As She Fades(55)

“Knox isn’t here.” I stated the obvious.

“Yeah, I know. I talked to him. I actually stopped by to see you. I would have called, but I don’t have your number and I didn’t want to ask Knox because he’d assume…” She trailed off and blushed. The pink on her cheeks was damn adorable.

“I don’t mind you stopping by whenever you want,” I told her honestly.

“Thanks. I just … I know we talked about me going with you to see your uncle this weekend and I really want to, but I wasn’t sure when you were going. See, I got a job at Early Perk and I work five to twelve every weekend morning. I’d ask off, but I just got the job and this will be my first weekend. I’m afraid I might lose my job if I do.”

I hated that she was so nervous with me. Her cheeks were still pink, and she could barely look me in the eyes. I wanted her comfortable with me. Simply so I could listen to her talk and look at those amazing eyes of hers.

“Yeah, no, you don’t need to ask off and lose that. It’s a great place. I’m glad you found a job so fast. Uncle D is actually back at the hospital in Franklin. We could leave around one on Saturday and stay the afternoon with him. Maybe eat dinner with him, then head back here around eight.”

She was frowning. That concerned look she got. “What happened? Did hospice send him back?”

“He fell with a hospice worker there. Apparently he got up in the middle of the night because he’s stubborn. Hit his head and they had to send him back due to blood loss.”

Her frown deepened. “Oh no. That’s terrible. Bless his heart. This has got to be so hard on you, being here. Yes, if you don’t mind waiting on me, I would love to go Saturday. But if you want to go on early, I can drive up after work. I know my way to Franklin.”

I was selfish. I wanted to see Uncle D, but I wanted her with me. “I’ll wait on you. Be better driving back late. Your brother would feel better about me driving.”

She nodded. “Yes, I’m sure he would. But if you need to get there, I am perfectly capable of driving at night. He likes to pretend I’m still eight years old with pigtails, but I’m not.”

No, she definitely was not.

“I’ll wait on you,” I repeated.

She sighed and nodded. “Okay. I’ll bring coffee and muffins. Mom will have us an apple pie ready.”

I wish my uncle could actually eat an apple pie. He was on an IV and refusing to eat. When he tried, he threw it up.

“Thanks. But he’s not keeping food down. Doubt he’ll be able to enjoy that pie.”

Her eyes looked so full of sadness and sorrow I wanted to hug her. Not to make her feel better, but because she could feel that for an old man she hardly knew. Uncle D didn’t have many people in his life. We’d worked on the farm and he hadn’t been a social man. Having someone care about him like that other than me meant so damn much.

“Then I’ll be sure to have some entertaining stories to tell him. He likes my stories,” she said with a nod. Like that was her mission now. If she only knew how just showing up would be enough for him and for me.

“I’m sure he’ll love that.”

She smiled. A sad one. Then turned to leave. I was watching her go, unsure what to say and wondering about Crawford. Where was he? Did he not care about her going with me to Franklin?





CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

VALE

WHEN I GOT back to my room, Jude was sitting on the bed with a book in her hands, and the smell of daisies hit me. I glanced over to see a huge bouquet by my bed. Crawford.

“Your boyfriend stopped by,” she said, smiling. “He’s really nice.”

Yes, he was. Always nice. The perfect guy.

I hadn’t turned my phone on all morning, so I wasn’t sure if he had texted or called. I knew he had practice again today. That and his classes. I didn’t see a reason to bother him. But seeing the flowers made me feel guilty.

He was busy here and I had let him be. I didn’t go out of my way to see him. During classes yesterday, I had seen a glimpse of him surrounded by girls. He seemed to be enjoying himself. And the odd thing was, I didn’t care.

That bothered me the most.

I took the card from the flowers and opened it up.

This week has been too busy and I miss you. Sunday afternoon is ours. I have somewhere I want to take you. Love, Crawford

I didn’t read it again. Instead, I sat the card down on the table and looked straight ahead out the window. I’d never felt so lost.

*

SATURDAY MORNING I arrived thirty minutes early to help Isla get the place open. I had worked with Connie and Blake on Thursday morning. Isla worked on Wednesday mornings and weekends.

Isla was a lot more pleasant than Connie. I was almost convinced that Connie hated the job. Blake was a lot more chipper, and I enjoyed chatting with him during down times. Connie texted a lot and mumbled curse words. Not real pleasant.

Blake was a senior at Bington and was majoring in mass communications. I had been considering that and was curious if he was happy with that decision now that he was almost done.

I did pick up on the fact Blake wasn’t a fan of the Greek, so I didn’t mention my brother being in Kappa Sigma. I myself wasn’t going to join a sorority simply because I liked to keep to myself. I wasn’t a very social person.