As She Fades(3)

Before the accident, I babysat them every Tuesday and Thursday night while Catherine, my sister-in-law, worked late shifts at the nursing home. My mom kept them now. I wouldn’t leave the hospital each day until I had to. When Crawford’s mother came back at seven every evening, I told him good night, kissed his cheek, then cried the whole way home. When I woke up at seven every morning, I got dressed, packed my bag with books and snacks, and headed to the hospital. It was my routine. It was all I had left.

My brothers were getting together tonight after family dinner to play basketball at the house. Jonah was in the military and currently on assignment. So I was the even number four. They didn’t really need me. My dad would be there to fill in. But each of them acted like they couldn’t play without me.

I was the baby of the five and the only girl. That being said, I was also overprotected and worried about too much. They all thought it was their job to make sure I was okay. Because I loved them each for it, and because Jonah texted me even while he was off serving our country, I replied to all of them that I’d be at the basketball game if they’d wait until seven thirty. It wasn’t what I wanted to do when I got home. But it was what they needed me to do.

So I’d do it.





CHAPTER TWO

KNOX ARRIVED, FINALLY. He held a blue polka-dot lunchbox that I knew would be filled with a hot meal. This was how my mother kept her sanity with my staying up here all day—she kept me fed.

“Here you go, Princess.” Knox handed over the lunchbox and sank down into the chair next to me. “How’s it going?”

He usually stayed and talked to me while I ate. It was something I looked forward to. Knox was only two years older than me and we were the closest out of the five of us.

He had my dark hair and blue eyes. Everyone said we could have been twins.

“Same. Just waiting,” I replied. “How’s the home front?”

He sighed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Dad’s fighting with the plumber over the price of the new tub Momma wants, Momma is making your favorite cake in hopes she can lure you home for dinner, and Maddy refuses to use the big-girl potty because Aunt Vale isn’t there to sing the potty song to her.”

He wasn’t trying to make me feel guilty. That wasn’t Knox’s style. He was just being honest.

“Can’t Mom sing the song to her? She’s the one who taught it to me.” I pulled out a container of broccoli casserole. It was still nice and warm.

He shrugged. “She tried. Maddy said it wasn’t like yours.”

I had to find time to see my nieces. “I wish Mom would bring them here to see me.”

Knox turned his head to look at me. “Why? You’re not in a hospital bed. You can walk out anytime you want and do other things. Crawford would want you to.”

Again, he wasn’t being cruel. But Knox’s honesty was sometimes brutal.

“When he opens his eyes I want to be here,” I said for the hundredth time. It was something they all knew, but I kept having to repeat it.

“He could wake up in the middle of the night. You’re not here then.”

I knew that. I hated it. But I wasn’t allowed to sleep in the waiting room. When visiting hours were over I had to leave. Hospital rules. I’d tried it already. They’d kicked me out.

“Just let me do this my way,” I said, then took a bite of my lunch. I was hungry. My breakfast of dry cereal and goldfish crackers was long gone and I needed something other than stale coffee.

“Knox McKinley,” a now-familiar male voice said, and I almost choked on my casserole, which made me want to cuss. Did that asshole have to know my brother?

“Slate,” Knox replied with a smile in his voice that was real. He liked this guy. Go figure. “What are you doing here?”

“I was about to ask you the same. I see you made more headway with that one than I did. She would rather stare at the wall than speak to me.”

I felt Knox turn to look at me, but I ignored them both and took a bite of my food. This was not how I’d hoped to enjoy my meal.

“Yeah, well, I bring her food and share the same parents, so she has to speak to me,” Knox replied.

“She’s your sister. That helps my ego somewhat.”

I pulled out the yeast roll I knew my momma had made fresh and took a large bite. One too big to be expected to speak. I heard Knox muffle a laugh. Maybe he’d get the hint and send Mr. Annoying on his way.

“I thought you lived in Huntsville with your uncle? What brings you this far out?”

Knox was changing the subject. I owed him one for that.

“Uncle D has stage four cancer. It’s in his liver. This is the closest hospital equipped to handle that.”

Oh. The uncle he lived with was dying. Now I felt a little bad. Okay, maybe a lot bad.

“I’m sorry—I hadn’t heard anything about it before summer break.” Knox was sincere. He had a big heart.

“He didn’t tell me about it until I got home. Then he had his first surgery two weeks ago. Once he’s recovered he’ll start chemo. All they’re promising is that it’ll prolong his life. Not save it.”

“Damn,” Knox whispered, and shook his head. “Well, if there’s anything I can do, let me know. I bring my sister lunch daily. I can do the same for you if you need it.” Knox again meant every word. He’d have our momma making this guy meals starting tomorrow.