Chapter 37 #2
Several hours later, we touch down in Virginia at a regional airport.
We eat lunch with Caroline in the main area of the plane before getting out.
A medical van pulls up about 10 minutes later.
The driver shakes hands with Zander and passes over the keys.
It looks sort of like an ambulance in the back.
There’s a portable bed and lots of medical supplies on one side and a bench on the other with instruments and monitors.
Caroline offers to ride in the back with her bags to get set up for Jake, so I hop in the passenger seat.
It’s less than an hour from here to town.
It’s crazy to me that I’m here to pick up Jake. Old aches of the heart threaten to surface, yet the vibrant hope of Jake’s recovery drowns them out. Perhaps one day soon, with Jake’s help, the sunlit memories will be easier to recall and will push back the shadows of recent years.
Both Sue and Mal are waiting for us when we get to the long-term care facility. “Hello sweetheart,” Sue smiles, wrapping me up in a hug. “Such an exciting reason to visit again.”
“I know. Thanks for coming, Sue,” I reply. Stepping back, I look at Mal and open my arms. She smiles and envelopes me in a tight hug next.
After Zander gets hugs, we introduce Caroline, and Mal walks us to Jake’s room.
“Now, Sugar, I packed a bag with his things for you to take with you, including your phone and extension arm. I gave him a nice bath and shave this morning, and he had a haircut last Friday,” she says as we enter the room.
I give Jake a kiss on the cheek before grabbing his bag and stepping out of the way beside Sue.
Mal tells Jake what she and Carolyn are doing to get him ready.
First, they switch his monitor and IV, and then Caroline gently puts a neck brace on him.
They move Jake to his portable bed with Zander’s help and get his monitors hooked up as Sue and I watch.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” I whisper to Sue.
“Me either, sweetheart. I have a good feeling, though. You both deserve this,” she says, giving me a side hug.
Before covering him in a thick blanket, Mal securely straps Jake down.
Mal and Caroline fill out paperwork on a side table as Zander joins us.
Ray had to sign a bunch of forms to approve the transfer and transport before today.
We watch quietly as they work. Once Caroline rechecks Jake, she shakes hands with Mal. “Ready to go,” she smiles.
Mal and her steer Jake down the hallway and out the front doors, and Zander opens the back of the van and helps Jake inside with Carolyn.
Once the doors are closed, Zander hugs Sue and Mal.
“I’ll be in the van, darling. Say your goodbyes and then join us.
We have a few minutes before we need to leave. ”
Thanking him, I follow Sue and Mal back inside. The weight of a permanent goodbye settles upon me; Jake is coming with me, and despite my plans to visit, there’s a feeling of irrevocable loss.
The salty sting of tears mixes with the softness of Sue’s hug as I sob silently. “It’s not a final goodbye, sweetheart. Things are just changing,” she says.
Nodding, I look over to see Mal crying, too. “I never thought I’d see one of my patients have the chance to wake up. It’s a miracle.”
I go over and hug her as we cry together. “Thank you for being the best nurse in the world, Mal. And my friend.”
“Oh, Sugar,” she says, giving me a watery smile. “I’m so proud of you. Now Jake’s room will be here waiting for him in case he needs it, but I hope he doesn’t. Next time you visit, I want to see both of you walking through that door together.”
“Deal,” I smile, wiping my cheeks. Taking a deep breath, I look at the two women who supported me when I needed a lifeline one last time before waving goodbye and going outside.
Once I hop into the passenger seat, Zander squeezes my hand. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah,” I say, turning to look at Jake through the small rear window. “Let’s go.” Time to get my best friend back.
I text Ray and the guys that we have Jake and are heading to the airport. My eyes keep drifting back towards him as Zander drives. Caroline catches me and smiles. “He’s doing great, Summer. Don’t worry.”
Nodding, I turn back around. My nerves are jittery, a constant buzz beneath my skin, since we took Jake. I hope the travel doesn’t bother him. What if he gets cold? Or uncomfortable? I realize I’ve never worried about any of this while he was with Mal.
Once we're back at the airport, Zander parks close to the plane. “I’ll ask for the lift to be brought over, then open the stairs, darling.”
I wait impatiently in my seat until I see Zander moving back towards the plane. I grab Jake’s bag and get out to open the back doors. “How is he?” I ask Caroline.
“He’s just fine, Summer. All his vitals are steady.”
Zander opens the stairs on the plane and then jogs over to help get the bed out of the van.
Once Carolyn has everything and Jake is out, Zander locks it up as we wheel Jake closer.
Zander's telling Jake what’s happening just like Mal does, and it makes me love him even more.
I hear a noise and look up to see someone coming towards us driving a lift contraption.
“Darling, can you go up with Caroline’s bags and wait for us at the top? ”
“Sure,” I reply as Caroline hands me her two bags.
I take them along with Jake’s bag up the stairs and set them on the couch before returning to the stairwell.
The lift has arrived, and Zander and Caroline maneuver Jake onto the platform.
Caroline locks the wheels as Zander flips a bar across the opening.
The operator slowly lifts them up and over the stairs until they are level with me. That pretty slick.
I step back to the cockpit door as they roll Jake into the plane.
Now I know why there’s no hallway or kitchen here.
There’s enough room to easily get a bed on and off the plane.
Zander waves to the lift operator before closing and locking the stairs.
I help Caroline wheel Jake to the bedroom, explaining each step.
His bed slides right into the anchors on the floor as Caroline bends down to secure the wheels.
She excuses herself to the washroom as I take Jake’s hand in mine.
“You’re in the bedroom and secured now, Jake.
Three and a half hours until we get to Charlotte, then it’s only a brief ride to the research center.
Your dad should be waiting for us there. ”
Caroline comes back and starts securing the IV and monitors to the walls as I continue to hold his hand. “You two seem close,” she says to me.
“Yeah, we’ve been best friends since we were five.”
“That’s a long friendship. He’s lucky to have you,” she smiles. “I’ll be staying back here with him, if you want to be up front with your dad again. There’s a fold-out chair in the corner,” she points. “I’ll sit there for takeoff and landing. He won’t be alone.”
“Thanks. I’ll probably come back after we take off.”
Zander pokes his head in, letting us know he’s ready to go, so I kiss Jake’s cheek as Caroline folds her little seat out. I follow him into the cockpit again, getting comfortable. “How are you, darling?” He asks as he starts the plane.
“Nervous, happy, stressed,” I shrug.
“We’ll be there soon enough,” he replies, patting my knee.
It takes only a few minutes before we’re cleared for takeoff. Zander gets that same look on his face as he lifts us in the air, and I can’t help but smile at him.
Once we’re at altitude, Zander relaxes back into his seat. “Okay, you can move around now. Go get something to drink and check on Jake.”
“Thanks,” I smile. “Do you want anything?”
“Just some water, darling.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.” Hanging up my headphones, I leave the cockpit.
I ask Caroline if she wants anything, and she requests a soda.
Once I give that to her and bring water up to Zander, I take a seat on the twin bed to be close to Jake.
I text everyone we’re on our way before cracking open my own water.
Since Caroline only has the tiny chair to sit on, I offer her a seat beside me, and she happily accepts, and we exchange small talk to pass the time.
She’s vigilant in monitoring Jake, but there’s been no concerns.
Seb calls after about an hour, so I excuse myself to one of the big chairs to talk to him. “Sunshine. How’s it going?”
“No issues, Hurry. I’ll be nervous until he’s settled in Charlotte, though. The nurse is nice, and the plane is super fancy.”
“I’m glad it’s going well. I missed you at school today. It’s weird with both you and Nick gone.”
“I can imagine, Hurry. Only one more school day, and then you’ll be coming to Charlotte. I miss you too. What are you up to tonight?”
“Homework mostly. Bay and Alex are diving. I don’t know what E is up to. Gabby’s here, though.”
Seb sounds sad to my ears, and I wish I could be in two places at once. “Why don’t you and Gabby catch a movie tonight? There’s a new comedy out today. You can help me with all the homework this weekend.”
“Not a bad idea, Sunshine,” he says and yells to Gabby, asking if she wants to go to the movies. I hear a yes shouted back. “Yay. She’s gonna go. I’m putting you on speaker while I check movie times, Sunshine. So how much longer do you have to fly?”
“About two hours. We’re gonna eat dinner on the plane, and the research center is sending a medical van to meet us at the airport. I’ll call or text you after we get to the hotel, but I have no idea what time that will be, though.”
“Don’t care what time it is, Sunshine. Oh, the movie's in an hour. I better eat something. Call me later.”