Free Rainfall by Melissa Delport Page A

go Jacob, when the others take over?” I begin as gently as possible. Doctor Sheldon believes that Jacob is the key to Adam’s recovery and I am determined to make him feel comfortable with me. He shivers involuntarily and then answers, “It’s dark...When they shut me out. I’m alone and it’s dark.” He hugs his knees and I feel tears well in my eyes. He is so pitiful.
    “Would you like some tea?” I ask. 
    “That would be nice.” 
    He follows me into the kitchen and I set the kettle to boil and rummage around in the cupboards until I find two mismatched cups. One is white with black stripes and the other has a picture of a woman on it whose bikini disappears when the mug is filled with hot liquid. I stare at both of them, still not quite sure what I am up against. These men are such different people. It’s like a bad episode of speed-dating. I try and match the mug to the identity. Kyle is pretty easy; he's such a pig. The plain black and white I eventually link to Adam. He is like that; everything is black and white, there are no grey areas. It’s one of the things I love about him. I miss Adam. I came here for him and so far all I have got are his crazy alter egos . I heave a sigh and make the tea. 
    I sit opposite Jacob at the breakfast table.
    “Jacob, do you like Doctor Sheldon?” I ask and he nods quickly.
    “Yes.”
    “Do you trust him?” He nods again. “Why are you so hesitant to confide in him?” I push and he starts to look slightly disconcerted. “I care about you, Jacob,” I quickly add, trying to make him feel more comfortable. There is something very endearing about Jacob, he is almost child-like in his naiveté and in his crippling shyness. “I would really like to help you, if you'd let me?” I let the question hang in the air and then I change the subject.
    “What do you like to do?” I ask. 
    Jacob smiles timidly. “I like computers,” he admits timidly and I frown slightly. I can switch a computer on and I know the basics of Microsoft Word and Publisher, but that's about it. “And I like dogs,” Jacob adds quickly.
    “Me too!” I gush in relief. I am pleased to have something, however small, that I can use to get close to Jacob. There is no doubt in my mind that Dr Sheldon is right. Jacob is the secret-keeper; he is the child inside, the part of Adam that cannot let go of the trauma that started this whole horrible mess. 
    I am staring at Jacob but not really seeing him, trying to work out how I can use this to my advantage when I see him twitch. His whole head jerks slightly and his eyes become unfocused for a second. When they refocus, he stares at me, a look of pure delight and relief washing over his beautiful face. 
    I don’t care that I have spent the last hour in the company of two completely separate people who look exactly the same; I would know Adam anywhere. His blue eyes are crinkling at the corners as his sexy smile spreads slowly across his face and I launch myself to my feet, knocking over my chair in my haste. He stands and opens his arms just as I throw myself at him, kissing his face, his eyes, his cheeks.
    “Paige! Paige, I’m so sorry!” He manages to get the words out between my kisses and I can taste the tears on my lips, but I don’t know whether they are his, or mine. I hold his face between my hands and gaze up into his beautiful blue eyes. 
“Oh God, Adam, I’ve missed you,” I choke on the words and I bury my face in his shoulder, breathing in his smell and listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
    “I’m so sorry, Paige,” he murmurs into my hair. “I should have told you; right at the start. I just didn’t know how, and by the time I did, I was in too deep and I was terrified that I would lose you.”
    “You could never lose me,” I whisper and I feel his arms tighten around me.
    “When I came to, I realised what must have happened and I was determined to tell you the truth. I was losing control and I needed to