nowhere

by Marysue Hobika

  “Don’t mention it, kid. I know the two of you will work things out. She doesn’t say it, but I can tell she really cares about you.”

  I smiled. Mr. Jenkins was pretty cool for an old guy. “You know it’s not your fault that she’s sick.”

  Mr. Jenkins kicked the ground with the toe of his boot. “I know. But I didn’t help any by driving her here today. I should’ve insisted she stay home.”

  “Mikayla has a mind of her own. Something tells me she would’ve found a way here no matter what.” I chuckled.

  Mr. Jenkins chuckled too. “Don’t I know it? That’s why I brought her here myself, figured it was the lesser of two evils. And look how things turned out.” He shook his head. “She takes after her mother, you know. Stubborn as can be. Good luck to you, kid.” He patted me on my bare back. I’d forgotten that I was still shirtless.

  “Thanks, Mr. Jenkins. Looks like I better head back in and finish getting changed.”

  “Good idea, son.”

  Later that evening, I knew something was wrong as soon as I pulled into Mikayla’s driveway. Mrs. Mooney’s car was gone and Mikayla wasn’t waiting for me on the porch. I raced up the porch steps two at a time. Knocking loudly on the front door, I waited for it to open.

  “Hiya James.” Mr. Jenkins, opened the door. His face had a serene look. It couldn’t be good news.

  He opened the door wider and stepped out onto the porch. “Come on, let’s sit down a minute.”

  I didn’t sit on the swing like usual. It hurt to even look at it. Instead I chose to sit in the empty rocking chair next to Mr. Jenkins.

  “How bad is it?” I asked tentatively.

  “She has appendicitis.” He paused for a second, and then continued. “Everything should be okay, though. She made it to the hospital before it burst. She’s in surgery now. My daughter Sarah, Mike’s mom, is going to call as soon as she has news to report.”

  It took me a second to process what he’d said. “Wow. I didn’t see that coming. I’m glad she made it to the hospital in time. I just hope everything goes okay.” My stomach was tied in knots. She has to be okay.

  Surprising me, Mr. Jenkins reached out his hand, covered in age spots, and lightly touched my shoulder. “I’m sure she’s going to be just fine. But if you want to stay until Sarah calls, you’re more than welcome to. I’m sure it’ll be any minute now.”

  “Thanks.” I nodded.

  “No problem. It’ll help pass the time. I started to ask you this once before. Are you any good at crossword puzzles?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never done them before,” I said honestly.

  “Well, just so you know, Mike’s real good at them. I can’t say the same about her sister. Or her cousins, for that matter.”

  I chuckled. “I sure I’m not as smart as Mikayla, but I’ll give it a try.”

  “That a boy,” he replied, pulling a crossword out of his front pocket. He pulled a pen out from behind his ear, making me grin. “Do you know who won Super Bowl XX?”

  “Yes, and I’m sure you do too. Is that even one of the questions?” I asked, pointing to the crossword.

  “Maybe?” He laughed.

  “The Chicago Bears,” I replied.

  “Right, you are.” He filled in an answer. “It’s on football trivia. I thought it would be appropriate.”

  I nodded with a smile. “Cool.”

  “I’ve been saving it. Mike’s smart, but the truth is she doesn’t know a thing about football.” He laughed and his eyes crinkled. It was obvious he cared deeply about her.

  “Yeah, football isn’t really her thing. I hope she’ll come to a game,” I added wistfully.

  “I’m sure she will. Lately she’s been slipping in questions about how the game is played while we tend to the garden. I wonder why that is?” He winked.

  We spent the next half hour working on the puzzle. Like him, I knew all the answers. We were both equally passionate about the game. When the phone finally rang, it made us both jump. Mr. Jenkins practically knocked over his chair in his haste to answer it.

  Suddenly the porch felt empty and eerily quiet. My heart pounded, wondering what was taking so long. Was it bad news?

  “James,” Mr. Jenkins called out from inside the house.

  I stood and shouted through the screen door, “Yeah?”

  “Come on in here.”

  I cautiously entered, not knowing what to expect. I walked through to the kitchen where Mr. Jenkins was talking on a phone attached to the wall. “Yeah?” I asked nervously.

  Mr. Jenkins held the phone out to me. “Here. My daughter wants to talk to you.”

  “Okay.” I took the phone.

  “I’ll be out on the porch,” Mr. Jenkins said and left.

  “Hello?” I said, hesitantly.

  “James?”

  “Yes...”

  “This is Mrs. Mooney. I wanted to let you know that Mike’s going to be fine.” I let out an audible sigh of relief. “Thanks for helping today. I don’t know how I would’ve gotten her into the car if it hadn’t been for you.”

  Guilt rushed over me. It was partly my fault that she came to school when she should’ve been home in bed. “You don’t need to thank me. It was the least I could do. I’m so happy that she’s going to be all right.”

  “She’ll make a complete recovery. However, she’ll be in the hospital for a couple of days and I’m sure she’d love it if you visited.”

  “I’ll be there tomorrow.” I had to see for myself that she was going to be okay. Plus I had a lot of making up to do.

  “Wonderful.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Mooney.”

  “No, James, thank you.”

  “Bye,” I said.

  “Goodnight,” replied Mikayla’s mom. I carefully replaced the phone on its hook.

  * * * *

  After our second practice was over, I quickly showered and got dressed. I couldn’t wait to see Mikayla. I jogged out to the parking lot where Old Faithful was waiting. Absentmindedly I tossed my stuff into the back. It was 5:45 p.m. Visiting hours ended at 8, so Mikayla and I had an hour and a half to spend together.

  I put my key in the ignition and turned it. Nothing happened. Shit! I banged the steering wheel. I don’t have time for this. I tried again. Still nothing.

  Feeling anxiety building, I took a deep breath. Talking sweetly to Old Faithful, I said, “Come on, girl. Don’t do this to me. I have an important date I can’t miss.” I rubbed the dashboard. “You’ve never let me down before. I know you can do it.” I closed my eyes and turned the key one more time. Complete silence.

  “Damn it,” I shouted.

  I jumped out and popped open the hood. I’d been tinkering around with engines for as long as I could remember. However, it didn’t require a mechanical engineering degree to figure out that the battery was dead. When I bought Old Faithful from my uncle he told me the battery would run for about two years, and that was two and a half years ago. I sighed in frustration, slamming the hood down. I’d be lucky if I made it to the hospital before visiting hours were over.

  I didn’t have a lot of options. I asked around for a jump, but I didn’t have jumper cables and neither did anyone else. I could’ve walked to the local garage, but that wasn’t practical. It would’ve taken a long time and then I would’ve been stuck carrying a heavy battery all the way back to my truck. I could’ve called a tow truck, but that was too expensive. Time was ticking. Finally I pulled out my phone. “Hello. Mr. Jenkins?”

  “Yes?”

  “It’s me, James. I need your help.”

  Ten minutes later, Mr. Jenkins pulled into the parking lot. He gave me a jump and then followed me to Tom’s garage in case the charge didn’t last long enough to get there.

  “Thanks, Mr. Jenkins. I really appreciate you helping me out like this,” I said, making it to the garage.

  “No problem, son. Go and see if Tom has a new battery. I’ll stick around until you’re all set.”

  “Than
ks.”

  I found Tom, the owner, underneath a car changing its oil. I cleared my throat loudly. “Hey, Tom, is that you?”

  “Yeah,” he said, rolling out from underneath. He wiped his hands on a rag. “What can I do for you, Dooner?”

  “Old Faithful ran out of juice. I need to get a new battery for her. Do you have one in stock?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll go and see. Are you planning on changing it yourself? I’m a little backed up. I couldn’t get to it until maybe sometime tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.”

  “Yeah, I can do it as long as you have one.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

  I kept checking my phone for the time. I couldn’t believe it was 6:30 already when Tom came back out.

  “Here you are,” he said, handing me the battery.

  “Thanks so much. Can I pay you tomorrow? I don’t have enough cash on me since I wasn’t expecting to need a new battery and all.”

  “No problem. Stop by any time. I’ll be here all day. Help yourself to whatever tools you need to get her running again. Just make sure you win the first big game of the year.”

  “I’ll do my best.” The whole town would be disappointed if I didn’t play in that game. “Thanks, Tom,” I said.

  “Okay. I gotta get back to work.” He slid back under the car he was working on.

  Mr. Jenkins helped me install the new battery. It was easier and quicker with his help. I could see why Mikayla and him hit if off, despite the fact that they’d probably both deny it if anyone asked them. The truth was they were a lot a like.

  “Get in and let’s see if she starts,” said Mr. Jenkins from under the hood.

  I turned the key and gave her gas. She immediately roared to life. “Woo-hoo,” I shouted.

  Mr. Jenkins put the hood back down. “She’s as good as new.” He moved out of the way. “You better go if you’re going to make it.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Jenkins. I really appreciate you helping me out tonight. I owe you one,” I quickly jumped out and shook his hand.

  “No need to thank me. Just say hello to my granddaughter for me when you see her.” He winked.

  “Will do.” I jumped back in my truck and drove away.

  It was going to be a close one. It was a thirty-minute drive to the hospital and it was already 7:15. I drove as quickly as I could without getting a speeding ticket.

  I pushed open the main door of the hospital at exactly 8:00 p.m. I rushed over to the reception desk where a scary Amazon-looking receptionist sat. “Hi. Can you please tell me which room Mikayla Mooney is in?”

  She stared disapprovingly at me. I was covered in sweat and grease from changing the battery. “No young man, I cannot. Visiting hours are over. See the sign? They end at 8 p.m. and right now it is 8:01. You’ll have to come back tomorrow morning.”

  I felt all the air go out of me, like a flat tire. “Yeah, but I really need to see her tonight. She’s expecting me. I won’t stay but a minute, I promise.” Mikayla won’t forgive me this time.

  “Those are the rules,” she said determinedly.

  I couldn’t just give up and go home. I was looking for a way to sneak past the receptionist, who was watching me closely, when I spotted Mrs. Mooney getting off the elevator.

  “Hi, Mrs. Mooney. I’m here to see Mikayla. I would’ve been here sooner, but my truck wouldn’t start,” I said all at once.

  “Oh, James.” She frowned. “I’d take you up to her room, but the nurse just kicked me out, visiting hours are over.”

  “You’re her mother, surely you can get me in to see her,” I said, sounding desperate.

  “I wish I could. Apparently they’re strict here about the patients getting enough rest.” My shoulders sagged. “You’ll have to wait to see her until tomorrow.”

  “How is she?”

  “She’s okay. She wants to go home, but the doctors are keeping her one more night. As long as everything’s fine, she can go home in the morning.”

  “Cool.” I smiled brightly.

  “Can you keep a secret?” she asked, putting her arm through mine. I nodded. “Tomorrow is Mike’s eighteenth birthday, which you probably already know.”

  “Yeah,” I replied. Mikayla had only mentioned her birthday in passing, but I had taken special note of it.

  We had arrived in the parking garage and I could see Mrs. Mooney’s Audi up ahead. “Well, I’m planning a surprise party for her, since she’ll be getting out of the hospital.”

  “Okay,” I answered slowly. I wasn’t so sure that Mikayla liked parties or surprises. I thought back to the day that we met at the road party, and then a few days later when I showed up unannounced on her front porch. She hadn’t been overjoyed on either of those occasions. I shook my head and smiled. Sometimes things had a way of working out.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Mike

  “Finally,” I said, standing, as my mom sauntered into my hospital room. I’d been dressed and ready to go home since 7 a.m.—it was already after 10. “Let’s go.”

  “Hi to you too, honey.” My mom chuckled. “You might as well sit back down. I have to stop by the nurse’s station and sign your papers. I came in here first to say good morning.” She bent down and kissed the top of my head.

  “It’s barely still morning and it certainly isn’t good,” I grouched.

  “Sounds like someone’s feeling better,” my mom commented on her way out the door.

  While I waited, an orderly came in with a wheel chair. “I got your ride here, miss.”

  “Thanks,” I mumbled. I couldn’t help but remember how James had easily picked me up and carried me in his strong arms. I sighed, wishing he were here now instead of this cold wheelchair. Then, just as quickly, I remembered how he hadn’t even bothered to call, or come to see me.

  My mom pulled the car around. “Where’s Pops?” I asked once I was settled in. I was sure he’d come to pick me up. He hadn’t been to visit me either. I was only in the hospital for less than 48 hours, but still I thought he’d come, today being my birthday and all. I couldn’t believe how sad I felt that he wasn’t here. I really missed him.

  “He hates hospitals.” She gave me an apologetic smile.

  “I know the feeling,” I mumbled.

  It was a quiet ride back to the farm. I didn’t feel like talking. I was exhausted. I hadn’t slept at all in the hospital, with the monitors going off every few minutes, and the lights in the hallway on all night long. Also, I was depressed. Neither Pops nor James had visited me in the hospital. Paige wasn’t coming to town. And worst of all, my mom hadn’t even wished me a happy birthday.

  How could she have forgotten? I slumped against the window in the passenger seat and looked out at the passing scenery without really seeing it. In the past, birthdays had always been a big deal in my family. My dad went out of his way to make sure that they were extra special. My throat tightened. I thought that signing and dating my discharge papers would have reminded her that today was my eighteenth birthday, but I guessed not. I closed my eyes to hold back the tears.

  Finally I opened them and saw Pop-Pop’s house up head. A warm feeling spread through me; it felt good to be almost home. When she turned the corner, the first thing I noticed was James’ truck in the driveway. A smile spread across my face. My aunt’s truck was there too.

  My mom parked. I took a moment to process the scene on the front porch. There were two big banners stretched across the front. That looked like Emma’s handiwork: “Welcome home, Mike,” and “Happy 18th birthday!” A small group waited expectantly. It was the same group that had gathered here the day we arrived—well, almost. James hadn’t been here then. A different feeling settled in my stomach today upon seeing them. Today I wasn’t angry and resentful. I was happy. I smiled from ear to ear.

  Slowly I turned to face my mom. “Thanks.” I wanted to say more, but I couldn’t get the words out. I was too choked up.

  “You’re welcome. You didn’t really think I’d
forget your birthday, did you?”

  I didn’t answer, but it was written all over my face.

  “I did give birth to you, you know.” She laughed, making me feel better. “How’d I do? Did I get it right?” she asked, pointing toward the front porch.

  “You did great, Mom, thanks.” I reached over and gave her a hug.

  “Well, you better go enjoy your guests,” she said, pointing. “They’re waiting for you.”

  I smiled brightly as I stepped out of the car. All at once everyone started singing “Happy Birthday” while Emma came out onto the porch, carrying a cake with eighteen candles.

  “Make a wish,” my mom said, putting her arm around me. We stepped onto the porch.

  “My wish already came true.” I looked around, one by one, at the people I loved until my gaze finally came to rest on James. Instantly my face grew warm.

  “There must be something,” my mom insisted.

  I blushed even redder. I could only think of one thing I didn’t already have. And it wasn’t something you found at a store. I quickly took a deep breath and blew out the candles before anyone could read my mind. All the candles went out. Did that mean my wish was going to come true? The porch erupted in claps and cheers.

  My mom appeared with a knife and a stack of paper plates. “Who wants cake? It’s Mike’s favorite, yellow cake with chocolate frosting a la mode.” My mom cut the cake while Emma scooped ice cream. I served it and personally thanked everyone for coming.

  Pops was at the top of my list. “Here,” I said, handing him a piece of cake and leaping into his arms for a big hug, almost smashing the cake between us. Normally I wasn’t into physical contact, but right now it was exactly what the doctor ordered. Pops hugged me back as tightly as my recent surgery would allow.

  “Hey now, girl. What’s gotten into you?” he asked, finally releasing me. “Did they do more than take out your appendix in the hospital?” He pulled on one of my curls. Pops was like me; showing emotions wasn’t something we were good at.

  “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m so happy to be home.” I smiled. Nowhere was my home now. This old farm house, surrounded by my family and James, was were I belonged.