Far From Home by Megan Nugen Isbell

answer it. 
    “I think it is,” I replied softly, my fingers stroking his hair again and then it grew quiet for a while until I mustered the courage to ask him some questions. “Did your uncle tell you what happened?”
    I could feel Jesse swallow hard before answering.
    “It was a deer.  There was nothing he could do.  Glenn tried swerving to avoid it and hit a telephone pole instead.  My dad wasn’t wearing his seatbelt.”
    I could hear the bitterness in Jesse’s voice.  I didn’t know if it was directed towards his uncle because he was driving or his father for not wearing his seatbelt. 
    “Glenn said he died instantly.  I guess that’s supposed to give me some kind of comfort.  It doesn’t.  He’s still dead.”
    I bent down and kissed his temple and then I felt his hand cup the back of my head.  He turned his head so our lips met and he began kissing me hungrily.  It was one of the most passionate kisses we’d ever shared as I hovered over him and he pulled at me urgently, his lips moving over mine as if he were trying to forget everything that was happening.  He let go as suddenly as he had started and a moment later, I sat up, almost as if nothing had happened and resumed stroking his hair, while also trying to calm the feelings he had stirred up inside of me.  It took a few minutes, but I finally calmed myself down.
    “Are you gonna go see Glenn tomorrow?”
    “I have to.  I need to find out about my dad’s affairs.  We never discussed anything.  Life insurance, a will, nothing.  I guess we should have, considering he’s all I have.  Hopefully Glenn will have the answers.”
    “Can I come with you?” I asked nervously and then his head lifted off my lap and he sat up, facing me.
    “This is something I need to do on my own,” he said apologetically.
    “I understand,” I said, when actually I didn’t.  It hurt that he didn’t want me with him, but then he smiled.  It was a warm, genuine Jesse smile I hadn’t seen since before his dad died.
    “Thank you for being the amazing girlfriend that you are,” he said and I felt myself blush.  He pushed a piece of hair behind my ear and kissed me tenderly before lying down again, resting his head on my lap and falling asleep. 

 
    Chapter Ten
     
    Jesse stayed over at my house again, and as much as I would’ve liked to stay with him all night, I knew that was a one shot deal for my mom.  The next morning, Jesse asked me to drive him back to his house before I had to go to work so he could get his Jeep and check on the dogs. 
    The ride to his place was a quiet one and we let the radio fill the silence.  He held my hand the whole way and that made me feel good.  If that’s all he needed from me, then that’s what I would give him. 
    I worried how Jesse would react going home for the first time since finding out his dad died.  The night the police officers came, Jesse was in a state of shock, but now that he’d had some time to process it, I wondered how it would be for him, going back to an empty house, knowing his dad wasn’t there and would never be again. 
    Rocky and Jasper came bounding out when we pulled up and Jesse immediately stooped to his knees and allowed the dogs to jump and lick all over him.  He looked happy for a split second and then he stood up, gesturing for the dogs to follow him inside.  When we walked in, I couldn’t help but notice the lonely silence that seemed to have come over the house.  Jesse walked down the hall and I saw him disappear into his father’s room.  I stopped in the doorway and watched as he stared into the closet. 
    “Mr. Ledding said my dad needs something to wear,” Jesse said matter-of-factly as he began rifling through the hanging clothes. “Aren’t people buried in suits?” He turned to me and I took that as my cue that it was okay to enter and help him. 
    “I think so,” I answered.
    “My dad doesn’t own a suit.  I’ve never seen him wear one.”
    “Then