Aiden's Quest
Page 64
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Sarah’s vigil became more periodic and not daily. Still, she spent much time on her perch. This place was no longer a place of peace and comfort—Sarah’s heart ached.
Kevin and Maryanne had become very close. They still spent time with Sarah, but she was not able to reciprocate their kindness. Truly, they preferred to be alone together, anyway. Still, they were there for Sarah.
One day, uncharacteristically, Kevin came to visit Sarah alone at her pool. He jumped in, swam to the other side and climbed the short cliff and sat beside her, just like he’d done dozens of times before, except in the past he’d always had Maryanne beside him.
“Hi, Kevin,” said Sarah.
“Anymore big strapping lads come in lately? Jashion has worked out really well on the ranch. I’ll take a few more, if you’ve got them.”
Sarah smiled. Kevin was good at making her smile. Kevin was like a big brother to Sarah.
“Listen, Sarah. Can we talk?”
Sarah nodded.
“John and I have been best friends since before I can remember. I miss him terribly.”
Sarah nodded slowly. “I’m sorry…”
“You and I know John better than anyone. I don’t know how to say this…”
Sarah looked up at him, searching his eyes. Kevin dropped his eyes and looked at the ground.
“I don’t think…” Kevin paused.
“Sarah…I don’t think he’s coming back.”
Sarah shuddered and looked down.
The two were silent for some time.
“Kevin, I can’t think like that…”
“I know…it’s hard. I’ve been thinking a lot about this. I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you, for weeks…”
Sarah looked at him with tears starting to well up in her eyes.
“John left to check the place out, a little adventure. A few weeks, a month at the most and he’d be back. Either he’d got enough of it or he was going to come back to convince us to join him there. Something has happened…”
Sarah looked away.
“I’ve been talking to Jashion a bunch. It’s crazy through there,” indicating the pool. “Almost everyone he knows—towns, villages, cities—destroyed and ruined. John’s awesome, you know. But, he had no idea what was there. I mean no idea. Even the stories we hear, they’re nothing compared to what Jashion has told me.”
Sarah sat, looking away quietly. Kevin wondered if he’d said too much, too soon, too indelicately.
After a while Sarah looked at him. Her eyes pleading to hear the rest.
“How long after John left did Jashion come in?” asked Kevin.
Sarah thought about it. “At the time, it seemed like forever. But now, I don’t know, maybe a week or two.”
“John had been over there for a while. They’d had a terrible war. The forest is infested with beasts that seek out and kill humans. Jashion hadn’t heard or seen John. They’d been around that area for a while so that he could recover from his injuries and pass through to here. I just don’t see how John made it. And, if he did. Why hasn’t he come back? I’m really sorry, Sarah. It really hurts. I feel it’s so much my fault. I was just a foolish kid. I felt so confined and wanted a bigger adventure. I filled his head with this madness. He was the one that always kept me grounded. I wished I’d done more to keep him here.”
Sarah gave Kevin a hug. Kevin had worn a brave face for so long. The look on his face conveyed his sorrow and guilt.
“Kevin, thank you for talking with me. I’ve had thoughts like that, but I couldn’t put them into words. Somehow, I feel like me being here is helping him. It’s silly. It’s all I can do…”
Kevin looked like he wanted to say more, but hesitated to do so. Sarah was perceptive. Sarah looked at him, tilting her head to the side.
Kevin looked away and said, “If John does ever come back he is going to KILL me.”
Sarah looked at him astounded.
“There’s talk, Sarah. People are starting to wonder…”
“What?”
“When you’re…um…”
She looked at him strangely.
“Um…when you’re going to be ready to…um…be back on the market.”
Sarah sat back. “What? What are you talking about? Back on the market? What are you saying?”
“Sorry,” Kevin said sheepishly.
“I don’t understand,” she said, but she was starting to.
“You’re a cute little chickadee. You’ve been off the market since you’ve been on it, ‘cause John locked you up right from the get-go. But guys are wonderin’, is Sarah off limits? I’ve been getting queried.”
“Who?”
“Woah, I can’t reveal my sources.”
Sarah gave him a smirk and jabbed him in the ribs.
“You’re a trouble maker,” she said, allowing herself a little chuckle. “Thanks for being cool.”
“It’s true, I am cool. But I’m not just messin’ with ya.”
Sarah shook her head.
“I’ll tell you one, ‘cause I don’t really like him.”
Sarah tilted her head.
“Jimmy.”
“Jimmy Smithy?”
“Yep.”
“He talked to you?”
“Na. Jimmy wouldn’t talk to me. He talked to Maryanne. He’s always had a thing for Maryanne. But I’m not going anywhere, so she’s definitely NOT on the market.”
Sarah smiled. “Oh, is that so…I’ll have to…”
“You won’t say a word,” said Kevin seriously.
“Are you going to make it official?” said Sarah slyly.
Kevin hummed, feigning disinterest.
“I see. I’m glad. So if Jimmy’s got a thing for Maryanne…”
“He’s got to move on, and he is.”
“Jimmy Smithy,” she said and rolled her eyes. “I don’t think John would kill you, I think he would laugh hysterically.”
“Yeah, he would. But he’d also kill me.”
“You’d deserve it.”
“True, many times over.”
“What does Maryanne say?”
“Not bad, good way to break the ice. Let the more eligible bachelors know you’re back on the market.”
“Sounds like her. Why’s she not here?”
“I came on my own. I knew I’d stick my foot in my mouth and preferred that she not be there when I did it. I don’t want her to stop kissing me.”
Sarah chuckled.
“I don’t know,” she said and her sad countenance returned.
“We want you back, Sarah. We’ve lost John and it’s horrible. But, we’re ready to have you back.”
Sarah nodded and smiled. “Okay.”
“Jimmy Smithy…” said Kevin shaking his head.
Sarah pushed him off the ledge. He went through the waterfall and with agility turned his drop into a dive, swam to the other side, hopped out and waved to Sarah. She waved back. She wasn’t ready to leave just yet.