I warsh my face and hands, and pray that I’ll wake up and find out the last two days were just a dream. When I open the bathroom door, Ethan is walkin’ into the hospital room. I glare at him and take my seat beside my son.
He follows me and asks, “How is he?”
“Like you care?” I sit down and hold Sawyer Jackson’s hand like I have done all day today. I see the notecard and the picture on the bedside table, so I quickly shove them into my pocket. All I need is for Ethan to see that. That is something I wouldn’t be able to explain. I get a visual of Ethan takin’ me to court for full custody of our son, my son. I can hear people talkin’ about me bringin’ a monster into my life and puttin’ my son in harm’s way. I shiver and run my hands up and down my arms for warmth. Is Abel Lee a monster? If he did that to that poor person, then yes, he is a monster.
“I came as soon as I heard.” Ethan takes the chair on the other side of the bed. He looks worried. He should. I watch as he takes Sawyer Jackson’s hand, leans up, and kisses him on his cheek.
“I’ve been calling you since last night,” I finally say.
He looks at me and says, “Savannah Mae, I didn’t get any of your calls. I came as soon as I hung up from talkin’ to Abel. He called me a little bit ago and said Sawyer Jackson was in bad shape.”
“I called you, and I left messages on your cell phone. Hell, I even left a message with Heather Sue.”
“You left a message with Heather Sue?”
“Yes, earlier today. Why didn’t you have your cell phone on you today?”
He thinks for a moment and searches his coat pocket. “I left it at home when I left this mornin’. Dad and I were workin’ out of the garage today. We got some orders for oak dressers that we were workin’ on.” I watch as he pulls his cell phone from his pocket and holds it up to his ear.
He’s found work, that’s good. Doesn’t explain why he didn’t get any of the messages I left for him. He places his phone back into his coat pocket. The doctor walks in with his nurse. My heart races. Ethan stands. I can’t. I don’t think my legs will support my weight.
“What is it?” I finally ask.
The doctor and nurse walk further into the room. “The results came back from the lumbar puncture we did on Sawyer Jackson.”
“The what?” Ethan asks.
“It’s called a lumbar puncture or a spinal tap. We went in and withdrew spinal fluid from Sawyer Jackson in hopes to find out what’s wrong with him,” the doctor explains. The doctor looks at me and says, “Your son has bacterial meningitis.”
Ethan sits down and I know this is a shock for him. He runs his hands through his dark hair and for a minute I feel bad for him.
“Can you treat it?” I ask the doctor. Please say yes. I know nothing about meningitis. I just know it’s not good.
“We can and it’s fairly easy to treat. He’s already on antibiotics through his IV. Now that we know what’s wrong with Sawyer Jackson, we know exactly how to treat him. We’ll give him different antibiotics and he should start responding fairly quickly.”
I sink deeper into my chair and say, “Thank God.” I don’t have the words to explain the relief that I feel. I look at my son and lean up from the chair to kiss him. He’s still lethargic. He hasn’t been himself or like himself since yesterday. “You’re goin’ to get better, Buddy. Just hang on for a little bit longer.” I cry. I cry from relief that my son will be okay. Nothin’ else at this time matters. Not Abel Lee and not Ethan. Just my son and gettin’ him well.
Abel Lee
I sit in the shadows and watch as Ethan walks into the hospital. I’m glad he’s here for Savannah Mae and for Sawyer Jackson. She shouldn’t be here alone, and he shouldn’t be here without his daddy. Deciding there’s nothing else for me to do, I leave. I drive the backroads home to the farm. My mind replays the events of this evening. I want to fix this, but how? I wasn’t prepared for my relationship with her to end so soon. I didn’t have enough time with her. I want more time.
Thinking back, I didn’t realize that country girl could hook me like she did. Hook, line, and sinker. I smile. It reminds me of her telling me she won the Perry County Catch and Release event three years in a row. Explains how she hooked me, doesn’t it?
I arrive on the farm, far sooner than I wanted to. The house is dark, and I’m glad my parents are already in bed. Just to make sure they’re asleep, I walk into the barn and visit with Bluebelle and Colonel. The horses both neigh when they see me. Bluebelle is a sweet mare. She’s always glad to see me. Colonel, it took him some time to get used to me. Now that we understand each other, he tolerates me. I feed them both an apple and a few sugar cubes.
After I prop myself up on the hay bale, I wish that I had my guitar with me. Strumming some chords would help. Playing some George Strait or Garth Brooks would help put things in perspective. Nah, who am I kidding. Country music would only make me feel worse. I don’t need to be listening to no love-struck or heartbreak songs tonight. I stare at Bluebelle and wish that she could tell me how to fix this mess with Savannah Mae. I knew my relationship with her was too good to be true. I also knew she would find out about my past, and it would destroy us. I watch Bluebelle and Colonel and they just watch me back. My mind drifts back to my first date with Savannah Mae. I took her on a horse ride with Colonel on Christmas day. He is massive in size and she called him a pony. He is anything but a pony. I knew that night that Savannah Mae was something special.
Savannah Mae is sassy and sweet all rolled up into one. She’s stunning and simple. She’s forever country, and she doesn’t care much for anything outside of her country life. Since I returned back to my country roots in November, I’ve learned so much in that short amount of time. Savannah Mae made me realize things I didn’t even know existed within me. I remind myself, I’m no good for her. She deserves someone far better than me. She deserves someone who can give her what she deserves.
I stand and pet the horses one last time before making my way into the house.
I have a restless sleep. That’s a lie. I didn’t sleep. I had a restless night. I couldn’t turn my thoughts off long enough to fall asleep. I kept thinking of that note, that picture, and the look of devastation on Savannah Mae’s face. Or was it fear? She couldn’t think that I would ever hurt her or her son, could she?
In the morning after the animals are fed, I shower and get ready for work. Momma is up making breakfast and Pops is watching the news.
“Any news on Sawyer Jackson?” Momma asks as I reach over and pour a cup of coffee.
“No, I haven’t heard anything.” I don’t want to tell Momma about the note or the picture. I also don’t want to lie to Momma, so I tell her the half truth. I didn’t hear anything, so therefore, it’s not a lie.
“I sure hope they find out what’s wrong with him. When you go to work, I’ll go to the hospital and sit with Savannah Mae.” She removes the biscuits from the oven, and stirs a pot of sausage gravy.
I don’t look at Momma, I look at my coffee instead. “Ethan was there last night. They might want some time alone with Sawyer Jackson.” Not a total lie, because Ethan was there last night. Whatever makes you feel better, Abel. I don’t want Momma going to the hospital with Savannah Mae, and I don’t want Momma to see that picture or the note.
Momma stops and looks at me. “Really? They called him all day yesterday and he never once answered or called anyone back.”
Looking at Momma, I quickly lift my coffee cup to my lips. “I called him last night, and he answered. He sounded surprised to hear that Sawyer Jackson was admitted into the hospital.” I take a drink of my coffee. “When I left last night, he was pulling in.” That was all the truth. I drink my coffee and pray she doesn’t say anything else. I don’t know how much longer I can answer her questions in a roundabout way.
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe they need some time as a family. You goin’ up after work?”
You’re killin me. “If I get off in time.” That’s the truth,
because I plan to work well into the night. I won’t get off early and that’ll be my excuse to not go see Savannah Mae or Sawyer Jackson.
Pops walks into the room, and sits across from me. Momma sets a plate of food in front of Pops and says, “I was gonna make chili for dinner, but maybe I’ll make it for lunch and bring it down to the old school.”
“That’s a great idea, Nelly. The fellas would like something hot in their bellies.”
We sit down and have breakfast together. The conversation is about work and the plans for the old schoolhouse. I’m thankful when there is no talk of Savannah Mae. I should be honest and upfront with Momma, but I don’t want to hurt her. She doesn’t need to be reminded of my ugly past. She’ll blame herself for my bad actions and poor judgment.
Pops and I drive down the steep driveway to the old Rose Farm school. I can feel him looking at me, but he doesn’t say anything. I know he would understand, but I’m not ready to talk about it. I need to focus on finding out who is stalking me and Savannah Mae, and getting Savannah Mae back. But first, I need to focus on work.
Just as many men show up to work this morning. I’m thankful and surprised when I see each vehicle pull into the old schoolhouse. We have coffee and talk about the work I would like to see done today. As soon as everyone gets an understanding of what’s expected of them, we get to work. Pops oversees the work inside the school and I finish the work outside. Once the last of the firewood is stacked neatly at Savannah Mae’s, I help out inside.
I keep looking over at Savannah Mae’s house, hoping for a glance of her, but she isn’t home. I knew she’d still be at the hospital, but a man can hope, right?
Momma shows up at lunchtime with food, and the guys are all appreciative of a break and a hot meal. As a distraction I walk Momma through the building so she can see the small changes.
“So have you decided what you want to do with the space yet?”
“I want to do a playground with a park setting out back.” I point to an area and say, “Maybe have a basketball court there, some benches over there, and a swing set over here.”
Momma smiles and says, “You gotta have a teeter-totter and a merry-go-round. A childhood ain’t complete without those.”
Smiling at the thought of Levi’s and my childhood, and the fun times we had at the playground at the Crooksville Swimming Pool, I say, “Yeah, you’re right. Every child needs to experience a well-equipped playground.”
Momma turns around and looks at the large empty building. “Have any plans for in here, yet?”
“None for sure, but I do want to get a large plaque and hang it over the outside of the door.”
“Why you gonna hang a plaque when you have no idea what the business is gonna be?”
I look at her and smile. “I was wanting to dedicate the building to our friend Larry Adams.”
Momma’s smile fades as she remembers Larry and his untimely death. We had the worst winter these parts have seen in decades, and Larry was the one and only casualty related to the blizzard. I see a tear in her eyes and she quickly wipes it away.
“Abel Lee, that is a wonderful idea. I hope you know you always make me proud.”
Savannah Mae
I continue to sit in the chair watchin’ over my sick son. Ethan sits on the chair on the other side of the hospital bed. I’m still angry with him for not bein’ here sooner. I’m also angry with Abel Lee and myself. I try hard to focus only on my sick son. His health is the most important thing in my life.
Ethan interrupts my thoughts with a sad voice, “I’m sorry, Savannah Marie. I swear that I didn’t get any of the messages you said you left.” I just look up at him. I have nothin’ to say. After a few minutes he says, “You have to know that I would have been here the minute I knew he was admitted.”
“Ethan, look,” I say. I have so much to say and I’m sick and tired of bein’ made to look naive and stupid. “I know you’re movin’ on. I know about the baby, and I know that sooner or later, you won’t have time for Sawyer Jackson. So, just cut the crap, now.” I stare at Ethan and don’t take my eyes off of his. “I called you, I left messages on your phone, and I talked to Heather Sue, and I told her what was going on. If you didn’t want to come, then man up and admit it.” There, I said everything I was thinking. Do I feel better? Damn right, I do.
“Baby? What baby?”
Is he really gonna make me say it? I just wanna cry. I can hear the crack in my voice before I even say anything. I sit up closer to the bed so I’m closer to him.
“Your baby. Heather Sue told me about the baby on New Year’s Eve.” There, I said it.
He thinks for a moment before he leans up further in his seat. “Savannah Mae, I don’t know what’s goin’ on, but there’s no baby. Heather Sue’s not pregnant, and I have no idea where that came from.”
I watch him and look for a sign that he’s lyin’ to me. I don’t see anything that would indicate a lie. He normally blinks fast or twitches. Instead, he holds my gaze. My mind can’t process what this means. Did she lie about being pregnant? Why? Why would someone lie about such a thing?
“Have you spoken to her today?” I finally ask.
“When I got home from work, she was there. I showered and checked my phone for messages since I forgot it this morning.”
“She didn’t tell you I called?”
“No, she didn’t say anything about you or Sawyer Jackson.”
“And she isn’t pregnant?”
“No, how many times to need to make that clear?”
I think for a minute and I think that I believe him. “It sounds like you have bigger problems than I do.”
“What does that mean?”
I’m not gonna tell him about Abel Lee and me.
“Nothin’,” I say quickly. “You might want to have a talk with ‘Little Miss Liar.’”
“Trust me. I intend to.”
Abel Lee
I watch as Johnny gets off of the school bus. He smiles and waves when he sees me. “You still needin’ help?” He yells from several yards away.
“If you’re wanting to work.”
“I’ll be right there,” he yells as he runs into his house.
After a short time, Johnny, dressed for work and ready to work, joins us. We work inside removing any and all removable fixtures. I was going to throw the old doors and cabinets away, but some of the guys asked to take them home. I didn’t think that these items were still in good enough shape to salvage, but maybe they are in better shape than what some people are already using. We line everything up along the wall and at the end of the day, nothing is left. What the guys couldn’t use inside of their homes, they’ll use in their garages or barns. It’s good to see that everything is usable by someone.
After I pay everyone and they leave, Johnny asks, “You stayin’ to work a little longer?”
“I thought I would, why?”
“You need some extra help. Hoping maybe I could work a little while longer.”
“You got homework?”
“No, sir. I already did it on the bus.”
“Go home and eat some dinner, and then we’ll get started when you get back.”
I watch as Johnny looks from the ground to his house. He tucks his hands in his pocket and kicks a rock. It looks like something is on his mind, but I can’t tell what.
“I’d like to keep on workin’ if that’s all right with you.”
I think I know what’s the problem and I pray that I’m wrong.
“Well, Johnny, I’m hungry and I hate to eat alone. How about we go to Peaches and we’ll have our dinner there, together? My treat.”
He smiles, “I do like the food at Peaches. I think that sounds like a mighty fine idea.”
I ask Pops to join us, and he declines. Johnny and I drive over to Peaches Place, after we drop Pops off on the farm. The restaurant is busier than I expected, and I’m excited to see Mia through the large picture window. I’m also thankful for the distraction of Savannah Mae.<
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We walk into the diner and Mia smiles when she sees us. She signals with her free hand for us to sit at an empty booth. We do, and it doesn’t take long for me to decide what I want. I look at Johnny and he doesn’t even look at the plastic menu.
“You already know what you’re having, Johnny?”
“Yes, sir.”
Okay, that was easy. Mia comes over with a big ole smile and a big old belly popping out from under her apron.
“Hey, Johnny and Abel.”
“Hey, Mia,” we say in unison.
I didn’t know that Johnny knew Mia, but I shouldn’t be surprised. It is a small town.
“Can I get you a drink order?”
I look at Johnny and I think I hear his belly growl. “I think we’re ready to order.”
“Oh, okay. Ready whenever you are.”
Johnny goes first with his order. “I’ll have the baked steak with mashed taters and gravy, some green beans, and an extra roll with extra butter.”
“Johnny, you should really try something different sometime. We have other items to choose from,” Mia says as she jots down his order.
“Yes, Ma’am, but I like the baked steak.”
“You havin’ a Pepsi or a coffee tonight?” she asks, waiting for him to answer.
“Coffee’s for the mornin’ time. I’ll have a Pepsi, please.”
Mia looks at me, and the BLT sandwich and salad I was planning on having doesn’t sound near as good as the baked steak. “I’ll have the same.”
“Two heart attacks and two strokes comin’ right up.” She doesn’t laugh but walks away from the table. I laugh to myself. Only a family member could get away with saying something like that in a restaurant. Maybe I should have stuck with my BLT and salad.
Johnny and I sit quietly and drink our pops. I get a feeling that someone’s watching me. I look around the diner and I don’t see anyone I know. I also don’t see anyone looking at me or Johnny. Mia comes over and chats for a few minutes. I was expecting her to say something about Savannah Mae, but I’m glad when she doesn’t.
Rose Farm Trilogy Boxset Page 19
