a decision. Turning her head to look at Walker she said “hey how do you feel about a long distance relationship?”

Walker turned his head and looked at her. A slow smile spread across his face. “Think we can do that?”

“I think we should try” she said.

“I agree” but his smile fading he added “I wanted to suggest it, but I couldn’t see how we would make it work.”

“I could come up here on weekends.”

“I can’t let you do all the travel” he said and after a moment’s thought he added “maybe I could get my sister to stay here two nights in a row and I could come to you during the week. I can’t ask her to do both weekend nights, she has kids. I could do both of them instead. If you’re here I wouldn’t care.”

“Would your sister mind being away from home two night running?”

“I think she would do it for me” he said. “She wants me to be happy and she would be home during the day in between.”

 Jaya was flooded with excitement. “Then I think that could work. I mean it’s not the same as living in the same city but it’s the next best thing.”

“If it means not saying goodbye to you, I’m all for it” he said.

Jaya smiled “you know, I can’t believe we have known each other for less than a week. I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

“What’s time?” he said and leaning over he kissed her jaw.

“I think we’re about to find that out” Jaya said with a wry expression. She had a feeling that when she was away from him, time was going to be the main focus of her life.

He winced “yeah I guess so.”

“I don’t care though” she said refusing to let anything ruin how good it felt to know that they both wanted the same thing. She had waited a long time to find him and she was not giving him up without a fight. “Do you?”

“If the alternative is not seeing you at all, no” he said.

Jaya smiled.

“You know as sad as that little room was I’m very glad your grandparent’s left the door locked all those years.”

Jaya’s smile widened. She knew what he meant. Without that locked door they would never have met “so am I” she said with feeling.

Walker grinned and rolled her beneath him.