AUSTRALIA WAS A beautiful country and the people were amazing. Unfortunately, it hadn’t done much so far to keep his mind off Madi. The jet lag that hit him after the fourteen-hour flight was the worst he’d had to date. Maybe it was because he could hear Caleb arguing with his wife, Diane, on the phone for half the trip. Apparently, things weren’t going so well. Jake didn’t like to get involved in other people’s business, but even he had noticed a change in Caleb. If there was one thing that his mother and father had taught him, it was the truth to the saying, “Happy wife, happy life.” If his mom was happy, everybody was happy. If Diane was upset, there was probably a good reason why. He knew her well and could easily infer that if there was a problem, Caleb was likely to blame.
Jake called Madi as soon as he arrived in his hotel in Sydney. He was thankful to hear her voice, even if she was half asleep.
After sleeping for almost an entire day, Jake awoke to the beauty of night. He vowed that someday, he’d bring Madi here with him. It was just too magnificent for her not to experience it. The thought of the future made him smile. Before her, he’d taken life one day at a time. Now, everything had a clearer purpose. He couldn’t wait to share every aspect of his life with her, assuming she would have him.
When he met Caleb for a late dinner, Jake noticed he looked worn down. “You okay?” he asked.
“As if you didn’t know, Diane and I have been fighting for a while now. We had a huge one before I left.”
“I hope this doesn’t have to do with the tour.”
“She’s always known what my life entailed. I don’t know why she’s so upset that I have commitments, even when I’m home.”
“What kind of commitments?” Jake asked as he took a sip of water, trying to rehydrate himself.
Caleb wrung his hands as Jake noticed he seemed to be sweating.
“Are you feeling alright?” Jake asked. “You look pale.”
“Sometimes people don’t understand that we have to make decisions that may be tough, that they may not like, but are what’s best for their future and the future of everyone involved.”
Jake nodded his head as he tried to discern what decision Caleb might have made that pissed off Diane.
“Listen…” Jake said. “You look terrible. Go back to the room. Call Diane. Get some sleep. I’m going to have dinner then head back up myself.”
“You sure?” Caleb questioned.
Jake waved him off in agreement.
After Caleb left, Jake called Dave for an update.
Dave said Peter Markum had visited a cemetery. They’d tried to stay back and observe. It appears he may have gone to see his mother. He hadn’t been there long, and he’d flicked a cigarette on her grave before he left.
Piece of shit. Jake touched the world clock button his phone as he tried to decipher what time it was in Chicago and whether or not Madi would be awake. Nine p.m. in Sydney… seventeen-hour difference. Crap. Four a.m.
As Jake tucked his phone back into his pocket, he felt it buzz. A smile spread across his face like he’d just seen the presents Santa left under tree.
“Hi, baby. How come you’re awake?”
“Couldn’t sleep. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
“I have a confession to make. I did something that I need to tell you about.”
“Okay… What is it?” he asked.
“I stole your t-shirt. It smelled like you and I couldn’t give it up.”
Jake laughed. “That’s your confession? You had me worried.”
“Um hmm…”
“Still sleepy?” he asked.
“Yes…”
“Anything I have is yours. You can take whatever you want as long as I get you in return.”
“You always have me.”
“That’s what I want to hear. Why don’t you go back to sleep. This time thing has us both messed up.”
“K. I love you.”
“Love you. Bye”
Jake smiled to himself at how in sync their minds must be if they thought of each other at the same time. Jake shook his head. He needed to get a grip. He needed to focus on the tour and getting Peter Markum to disappear from their lives. Then he could focus on his future and what that meant for the girl he loved.
***
