Glad to have something to do, I walk to the headboard with the holder. “Hi Jake,” I whisper. I straighten out the holder to inspect the clamp and nearly drop the thing with my palms so sweaty.Focus, Summer,I tell myself. The clamp portion is like a vice, so I unscrew the bolt until it slips over the headboard rail, then tighten it up. I straighten out the arm portion and bend it over Jake’s head. I am happy to find there’s plenty of length.
“Here, Sugar, attach your phone to the clip to make sure it holds okay,” Mal tells me, holding out the phone to me.
I snap the phone into the clip and stand back.
“That’s gonna be perfect, honey. I’ll grab your phone back, and we’ll bend this arm up out of the way and leave it attached to the bed. Now, would you like to do the introductions, or should I?”
I look over at Zander, leaning against the wall by the door, watching us. He smiles kindly when he sees me looking at him. Pretending to be brave, I respond. “I got it, Mal, thanks.”
“You know the drill. I’ll see you soon,” she says, heading back into the hallway.
I grab Jake’s hand in my sweaty palm.Please be the man I’m secretly hoping you are.I’m so nervous I can’t control the shaking, like I’m outside in January in my underwear, but I turn to face Zander. “Zander, this is Jake. Jake, this is my father, Zander.”
Zander walks to the other side of the bed, looking down at Jake, taking his other hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Jake. I understand you’re Summer’s best friend, so I’m sure we’ll become good friends as well. I promise you I’ll take excellent care of our girl while you’re resting,” he says, then looks up at me and smiles.
There’s a waterfall cascading down my cheeks from that short and sweet interaction. He spoke to Jake as if he were having a regular conversation with someone and used the term ‘our girl.’ I turn away and grab a tissue from the bedside table to wipe mycheeks.
Zander seems to understand that I need a minute to compose myself. “I’ll head back out front so you and Jake can talk now, okay?”
“Yeah, thanks,” I squeak out.
He gives me a nod, squeezes Jake’s hand, and walks back out of the room.
I crawl into bed with Jake and wrap myself around him to let out the nerves and anxiety I’ve been feeling all day. “Jake, I might like him,” I whisper. No more words are needed right now. I listen to his heartbeat under my ear and breathe in his smell as silent tears trickle down my cheeks like raindrops on the window.
After I feel settled, I get up and sit in the armchair and tell Jake about everything that’s happened since my last visit and how happy I was walking out of that hellhole of a school for the last time.
Mal comes back with a little gift bag in her hands. “You doing okay, Sugar?”
“Yeah, I’m okay, Mal,” I say, giving her a sad smile.
“I got you a little something to take with you when you move. Now it’s not much, but I hope you like it.” She hands me a gold metallic gift bag.
I pull the pink tissue paper out and see a wooden-framed pic of Mal and Jake. Mal is leaning over, so she is at the same level as Jake. She has him sitting up with a black hockey t-shirt on. “I love it, Mal, thank you.”
“There’s something else in there, too. Go on and grab it.”
I put my hand back into the bag and pull out a bottle. It’s Jake’s cologne. My eyes well up again. “Mal,” I choke out.
“Don’t you tear up again now, Sugar. Suck those tears right back inside.” She wags her finger at me. “I know how important scents are to people, and since you can’t be here, I figured this was the next best thing.”
“It’s perfect, Mal, really. Thank you,” I smile genuinelyat her.
“Zander and Sue are wantin’ to come back here for a minute. You ready?”
“Yeah, bring them back,” I say as I take a few fortifying breaths. She heads back up the hall as I put the picture frame and cologne back in the bag and set it on the bedside table, wiping the tears from my cheeks yet again.
“Hey Summer,” Zander smiles gently as he enters the room, followed by Sue and Mal. Sue comes over to my side of the bed and squeezes Jake’s hand and gives me a side hug.
“Summer, I took the liberty and got you a new phone with a Charleston area code,” Zander tells me as he rubs the back of his neck. “I brought it up here with me. I was thinking you could take some pictures with it while we’re here?”
Surprise flickers through me. I hadn’t thought that far ahead yet, despite having given up my old phone already. It’s not like I have a thriving social life these days. Other than Sarah and Sue, no one ever calls me. “Thank you, Zander. You didn’t need to do that.”
“It’s my pleasure, Summer,” he smiles, dimple showing. “I didn’t want you to worry about staying in contact with everyone after we leave. It’s got unlimited calling and texting too, so you should be good. I, uh, picked out a case too, but you can choose another one if you don’t like it.” He walks over and hands me the phone. It’s a newer model than I had, but similar. The case is green with colorful flowers printed on the back. I wonder if Sarah told him how much I used to love gardening. I raise my eyes towards Sue, and she has a big smile on her face, giving me a nod.
“I like the case, Zander. It’s beautiful.”
He wipes his forehead. “Phew! Glad I got that right.”
