Page 24 of Saving Gavin

Chapter 11

Lauren

We’vespentthelast few weeks going out and doing everyday things. Now Gavin has Gem, his Seeing Eye dog, with him permanently, it's time to teach him life skills.

Grocery shopping will be pretty easy because he can make a list and have groceries delivered. He needs cooking practice and help navigating new places, both of which are on today's agenda.

Since Lexi and Noah live next door to Oakside, they've been gracious enough to let us use their kitchen while Gavin learns how to cook for himself. But to do that, we have to go out and get the needed items. While I'm shopping with him, Gem will have a good lesson in getting along and learning new places.

It will be hard not to intervene and allow Gem to guide Gavin, but the more they do together, the better he'll do in the long run—even though it means he’s doing it without me. That's not something I want to think about.

"Have you thought about what you want to make for dinner tonight?" I ask Gavin.

Gem comes up to me as I enter his room. She sniffs my hand and lets me pet her head, giving me a few kisses before returning to Gavin. She and I have become friends when she's not working.

"I was thinking stick to the basics,” Gavin says. “I was going to suggest spaghetti as it's the one thing I can make well, and it should be easy enough. Plus, it’s Monday."

Sheer panic hits me. Does he know about Graham? But then the memories of our spaghetti Mondays when we were together fill my mind. It's something small, but it was a way to give Graham a piece of his dad. I want to tell Gavin about his son so badly.

But I decided to wait until after my trip to Arizona to visit my parents. I need to tell them Gavin is back, and I want to do it in person. Plus, I want Graham to enjoy this trip and not be focused on the time he's missing with his dad.

I also have interviews lined up while I'm there, which will complicate everything.

"Spaghetti sounds great. I'll let you and Gem get ready and meet you on the front porch."

Once on the porch, I go through my emails and verify our flight information for our trip to Arizona in a couple of weeks. Then I correspond with my dad about the logistics of my mom’s birthday surprise. Which reminds me, I need to let Gavin know I'll be missing a few of our appointments.

Once Gavin meets me on the porch and we get situated in the car with Gem riding in the back seat, I figure now is as good a time as any to let him know about the appointments I'll be missing.

"My mom's birthday is in a couple of weeks, and I'm heading out to Arizona to surprise her, so I’ll be missing a Friday and a Monday appointment with you. I have it on your calendar at Oakside, and your nurse will remind you, but I wanted to give you a heads up."

"When did your parents move to Arizona?"

"A few months after I graduated from school. They stayed to help me through school, but my grandparents needed help, and the timinglined up perfectly. I moved in with my friend, Faith, and lived with her for a year before I got my own place."

"I'm surprised they waited that long. I seem to remember they had plans to go as soon as you graduated high school because you had plans to live in the dorm. They told me a few times they only stayed here for you to finish school."

He's right. Those were the plans, but they changed when I found out I was pregnant. I put off school for a semester, and there was no way I could have a baby in the dorm, so I lived at home and drove to school every day. Fortunately, Faith was willing to live with Graham and me while I got on my feet. But none of this is anything I can tell him, so I give him a partial version of the truth.

"The summer after we graduated, they started looking and made a few trips out there, but in the end, they didn't find exactly what they were looking for and decided to build something. Of course, that took a bit longer."

"Where did they finally settle down?"

"Just north of Sedona, between Sedona and Flagstaff. They still have the beautiful red rock views, and they go to Flagstaff for the day. Phoenix makes a great weekend trip for them to get away and hit the casinos."

As I park the car, I sense his nerves kick in and place a hand on his arm.

"You have to trust Gem. I'll be right here, and I won't let anything happen. The more you trust Gem to do her job, the better off you'll both be."

"I know."

"But easier said than done?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.

Gavin nods.

I get out of the car and wait for him to do the same. He and Gem get into a good rhythm. After the first two aisles, she knows to follow me, and I use fewer vocal commands about where I'm going.

Gavin gets a few stares from people shopping, but I think it's more for having a dog in the grocery store than anything else. All in all, it’s best he can't see them.

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