Without another word, I walk into the hall, closing the door to give David some privacy. He opens the door a few minutes later, and stops in front of me on his way down the hall. He places a gentle hand on my shoulder, and I meet his steady gaze head on.
“Have someone call me if…you know. I’ll come right over,” he says and I nod my head in affirmation. “It’s been wonderful getting to know you over the past year Tatum, and I can’t even express how touched my mother would be to know you felt comfortable enough to share your emotions with her the way you just did. Thank you for all you’ve done for my family. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around, kiddo.” He squeezes my shoulder once more, before continuing his way down the hall.
My feet are cemented to the floor, and after a few minutes of soaking in his gratitude, I find my way back into Monica’s room, sinking back down onto the floor where I cry.
I’m interrupted a few times throughout the night, as the nurse comes in to check on Monica every couple of hours. Around midnight, I had dozed off, and woke up to this awful choking sound coming from the bed. Mrs. Marsden was still asleep, but when she breathed, her chest made this dreadful gurgling sound, like the sound of a child blowing bubbles through a straw into a thick milkshake. After calling the nurse down, she informed me Monica was experiencing what is termed ‘the death rattle.” The name gives me all sorts of comfort. She told me it doesn’t hurt, and Monica’s body is slowly beginning to shut down. She gave me some sponges to help keep Monica’s mouth moist with water, and told me to call if I need anything.
Kelsey also pokes her head in every so often, making sure I’m alright, and helping me to change Monica’s soiled briefs.
We both take a break for some fresh air, and for the first time in a year, I bum a smoke from her. It’d be nice to feel the warm comfort of a blade, but I can’t even consider doing that here. Smoking a cigarette is my only option that won’t make my coworkers look at me as though I belong in an insane asylum.
Igniting the first puff, I can feel the nicotine coursing through my veins, down to the tips of my fingers and swirling around my head. I close my eyes against the rush of poison, reminding myself with each exhale I’m releasing some of the tension from the night. I revel in the familiar scent of burning tobacco, thankful I have something to use as a reprieve. We don’t speak, Kelsey and me. I love her for that. She saw my red rimmed eyes and knows this is hard for me.
Returning to Monica’s room feels different. The clock on her nightstand shows 5:43 in bright green glowing numbers. Scooting up to sit beside her on the bed, I’m overcome with this feeling that it’s time. I don’t know how I know that, but I do. I can feel it in the room, in my skin, in my freaking soul. If I believed in this sort of thing, I’d swear the Grim Reaper was standing in this very room.
I grab her hand, listening to the slowing of her rattling, shallow breathes, and I begin to comb my fingers through her hair.
“It’s okay, Monica,” I whisper quietly, my eyes fixated on her motionless face. “Everyone is okay here. David and the kids are doing just fine. He told me he’s feeling very peaceful.” I feel her hand move softly within mine. I know she can hear me, so I keep talking. “I’m sure you’re afraid, but you don’t need to be. I’m here with you, and I’m not leaving.”
So suddenly it frightens me, her eyes snap open, fixating on something just beyond my shoulder. She’s holding my hand tightly, her eyes wide, round with fear, and she takes in a deep rattling breath.
“Monica, I’m here. It’s okay. You can let go now…it’s okay,” I tell her, although I’m terrified at what I’m witnessing. My own heart rate kicks up as I try to put myself in her place and imagine what she’s experiencing.
And just as suddenly as she awoke, her face changes. Her eyes soften, almost as if the fear is melting away, and her grip loosens on my hand. She takes one last deep breath and just before her eyes close, she smiles.
Holy shit.
She’s gone.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Mr. Ryan
Four missed calls, two missed voicemails. Now that he’s made contact, Brent has been trying to reach me all day, and I’m thankful my phone was turned to silent in my brief case.
It’s been two years since I had to lose the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’ve spent two years running. The wounds haven’t healed; they tear open with even the slightest thought of her. Any mention of her name sends my skin prickling into goose bumps, even now. I know I should call them back, deal with what’s bound to come, but I just can’t. I’m not ready yet, not prepared to revisit a pain so harsh it’s tucked down into the deepest corners of my being. Resonates within my soul each time her face crosses my mind.
So I delete the messages without listening and erase the calls. I hit the gym for the second time today and for now, pretend they don’t exist.
When I do get home after a rough cardio session, I revisit the email Melissa sent earlier. Snatching a cold brew from my fridge, I load the message on my laptop and sink into the leather recliner. Rereading the email, it’s not hard to see between the lines. Never before has she reached out in such a personal way, and I know she wants more. She makes it so obvious that she wants more.
I could be a dick about it. Looking at the full body image of her in a provocative pose, scantily clad in a thin lace bra and matching panties, makes it so easy to be a dick. Here she is throwing herself at me, when she should know it’s not necessary. Desperate women don’t do it for me. I could make an exception, keep using her the way she’s using me. Instead, I dig deep for my integrity and dial her number on my cell.
“Hey there, Jack,” she purrs, using her nickname for me. I bite down on the callous remark and try to handle this as nicely as possible.
“Hi, Melissa, look we need to talk.”
“Do you want me to come over? I could be there in five,” she says, and I know that’s a horrible idea.
“No, I don’t want you to come over.” I’m certain I can hear her pout through the phone. Make it quick, dumbass. “Look, that email you sent? It was too much. I promised myself I wouldn’t keep doing this with you if I thought you wanted more from me, and it’s been made pretty clear that you do.”
“It’s not that,” she whines, desperately trying to sink her claws into me. “I don’t want more. I’m happy with what we have.”
“I don’t think you are. This is over, Melissa. I don’t want to hurt you,” I sigh, because I really didn’t. I thought we had been on the same page with our arrangement. Apparently, I was wrong.
“And you don’t think that this hurts me, Jacoby?” Her breath shudders on my name, and I’m certain she’s crying now. Damnit.
“I’m sorry if this hurts you, but it’s going to hurt a lot more if we keep up the charades. This is over, Mel. I’m sorry.” I disconnect the call before she can say anything else.
Taking a long slow pull of my beer, I groan when my cell immediately starts buzzing in my hand. Preparing to unleash my frustrations on Melissa, I’m surprised to see Brent’s number flash on my screen. “God damnit!” I call out to no one, chucking my phone into the opposite wall. It shatters it into several pieces. I need to get out of here. Chugging my beer first, I grab my coat and car keys, and head out to find a distraction.
After driving around town for an hour, somehow I wind up at a pub called Old Willow roughly 10 miles south of town. The building is worn and squat looking with several heavily frosted windows lining the front. Inside, the pub smells of cigarettes, both new and old, even though smoking is illegal indoors in Minnesota. The air is dark and dusty inside.
Spotting a vacant stool on the far left corner of the bar, I take a seat, ordering a whiskey neat to start off my night. Mindful of the fact I have school tomorrow, I promise myself not to have more than a few drinks to unwind before calling it a night.