But there was no one.
Just me and a boy who hated me.
God, what would Dad say if he knew I’d picked a fight with women in a hospital of all places? How on earth would I sit in a truck next to Jacob when his temper was so frayed even the car park wasn’t big enough for the two of us?
More tears came, but these weren’t born from anger. They were created from fear. Fear of going too far. Fear of ruining our friendship before it had even begun.
“Jacob, I’m…I’m sorry.”
His shoulders came up, barricading my apology.
“Please, I wasn’t intruding. I was—”
He slammed to a stop. His voice strangled. “Grandpa. Wh-what are you doing here?”
And just like that, I was no longer the worst part of Jacob’s day.
I skidded to a halt a few steps behind him, locked in place as the gruff, larger-than-life man climbed wearily from an old Land Rover. “Ah, Jakey. What are you doing here?”
Jacob’s rage found a new victim. The slight shake in his tone hinted at the mess his insides had become. “I asked you first.” His hands balled by his sides, the glint of keys digging into his fist. “Why are you here?”
The old man, who’d been nothing but kind to me whenever I’d run into him on the farm, scratched his white beard as if searching for a lie. Only, no lie came, and he hung his head. “Can we talk about this at home? Get your mom around, and we’ll have dinner together, okay?”
“No.” Jacob backed up, bumping into me in his haste. “Tell me now. What the fuck is going on?”
His grandfather didn’t reprimand for the curse. Instead, his eyes welled with grief. “I don’t want to do this to you, Jacob. Not here.” He moved toward Jacob, only for his grandson to feint to the side, a hiss of agony revealing his back wasn’t coping.
“Are you dying?” I expected Jacob’s voice to be strained and suffocated. However, it was strangely cold and remote, as if he’d already slammed up walls between him and the hardship of death.
John shook his head. “All of us are, Jakey. Some faster than others.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.” Jacob bit. “Oncology is here. You know that as well as I do. That’s where you’re going, isn’t it? Isn’t it?”
“Jacob, listen to me.” John held up his hands in surrender. “It’s not something I can say in a parking lot. Let’s just go home.”
Jacob laughed coldly. “Can’t go home until you’ve finished your treatment, Grandpa. You know how strict they are about keeping your appointment. Dad never missed one, but it didn’t help him, did it?”
I didn’t know what to say. Should I stay out of this? Try to touch Jacob? Be on John’s side?
But Jacob decided for me, stalking toward his grandfather with a slight limp. “How long, huh? How long until you die?”
John’s huge frame slumped in defeat. “A year or so.”
“Of course.” Jacob chuckled in a chilling, heart-breaking way that sent knives down my spine. “I knew it. I just fucking knew it.”
He looked at the sky, a haggard groan escaping as if he wanted to scream but didn’t have the strength.
Then he was gone, bolting stiffly toward his car.
And I did the most cowardly thing of my life.
I let him haul himself painfully into the driver’s seat.
I didn’t move as he slammed the truck into reverse and shot from the parking lot as if the flames of damnation were already licking at his feet.
I stood frozen to the concrete as the squeal of an ancient engine stole him away and vanished around the corner.
A large, comforting hand landed on my shoulder, hugging the entire joint and part of my collarbone and bicep too.
John Wilson was so big and strong and…sick.
Looking up, I rubbed fingers under my eyes to remove any trace of tears. “Hello, Mr. Wilson.”
“Bah, John. Please.” The old man squeezed me. “You okay?”
“I will be.” I nodded. “Will you?”
His hand dropped. “Not now he knows. No.”
“I’m sorry.”
Sorry for whatever you’ve been fighting. Sorry for the limited time on earth. Sorry for life in general.
“He had to find out sooner rather than later.” He sniffed. Silence fell between us for a long moment. Finally, he asked, “Anything I should know about? Why was Jacob here?”
I rolled my shoulders, looking at the painted lines on the concrete. “He fell off Forrest. Hurt his back.”
“Ah.”
My eyes met his. “Please don’t tell Della. He made me promise.”
John smiled sadly. “Sometimes promises shouldn’t be kept.”
“If it’s bad, I’ll tell her. I’ll find out tonight what the doctor said.”
He grinned. “You’re a brave girl, standing up to him.”
I cracked a smile. “Or just stupid.”
“Stupid is sometimes mistaken as bravery, but in this case, I don’t think it is.” He shuffled around me, another sigh shaking his big frame. “I’ve got to go. Can’t be late.” Tossing me his keys, he added, “If you can wait an hour, I’ll drive you home. Just hang in the car or go to the hospital cafeteria and grab some lunch. You got any money?”