Chapter 22 #2
She shook her head, then adjusted herself on the bed. “Start from the beginning.” She leaned back on her pillow, a serene look coming over her face.
I opened the book to the first page, cleared my throat and read the first line.
It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of unrequited love.
A happy sigh escaped Mary’s lips as I began to read to her.
I stayed long enough to finish the first few chapters, and for one hour we were the old Jude and Mary.
Too engrossed in a good story and beautiful writing to let the outside world concern us.
Mary had fallen asleep while I read, so I was sitting, watching her rest when Jesse came in.
He touched my shoulder and gestured for me join him outside.
With one last look at my sister, I walked out of the room, leaving her to her nap.
When I came out to the hall, Jesse surprised me by giving me a hug. “It’s good to see you, Jude. Thanks for coming, how did it go?”
Jesse looked older, too, still tall and strong, but his face was gaunt from exhaustion.
“It’s good to see you, too. Where did all your hair go?” I teased, immediately going back to the easiness I’d always felt around Jesse.
He smiled, running his hand over his bare head. “It started thinning so I shaved it all off, it’s easier. Mary says it’s because I’m too vain to walk around with a bald spot.” He grinned for a moment and then a dark cloud passed over his face.
I squeezed his shoulder again. “Thanks for letting me come. We had a good visit.” I shrugged, thinking of our conversation before she got the book. “Mary said her piece as she usually does, but then she saved us both by pulling a book from under her pillow.”
He laughed. “She has to have her say, doesn’t she?
I’m glad she remembered the book. She asked for it special, so you could read it to her.
” His expression changed again; this time regret filled his eyes.
“There isn’t a week that goes by without her mentioning how much she misses talking books with you.
She says you’re the only one who could keep up with her in the reading department. ”
I smiled sadly at his words. “I miss talking books with her, too.” I looked at Jesse and saw how tired he was and wondered how much help he was getting from my family. Mary had always been the one to rally the troops. Would they step up for her now?
“Jesse, would it be okay for me to come back and visit? I’m not sure how long you’ll be here, but I’d like to come again before you guys head home. I’m not sure I’ll be able to go see her there.”
He shook his head, and my heart sank. “We’re not going back home, Jude.
The doctor just told us this morning, there’s not much more they can do other than manage the pain.
She’s being transferred to Syracuse at the end of the week, and from there a hospice when she gets closer.
” He ran his hand over his mouth like he was trying to hold back a sob.
“It’s summer, so the kids are still out of school.
My folks are in Syracuse. They’ll watch them for us. ”
“I’m so sorry, Jesse,” I choked out, my eyes brimming with tears.
He covered his face with his hands, his voice muffled when he spoke again. “You’re welcome to come and see her once we’re settled there.”
I nodded. “Syracuse is only an hour away from Ithaca. I can come anytime. Just let me know when it’s convenient for me to stop by. And if there’s anything you need, please let me know.”
“Thank you, for everything. It had to be hard to come here, but I knew she’d be happy to see you.”
We shook hands again before he went back into the room, and I headed down the hall to the elevator. I texted Nesto to let him know I was coming down; grateful the visit had gone better than I expected.
As I stepped out of the elevator I looked up and came face to face with my older brother Amos, who did not seem happy at all to see me there.
Nesto
I was walking up to the elevator to meet Jude when I saw some guy getting in his face. He was taller and with dark hair, but they were definitely related.
I debated for a second whether I should intervene, since I knew Jude didn’t want to make waves during this visit. But when I saw him grab Jude’s arm like he was going to walk him out of the fucking hospital, I got my ass moving. This asshole was not going to manhandle Jude.
I stepped up to them, so I was inches away from the guy’s face and growled, “Get your hands off him, my man,” in a tone which evoked a very clear “Don’t test me, motherfucker.”
The guy turned to look at me and startled. I wasn’t even trying to control my face at the moment either and thankfully he noticed I wasn’t above throwing hands in this hospital lobby.
He let go of Jude and sneered at me. “Who are you?” Then he turned around and looked at Jude like he was repulsed by him. “You know what? Never mind, I don’t need to know.”
Jude’s face was completely devoid of emotion when he looked at the guy.
“Amos, this is Ernesto. Ernesto this is my oldest brother, Amos.”
His brother.
This fucker knew Jude had just come from seeing his sister who was dying of cancer, and he couldn’t take a break from being a douchebag and let him leave in peace. No wonder he’d been a mess about seeing these people again.
Amos stepped up to me like he was going to do something.
“I’ll fight you right here, my dude.” I was pissed and knew my body language was giving off a pretty menacing vibe.
After a moment he scoffed like an asshole and just walked into the elevator.