by Scott, Lisa
The heart monitor continued its soulless beeping. She wasn’t responding to his confession. “A.J., you have to wake up so I can tell you the truth. I loved you. I loved you then, and I love you now. I always have.” He dropped his head and let the tears flow. “Why didn’t I try to find you again?”
He stood and smoothed her hair. Aurora always had tangled hair. She’d beg him to brush it for her when they were kids because it was easier for him to reach the back. But he never would. “That’s girl stuff,” he’d told her.
Jordan noticed a brush next to her bed. It was the one her mother had been using. He picked it up and slowly ran it through the long blond curls flowing out from under the bandages. He blinked back tears with each stroke. “I’m sorry. I should’ve helped you with this before.”
***
“Jordan, please. I have a tangle right behind my neck and I can’t reach it. Please brush it!” She stretched her arm behind her back, trying to reach the spot.
The brush disappeared from her grip and moved through her hair in long, slow strokes.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve helped you with this before.”
She heard sniffing and whimpering, but the brushing didn’t hurt, so why was she crying? “Why are you crying? It’s not that bad to be brushing my hair, dummy.”
“I don’t want to lose you.” The voice didn’t sound like Jordan. It sounded like a man.
“The Woodsman!” She shrieked and jumped back.
“No, it’s me, A.J. It’s Jordan.”
She squinted at him. “Jordan? You’re…you’re…so old. Like, a grown up. I don’t understand?” She looked around her. They were in the field again.
Grandpa was still there. He walked over to her. “I can brush your hair Aurora. It’s time to come with me.”
She looked up at Jordan who was standing now. He smiled and reached out to touch a strand of her hair blowing in the breeze. “Please wake up, Aurora. I have to leave soon.”
Grandpa reached out to her. “Come with me, dolly. It’s time.”
A rush of panic swept through her. “No. I can’t go with you, Grandpa. I want to go with Jordan.” She tried to reach out for Jordan, but her arms wouldn’t move. “Jordan, don’t leave me.”
***
“We want you to be there when we say goodbye,” Mr. Jackson told Jordan over the phone. “The neurologists have run several tests, and they tell us there’s no brain activity. She wouldn’t want to linger like this.”
“Okay,” he choked out. “I’ll be there.”
“Can you meet us at the hospital at three this afternoon?”
Pressing his free hand over his eyes he nodded. “I’ll be there.”
Jordan switched schedules with another resident so he could have the day off. He’d be worthless afterward. He stood in the shower and let the tears fall, but the sadness still hung on him like a heavy coat. Before he left for the hospital, he took the puppy out for a quick walk.
The still unnamed dog scampered around his ankles as he tried to leave his apartment later. “I’m probably going to have to take you back, little pup. I don’t know what I was thinking. I don’t have time for a dog. I was desperate.”
The puppy propped her paws against Jordan’s knees and stared up at him with the most pathetic look.
Jordan managed a small smile. “Fine. You can come. You can say goodbye, too.” He scooped up the dog and tucked her in the duffle bag, where the little ball of fur curled up in the blanket.
***
Jordan walked into Aurora’s room and frowned. Todd was there. He wanted to ask him if he was only here to document evidence for his case, but he held back his words because it would only upset the Jacksons.
Tears streamed down Mrs. Jackson’s face. She hardly seemed to have the energy to cry. She could only look at him and nod. Mr. Jackson placed his arm around her and kissed her cheek, then set his head against hers.
The neurologist stood near Aurora’s bed. “This will be a peaceful passing. Once we remove her ventilation and feeding tubes, her body will stop working. It could be minutes, it could be hours. Even a few days. But she won’t be in pain.” He stepped back. “I’ll give you some time alone before we proceed.”
Mr. And Mrs. Jackson knelt beside Aurora, whispering to her, laughing, then crying. Their words were too soft to hear, and Jordan was thankful for that. After a good fifteen minutes, they turned to Todd. “Would you like to have a moment with her?”
Todd looked surprised, then walked over to her. He patted her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Aurora. You were a great girl, and you didn’t deserve this. I will make sure your family is compensated for their loss.”
Mr. And Mrs. Jackson didn’t react. Jordan wasn’t sure they heard them.
Todd moved away from the bed, and Jordan walked over with his duffle bag. He was certain the neurologist would overlook the canine he was pulling out. “We never did get to name her,” he said, setting the dog on the bed. “But you don’t need a dog now. You’re going to find Rexy in heaven. He’s waiting for you. And so are fields full of daisies, and the best thing—there are no prickle bushes to snag your clothes, and I’m told there are no hair snarls in heaven.” He laughed and sniffed. “So no more worries about brushing your hair. Oh, and there are lots of big climbing trees, beautiful creeks filled with frogs and crayfish. And I’m pretty sure you can sleep on a cloud up there. So check it all out and then you can show me around when I get there some day.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against her forehead, kissing her longer than he should’ve. He waited to feel some response from her, but there was nothing. A cry caught in his throat.
He stepped back and a nurse removed her tubes and unplugged the ventilator. She took the tube away from Aurora’s pale lips.
Jordan went back to Aurora and kissed her on the mouth. “I love you,” he whispered.
***
Aurora was lying in the daisy field watching the clouds float by. Grandpa Jackson was next to her. “This is a wonderful place you’ve created here,” he said.
“I didn’t create this. It’s the daisy field where I used to play.”
“Not everyone’s heaven is so pretty.”
She sat up. “Heaven?”
“You’ve been in an accident. You’ve been lingering here for quite a while. But, it’s your time to cross.”
She pressed her fingers against her mouth. “You mean, I’m dead?”
Grandpa chuckled softly. “You’re fighting it, my girl. You’re on the edge, and you just won’t let go.”
She shook her head. “I can’t let go. I don’t want to.”
“This is paradise. It’s beyond anything I can even describe to you,” Grandpa said. “This here?” He gestured with one arm. “It’s just the beginning. Trust me.”
“But Jordan. I want to stay with Jordan. I have a life on earth that I’m meant to live with him. We…we carved it in a tree. That’s permanent. It’s true. I haven’t had my chance yet. Please. Let me stay with him.”
Grandpa pressed his lips together and stroked his chin. “You really don’t want to come with me?”
“Not yet. But does that matter? Do I even get a say?”
“Most folks don’t. Most folks just ‘Come on down!’” he said in his best Price is Right impersonation. “But you’re clearly still very much connected to your life on this plane. It’s up to you. You don’t have to come yet if you’re not ready.”
She looped her arms around her knees. “I have to stay. With Jordan.”
Grandpa squeezed her hand and stood. “We’ll be together again someday. Until then, I’ll watch over you. And for the love of Pete, get your driver’s license. Aunt Tilly doesn’t know what she’s talking about, dying under a full moon. I always slept naked.” He winked at her and walked away.
Aurora laughed, then felt a cool breeze swirl around her. Something grazed her cheek, then her lips. Her breath left her lungs. Finally, her lips parted and she sucked in air. Coughing, she opened her eyes and f
ound herself looking right at Jordan.
“You kissed me,” she whispered. They sat cross-legged in the daisy field, facing each other. “You kissed me for real,” she whispered again.
“I need to kiss you before you go to heaven,” Jordan said.
She shook her head. “No. I’m not going to heaven. I’m staying here with you.”
That’s when Rexy bounded between them and started licking her face. “Rexy! Not now! I was kissing Jordan! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for that?”
“Bad puppy!” Jordan scolded.
***
Jordan tried to grab the puppy after it jumped across the bed and started licking Aurora’s face. “Bad puppy! Stop!”
Aurora’s hand moved toward her face. “No,” she whispered. “Won’t go.”
Jordan grabbed the puppy and set him on the floor. “Aurora?”
The neurologist rushed over.
***
“Rexy,” Aurora said.
“A.J., it’s me Jordan.”
Aurora’s eyes fluttered open. “Jordan? You’re grown up,” she said in a scratchy voice.
“You’re awake,” he cried.
Her parents crowded around the bed. “Honey, you’re back!”
“Where’s Rexy? Where am I?” Aurora asked.
“You were in a car accident. We thought we lost you,” her mother said.
“A car accident with Rexy? In the daisy field?”
“Honey, Rexy died a long time ago. That’s a new puppy Jordan brought,” her dad explained.
She looked at Jordan, then at her hands. “Am I grown up, too?”
Her mother nodded.
“But there were these dreams, and I was ten again, and Jordan was there. And Rexy.” She thought for a moment. “And Grandpa Jackson. He wanted me to come with him.”
Jordan looked at the neurologist, who turned up his hands. “I don’t have an explanation. Her EEG showed no brain activity.”
“We were getting ready to say goodbye to you,” her mother explained. “We turned off your life support.”
Aurora blinked a few times, taking in the information. “Where’s the puppy?” she asked.
Jordan picked up the dog, and set it in bed with her again. “She woke you with a lick.” He laughed.
“What’s her name?” she asked.
“I bought her for you. You can name her.”
Aurora ran her hand along the dog’s coat. “We can’t name you Rexy. How about Roxy?”
The puppy yipped her approval.
“I love it,” Jordan said. He took a deep breath. “And I love you. I always have.”
Aurora tilted her head and looked at him. “I know that. How do I know that?”
Smiling, he shrugged.
Tears filled Aurora’s eyes. “I love you, too.” She sat up, and he hugged her.
Todd cleared his throat. “Does there seem to be any permanent damage of any sort?”
Aurora looked at him and frowned. “What are you doing here? You dumped me.”
“Technically we dumped each other. Remember?” Shaking his head, Todd took a step back. “I just wanted to be here for you. For your family, to help guide them through the legal process. Rehabilitation can be terribly expensive, and you need to be compensated for your injuries.”
Mr. Jackson turned to him. “Seems like her memory’s coming back. We’ll be in touch if we need your services.”
Todd stood there, staring.
“He means get out of here,” Jordan said. “Now.”
Todd’s eyes widened and he practically ran from the room.
Jordan turned to Aurora. “The neurologist will check you out, but you’re going to be fine.”
“I was hit by a car? But Grandpa told me Great Aunt Tilly didn’t know what she was talking about,” Aurora said softly.
Jordan shook his head. “She was wrong. You lived, A.J.”
She turned to her mother. “I’m riding home in a car.”
Her mother smiled. “We’ll get you a limo, if that’s what you want.”
***
Two weeks later, Jordan drove his car down a country road in Goose Valley and parked it in front of a field filled with daisies. Aurora turned to him, tears brimming her eyes. “I dreamed about this place. So many of my favorite memories happened right here.”
“Let’s make new ones,” Jordan said. He walked around the car and opened her door. Taking her hand, he helped her out. Then they ran through the meadow, into the woods.
Aurora smiled, knowing what it was he was looking for. It didn’t take long to find the tree with their names carved into its bark. “It’s so big now!”
“It’s been a long time,” Jordan said.
“Long enough that I think it’s time we were boyfriend and girlfriend,” Aurora said. “We did permanently scar a tree with our intentions. We owe it to the tree.” She patted the big maple.
Jordan scrunched his brows together. “Nah. I think we should skip that part. I think we should go straight to husband and wife.” He reached into his pocket and dropped to one knee. “Aurora, will you—”
“Shh!” She pressed a finger over his lips, interrupting him. “Not here. I’ve got somewhere else I want you to ask me that question.”
He shrugged. “Tell me where and when, and I’ll be there.”
“Then get back in the car and I’ll show you.”
It took another two hours until they were back in the city. They walked across the pier to Neverland Island. “I always wanted to come here with you,” she told him. “I knew how much you’d love it. I tried to see how many times in a row I could ride the roller coaster in one day. Six times. Six times before I got sick. But still, I love it here.”
He laughed. “I’m not surprised. I’ve only been here a few times, but I knew you’d love it, too.” His hands on his hips, he glanced around. “So, this is the place I’m supposed to do it?”
She nodded. “Pick a spot. Any spot.”
He took his time walking along. He stopped in front of Side Show Row, and almost bent down on one knee, but then he shook his head and moved on.
She laughed. “Knock it off!”
He dragged her down a lane of vendors, paused in front of the X-rated candy shop, and waggled his eyebrows.
“Absolutely not!” she laughed. “Candy genitals will not be part of my engagement day. Maybe the bachelorette party, though.”
They stopped to buy two giant sticks of cotton candy. Aurora held hers up in the air.
“You make a very sweet Statue of Liberty,” Jordan said. He held his cotton candy under his chin.
“Santa Claus!” Aurora shouted.
He pretended to look frustrated and shook his head. “Guess again.”
“Old Man Winter?”
“No.”
She snapped her fingers. “ZZ Top!”
“Yes!” He fist bumped her, then gave her a kiss.
They walked on, feeding each other cotton candy, and basically annoying every single visitor as they stopped to kiss and goof around. They went to the water-skiing show, and he threatened to propose right in the middle of it. “I’ll swim out there and do it, you know I will.”
“You could drown! You never could hold your breath longer than seventy seconds. I spent summers counting.”
“There’s a skiing mermaid. She’ll save me. Maybe with a little mouth-to-mouth.” He playfully nudged her in the ribs, and she narrowed her eyes at him.
“Not here. No mermaids.”
Finally, he took her to the Ferris wheel, and they climbed on. “Maybe I can look around and find the right spot from up here.” They held hands as the ride turned round and round. He took out a quarter from his pocket and scratched the paint on the inside of the car.
“Vandal!” she accused.
He ignored her and kept working on the spot. Then he leaned back. “Look.”
She read the words etched into the paint. “J.D. plus A.J. forever.”
When the Ferris whe
el reached the top, he took her hand in his. “I’ve always wanted to marry you, A.J. And not just because I thought girls were yucky. I loved you even back then.”
She laughed through her tears.
“I lost you once, and I almost lost you again—”
“…and damn it I won’t let that happen,” she interrupted with a whisper.
He stared at her. “I told you that while you were in a coma. You heard me?”
“I don’t know. I think so. There was this bright, beautiful field. It was like the one back home, but different. Rexy was there, and so was Grandpa Jackson. I wanted to run off with them, but I kept hearing you. I came back for you.”
He pulled her next to him and kissed her head, tears running down his face. “Aurora Jackson, will you marry me?”
She looked up at him, tears blurring her vision. “I will.” Then she laughed. “Only because I don’t want to timeshare Roxy with you.”
They laughed and kissed, and when the ride stopped, they refused to get off. He turned to the pimply teenage attendant and announced, “She’s marrying me! We’re going to see how many times we can ride this thing tonight.”
The kid shrugged, and people in line cheered.
Jordan grabbed her hand. “And later, I might make a spectacle at the mermaid show to tell the world how much I love you.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“You’ll have to find out.”
Aurora felt happier than she could remember, and she realized she wouldn’t need to stop at the fortuneteller’s tent to know she’d live happily ever after.
Wet and Wild
I’d just pulled on my shimmery green mermaid tail when my little sister Ari flew into my room.
I held back a grumble. “Oh good, you’re here. I love being interrupted before a show.”
She ignored my snark and jumped in place, clasping her hands. “Some guy just jumped in the water shouting, ‘I love you, Aurora! I love you!’ Isn’t that so romantic?”
“Aurora?” I asked, adjusting my tail. “Ariel has a friend named Aurora. But last I heard, she was dating a stuffy lawyer. Couldn’t be her.”
Ari flopped back on my bed. “Security dragged him out of the water, but it was awesome. I want someone to jump into the water for me.” She sat up and cooed, “Oh, and Elle? Mr. Hotty-pants is in the crowd. He showed up right after they pulled out the jumper.”
