Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Jack
I looked at my watch. It was almost twelve-thirty. Shit. I grabbed my briefcase and just caught the elevator going down before the doors closed. Running through the lobby and out the building doors, I slid into the back of the limo and told Tony to step on it. There was no way I could be late for Hope’s spelling bee competition. I arrived at approximately twelve fifty-five, and only seats were left in the back row. I scanned the people sitting in their seats, looking for someone who might be nice enough to give up theirs and move to the back. Walking down the aisle, my eyes diverted to the second row where a young man was sitting.
“Excuse me, sir.”
“Yes.” He looked up at me through his brown-rimmed glasses.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill.
“If you let me have your seat, this is yours.” I flashed the bill at him. “There are plenty of seats in the back.”
“It’s all yours.” He grinned as he got up from his chair, and I handed him the money.
“Thank you.” I nodded and took my seat just as the ten students walked out on stage.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and set it to video so I could record this for Lorelei. Hope saw me sitting in the second row and smiled as she excitedly waved to me.
One child down.
Two children down.
Three children down.
Four children down.
Five children down.
Six children down.
Seven children down.
This was utterly nerve-wracking. Hope was one of the last three students standing.
Eight children down.
It was Hope’s turn, and the word she was given was one she had struggled with last night. I clenched my fist and brought it up to my lips. She looked frightened and unsure, and I was terrified she’d get it wrong. I was holding my breath and my phone up. She spelled the word correctly, and I let out a sigh of relief. This round lasted for another fifteen minutes until the other kid messed up on a word, and Hope spelled it correctly. There was silence in the room until I stood up and yelled, “YES!” Everyone clapped as they announced Hope as the winner and placed a gold medal around her neck. I didn’t think I’d ever been prouder of anyone in my life as I was of Hope.
“You did it!” I bent down and held out my arms.
“I know! I can’t believe I won.” She wrapped her tiny arms around my neck.
“Your mom is going to be so proud of you.” I kissed her head.
“Mr. Sutton?”
“Yes, Hope.”
“Can we go see her now?”
“We sure can, but one thing first. Please call me Jack. No more Mr. Sutton.”
“Okay, Jack.” She smiled.
Later that night, after I tucked Hope into bed, I took Charlotte’s Web from the nightstand and opened to the page where I had left off. I had reached the part where Charlotte was dying, and I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t get choked up. Looking over at Hope, I saw that tears were streaming down her face as I read.
“Why did she have to die?” She sniffled.
I didn’t know what to say to her, but I was just as broken up as she was.
“Let’s continue the book and see how it ends,” I spoke as I wiped the tears from her face.
“So, Wilbur took care of Charlotte’s children and became friends with them. Kind of like you, Jack.”
I closed the book and looked at her. “Yeah, I guess so.” I smiled.
I turned off the light and headed to my bedroom. Climbing into bed, I took my phone and dialed Lorelei.
“Hello,” she answered in a low voice.
“Hey. How are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling a little better. The doctor was in here earlier and said I can go home in a couple of days.”
“That’s great news. I’m sure you’re anxious to get out of there.”
“I am. I want to go home. I miss my bed and my daughter.”
“I know you do. Hey, listen. I was thinking that I would stick around for a while tomorrow after I drop Hope off at school.”
“You don’t have to, Jack. I know you’re a busy man.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to. And as for the office, the work can wait. I’ll let you go so you can get your rest. You sound tired.”
“Good night, Jack.”
“Good night, Lorelei.”
I set my phone down and sighed. I missed her and I couldn’t wait to spend time with her tomorrow, even if it was in a hospital.