Deeply Personal

Chapter 40

Paul

“I come with coffee and oatmeal.”

It was the next morning, and while Jessica was still sleeping, Paul had gone to a nearby grocery store. He rang the doorbell when he returned, and she met him at the front door. He was carrying a bag filled with supplies. She looked pale and hungover—exactly what he’d anticipated. She was squinting into the light, and her hair was a beautiful mess.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

She rubbed her temples. “My head feels like it’s a watermelon and someone’s thumping it to see how ripe the insides are.”

“Well, this will help take away that watermelon head of yours.” He took one of her hands and placed a warm latte in it.

“Oh, man. Thanks. You’re the best personal trainer in town.” She yawned, peering at him.

“This should help soak up the alcohol,” he said, holding up a box of oatmeal. “I also brought vitamin B. And a smoothie. Lots of potassium in there. Potassium’s key. Alcohol depletes it. You drank more than your fair share last night.”

“That’s so thoughtful, Paul. Truly.” Her eyes sparkled like the stars of Cassiopeia. He loved seeing her light up.

They went into the kitchen, and Jessica told her smart speaker to start playing contemporary rock. She sat down at the table as he went to work making oatmeal. After a few songs later, Patty Preston’s hit “Heart Breaks,” came on and she erupted in laughter.

“What if your heart starts a-breakin’ / and your world starts a-quakin’ / cause the love you’re a-makin’s been taken away? / and you feel like you’re a-losin’ / cause of the choices you’re a-choosin’ / and you regret the words you said / and he’s all up inside your head / every night and every day . . . Those are the heart breaks, baby. Those are the heart breaks . . .”

“What’s so funny?” he asked, glacing over his shoulder at her.

“It’s just that I used to be a big fan of her YouTube channel. But I’ve outgrown it now.” Her full lips curved upward. “She talked all about finding yourself before you found a man. Being content in your own skin. Or, you know, maybe choosing to never find one at all.” She laughed.

“I think Victoria may have mentioned that.” Paul set his coffee cup down and stirred the oatmeal. “Never seen it myself, though.”

“For women only.”

“Isn’t that discrimination?” He raised an eyebrow and grinned.

“You know, I think it is,” she said with a laugh.

Patty Preston’s some came to an end. Next, a mid-tempo, soft rock song sounded over the speaker, and Paul started dancing as he added sprinkles of cinnamon to the oatmeal.

Standing there in her bathrobe, arms folded across her chest, Jessica laughed as she watched him move to the beat, nodding his head with the rhythm.

“Come on. Dance with me, babe,” he said.

She rubbed her temples again. “Too hungover. Sorry.”

Paul stepped close to her. He pressed his fingers to her aching head. As he drew small circles over her temples, he felt her relax against him.

“This feels incredible,” she said with a sigh.

““That’s what I’m here for,” he said with a grin. Then an idea hit him. “Hey, I was thinking.”

“Yes?”

“Once you feel better and all, what about a hike?”

“A hike? Where?” Jessica’s voice turned soft as she relaxed further.

“It looks like it’s going to be a gorgeous day today—low sixties, clear sky. Are you up for it?” He had a special spot he’d love to show her. He’d never taken anyone else there. He desperately wanted to share it with her.

“Well, I don’t know. Hmm . . .” She rubbed her forehead. “I’ve got so much to do. What about your clients?” she asked. “Don’t you have to work?”

“When I was getting your oatmeal and stuff I called in and took the day off. Victoria can take my place today. I wanted to be with you and was hoping you’d want to hang out.”

“You know what?” Jessica lit up with a bright smile as she touched his hand. “A hike sounds fantastic.”

He gave her a quick kiss, and did another dance move as she applauded. She then joined him reluctantly as they both swirled around on the floor.

***

Jessica and Paul hiked the woodsy trail at Radnor Lake, a land trust in the middle of Nashville, surrounded by a forest of trees, plants, and bushes. Paul’s spirits soared like the birds that cut across the sky. He could be anywhere really, so long as he was with her.

As they walked, they watched turtles sun themselves on the banks of the lake and wild turkeys strutting past. A real turkey trot! A few deer raised their heads at them inquisitively before prancing away, vanishing in the thick of the trees.

They sat down close to each other on a bench with a view overlooking the lake. Paul draped his arm around Jessica as they both took in the scene, the water before them sparkling with sunlight. Everything was so quiet. Amazingly quiet and still and alive.

“I haven’t been to Radnor in a long time,” Jessica said, gazing around. “We used to come here with my parents on weekends when Lenny and I were young. I’d forgotten how beautiful it is.”

Paul gazed at the serene surroundings and sighed as he turned to her, stroking her hair. “Not as beautiful as you.”

“Oh, Paul. That’s sweet.”

“You did fine on the hike,” Paul said.

“Yes. Not a problem. I really do think I’m getting in better shape.”

“Any more problems with your heartbeats?” he asked.

“Not really. I haven’t had them in a while.”

“Good. Maybe it’s just a passing thing, you know? Sometimes stress can cause stuff like that.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m falling in love,” she said, turning to him and staring into his eyes. “Maybe you’ve healed me.”

For a moment, Paul could barely breathe. When he heard the words, his heart plunged into his stomach, and something inside him sparked like a live wire, a connection to life itself.

“Do you think it’s possible?” Jessica asked. “Can love heal a broken heart?”

“Love can do all kinds of things—bring people together, make people care more about each other. Surely curing a broken heart would be on that list.” Paul ran a hand across her cheek, touching her softly. “ Are you falling in love?” he asked. His own heart beat harder, waiting for her answer. Afraid to hear her answer, actually.

She waited a moment before speaking. “You know, I think I am.”

He felt a smile spread across his face, wide and broad, and he felt lifted so high, he thought he might just fly up to the sky right now and touch a cloud.

The words seemed to stream out of his mouth as well. “I am too. Falling. In. Love.”

Jessica leaned closer to him and he put his arm around her shoulder. They kissed. And then they just sat there in the silence, within their own bubble, breathing everything in—the feel of their surroundings, the feel of just the two of them, alone together.

Paul took her hand and wrapped it inside his own, rubbing small circles across her soft skin. Touching Jessica was electric.

“Come on,” he said. “I want to show you something.”

They took a solitary trail up a long, steep hill. At last, both breathing hard, they reached the top, and stretching before them was a panoramic view of the lake and the woods below. It was beautiful. Breathtaking. This was the highest point in Nashville. Jessica leaned against Paul in the tranquility as he put his arm around her shoulder again.

“This is where I come when I want to get away from it all and just be. It always improves my mood.”

“It’s gorgeous,” she said, looking around at the sky, the water, and the trees. “So peaceful.”

They turned to look at each other. He saw the sky reflected in her blue irises.

It was as if a breeze of understanding was passing between them, a feeling of closeness and something that Paul felt deep inside, something real and strong and good.