My Forever Valentine

by Melody Heck Gatto

  She was a hands-on type of girl, and all of these papers were making her eyes crossed. Harley was the odd-bird that would prefer an oral presentation over a written paper any day. Most of her classmates leaned the other way.

  Sitting back, she took a quick break while she enjoyed her second coffee. Out of habit, she looked around the coffee shop, wishing Spencer might walk in.

  “Harley!” Lily called, startling her so much that she almost spilled her coffee.

  Turning to the doorway, she saw her friend rushing into the café, out of breath, and Lily’s face was filled with worry. Adding to the strangeness of Lily’s entrance, a duffle bag hung on her shoulder.

  “Lil? You okay?”

  “No. I mean, yes. I’m fine, but it’s Spencer. I mean, he’s fine too, well, physically.” She said in a rush, and with a huff, sat down in a chair across from Harley.

  Harley had never seen her friend flustered like this before.

  “Sorry, I ran all the way from the bus stop. I need a second so I can think straight.”

  “Lily, what’s happened to Spencer? What do you mean, he’s fine physically?”

  Lily put up a finger to sign that she needed a moment, while she calmed her rapid breaths.

  Harley was on the edge of her seat, her heart racing and her thoughts all over the place. Why did Lily have a packed duffle? And for whom? What had happened that had her friend rushing from work to pack a bag in the middle of the day?

  After a few moments, Lily regained her composure. She took a deep breath before she continued. “Harley, it’s Spencer’s Dad.”

  Cold ran through Harley’s body at Lily’s words. “What about his dad?” She wasn’t sure that she even wanted to hear the answer.

  “He had a heart attack.”

  Harley’s heart dropped into her stomach like a rock. Even being estranged from him, she still cared for Spencer, and she really liked his parents. Turning to her computer, she simply stared at the words she’d already written, afraid to even look at Lily.

  “Is he... okay?” Harley didn’t want to hear the words she thought Lily was going to say. Her stomach flopped while she waited for Lily to answer.

  “Yes. Thank goodness. He was very lucky. They were able to work on him as soon as the ambulance brought him in.”

  Harley felt as though she had been holding her breath for an eternity waiting to find out if Mr. Wilson was okay. Allowing her lungs to fill with fresh air again, she took a moment to regroup emotionally.

  “Good. I’m glad to hear that. When did it happen?”

  “Earlier today. I guess Zane and Spencer hurried right out there. I talked to Zane while I was still at work.”

  “Well, I hope the guys are doing okay. How is Mrs. Wilson handling things?”

  “I don’t really know. But they need us. So grab your stuff. I already stopped at the apartment and packed some clothes. Let’s get on the road!”

  Harley heard Lily’s words but didn’t comprehend what she was saying. She wants me to what? “Wait, what?”

  “Let’s go.” Lily closed Harley’s laptop and started packing up her notebooks. “Zane needs me, and Spencer needs you.”

  “But I have to work, and I have a paper due tomorrow.” She felt stupid saying it, even as the words came out of her mouth. She didn’t value her job and turning in her paper more than being there for their friends. But before she could explain her comment, Lily smiled, telling her she already knew what she meant.

  “Don’t you mean Friday? Tomorrow is Thursday,” Lily asked, ignoring the absurdity of Harley’s complaint.

  “No. It’s due tomorrow. And, yes, I am aware that tomorrow is Thursday.”

  “Who makes a paper due on a Thursday? Whatever. We need to go. C’mon.” Lily grabbed her arm and pulled Harley out of the coffee shop. “You can call your boss on the way, and email your professor to request an extension due to the circumstances.”

  Harley shook Lily off her. “Before you pull my arm off, how are we getting there? We don’t have a car. That’s a long drive for a rideshare.”

  “The bus. I already bought the tickets. Zane will pick us up once we’re there.”

  ZANE PICKED THEM UP in Spencer’s SUV, and Harley felt like a third wheel, sitting in the back while Lily sat in the front with Zane. She knew why she had wanted to come—her friends needed her. But why did she think it would be okay? Spencer had been avoiding her, hadn’t even spoken to her in days. Would he even want her there?

  “Just a head’s up, Harley. Spencer doesn’t know you’re both coming,” Zane pointed out.

  “Where does he think you are right now? Running out to get milk?” Harley asked, in her oh-so-sarcastic way.

  “You sound more and more like my cousin each day,” Zane teased. “He’s still at the hospital with my aunt, so he’s not missing me.”

  “How is your uncle doing?” Harley asked. A rock sat in her stomach. She should be asking Spencer these questions.

  “He’s okay. It’s just been a really long day. Harley, thanks for coming out. I appreciate it, and I know my aunt will, too.”

  She nodded, not really knowing what else there was to say. She knew Lily probably had a million things she wanted to ask Zane. Harley checked her emails to see if her professor had replied to her request for an extension. It had been approved, but only until midnight Thursday. It wasn’t a lot, but at least it was something, considering the Wilsons weren’t actual relatives. Quietly sitting in the backseat, she stared at her phone. Do I text him? Let him know I’m coming? She didn’t know the answer to that. But she needed him to know she was thinking about him and his family. She typed a short and to-the-point text message and hit send before she could give it too much thought.

  Harley: Spence, how’s your Dad? How are you?

  A few minutes went by with no response. Finally, she had a text notification.

  Spencer: He’s okay. Recovering. Thanks for asking, Har.

  Maybe she should’ve led with the news that she was on her way to him. Butterflies danced in her stomach for the rest of the drive to the house.

  Pulling into the driveway, Mrs. Wilson’s car was parked in the driveway, and the lights were on in the house.

  Harley felt as though she were moving in slow motion as they made their way up the walkway and into the house. Her heart was racing, and as much as she wanted to see Spencer, she wasn’t sure he wanted to see her.

  “Girls!” Mrs. Wilson called wearily as soon as they walked in the door. “I’m so glad to see you both!” She wrapped her arms around each of them, hugging them tightly.

  “Hi Mrs. Wilson. How are you doing?” Lily asked.

  “Dear, I am hanging in there.” She beckoned them inside. “Please come in. No need to be standing around in the doorway. It’s cold out there.” She closed the door behind them, and leaned back against it as though she were drained of all her energy. “Mr. Wilson sure gave us a scare. But I’m sure he’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.”

  Spencer sat on the couch watching television, and he looked lost. His gaze was on the television, but he didn’t appear to be really watching it. Once he looked up at Harley, his expression changed to shock. He didn’t speak, but his face said everything that he didn’t.

  This was what she was worried about.

  “Girls, if you don’t mind, I’m in the middle of preparing dinner for tomorrow, and I could really use some help.”

  “Aunt Alice, they just got here.” Zane laughed. “Can I at least borrow Lily for a few minutes to say hello and take their bags upstairs? It’s been a long day. And I think we can survive on pizza delivery tomorrow.”

  “Nonsense!” his aunt quickly countered his dinner idea.

  “I’ll help, Mrs. Wilson,” Harley offered, knowing Lily would want a quiet moment with Zane.

  Mrs. Wilson beamed. “Good! Follow me.”

  “I figured you would still be at the hospital,” she said, while following Mrs. Wilson to the kitchen. Trying not to be rude, she fl
ashed Spencer a small smile. He responded with a head nod. It was the strangest and coldest interaction they’d ever had. Even counting when she was dating Isaac.

  She hated how badly it hurt.

  “We were there for most of the day, and as it turns out, the hospital doesn’t allow spouses to stay overnight.” Mrs. Wilson grabbed a dish towel from the stovetop and wrung it in her hands. Her smile seemed forced when she turned back to Harley and continued. “In any case, Spencer’s Dad was tired. He convinced us to leave so he could try to get some sleep. If you know Spencer’s dad, he doesn’t like anyone to make a fuss.”

  “Oh.” Harley wasn’t sure how to respond. This entire situation was something new to her. A family coming together to support one another, not to mention that she and Lily were now considered part of that family.

  “May I ask why you’re making such a big dinner? I’d think Zane’s idea of ordering pizza would be less work.”

  “Well, cooking keeps me busy, and with you kids home, you’ll need to eat. And I don’t know if Sp... Zane told you. But if all goes well, Mr. Wilson can come home Friday. I’ll get the food prepared tonight so tomorrow we can just pop it in the oven and have a nice warm meal.”

  Harley still didn’t understand why Mrs. Wilson wanted the huge dinner after her husband had suffered a heart attack. Shouldn’t she be...well, Harley didn’t know how people reacted to situations like this.

  “I’m glad that the guys could be here for you.” She didn’t know what else to say.

  “Yes, I am a very lucky woman to have boys like that. But between you and me, Spencer is not handling this so well. Sure, he looks fine, but he’s my boy and I know that he’s not okay. Coming home without his dad tonight was especially hard on him. And I know he’s a grown man, but he’s hurting.”

  Her heart ached for him. Harley carefully sliced carrots, keeping her head down, looking at what was in front of her instead of meeting Mrs. Wilson’s glance, and she simply said, “I think you’re right, and I don’t know what to do for him.”

  “Dear, you’ve already done it. You’re here.” Mrs. Wilson added, “Dear, could you please give the sauce a good stir? And be careful, the stove is very hot.”

  Harley nodded. But she still wasn’t so sure about Spencer. As she finished stirring the sauce she said, “If it’s okay with you, I think I’m going to go upstairs and get settled.”

  “Sure, dear. It’s been a long day for all of us.” Mrs. Wilson hugged her. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Harley was going to talk to Spencer before she went upstairs, but she was surprised to only see Lily and Zane in the living room.

  The disappointment must’ve shown on her face, because Zane spoke up. “He’s in the basement beating up the punching bag.”

  “It’s fine.” She forced a smile. “I’m turning in. See you guys tomorrow.”

  Once in the guest room, Harley closed the door. As she lay in bed trying to fall asleep, her heart ached for Spencer. But it hurt more that he wasn’t letting her in. Or more to the point, shutting her out.

  Tomorrow she’d go to the hospital and be the support that he needed, whether he liked it or not.

  BY THE TIME SHE MADE her way downstairs the next morning, Spencer and his mom were already at the hospital. Harley and Lily caught a ride with Zane and stopped off for doughnuts at the request of his aunt.

  Zane dropped off the doughnuts at the nurse’s station, and as they walked towards Mr. Wilson’s room, Harley spotted Spencer in the family waiting area.

  “I’m going to go see Spencer.”

  Zane and Lily continued, hand in hand, into the hospital room.

  “Spencer?” she questioned, as she sat down beside him. “What are you doing out here? Is your dad okay?”

  “Yeah,” he replied flatly. “They took him for tests.”

  Spencer wasn’t making this easy, but she refused to stop trying. “You didn’t want to sit with your mom?”

  “I just needed to get out of that room.”

  “Oh, okay.” Even if he refused to let her in, she was going to be here for him.

  He stared into the waiting room. “She’s just so calm.”

  “Your mom?”

  He nodded. “I don’t get it.”

  “Spence, how are you doing?”

  For the first time since she’d sat down, he looked over at her. “Harley, I really don’t feel like talking about this. Okay?”

  His eyes were empty, and he looked so far away as he spoke to her. But his words hit her like a dagger. Maybe he was trying to push her away. Still, she wasn’t going to give up on him so easily. It was obvious that he needed her, even if they just sat here in silence.

  “Yeah, sure.”

  And that was the last either of them said for about an hour. In any other circumstance, Harley might have pushed him to talk to her, to air out whatever had come between them. But this wasn’t the time or the place, and out of respect to Spencer and what he was going through, she had to set those feelings aside.

  Harley watched nurses and doctors pass by them, and visitors come and go, all while they sat beside one another in silence. A television in the corner was on with no volume. She stared at the picture for somewhere to direct her attention. Refusing to leave his side, regardless of his reaction to her being there, sounded like a good idea. Follow through was more difficult. She wanted nothing more than to hold him and comfort him. Instead, they sat with a good foot or so of uneasiness between them.

  Finally, seeing Mr. Wilson being wheeled back into his room broke some of the tension.

  “C’mon,” Spencer said, standing without looking back at her. He hurried into his dad’s hospital room.

  Harley followed. Wanting to give the family space, she backed into a far corner and a chill ran through her as she looked around the room. Now she understood why Spencer didn’t want to wait in here. There were so many machines, and even though his dad wasn’t hooked up to some of them, it was extremely intimidating with all the beeping.

  “Lily! Harley! Nice to see you ladies. I’m just sorry for the circumstances,” Mr. Wilson said with a forced jolliness from his hospital bed.

  “It’s nice to see you, too, Mr. Wilson,” Lily said, as she moved towards the bed.

  Harley was feeling lightheaded. A weird sensation ran through her, something she’d never felt before. Seeing Lily and Zane stand by Mr. Wilson’s side, with Mrs. Wilson sitting at the other side of his bed and Spencer intently watching his dad, she knew what the odd feeling in her gut was. It was worry, and maybe concern. She was scared for Spencer’s dad, and for Spencer.

  “Harley, why are you all the way in the corner? Come closer. I can’t be yelling across the room. And only because I don’t think my neighbors would like it, not because I can’t. Did you know that the blockage I had was what they call the widow maker? Imagine that, not even the widow maker can take me out!” He winced as he chuckled.

  “Dad!” Spencer complained.

  A nurse quietly entered the room to check his dad’s vitals and spent some time comparing the machines to her patient chart.

  Mr. Wilson was the master of the ‘Dad-Joke’, a real comedian. He was making it very clear that even a heart attack couldn’t take his spirit away from him.

  “Spencer, I told you, I feel fine. I’m not even hooked up to some of these machines anymore. I went for a little walk down the hall this morning, with help of course, and I was sitting in the chair watching television before you got here. They even said I get to come home tomorrow.” His dad nodded and looked hopefully towards the nurse.

  She nodded with a friendly smile. “That’s right. It does say that on your chart.”

  “Tomorrow? No, that can’t be right,” Spencer disputed.

  “Since we did go in through his arm versus his groin, if all goes well, Mr. Wilson should be able to go home Friday. We’ll double check with the doctor tomorrow morning, but think positive.” She added the end with a wink directed at his dad.
r />   “Friday? That’s only two days,” Spencer responded indignantly. “I still think that’s too early.”

  The nurse nodded. “As long as his stats keep improving, Friday is his target discharge day.”

  His mom touched his arm. “Dear, they know what they’re doing.”

  “Spence, you’ve been here all day. Maybe you could take these ladies back to the house, or maybe out for lunch?” Mr. Wilson suggested.

  “I prefer to stay here,” Spencer said, his tone stubborn.

  Watching Spencer dig his heels in, not wanting to move from his dad’s side, Harley knew this is where he needed to be. Not worrying about them. After all, she was here to make sure he was okay, not the other way around. “That’s okay. We can take an Uber.”

  “Are you sure, dear?” Mrs. Wilson grimaced, not looking convinced.

  “Absolutely. It’s not a problem. And I have a paper to finish, anyway,” Harley insisted. She wasn’t doing any good here right now, and it was probably best to give Spencer space and time with his dad.

  “Are you okay?” Lily asked her, as they walked out of the hospital.

  Harley wasn’t okay. “Lil, he just sat there, barely even looked at me. I don’t know what to do anymore.” She wasn’t one to give up, but the way she felt right now, she wasn’t sure she had the strength to fight.

  “You’re here; that’s what counts.”

  “Is it? I’m not so sure.” She knew Lily meant well, but just being here didn’t seem to be enough. “I just don’t know what I can do to help him.”

  All she wanted to do was pull him close and hold him. She wanted to make this all better. She wanted him to know she was there for him to lean on, cry on, talk to, whatever he needed. If she could give him one thing, it would be a sense of comfort in all of his uncertainty. But most of all, she wanted him back in her life.

  Just then her phone buzzed with a text message.

  Spencer: Thanks Har.

  Lily looked over at Harley’s phone. Gloating, she said, “Huh, looks like you being here is exactly what he needs.”