“That’s a beautiful part of the country, Sugar. You’ll love the palm trees and the ocean down there. Even after all this time, I miss the warm weather instead of this cold,” she sighs wistfully.
“I guess,” I reply, shuffling my feet. No winter is going to be weird, as is warm weather all year. I can’t imagine Christmas without snow.
“You know how I feel about this. A fresh start. I know it’s gonna be hard on you, but one thing you don’t have to worry about back here is Jake. I’ll keep taking care of him like he’s my own. He and I will keep on keeping on. You live your best life out there. We’ll be here for you always.”
My eyes well with tears. Mal is such an amazing person. “Thanks Mal. I know he’s in excellent hands with you.”
“Now follow me so you can have your visit.” She stands up from behind her desk to lead me down the hall as usual. Mal regales me with the latest gossip and tells me all about the shifter book she’s reading to Jake now.
I hop right into the bed and throw my arm around his waist after she leaves. “I had a video call with Zander on Sunday, Jake. It was so nerve-wracking, and everyone was there with me. He seems nice, maybe a goofball, and I think I said the right things. Mary is going to give him my case file. I’m terrified, Jake. You know what the case file will say about me. The depression, rage, and not being able to be touched. I’m difficult, and I’m barely passing school. All the skipping school I did earlier and the nightmares. He’ll read about the assault too,” I say as I roll onto my back beside him, linking our hands together. “I have to tell him about you and us.That technically shouldn’t be in my case file other than you’re in a coma, but I’m sure Mary will tell him something negative about it. She thinks we’re unhealthy.” I explain about the new phone Mal has and about school today, then give him a kiss and breathe in his scent. “I love you, Jake.”
After saying goodbye, I take my time walking back out to the desk to find Sue waiting. “Hi Sue. I wasn’t expecting you today.”
“Hi sweetheart. I was in town and the snow started picking up, so I thought I’d drop by and give you a lift home.”
“Appreciate it. Bye Mal. I’ll see you Friday with that phone bed holder.”
“Sounds good, Sugar. You drive safe now, ya hear?”
Sue and I wave as we leave. The snow is really coming down now. Guess Mother Nature decided on a longer winter in Virginia. “I’m glad we went shopping yesterday,” she tells me. “This weather is supposed to continue through tomorrow.”
After a cautious drive, we rush into the house, clomping our boots to get the snow off. The snow is sticky snowman snow with the warmer March temperatures. It will make a significant mess for everyone.
“I’m going to get started on dinner, sweetheart. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
“Okay,” I answer distractedly. As I’m hanging up my jacket, my phone chirps with several texts from Zander. I open it as I mindlessly thump up the stairs to my room.
Zander: Hi Summer. I wanted to let you know I passed the home inspection this morning. I also went through your CPS file, and I’m so sorry for everything you have gone through. I’ll help you in any wayI can.
Zander: Would it be too much if I flew down there on Friday? I was hoping to meet Sue before you moved. I figured you might be more comfortable meeting before you got here, too.
Zander: Please let me know what you think. Whatever you decide, I promise will be perfectly fine with me. I want you comfortable. Zander.
Wow. Friday. It still seems too fast. Not wanting to freak out, I sit at my desk and open the laptop to call Sarah.
“Hi Summer. Everything okay?”
“Guess so. I got a text from Zander. Can I read it to you?”
“Of course. Go ahead.”
I read the text out loud to her. “I’m not sure what to say. He still wants me to live with him after reading my file.” I feel even more uncomfortable talking to him now that he’s seen it.
“That’s a positive, Summer. Remember that file is just a list of notes on your situation. Or a snapshot. It’s not who you are as a person. You were really worried about him reading that file, weren’t you?”
“Yeah, I was. It’s not like it’s a list of my accolades,” I spit, sarcasm dripping from my tone.
Sarah gives me an indulgent look. “No, I suppose it’s not, but he strikes me as an intelligent person. He would understand that it’s snippets of your life, not you. What are your thoughts about his flying up there on Friday?”
“Nervous, terrified, curious, but it makes sense. I’ll be more comfortable meeting him here with Sue than meeting him at an airport.”
“That tells you a lot about the person he is, Summer. What matters to you also matters to him.”
“Yeah.” Part of me wants to hate him, or at least be mad at him, for this entire situation, even though none of this is his fault. Irrational, maybe, but there it is.
“I would like your permission to contact him as well. I can give him tips to ease the transition for you both.”
“What kind of things?” I inquire.
