Page 45 of Justus
“You’llsurvive,” Dare teases.
Somehow,we’ve all ended up down in Dare’s man cave; a large basement room with coucheslining the walls. A huge TV takes up one wall and a line of gaming systems sitbeneath it. Jeremy and Frannie are upstairs arguing about something. I tunedthem out after I heard Frannie scream something at him that sounded like “Ihope you get crabs!”
Zoesighs. “I swear those two are never going to get it together. Too damn stubbornto admit they’re in love.”
“It’sa hard truth to accept.” It’s not until everyone turns to look at me, that Irealize I said it out loud. Damned alcohol. “Yeah, I might be drunk. I’m goingto grab a cab and head home.”
“I’lltake you,” Ayda volunteers, accompanying me upstairs.
Weboth turn to look at each other when we reach the kitchen. Judging by the noisescoming from the guest bedroom, Frannie and Jeremy are fucking out theirdifferences. Our eyes meet and we both dissolve into giggles.
“Guesshe doesn’t have crabs, then,” I remark.
“I’llnever understand those two,” Ayda says, as we walk to the car.
Thefirst few minutes of the drive are quiet until Ayda says, “You didn’t tell meyou were in love with Justus.”
“Idon’t want to be,” I answer honestly. “Especially now that I know he doesn’tfeel the same.” Gazing out the window, I shrug. “He said he did.” Pictures ofhim looking down at me in bed, murmuring that he was falling in love raise thelump in my throat again.
Ayda’shair swishes around her face as she turns her head to look at me. “He said heloved you?”
“Yes,and I know I was stupid to believe it. The guy has women drooling over him fora living. I should’ve known those words wouldn’t mean anything to him.”
“Bullshit!This isn’t your fault. I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but the nexttime I see him, he’s getting my foot shoved up his ass. I warned him when youstarted dating that if he screwed you over, I’d neuter him.”
Silencedescends until I start giggling. I can’t help it. “You said you’d neuter him?”
“Likea leg humping dog.”
Bothof us laugh and I wipe my eyes. “Take a video when you do.”
“Oh,he’ll be a Youtube sensation.”
* * * *
Thenext week drags by. I don’t know what I did or why he has ditched me without aword of explanation, but it’s been three weeks so I’m trying to move on. Aydakeeps trying to convince me that he’s working, that there may be someexplanation. I know that most of what In Safe Hands does has to be kept secret,but that doesn’t mean he can’t pick up a fucking phone, does it?
I’mjust getting home after work when my phone rings, and the sight of my brother’sname on the screen sends a spike of panic through me. He never calls unlesssomething is wrong.
“Doug?”
“Sade,you need to get to the hospital. Now. Mom’s really bad. She had a heart attack,and they’ve got her on a respirator.”
It’sthe call I always knew I’d get, but now that it’s here, I’m not ready. “I’ll beon the first plane out.” He promises to keep me updated before hanging up, andI rush around packing my suitcase, throwing in odds and ends I’ll probablyregret later.
Mygaze falls to the diamond engagement ring sitting on my dresser. I haven’t seenor heard from Justus, and I’ve started to give the ring to Ayda to give back tohim a few times now, but I just couldn’t seem to do it. I guess it’s a goodthing. If Mom is conscious, she needs to see me still wearing it. With a sigh,I slide it back onto my finger, grab my suitcase, purse, and phone, and rushout the door.
Afterhours at the airport, I luck out with a standby ticket and end up sandwichedbetween two elderly ladies who sleep through the whole flight. It’s fine by me,since the last thing I want to do is make small talk right now.
Igrab a cab straight to the hospital from the airport, and find Doug pacing thewaiting room. “Sadie,” he sighs, relief clear in his voice.
“Howis she?”
“Aboutthe same. She opens her eyes every now and then, but with the respirator, shecan’t speak.”
“Whatdid the doctor say?”
“Hedoesn’t know if she’ll recover from the attack, and even if she does, without atransplant.” He wipes his face with his palm. “He says we’re coming to the endof it now. That we should start making…preparations.”
