Sunday morning, we meet the guys for breakfast downstairs. Seb isn’t awake, and Bay isn’t much better. Once they’re caffeinated, they eat some food and perk up. We go back to our rooms to gather our bags and check out. The drive to the hospital is faster today with little traffic. We haul our bags upstairs to Jake’s room to find the door closed. I knock and Ray answers. “Hey, Jake’s getting a bath. It’ll just be a few minutes.”
“Oh, okay,” I smile. “Good morning, Ray.”
“Good morning, Summer,” he smiles back, then closes the door.
I let everybody know, and we just sort of stand around until Leigh comes out. “Morning, y’all,” she says.
We all say hi before entering the room. Piling our bags onto the same table as yesterday, I walk over to see Jake. “Good morning. You’ve got your baby face back today. I’m not sure which I like better,” I tell him, holding his hand. The guys and Zander wish him a good morning as well before getting comfortable in the lounge area. “No issues, Ray?” I ask.
“None. His blood draw will be at 9am tomorrow morning, and his scans right after that.”
“Please call or text as soon as you get the results.”
“I promise. You’ll know right after I do.”
“Thanks.” I lean down and kiss Jake’s cheek before grabbing my schoolwork.
Zander goes into the next room and grabs a chair, sitting beside Ray and chatting with him while we do SAT prep. They offer to grab lunch across the road for us, so we continue to work until they come back. The guys really like the food and devour it all. I sit with Jake for a few minutes while they finish up their lunch, telling him I love him and will see him again on Friday, but that his dad will be here with him all week. I kiss his cheek and hug Ray once the guys are done. “Call me whenever you want. I usually video call Jake on Tuesdays and Fridays so you’ll probably hear from me Tuesday after school. Do you have work you can do during the week?”
“Yes, I’ll work from the couch this week. I forgot what a mother hen you are,” he chuckles.
“Yeah, never outgrew that,” I smile. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Ray.”
“Safe travels, everybody,” Ray says to our group. We gather our bags and leave. I’m not teary this time because I’ll be back in a few days.
Alex follows us to the car rental place to drop off our vehicle before we transfer to Alex’s SUV and start the journey home.
I’m anxious in classes Monday, waiting to hear from Ray. E apologizes for not coming up to Charlotte over the weekend, but I tell him it’s unnecessary. He had a social event on Saturday night. It’s funny, E and Alex have switched places. E's now tied up with all the society stuff that Alex used to attend, but Alex doesn’t go anymore because his father is home. I don’t know if E is going with anyone to the events. I don’t ask, and he hasn’t offered that information. Seb may know, but we don’t talk about E much these days.
Gabby, Holly, and Jaxon join us for lunch outside. I get caught up in their lives and gossip as we eat.
I finally get a text from Ray as I’m leaving school. The bloodwork and scans were clear, so the procedure is going ahead on Friday. I let the guys know, and they’re all happy about it. Then I text Zander, Sarah, Mal, and Sue.
Alex offers to drive me home today since Seb and E have practice. He stays, so I make us a snack, and then we get our homework done at the table. I need help with precalculus again, so Alex explains the notes from class as I write my own version. “I swear the teacher is speaking another language in class,” I grumble. “How can I have two totally different sets of notes for the same thing?”
“He is not the most skilled teacher,” Alex replies.
“That’s a polite way of putting it,” I reply wryly.
He smiles and returns to his own homework. Once we’re done, Alex follows me to the backyard so I can check on the garden and flowers. The sunflowers and tomatoes were almost ripe before we left, and after today’s scorching sun, I expect them to be ready now. Sure enough, they are. I cut enough sunflowers for two bouquets, and we fill two bowls with tomatoes. I’m making sauce when Zander comes home. The three of us have spaghetti and garlic bread with a side salad for supper. I put the rest of the sauce in jars for the freezer, not having time to can them properly right now. I send Alex home with a jar and almost set one aside for E until I remember he doesn’t have access to a kitchen these days.
I read through practice SAT questions on the couch while Zander watches tv. We decide to drive up to Charlotte on Thursday evening after work, and since I lack long-distance driving experience, I’ll be driving.
When I’m in bed that evening talking to Seb, I make a list of items I want to bring with me to Charlotte, in case I need to stay up there. Tea is near the top, but I also want to bring some herbs and oils that are used for stress reduction and relaxation to help Jake.
The rest of the week goes by so darn slowly. Holly runs with me on Tuesday after school, and I run at Finn on Thursday.
Chapter 41
Summer
After a quick shower and reheated leftovers, Zander and I leave for Charlotte on Thursday evening. Driving such a long distance was tiring, and I had to work to keep my focus the whole way. We arrive at 9pm, booked at the same hotel as last time. I text Ray after we arrive, then promptly pass out in bed after a shower and chatting with Seb.
On Friday morning, I want to avoid rush hour traffic, so we leave early and get to the hospital at 7am. Ray is just walking in as well. “How was your week, Ray?”
“Good Summer. I was able to keep up with work from the couch.”
We head to the research wing and up the elevator to see Jake. Minutes after we arrive, Dr. Crosby joins us. “Good morning, all. It’s an exciting day today. Leigh will come in at 8am to prep Jake. She'll change him into a hospital gown and wheel him down to the room we use. It will look like an operating room, and there is a viewing platform with a one-way mirror where you can sit and watch, if you wish. Since this is a research and teaching hospital, there may be students, doctors, and nurses in there with you. However, we reserve the first row for family. Leigh and one of my students will join me in the room to complete the procedure.
