Between the Lanterns(10)

August still had his hands on Samantha’s shoulders. It felt right to touch her. She was warm and soft, but there was strength in those shoulders, too. She most definitely had known long days of hard work. He could feel that she wasn’t just a desk jockey. She worked with her hands;: he could tell by the movement of the muscles under her skin. He looked into her eyes as she talked about a man she only met yesterday. The affection and kindness that flowed out of her mouth about someone who was basically a stranger hit him hard in the gut.

Yes, this girl was beautiful. He had thought that he was in love with her the first moment he saw her between the lanterns. August realized now that it was just awe in seeing someone so visually perfect. Now, however, he felt what it surely was to fall in love. Before had felt like getting hit by a truck… well, this felt like falling through space and time. He felt dizzy and excited. His blood felt warmer flowing through his veins, and his breath came quicker. Looking at this beautiful lady, he knew. And he knew in his heart that even if she looked like an opossum on drugs, a greasy, old trucker, or his fifth-grade teacher, it wouldn’t matter to him. The heart inside of her chest beat with the love and generosity that were missing from most of this world. It was everything that he had ever wanted. He had to marry this woman. He just had to. And one day he would.

All of this hit August in just an instant, and processing it for a second, he stowed it away for the time being. If John was dying, then August was going to be there for him. That old man had reminded him of how things should be. The talk they had at lunch yesterday revived August. It filled him with the desire to try and be the shining beacon of kindness that his granny had been. He owed it to John to be there for him at the end. And so he would be.

“Ok, Sam. Let’s get down to the clinic,” August said. “John saved my life yesterday. I wasn’t dyin’, but I wasn’t livin’ either. He reminded me of what our lives could be like; happy, friendly, takin’ it slow and enjoyin’ all that the world has to offer. I owe him big time.”

Samantha reached up and grabbed August’s hand from her shoulder and interlocked her fingers with his. They smiled at each other, and both made a silent promise that later, at some point down the line, a kiss would be very much in order. Hand -in -hand, they rushed to Granger Clinic to be with John.

They sat on opposite sides of his MediBed and listened to him tell the story again of how this had happened. August was saddened by the fact that the businesswoman had not even stopped. She was in too much of a rush to get back into the office.

At least she had called emergency services and told them what had happened.

It was a sign of the times that she wasn’t even in trouble for leaving the scene. The police were supportive and understanding of the fact that she didn’t want to be late to work. Unbelievable, Samantha thought.

“John, what can we get you? Are you thirsty or hungry? You want some more chocolate pie?” Sam asked, hoping to help in some way. “I can run down to the diner and grab you a slice, sweets. Heck, I’ll bring the whole damn pie if you want.”

John chuckled softly, winced in pain, and told her, “Naw, thank you, though, dear. I don’t have much of an appetite right now. As it is, I’ve got all the fluids I need pumpin’ into my IV. I’ll be fine.”

John closed his eyes, and his breathing evened out. He wasn’t sleeping, just resting for a moment. August noticed that the MediBed was all messed up underneath. There were loose wires, the maglev plates were dead, and a few busted components were keeping it from sitting John up all the way. He took out the small tool kit he always carried in his back pocket and went to work.

“Whatcha’ doin’ down there, sweets?” Sam whispered, not wanting to disturb John. “I hope it’s nothing illegal.” Samantha caught August’s look and winked.

“This old thing is all messed up,” he replied. “I’m gonna give it a tune -up so John can be more comfortable.”

John opened one eye and offered a half-hearted grin. “Thank you kindly, August,” he said. “I would love to sit up a bit instead of layin’ flat as a log.”

While August worked away, Samantha talked with John about his ex-wife Cheryl. He told her the story of how he had spent too many nights away from home, and that she had accused him of sleeping around.

“Never happened, though,” John admitted. “I only had eyes for that one lady my whole life. I was just out drinkin’ and shootin’ pool with my buddies. I should have been at home with her, makin’ sure she was happy. It was my fault, but I was never unfaithful, though. I was only unkind and inattentive. I paid for those mistakes by losin’ out on a large chunk of time with the love of my life.”

Samantha’s eyes ran over with tears at John’s admission. It was always hard to see what you had done wrong,, and then accept that you deserved the consequences. It was brave of him to be able to do so now, and he deserved to hear how Cheryl had felt about him.

“Cheryl used to talk about you all the time, John,” Samantha said, her voice full of sorrow. “She said the best thing she ever did was open the diner, but the biggest mistake she ever made was leaving you. She was too proud to admit it to you, I guess. I never asked why she left you because it was none of my business. If she had wanted to tell me, she would have. So I always assumed you had done something terrible. I never pushed her to look you up and talk it through. I…I…,” She paused, fighting back sobs., “I regret that now, John. I honestly do. But you need to know that once her Countdown began, she was never sad. She worked until the last day, and Cheryl had a smile on her face the whole time. The last thing she ever said to me was: