“Your aversion to touch, for one. I wouldn’t want him to give you a bear hug when he sees you for the first time,” she gently smiles at me. “Things like your breathing exercises and when to reach out to me or Sue. I’d also like to mention that you have difficulty focusing on things.”
I nod my head, seems rational. “Yeah, you can do that. I trust your judgment with telling him what he needs to know.”
“Thank you for your trust, Summer. I’ll grab his phone number from Mary and call him. Anything else you’d like to discuss?”
“Yeah. I’m not sure what info is in my CPS file about Jake.”
“Not much that I can recall. He’s mentioned as being involved in the accident and currently in a coma at the care facility.”
“I wonder if Mary said anything about him.” Jake is a non-negotiable for me. If Mary told him her opinion of us, I’m not sure what I’ll do.
“I can ask when I request Zander’s phone number. If Mary has, I can certainly let Zander know the facts of your situation instead of Mary’s opinion.”
“That would be great, Sarah. Thanks.” Relief courses through me. “I’m too emotional about leaving Jake right now to explain everything to him without crying.”
“Then I will update him, Summer. Call again if you need me.”
“I have a feeling you’ll be hearing a lot from me for the foreseeable future.”
“Good thing I enjoy talking to you,” she smiles kindly. “Talksoon.”
I shut my laptop cover gently as Sue calls up that dinner is ready. Grabbing my phone, I jog down to the kitchen and help Sue carry the bowls and plates to the table. “This smells good.”
“Nothing fancy tonight. Some paninis and soup. Eat up.”
We eat the delicious minestrone soup with ham and cheese paninis and talk about random things. She fills me in on all the gossip Mal told her today. Mary got back to her about my school questions, too. She has already requested my transcripts from the school. I have to pick them up on Friday before I leave, and that’s it. Zander will handle my enrollment once we are in South Carolina.
“I think I’d like to keep my leaving school quiet, Sue. I don’t really have any friends there, and it’ll stop any new gossip,” I tell her as we do the dishes from dinner.
“That’s fine, sweetheart. I’ll text Julia tonight to keep it quiet.”
“Thanks.” As we’re finishing up, I hand her my phone with the texts from Zander. “Zander texted me, Sue. Have a read.”
“He wants to come all the way up here and meet us,” she says, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh, sweetheart, that’s wonderful.”
“Yeah, I talked to Sarah about it while I was in my room. I’m going to text him back to fly up here on Friday.”
“I think that’s perfect. I look forward to seeing him. You tell him I said that too.”
I smile. “I will Sue.”
We hunker down the rest of the night in front of the crackling fireplace, watching tv as the wet snow continues to fall outside.
Chapter 10
Wednesday is a snow day, probably the last of the school year, so Sue and I bake up a storm in the kitchen. I clear off the walkway and doorstep around dinnertime after the snow finally stops. Sue has an arrangement with a plow driver to clear the driveway after heavy snowfall, so we don’t have to worry about that. I’ve always loved the end of winter storms. It seems so peaceful, like the world is sleeping, and it’s so quiet outside. The only sounds are the crunching of snow underfoot and the swish of the shovel. There’s no traffic or people to be heard.
I get a text from Zander that evening saying he booked his flight and a hotel. He bought a one-way ticket so we could decide together when I was ready to head to Charleston with him. He arrives Friday morning around noon and wants to check-in early to his hotel room and then meet up after school, if I’m okay with it. Since that’s when I normally visit Jake, I ask him to meet me there and give him the address. Might as well get all the introductions done at once. Sue offers to pick me up from school that day and drive me over to the care facility.
On Thursday, I get another text from Zander saying Mary requested a meeting with him Saturday morning to sign some paperwork. His call with Sarah went “really well” and he wants to meet Jake during his visit.
Before I know it, it’s Friday. My last day at this school. It’s definitely a silver lining in all of this. I certainly won’t missall the bullying. Zander sends me a selfie during the first period, standing at an airport, holding a coffee and smiling.
Zander: An exciting day! I can’t wait to meet you!
After lunch, I get another text from Zander that he made it into town. After classes, I grab everything from my locker and head to the main office, drop off my textbooks, and get my transcripts. Sue is waiting for me at the curb when I get outside. I wave and get into the passenger seat.
“So how was it?” Sue asks as she pulls onto the main road.
