Chapter 44
FORTY-FOUR
RILEY
Addie and James did their job well, and almost the entire town is here to support the cause. I'm not surprised by the turnout. Everyone knows what Mr. Thompson is going through. He's helped so many people throughout the years. Even without anyone asking, he was always there to lend a hand.
He assisted my dad when he was trying to open his business. The Surf Shack was already open by the time Dad wanted his own orthodontic practice, and Dad had no idea where to start, but Mr. Thompson was there. The entire Thompson clan gets free cleaning for the rest of their lives.
The road in front of the bakery is closed, and people stroll up and down, enjoying the balmy weather. Surrounding shops closed their stores for the day so the focus can stay on the fundraiser.
Restaurants offered their services to feed the hungry people of Dove Point. Tents line the sidewalk with different cuisines to choose from. Three cotton candy machines are stationed near the bakery. Fluffy pastel sugar spins in the machines, waiting to get wrapped.
The smell of kettle corn floats by, making my mouth water. Someone plays fun summertime music at the record store, and the tunes reach the crowds.
Ellie taps on the microphone. "Hi, everyone. Thank you for coming!
Rowan and James built a small stage that's lifted so everyone can see Ellie’s short frame.
August stands next to her, letting her take the lead. His hands are behind his back while he rocks back and forth on his feet. When he looks down at his sister, tiny strands of his chocolate caramel hair fall, and he rakes it back.
"I want to give a shout-out to all the restaurants that are feeding this very hungry crowd." Everyone cheers, and to the owner of the diner, Ellie adds, "Hey Mike. Save me a corn dog or two."
"As you know, our dad was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He's currently at the end of his treatment, which means he will be able to have surgery to remove the tumor."
The crowd claps, and Ellie waits until it dies down. August looks back at me and gives me a wink. I can melt into a puddle right now.
Ellie continues. "But it's going to be a long road to recovery, and we're going to need all the help we can get. The family is already going to help, but he'll need extra care. That's where an at-home caregiver comes in."
I spot Mr. and Mrs. Thompson standing off to the side of the stage. Mr. Thompson sits in a wheelchair in his usual attire, hat included.
"Unfortunately, my parents' insurance doesn't cover it, and it's costly. After August and I did some research, we found out it's going to cost us about sixty thousand dollars out of pocket for at least eight months."
Mr. Thompson looks down at his lap, almost ashamed. It breaks my heart for him to even feel this way. Mrs. Thompson lowers herself so they're eye level, brushing a strand of her rich brown hair behind her ear, and says something to him.
"With that said, check out some of the items up for bid and let's kick this cancer's ass," Ellie shouts into the microphone, and everyone cheers again, clapping loudly.
I steal a cookie from the large table filled with desserts.
Chocolate chip cookies, brownies, rice crispy, cupcakes, slices of pie.
Anything that was easy enough for Ellie and Emily to bake.
Jamie stands behind the table with Emily, handling the customers who are purchasing all the goodies.
Ellie is too busy being greeted by many, many people.
"Dad," I call, waving my arm in the air.
"Wow, look at all of this." He places his hands on his hips, looking at everything around us. "How are you guys doing so far? Any updates?"
It's two hours into the fundraiser, and the whole thing feels more like a town fair minus the rides.
Small games were set up an hour in to keep the kids entertained.
Four squares, Simon says, musical chairs.
Mrs. Anderson, the owner of the art studio, brought paint and canvases outside on a table for kids to create their own art.
"Ellie and August have been keeping track of everything. I have no idea where they are. I've just been protecting the dessert table, making sure Jamie and Emily are handling the crowd."
"I'm proud of you. This looks amazing. I know I haven't been able to catch up with you since the bakery opened. Let's plan lunch, and you can tell me everything."
"That sounds good."
I think about what Mom said at the diner, that she felt free from Dad. At the end of the day, he's the one who's truly free from a marriage that dragged him down. Mom wanted him to fail because she was miserable with her own life.
Dad is the reason I was pushed back into August's life. His situation taught me that you don't need to settle. I know it took a lot of courage for Dad to finally break the toxic cycle and leave Mom. Deep down, he was in love with her, but he knew he had to take care of himself first.
"I'm going to find Jake, catch up with him a little. Do you know where he is?"
"Last I saw him; he was with Mrs. Thompson in the bakery. I think he needed a break from the sun."
"I'm gonna go see him. I'll catch up with you later, honey."
"See ya, Dad."
The day starts winding down. The sun has set, and the moon is out. People are still walking around, talking and laughing. Mr. Thompson went home for a while to take a nap and come back when everything was ready to be announced.
"Alright so where are we at with everything?" Addie asks.
Ellie looks over her sheet before she goes back on stage to announce the winners of the bids. "Well, considering we got that surprise bid, we're well over our goal. I'm going to do the final count and then I'll go on stage."
"Who's it from?" Addie asks.
Ellie shrugs. "I haven’t had a chance to ask because I keep getting pulled in different directions. So, I’ll be finding out along with everyone else."
A gentle caress trails along my back and up to my neck. I close my eyes, resting my head against the chest that presses against my back.
"I've missed you," August whispers, his lips ghosting my ear.
Goose bumps cover my arms at the light touch of his hand, and the warmth of his gentle breath along my neck. I push into him, turning and looping my arms around his neck.
"I know it's only been a few hours, but it feels like months since I last saw you," August says, pressing his forehead to mine.
"Yikes, clingy already?” I fight off a smile. “I don't know if I can handle that."
"I have something else you can handle if you want to sneak away for a bit." He kisses my neck.
"August…" I laugh.
Ellie taps in the microphone again, drawing my attention back to the stage.
"You should be up there with her," I tell him.
He snuggles his face deeper into my neck. "Nah, she's fine. I want to stay here with you."
I turn toward him. His stormy eyes make my heart flutter, and my breathing quickens. Before turning my attention back to Ellie, I give him a quick kiss.
"Hello again," Ellie says into the mic.
The crowd hushes while music continues playing in the background. Mr. And Mrs. Thompson join Ellie on stage. The small ramp James built is sturdy as he pushes Mr. Thompson's wheelchair, with Mrs. Thompson in tow.
"Alright everyone, are you ready to hear the winners?"
Everyone claps.
“You should go up there.” I place a hand on his and peer at him. “Be with your family.”
“Yeah, I probably should.” He gives me a kiss on the forehead, and I give him a pat on the butt.
Ellie reads off the list of winners. There was a tie between two bidders for the surfing lesson from August. They decided they could share the lesson if August approves. He gave Ellie one nod.
"That's it for the winners of the bids! But there's one more surprise that my parents don’t know yet." She smiles eagerly at them.
Her parents look at each other in confusion and then back to her. Rowan joins them on stage, and we all look at each other.
"Rowan told me he'd like to do the honors for this one." She passes the mic to him.
He takes it and clears his throat. Rowan wasn't someone who liked being in front of large crowds. Every time he had a presentation in school, he talked fast to get through it, and we could never understand him. Lucky for him, he passed all his classes despite being a rambling baboon.
"Hello." He waves. "I'm going to make this quick because talking to a large crowd freaks me out."
Called it.
"I received a call about an hour ago from someone who couldn't make it tonight. That someone is my step-brother, Theo Grant. Some of you might know him from his band Yellow Sundays."
Young girls scream at the band name.
"Alright, I guess a lot of you know him and his band," Rowan says.
"We love Theo!" Someone from the crowd shouts.
Rowan chuckles. "I'll make sure to let him know."
Ellie whips her head to him. Her parents look just as shocked.
Rowan clears his throat and turns to Mr. And Mrs. Thompson. "I reached out to my brother and told him everything you've been going through, Mr. Thompson. I thought it would be cool if he donated one of his guitars, signed of course, for people to bid on."
I hold my breath because this could go in any direction.
"He thought it would be a better idea if he donated to the fundraiser instead."
Ellie places a hand on Rowan's arm in anticipation. The crowd is silent as a mouse.
"He's donating the rest of the balance we need for you, Mr. Thompson."
Mrs. Thompson lets out a gasp, covering her mouth while putting her other hand on Mr. Thompson's shoulder, like she can't believe it. He puts his hand on hers but keeps his attention fixed on Rowan.
Rowan gets down on Mr. Thompson’s level. "My brother is donating forty thousand dollars, and whatever is left over will go toward research at the cancer facility that's taken care of you."
Mr. Thompson, a man I've never seen cry, holds his hand to his mouth. He lets out a soft sob, grabbing Rowan into his arms and holding him tight. They exchange words, and Rowan sheds a few tears of his own. Ellie and her mom hold each other.
I look at August, who's looking at his dad. He turns his back to the crowd, wiping away at his cheeks, before turning back around to his dad. August kneels to get on his dad’s level and wraps him in a hug. They talk to each other and rock back and forth.
I can barely hold my own emotions in as I watch all of this unfold. When he stands, he turns on his heels, coming my way from the stage. His strides are long, like he can’t get to me fast enough, and he grabs me just as I wrap myself in him.
“Congratulations, August.” My voice comes out watery. “I’m so happy for your family.”
“Thank you,” he whispers into my neck. “I love you, Riley.”
“I love you too.”
I flop down on the couch at August's place, taking my shoes off and throwing them near the entrance. They land near the plants in front of the window.
Today was the longest day I think I've ever had. This topped The Taste of Dove Point when Hailey and I handled the booth for Ellie.
I groan and sit back on the couch. "My feet are screaming."
August sits down next to me, letting out an exhausted sigh. "What a day."
"A successful day."
"I can't believe this is all happening. I can't believe Dad is going to get the surgery." August leans his head back on the couch, looking at the ceiling.
"Well, you’d better believe it, because it's happening.” I put my hand on his leg, tilting my head back on the couch and looking at him. “Things are gonna go up from here. I know it."
He turns his head to me. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me. I would have done this either way."
"No," he whispers, "thank you for taking a chance on me."
I run a hand through his soft hair and stop at his neck, brushing his skin with my thumb. "Thank you for not giving up on me."
"I'll never give up on you, Riley Lewis."