Chapter 35
Summer
Ceres offered to continue training me while Nick is away, so we go for a run at the school track with Holly after school. She’s been observing me, and I feel bad that I can’t tell her everything, but we all agreed it’s better this way.
“So how are you really doing, Summer?” she asks after we’ve stretched and start jogging.
“That’s a loaded question, Holls. I miss Nick. E and I are awkward as hell. Seb is sad, but Alex is happy.”
“Yeah, that was a shock about the engagement being over. They’ve been together for so long. I had no idea he wasn’t happy.”
“He definitely wasn’t happy.”
“So how long are you going to have a bodyguard?”
“No set time frame.”
“Look, you’re a good friend, and I respect your privacy, but I’m worried about you.
You’ve lost E, and now Nick is gone, and no one is saying where or why.
You still have a bodyguard because of a stalker nobody is saying anything about.
I thought maybe it had to do with Nick’s dad, but he’s gone and Ceres is still here. ”
“I’m sorry I can’t go into all the details with you, Holly. Some of it isn’t my story to tell, and other stuff is because the farther removed you are, the safer you are. I don’t want you getting caught up in anything like you did last year with Ben.”
“Fair enough. Just know I’m here if you want to talk about whatever.”
“You’ve the best Holls. Thank you.”
Ceres puts me through an intense workout at home with Seb’s help, and we're both wet pool noodles when we’re done. After showers, Zander arrives home with dinner.
On Friday after school, my phone rings in the middle of the basketball game. Checking it, I see it’s from Zander. I show it to Alex and nod towards the hallway. “Zander, hang on. I’m walking out into the hallway. I can’t hear anything.”
Once we’re outside, with Ceres nearby, I put the phone back to my ear. “Hi, what’s up?”
“Sorry darling. I know you’re at the game, but I just got the most incredible phone call and had to tell you right away.”
“Oh, what about?”
“When we met, I put feelers out to various medical groups about Jake, and I got a call from a research center in Charlotte a few minutes ago. They have a new experimental treatment they believe could work on Jake and want to include him in their trials.”
“Oh my goodness, Zander.” I lean up against the wall and look over at Alex. He looks curious, but says nothing. “Are you sure? How much do they know about his condition?”
“They know what you and I know. They've had success waking up patients like Jake, who have no known damage, but the RAS (reticular activating system) isn’t functioning. If we’re interested, they want to transfer him next week. Can you contact his dad?”
A whoop leaves me. Help for Jake! I can’t believe it!
“Zander, this is amazing. You are the best. I’ll call him right now,” I reply, hanging up and finding Ray’s number in my contacts.
I call and leave a message since he didn’t answer.
“Alex, Zander found a new experimental treatment for Jake that works in Charlotte. They want to move him next week,” I say excitedly.
Alex breaks out in a huge grin. “That is wonderful, Summer. I am so happy for you.”
Taking his hand, I pull him back into the gym and share the news with Bay, who is elated, too.
I wish I could tell Nick about it, which deflates me a little, but I try not to dwell on that.
My Jake may wake up! Geez, I need to be realistic, though.
There’s no guarantee this will work, and I don’t actually know anything about the treatment yet, but it’s a chance.
A chance that didn’t exist before. I’m feeling a little giddy.
Anxiously waiting for halftime so I can call Mal, I watch Seb and E on the court. It’s hard to concentrate on the game because we're winning by 20 points. Finally, the buzzer sounds, and I motion for Alex and Ceres to walk with me again.
Since the day is warm, I head outside the building.
Mal answers right away with concern as to why I’m calling again.
I explain about the research center in Charlotte, and she’s as overjoyed as I am for Jake.
I promise to call as soon as I hear more.
Next, I call Sue and let her know. I am practically bouncing after my calls, turning to see Alex smiling at me. “What?”
“I do not know if I have ever seen you this happy.”
“Oh. Well, it’s been rough lately.” The loss of Nick haunts me daily.
Nodding, he suggests we go back inside before the second half starts. I follow him back to our seats just as the buzzer sounds. Seb catches my eye and raises an eyebrow at me, but I smile back to let him know everything's okay.
When the game's over, we say goodbye to Penny as we wait for Seb and E.
As soon as I see them coming our way, I practically skip down the stands.
“Guys, Zander got Jake into an experimental trial in Charlotte. They believe they can wake him, and want him moved there next week,” I say, beaming from ear to ear.
Seb grabs me in a bouncing hug. “Amazing news, Sunshine. When do we leave?”
A joyous laugh bursts from me. “I don’t know. I left a message for Jake’s dad. He has to approve it, but I can’t imagine he’d say no.”
“I’m happy for you and Jake Summer,” E says.
“Thanks, E.” I give him a small smile.
Zander texts me the name of the facility when I ask, so I research it online after Ceres drops me home.
When Ray calls later in the evening, I explain about the research trial, and he promises to call them tomorrow morning.
I don’t think he believes it’s possible to wake Jake, and is humoring me, but as long as he talks to them, I don’t care.
I’m anxious the next morning, waiting to hear from Ray.
I’ve cleaned the house, harvested from the garden, and baked cookies.
All the guys are busy today, and Zander is cutting the grass.
I tried working on the herbal course and doing homework, but I can’t concentrate.
Finally, when I think I’m going to burst out of my skin, the phone rings. “Hello?”
“Hi Summer. It’s Ray. How are you?”
“Good. Did you talk to them?” I ask anxiously, pacing in front of the kitchen island.
Ray chuckles at me. “Yes, I did. I forwarded all of Jake’s medical records to the research lead first thing this morning. I just got off the phone with her a few minutes ago. After reviewing Jake’s files, she thinks Jake is an excellent candidate for their trial.”
“Oh my gosh, Ray. This is so amazing! When is Jake being moved? How long before they wake him? I need to book my flight.”
Ray is laughing now. “Calm down. He’ll need special transport from Charlotte to Virginia, and I don’t know how long that will take to arrange.
Then, they need to run their own tests on Jake before the trial.
I was given the name of a medical transport company, so I’ll call them Monday.
But Summer, this will be a long journey even if it works, you understand that, correct? ”
“Of course I do. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, Ray, if we get Jake back. Whatever you need, you let me know, okay? Zander has a small plane here if we need it, and he’s a pilot.”
“I will, Summer, and thank you, sincerely. I had given up hope of ever talking to my son again. I check every so often for new treatments, but I never would have heard of this research if it weren’t for you and Zander because it's privately funded. You’ll hear from me on Monday with an update, okay? ”
“Okay Ray. I have a good feeling about this,” I reply before hanging up.
Outside, I find Zander in the front yard on the ride-on mower.
Waving my arms to catch his attention, he stops the blades when I jog over.
“Ray finally called. The head researcher went over Jake’s medical records and they think he’s a perfect candidate.
They want him flown there right away,” I tell him, hugging him as best I can while he’s sitting on the ride-on. “Thank you so much, Zander.”
He gives me a big smile. “You’re welcome, darling.”
“Do you know anything about medical transport?”
“Yes, I've flown medical transport before, but my plane isn’t equipped for it. I think we could retrofit something if we needed to, though.”
“Good. Ray is calling a medical transport company Monday morning that the researcher gave him, and he’ll call me with an update.”
“Alright. If he has trouble, we can figure out a solution then.”
Nodding, I step back. “I’m going to call the guys and let them know,” I smile, jogging back to the house. Texting everyone the news. I get responses right away from Alex, Bay, and E. Seb is visiting his mom right now, so I imagine I’ll get a call from him when he’s done.
I wish I could tell Nick about Jake. The gaping wound in my chest hasn’t closed; ragged edges pulse faintly whenever I think of him.
Grabbing my laptop and books, I go into his room to do some homework.
His scent has faded, but I swear I can still catch a ghost of it sometimes.
Being in here makes me feel closer to him.
Seb calls about an hour later. He’s over the moon about Jake and volunteers to come with me whenever I need to travel. His mom is doing well in Columbia, but seems to be skittish despite being clean. Seb says it’s like she’s trying to avoid getting close to him, and I know that makes him sad.
On Monday at school, I’m walking on air waiting for Ray to call. Even the awkwardness at lunch between us and E can’t bring me down. The guys are all smiling at my hyper-ness, but I just can’t contain myself. As I’m about to eat lunch, my phone finally rings. “Hi Ray.”
“Hello Summer. I didn’t have any luck with the transport company this morning. They mainly do emergency transport, and since Jake is a few hours from an airport, they couldn’t guarantee availability once he got there. They don’t schedule flights like a normal airline.”
“Oh, bummer.”
I can hear the smile in Ray’s voice when he replies. “Yes, a bummer. I’ll spend time this afternoon between meetings and see what other options are out there. We’ll find a way.”
“Okay, I can do the same from here.”
“Because of his coma, I learned he will need to be accompanied by a nurse and will need to be monitored just like he is now, so be aware of that.”
“Good to know. Call when you have another update, please.”
“I will Summer. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
“You too, Ray,” I reply, hanging up. Well, that sucks, but it’s just a bump in the road. Rarely are good things smooth sailing. “So, that company was a bust. We need to find a different medical transport company to get Jake here.”
“I may be able to help Summer. Let me check with my father,” Alex offers.
“Thanks, Alex,” I smile. “We need a nurse, monitoring equipment, and a plane to accommodate them.”
Nodding, Alex pulls out his phone and starts typing.
“The rest of us will do some research too, Sunshine,” Seb offers.
“I can ask my mom about a nurse,” Holly says.
“Thank you, guys. You’re the best,” I smile. We go back to eating lunch until the bell rings.