The Locked Door

Part 25

For the next few months Jaya and Walker moved backwards and forwards between the city and the small country town. It was not ideal as Jaya did not see nearly enough of Walker and Walker felt the same, but they made it work. 

Over that time Jaya met Walker’s sister whom she liked. They became good friends and Jaya became very attached to their mother. Therefore it was with a great deal of sadness that Jaya learnt of her death six months after she had first met Walker.

Jaya went back to the small town to be with Walker and stay for the funeral. When she pulled up at his mother’s house Jaya had only just opened the door when Walker appeared and walked towards her. His expression was sad and Jaya opened her arms. Walker stepped into her embrace and buried his face into her hair as his arms closed around her waist and held her tight.

Jaya wrapped her arms around his neck and just held him. She did not speak and neither did he. There was nothing to say. Jaya let him break the embrace and when he stepped back she smiled at him and then reached up and kissed him.

“I’m glad you’re here” he said when he moved back.

“So am I” she said.

Jaya opened her boot and Walker grabbed her bag. As they walked inside she said “is there anything I can do?”

Walker shook his head. “Miller has it all sorted. I think she has had the arrangements ready to go for some time. She’s like that, very organised.”

“That’s good” Jaya said “but what about for you? Is there anything I can do for you?”

Walker looked down at her as he placed her bag beside his bed. “You’re doing it” he said “you being here is all I need.”

Jaya reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m here Walker, for as long as you need me.”

His arms tightened around her.

After a few minutes he released her and Jaya stepped back. Smiling up at him she said “have you eaten?”

“Today?” he said with a small smile “or in the last hour?”

“Okay you don’t need food” she said with a smile “what would you like to do then?”

“I would like to get into that bed with you and shut out the world” he said “but Miller will be here shortly so that’s going to have to wait.”

Jaya smiled. “There is always later.”

He frowned “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that to sound like I was using you. I have been looking forward to seeing you, you know that right?”

“Yes I know that” she said smiling again. “I wasn’t offended. I’m happy to help you in whatever capacity you require.”

Walker smiled for the first time since she had arrived “that makes it sound like I should be paying you.”

Jaya’s eyes widened in shock for a moment and then she laughed and blushed. “You know what I mean.”

“Yes I do” he said “and I love you for it.”

Once again Jaya knew a feeling of shock. Had Walker just said he loved her and if he had, did he mean it?

His smile widened for a second before going serious “I know it’s really bad timing and I don’t want you to think this is just grief talking or anything because I have been wanting to tell you for ages. I love you Jaya and if recent events have taught me anything, it’s that life is too short. So right here and now I need you to know how I feel. I need you to understand how important you are to me.”

Jaya was lost for words. She had known she loved Walker for some time but with their time together so limited, there never seemed a right time to say it. She thought  now that perhaps she had been waiting until they were in a position where they were together more. But now none of that mattered. All that mattered was that she loved him and amazingly, he felt the same.

Searching his eyes for a moment she said “I love you too Walker.”

A beautiful smile lit up his face and leaning down he met her mouth with his.

While they kissed Jaya contemplated her prospects with Walker. Despite the difficulties of geography they had had to navigate, her future looked bright. Just like that little room in her grandmother’s house, after so many years of it being a closed book, the windows on her life had been thrown up, the door opened and sunlight allowed to fill every corner.

 The End