“Yeah. He was terrible at it, but it was fun. I met his head of security over avideo call.”
“That’s great, Summer. I’m so happy to hear you had some fun today. Anything else you’d like to talk about?” We chat for a few more minutes before hanging up.
Contemplating, I grab a notepad and write down the plan for the next few days. Digging my phone from my jacket pocket on the floor, I decide to be a good person. Zander deserves an apology for me being rude. He responds as I’m trudging down to the kitchen after putting my gear away properly, offering a gracious response. Thank goodness he isn’t mad.
I reheat the quiche for lunch, then spend the next few hours looking up information about Charleston in front of the tv. Sue arrives home late afternoon, and I tell her about my flight on Thursday. We decide to go shopping tomorrow morning for baking supplies.
Chapter 14
After breakfast, we hit the grocery store, and Sue fills an entire cart with supplies. She buys so much that we run out of room unpacking, so we fill up the table with the rest. She has an extensive list of items she wants to bake for me, which is so sweet of her. I help her organize and plan all morning until we break for lunch.
I take the bus to the care facility to spend the afternoon with Jake. Sue offered to drive me, but the kitchen was crazy messy, so I declined. I spend a lot of time crying while I lie beside him, but I tell him everything I read about Charleston. Then, I take a nap wrapped around him. Mal brings me a snack, and I watch a movie she puts on for us while listening to his heartbeat beneath my ear and breathing in his smell.
I’m trying to focus on just the here and now and not let my mind wander. Spending this time with Jake triggers me to text his dad with my new number and the move to South Carolina.
Zander shows up at 5pm, and Mal escorts him back to Jake’s room. I attempt to get up from the bed, but he tells me to stay put. He sits in the armchair and tells Jake about his embarrassing first attempt at skating. He also tells us some stories about his other adventures trying new things. Apparently, every time he visits a new place, he finds something new to try. We stay like that for another hour before I’m ready to leave. He heads back out to the desk so I can say goodbye to Jake privately.
I keep reminding myself it’s not really goodbye, but the tears trickle down anyway. With a hug and a kiss, I promise to video call him on Friday. I’m a wet, snotty mess when I arrive at the desk, blowing my nose. Mal is sitting behind the counter, and when she sees me, she begins to cry too.
“Oh, Sugar, I’m gonna miss you something fierce.” Mal grabs her own tissue to dab her eyes.
“You make sure you use that phone and call or text me as often as you can now, ya hear?”
“I will, Mal, I promise,” I choke out, trying to keep it together a little longer, until I’m home.
“Okay, now you get out of here before I blubber like a fool. I charged your phone, and it’s in my pocket now.”
I wave goodbye as Zander and I head outside. My plan to be strong dissolves the moment the door closes behind us. As I collapse against the wall, sobs tear from my body as if a gaping wound is opening up. This is too much for me to handle. My lifeline is going to be states away.
“Oh darling. What can I do? Can I hug you, please?” Zander asks.
I can’t answer him. I’m trying to breathe through the panic and sobs as I lose focus on my surroundings. Zander slides down the wall to sit beside me. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Summer,” he keeps repeating.
Time and place become meaningless as I try to stitch up the gaping hole inside me. Jake was my tether to reality after the accident. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I would've survived. Despite the coma, he was alive and real. Something to grasp onto amid the colorless darkness that was my life.
I don’t know how long we sit there on the cold ground before I can take a full breath. Shapes and sounds begin filtering into my senses again. My eyes are still unfocused, but there’s a murmur of voices and arms are around me, but I’m not flinching for some reason.
“Summer, are you back?” That’s Zander. I look up, blinking, to see it’s his arms around me and he has tears in his eyes.
“Yeah,” I croak.
“Summer, it’s Sarah. Take some deep breaths for me. In for three and out for three.”
“Sarah?” I question. Looking around, I see what I assume is Zander’s phone on his thigh.
“Yes Summer. Zander called me. Now breathe, please.”
I breathe deeply in and out for several minutes, which helps me rejoin reality more and more.
“Good Summer. How are you feeling now?”
“A little better.”
“Okay good. Can you walk to the car?”
I attempt to move, but Zander is still holding me, so I raise my eyes to meet his. “Sorry,” he says and helps me stand. We head to the SUV, and Zander opens the door for me, holding my elbow to help me take a seat, before hurrying to the driver’s side. He hands me his phone as he pulls out of the parking lot, and I see Sarah still on the screen. “Hi Sarah.”
“Hi Summer. Was that your last visit with Jake?”
