Far From Home by Megan Nugen Isbell Page A

I don’t think he should be buried in one.”
    “Is that okay?”
    “Why not?  I wouldn’t want to be buried in something that I never wore when I was alive.”
    “What should he wear then?”
    “I’d say a nice shirt and pants,” and then I smiled over to Jesse. “And his favorite boots.”
    Jesse nodded and looked through the closet.
    “How’s this?”
    He was holding up a pair of slacks and a nice button down shirt.
    “I think it’s perfect.”
    He didn’t say anything as he draped the clothes over his arm and picked up a pair of boots out of the closet.  I followed him into his room where he began changing his clothes.  I’d only packed one set of clean clothes for him, so even though he’d showered at my house, he’d put on the clothes from the day before.  When I walked in, his shirt was already off and he was rummaging through his drawers in just his jeans.  I immediately focused on the way they hung low on his hips, the top of his boxers peeking out.  I couldn’t help myself as I walked across the room and wrapped my arms around his bare waist.  I felt him tense as I began planting gentle kisses on his back.  I didn’t know what to expect, but I waited for some kind of reaction.  I was afraid it wasn’t going to come when he suddenly whipped around so he was facing me.  He buried his hands in my hair, pulling me to him and he began kissing me hard as he walked me over to his bed.  Not a word was spoken as our hands and mouths moved over each other’s bodies.  It was unlike any other time we’d been together.  It was a release and an escape for Jesse and for me too, in a way.  He moved methodically, not thoughtfully as he normally did and he never opened his eyes, but I couldn’t keep mine off of him.  The pain radiated from his face and I pulled him closer, urging him to just let go and forget for a little while.  I wanted him to lose himself in me and he did.  When it was over, he clung to me, his breathing battering my skin as he collapsed on top of me.  He laid there for a while, still silent until I heard his deep voice in my ear.
    “I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have done that.”
    “I started it and I shouldn’t have,” I said back to him and he propped himself up, staring down, showing me his gray eyes for the first time since he’d laid me on the bed.
    “I needed that.  I needed you.”
    I smiled up at him, so happy to hear those words from him.
     

 
    Chapter Eleven
     
    Luckily I’d been able to put myself together enough to look presentable for work, although I had a hard time forgetting the morning with Jesse.  I’d left straight from his house and he said he’d be leaving shortly too to drop the clothes off with Mr. Ledding and then go visit his uncle.  Aside from his walk home from the funeral home, it was really the first time we’d been apart since Jesse found out about his dad.  It felt strange going about my daily life as if nothing had changed, when things had changed very much.  Part of me wanted to call Jill and explain what had happened and tell her I would need some time off, but then I thought better of that idea.  I’d just gotten the job.  She’d probably fire me if I asked for an extended period of time off so soon, plus it wouldn’t do me any good to sit around while Jesse went around trying to get things taken care of.  He’d made it clear he wanted to do a lot of it without my company and work would be a good distraction.
    Jill and Matt were both at the shop when I arrived.  I double checked my watch to make sure I wasn’t late.  I wasn’t and they both looked up when I walked in.  Jill was busy arranging some flowers and Matt was at the computer. 
    “Good morning,” I said, walking into the backroom and hanging my purse up before joining them.
    “You look tired,” Jill pointed out as she clipped the bottom of a tulip off before placing it into the crystal vase sitting in front of her. 
    “I’m okay,” I replied,