Chapter 5
Our flight to Virginia for the two-year anniversary of the accident is early Saturday morning.
Since Finn employees are working at an event today, Dad and I are leaving my Jeep parked at the airport.
The flight north is rough; we hit several intense pockets of turbulence, each jolt rattling the cabin, but we land safely, although my nerves are a bit frayed.
The bitter winter air takes my breath away when we step outside the airport. “Damn,” Dad exclaims, tucking his chin into the collar of his jacket, as we shuffle as quickly as we can across the snow and ice to the rental SUV.
It’s too early to check into the hotel, so we drive straight to Sue’s house. The heaviness I associate with this town settles over me like a weighted blanket of stress, but the blanket feels thinner than before. It seems the more I heal and move forward, the less this place negatively affects me.
Sue is waiting for us by the kitchen door when we arrive, and I get a big hug and smile before I even remove my winter gear.
Gosh, I missed her, and the smell of this house.
It always smells of baking and renovations.
Zander gives Sue a hug before we take seats at the table.
“How is life treating you, Miss Sue?” Zander asks.
“Just fine, Zander. I had a lovely holiday, painted the living room, and have my new mantle ready to install.”
“Can I help with that?” He offers.
“No no. I have a carpenter scheduled to refinish the fireplace next week. This weekend is about Summer.” Sue makes us lunch with pie for dessert, a new recipe she’s trying, before Zander drives us to the florist. I pick up the usual lilies and sweet peas and Jake’s flowers.
He purchased a beautiful, gigantic bouquet of bright mixed flowers, which will provide a wonderful contrast to this grey, cloudy day.
It’s a short drive to the cemetery from there.
A frigid winter wind howls through the stones and bare trees, instantly making me feel like a popsicle.
The wind whips through my coat, sending shivers down my spine, and my exposed skin stings from the razor-sharp bite.
Zander and I packed accordingly, but I know he'll feel frozen to his bones, too. I have to admit, the short time I’ve spent in the Charleston area makes it feel extra cold up here, despite the temperature being average for January.
It’s strange; I’ve lost my resilience to Virginia winters, yet the Charleston humidity and heat still make me feel like I’m in a sauna.
Zander and Sue give me a few minutes to talk to them alone.
“Hi Mom. Hi Lily bee,” I greet, placing flowers on each side of their grave with Jake’s bouquet in the middle.
“It’s been two years today since the accident.
It feels like forever ago,” I sigh, “but I have some amazing news. Jake's awake. Dad got him into a research trial, and it worked. He’s got a long road of physiotherapy ahead of him, but he and Ray moved to a condo less than 15 minutes from me. It’s a miracle.
” My vision becomes blurry, the warm tears feeling extra hot in contrast to the cold of my cheeks.
“The only side effect of the coma so far is that he has trouble remembering new people. I hope you both are happy wherever you are, and I know Jake’s improvement would thrill you both.
He bought you a lovely bouquet, too. Oh, and we had matching pjs for Christmas.
I’ll keep that tradition alive for all of us from now on. Love you both so much.”
I wave Sue and Zander over, and we spread a waterproof blanket on the ground to visit. We don’t stay long with the temperatures, but it’s nice to be here.
We stop to see Mal after the cemetery. I get a big hug in greeting, and so does Zander. “I’m so happy to see you both,” she says. “Now tell me you have pictures of Jake for me?”
I show her the photos I have on my phone of him, and she’s so pleased. “My word. He has beautiful blue eyes, and he looks so happy with you, Summer.”
“He’s getting there, Mal. Making steady progress.”
“Keep me updated, Sugar. I have some news, too. We have a new patient in Jake’s old room.” Mal watches me intently, her shoulders tight with tension, and her gaze unwavering as she waits for my reaction.
That’s a shock, but it probably shouldn’t be because Jake’s been away from here for months.
An odd, prickly sensation, like static electricity, rolls through my body.
That room will always be special to me, a place where the bittersweet memories of pain and comfort, hopelessness and courage are deeply intertwined.
I take a deep breath, trying to pinpoint the source of the strange tingling.
It's release. Another page has turned; another chapter in my journey has officially ended. “He’s lucky to be under your care, Mal,” I smile. “So, how's life been treating you?”
We gossip for about half an hour before she has to go tend to a patient, so we hug goodbye before dropping Sue at home and checking into the hotel.
Sue has book club this evening, so we're on our own for dinner, but we’ll have breakfast with her at the diner in the morning, then visit the grave once more before we fly back home.
We eat at a chain restaurant nearby with a view of the ice rink Zander attempted to skate on the first weekend we met.
After a decent meal and some laughs, we return to our room where I shower and call Jake.
He doesn’t answer, but I get a text from Ray that he’s napping, so I send him a text to read later before calling Seb.
Jake calls just before bed and tells me his mom’s flight is delayed by bad weather, and she’ll arrive tomorrow. Guess I’ll see her after all. Yay…
Sue's in good spirits at breakfast the next morning. The conversation is easy, and we soon hug goodbye before Zander drives us back for another visit with Mom and Lily bee. The weather is calm today, so we stay for half an hour, then Dad drives us to the airport to fly back home.