Page 53 of Jackson
16
Summer
“Will you eatsomething?”
“I don’t think I can, Alfie. But thank you. Have you heard fromhim?”
I paced their living room. Dexter and Alfie had a beautiful beachfront house, not far from the shack. I was surprised when Dex decided I was to stay with him for a day or so. I hadn’t expected Alfie to open the front door when D-J had dropped me off. And judging by the photographs of them both that adorned every available shelf, it was clear they were acouple.
“A drink then? I don’t think we have tea but I can make some lemonade. And no, not yet. Dex will call soon, I’msure.”
“A cold drink would begreat.”
“Come sit outside,” hesaid.
I followed him through the small kitchen and onto the deck. Like Jackson’s, it opened up onto the beach, although way down thecoastline.
“You have a beautiful home,” I said as I sat on a wickersofa.
“Thank you, even though it’s much smaller than our previous one, it suitsus.”
“Was that in NewOrleans?”
“Yes, we lost our home, like many others in the last hurricane. It was just too much to start over, so Dex decided he wanted to run a bar and we came here. Ironic that an alcoholic wants to run a bar,” he said andchuckled.
“I wasn’t aware ofthat.”
“Oh, he won’t mind me telling you. He’s been sober for a long time now, might have the odd beer, but that’s all. So Jackson’s on a downer ishe?”
“Seems that way, however, before I came here, I didn’t know anything aboutit.”
“I’m not the therapist here, but I’d say keep the man you know and love in your mind, not the one you’ve seenlately.”
“That’s the problem, Alfie, I don’t know him. I thought I did, but the Jackson I knew in the UK isn’t the real one. Or is it? I just have no ideaanymore.”
“Did you love Jackson when you knew him in theUK?”
“Not like I do now. He was a greatfriend.”
“Then my guess is; the Jackson you know is the one you love now, flaws and all. I don’t know his issues, Summer, Dex doesn’t betray their confidence but it’s not hard to see he’s a wonderful man with some serious problems. I’ve seen him on a low before, and I know what he does to himself. If Dex has such belief in him, and I’ve never known Dex to be wrong about someone, then he’s all good in mymind.”
I smiled up at him. He had a point. The Jackson I knew back home was a million miles away from the man just along the beach, and I ached to be with him. I was still upset, I was still angry, but there was something in me that needed him—and he neededme.
“I’ve got some chores to do, will you be okay for a while?” heasked.
I nodded my head and curled my legs under me on the sofa. I looked out to sea, the coastline was slightly different and not so popular with the tourists I imagined, and the beach was empty. I placed my earbuds in and left my music on shuffle. The album Jackson had download started to play. Tears welled in my eyes as memories connected with the songs, flooded my mind; the time we’d danced in the kitchen; the time he’d sung to me. My head was telling me to scroll on past, my heart wouldn’t let me. I closed my eyes and absorbed everyword.
A hand on my shoulder jolted me awake. I hadn’t realised I’d fallen asleep until then. I pulled the earbudsout.
“Hey, how are you doing? Is Alfie looking after you?” Dextersaid.
“He is, he popped out to do some chores. I think he’s a wonderful and caring man,” Isaid.
“I think so, too. He has to be to put up with me.” Dexter chuckled at hiscomment.
For a moment we sat and looked at each other. “So, how is he?” Iasked.
Dexter sighed before he answered. “He threw away his blade. That caused his anxiety attack. He’s had that blade since he was eleven years old and having it beside his bed has been, strangely, a source of comfort. We need to replace that. I’ve told him todraw.”
