Jake couldn’t believe he found her. He drove half a day to come back to the town where she lived and saw her car parked by Joe’s Place. He felt a little shaky, his confidence suddenly gone as he walked in and saw her, his Sadie, his soon to be ex-wife. She was beautiful and lithe, her long black hair loose, she wore her signature black eyeliner, combat boots and a visible aura of disdain which Jake knew was there to discourage any guys foolish enough to think they could approach her. She was sitting at the bar, all alone, a glass of bourbon for company. Jake walked over and sat next to her.
“Buy you a drink?” he asked and he saw a look of surprise cross her down turned face. She recovered and looked up at him, smiling with her mouth but not with her eyes.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “What happened to your new job in Franklin? You lose it already?”
“No, I didn’t lose my job. I came here to see you, Sadie. I got the divorce papers your attorney sent. I wasn’t surprised, I mean it’s been a long time since we lived as husband and wife.” The bartender walked up. “Two of those,” he said, pointing to Sadie’s glass. The bartender poured the drinks and walked away. Jake picked up his glass, clinked it into hers, and took a drink. “But, I was surprised, too,” he continued, “because I never thought we would really quit on us.”
Sadie sipped her drink and laughed quietly. “You moved away. I moved on. All we did was fight, Jake. It was no good. And I still don’t want to leave my house on the river and live in God forsaken Franklin. I make enough money here to get by.”
“So, you’ve moved on? Who are you seeing? Is it that Tompkins guy, the one that was so hot for you?” Jake’s hands were balled up in fists by his thighs. Sadie laughed again. “Oh, that’s great. Just laugh at me, the pathetic husband,” he said, downing his drink and tapping the glass on the bar to get the bartender’s attention. Two fresh tumblers of bourbon were poured.
“I never said I moved on in that way. I haven’t seen anyone although I could if I wanted to,” she said and stared at him with that look that used to send them clashing together in a hot heap. Jake swallowed hard, and exhaled a deep breath. “I didn’t need anyone else in that department, but I won’t lie, it’s been lonely, Jake. I just figured it was time to cut ties.”
“Would you dance with me?” he asked and saw her hesitate. “Just one dance, for old time’s sake.” He didn’t wait for her answer but walked over to the jukebox and returned, spinning her bar stool around so she was facing him. He held out his hand and she slid down and into his arms. “Do I Still Figure in Your Life” by Joe Cocker played, and they moved together. Jake could feel her breath on his chest and he pulled her closer.
“I have thought about you every day since I left and I missed you more than you could know,” he whispered, “I wanted my way. I wanted you to come to me. But I see now that I was wrong. I am so sorry. I need this job, but I need you, too, Sadie girl.” They danced, sweet and slow, and he felt Sadie melting into him. He drew back, and she looked up at him, a soft expression on her face and those big eyes were shining with a few tears.
“I waited so long for you to come back,” she said. “We said some pretty terrible things to each other, but I didn’t expect you to give up. And you come back now? When I was finally stronger?”
“Do you still love me?” he asked.
“I do, God help me, I do,” she said. He kissed her, and she had to pull back before they made a spectacle.
Jake said, “I have never stopped loving you, and I never will. I don’t know how this is going to work, but we have got to figure it out. Tonight the devil himself can ride right up here outta hell, but even he can’t rip me away from you. You got it?” Sadie smiled and took his hand and Jake quickly slapped some bills on the bar. They walked outside, and headed for her river house.
Hey there, what’cha gonna do now
You made yourself some new friends, knocking around
But all those wild people,
you know they make me nervous
When the things you said cut me like a knife
Do I still figure in your life
Hey hey hey
Do I still figure in your life
Hey there, well I hardly even know your face
It’s got a brand new look about it
that’s hard to trace
The tender way you look
the way you’re smiling, yeah
To think I once took you for my wife
Do I still figure in your life
Hey hey hey
Do I still figure in your life
Hey there, well I hardly even know your face
It’s got a brand new look about it
that’s hard to trace
The tender way you look
the way you’re smiling
To think I once took you for my wife
Do I still figure in your life
Hey hey hey
Do I still figure in your life
Songwriters: Pete Dello
Prompts are this week are:
- do I still figure in your life
- black eyeliner, combat boots, and a visible aura of disdain
- tonight the devil can ride
A Little Bit of Everything, With Love 