“We got caught,” she whispers. Fresh tears well up in her eyes. “The police took him away this morning. That bitch Carley Lynch told the principal. I’m sure it’s the best news you’ve heard all day.”
I hold her gaze for a while and then whisper back.
“It’s not,” I say honestly. “I’m so sorry, Jamie.”
She looks away and doesn’t speak for a moment. Then, finally, she does.
“I don’t believe you,” Jamie whispers, so softly I barely hear. Her chin sinks back to her arms.
I remember notes telling me Jamie’s rule about sharing her future. If there will ever be a time to break the rules, it’s now.
“Jamie,” I whisper, “it’s all going to work out okay. I promise.”
Luke and I hold hands as we cut across the parking lot at lunch. There’s a strange absence of wind, and it makes me feel even more unsettled than I already do. It’s too calm for the turbulent day.
“I can’t believe they got caught,” I say to Luke as we climb into his van.
“Uh-huh,” he says with a funny look on his face.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he says.
“I feel really bad for her. I mean, I read my notes; I was pretty upset about their thing. But I can’t believe he’s going to jail. And poor Jamie. She has to go to court. And everyone is going to make fun of her. I remember it.”
“There are worse things you could remember,” Luke says.
“There are worse things I do remember,” I say back, recalling the note about my brother this morning. Right now Jamie’s mistake doesn’t seem so big.
“Good thing it’s the end of the year,” I say.
“Why?” Luke asks as we pull out of the lot.
“It’ll die down by next year,” I report. “Jamie’s going to be back to normal by then. Mostly.”
I sigh the heavy sigh of knowing what’s to come.
“It’s nice out,” Luke says, changing the subject. “Would a picnic make you feel better?”
“Yes,” I say, imagining lying in the grass, staring at him all lunch period. “Yes, I think it would.”
“Want to ask Jamie to come with us?” Luke offers.
“You’re so sweet,” I say. “That’s a great idea.” I pull out my phone and text the invitation; Jamie immediately writes back. Progress.
Home for lunch; forgot a book. Thanks though. Really. It means a lot.
I smile and text back. Anytime, J.
“Is she coming?” Luke asks.
“Nope, it’s just us.”
Ten minutes later, I’m waiting for Luke in his minivan in the grocery store parking lot while he buys food.
I wish he’d hurry up.
The springtime sun beats down on me through the windshield, and the heat and the stillness slow my breathing, relax my muscles, and muddy my focus. I’m in a daze as I watch a young mother carry her baby inside the store and come out a few minutes later with a box of diapers. A tall man and a short woman rush through the automatic doors, the man checking his watch as he walks. Two children, seemingly without supervision, run through the parking lot and into the store. I wonder where their mother is as I roll my heavy head to the left.