55. Jake
FIFTY-FIVE
JAKE
“Would ya look at that?” Mom shouts. “Look how gentle it is! And fast! And it’ll do the berries too?”
My picker is working its magic in my family’s orchard, picking apples and carefully arranging them in a bushel box.
“Yep. I tried to account for the top twenty most farmed fruits.”
Mom is tickled to death, and I feel a touch of pride that I made something that will help her. She puts her arm around me and squeezes my side. “You came up with all this on your own?”
“Yeah. I mean, I learned all the elements over the last few years.”
She shakes her head, incredulous. “I always knew you’d do something great.”
We talk about the process of patenting and pitching it to companies, which is a long and slow road. For now, I can take comfort knowing that I made something that will make a difference in Mom’s life. And if I can get it out to more people, it could change a lot of lives.
I take a video of the machine working and send it off to my professor.
“Here, let me take a picture of you with it,” she says, making me pose alongside the machine. We laugh as the robotic arm sweeps my hat off my head during her last snap. “So proud of you, Jake.”
I’m proud of myself too, but there’s still something important missing.
* * *
I can’t sleep. Or maybe I do sleep, but it’s hard to tell. I drift in and out of a dreamlike state. I’m haunted by big brown eyes and bountiful chestnut curls, throaty laughs and an ear pressed to my chest.
I’ve done what I needed to do for school.
Yes, I should probably make the most of my degree. Yes, the job market is small and highly competitive near Paint. Yes, I’d have much higher earning potential somewhere else.
But what good is money if I don’t have the most important person to share it with? Am I sure Darcy is the most important person in my life? No, not yet. But I think she could be, and I’ll hate myself forever if I don’t find out.
And one thought from Brianna rings in my head: “If everybody actually listened when she pushed them away, she’d never have nobody.” Then she doubted whether to use “nobody” or “anybody,” but that’s unimportant right now.
What is important is that I need to get Darcy back.
It’s 3 a.m. when I pack my bag and leave a note for Mom on the kitchen table.
* * *
Off to get the girl. I’ll bring her home to you soon.
Love you,
Jake