Knowing Is Not Enough (26 page)

“So, what did you tell him?” I demanded.

“I told him you’re doing what you want to do and he should do the same.”

“What kind of advice is that?”

“It’s
my
advice, Alex, the operative word being
mine
. I know you don’t want to hear this, but he cares about this girl and he deserves to be happy. You need to let this thing you have with Easton go.”

“And be alone again? I don’t think so.”

“So, to not
be alone
means you’ll settle for whatever? That’s not you, Alex. Well, then again . . . maybe it is.”

“I’ve changed. I’m not settling for a cheating man anymore.”

“I was talking about being disrespected,” she said.

“Easton’s not disrespecting me. Give me your honest opinion—do you think it’s too late for me and Sanford?”

“I don’t’ know. When you left,” she paused, “put it like this, you should have stayed. Then, yeah . . . maybe, but now . . . I don’t know now.”

“So it’s too late?”

“I didn’t say that. He waited for you to come around then you broke up with him, around the time he met her—I don’t know—I think it might be. Especially if he found out you’re kicking it with this guy.”

I knew I was wrong, but I was committed to the crazy. “Point of clarification, Easton and I are friends who are enjoying each other’s company. That’s it.”

“Alex, the point of clarification is this—if you want anything with or from Sanford you need to tell him before it’s too late. Stop stringing this boy along. If not, tell him the truth so he can move on with his life with this Simone person.”

“When is he coming home?”

“I don’t think he’s coming home. He’s probably going
to stay there.”

I felt my stomach tighten. “Oh, wow, I didn’t think he would stay there.”

“Why would he come back here, Alex?”

“His family is here.”

“Girl, you know the only reason he would come back here is for you. And you don’t know what you want.”

“You right—”

“I already know I’m right. So call him go so we can all move on.”

“I will.”

“Just do it,” she said. She sounded like she wanted to wash her hands of the whole situation. “So what you and Easton got up for today?”

“Nothing, he’s with his kids.” My handset beeped. “Wait, speak of the devil, he’s calling on the other line. Let me let you go.”

“All right, hit me back after you talk to Sanford.”

“Okay, ‘bye.” I switched over to the other line. “Hello?”

“Hello, beautiful,” Easton said.

“Wow this is a surprise,” I said, smiling. “I didn’t expect to hear from you today.”

“I know, but my mother has the boys right now, and I thought I could bring you breakfast.”

“Oh—and coffee?”

“Of course.”

“You’re on the way? When can you get here?”

“Look outside.”

I hopped out of bed, walked into the guest bedroom facing the street and there was Easton standing beside his truck with a brown bag in one hand and coffee in the
other. I jumped up and down, dropping my cell phone on the bed. I rushed downstairs to open the door, forgetting all about my unsexy flannel cow pajamas. He’d seen them before. I opened the door and a brisk fall wind whipped inside. I grabbed the coffee first, then the breakfast.

“So what you get me? It smells so good!”

We walked into the kitchen and set the food on the counter. Easton took off his hat and coat. “I thought you were getting rid of this table.”

I turned and looked at the kitchen table. I’d forgotten about that. “I didn’t realize I said that out loud.”

“I thought we talked about it. Maybe we didn’t, and I was just reminiscing, thinking that you should,” he said.

“Yeah,” I smiled as I took a sip of coffee, “good times . . . good times.”

He looked me up and down. “What’s up with the cows?”

“Oh—well, I didn’t know you were coming, so this is what I had on. Sorry, baby, I know it’s not sexy.”

Easton grabbed me from behind. “No—actually I’m digging it. You should wear flannel with farm animals more often.”

“Yes, I think I can feel how excited you are, but that has to wait. I’m starving.”

“I don’t have time anyway,” he said regretfully. “I have to head back.”

I put my coffee down. “You’re not staying?”

“Nope, I just came to bring you breakfast.”

“Oh, my God, how sweet is that?”

“I know,” he said, and winked. ”You can thank me later. They’ll be gone by six, so I’ll swing back by.”

“Okay, another sleepover?”

“Yeah, I’ll bring my stuff.”

“Oh, I’m happy now.”

As quickly as he’d come, Easton was out, down the street and headed home. It was still fairly early I had plenty of time to finish working, call Sanford, and watch the Matrix.

I took the food out of the bag.
So much for getting rid of Easton
. An egg-white omelet and wheat toast.

It wasn’t long before I’d finished all three Matrix movies and my work. I turned to look at the clock, it was just a little past three, and I was so sleepy I could barely keep my eyes open. I wanted to lie in my bed, but I promised to call Sanford or I wouldn’t hear the end of it from both Linda and Tobey. I got out of my comfortable position in bed, put all my materials from work away, and disposed of my dishes from breakfast.

Downstairs I sat at the kitchen table slated for donation, trying to recall if I’d left a window open to call him again.
It’s going to be awkward enough without him wondering why I’m calling. I said I’d call, so I am
. I went back upstairs, grabbed my phone, located him in my contacts and dialed. The phone rang and continued to ring this time. He didn’t answer—which I was thankful for. I didn’t want to talk or leave a message. All I wanted to do was lie down and get some sleep before Easton came back.

I must have been really tired. It was dark outside when I heard the doorbell. I felt crazy reaching for the lamp to turn on the lights.
Whew!
It had to be Easton.
What time is it?
I dragged my body out of bed with every ounce of energy I had remaining, navigating my way in the dark, down the hallway stairs, to the front door. I didn’t look
through the peephole. I assumed it was Easton and opened.

It wasn’t. Jake stood there. Crying.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s Mom. She’s not doing well. Can you come with me to the hospital?”

My stomach tightened with fear. “Yes. Just let me change real quick, it’ll only take me a second. Come inside.”

Jake walked into the foyer, wiping his eyes. He looked around the house. He hadn’t been back since he moved out. I’d made minor changes. Everything else was just as he’d left it. “You changed things around.”

I yelled from my upstairs closet. “A little—not much. Tell me what happened. I knew she caught a cold?”

I could hear Jake pacing in the foyer. “I don’t know. She was fine, and then she started getting worse. Alex, I don’t mean to rush you, but the EMS took her from the house. I have to meet them there.”

“I’m sorry—here I come.”

I turned around toward the staircase and ran down, skipping stairs as I went. My purse, coat, and tennis shoes were in the kitchen. Jake stood in the foyer watching my every move, still pacing. I put those on in the kitchen, headed back out when the doorbell rang.

Jake answered it, opening the door to Easton’s lessthan-thrilled face. If Jake had any lingering questions about my relationship with Easton, I guess that clearly confirmed we were more than work colleagues.

“Hey, man, what’s up?”

They shook hands.

“Come on in.”

Easton walked in and I stood in the kitchen. I didn’t know if I should hug him or not. We hadn’t discussed being open with our relationship, which I guessed we shouldn’t do, since he was married. I didn’t know what the rules were.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yeah, actually, I am. I’m sorry. I was going to call you on the way.”

“What’s going on?”

“Jake, can I meet you in the car? I’ll be quick.”

Jake nodded and headed out the door, closing it behind him. I walked to my office to grab a book. “I have to go to the hospital with Jake. His mother has cancer and she’s not doing well.”

“Oh, I didn’t know. Is she going to be okay?”

I shrugged. “I really don’t know. I’ll know more once we get there. I’m sorry, but EMS took her and we are trying to get to hospital before she does.”

“Oh, no, I understand. Just give me a call when you get a minute.”

“I will. I know this probably seems a little odd, but she’s someone I care about, and Jake really doesn’t have anyone else.” Then I thought about Taylor.

“At least I don’t think he does.”

“No, I understand. Call me later.”

I kissed Easton, and we walked out the front door. I ran to Jake’s car and Easton returned to his.

The universe works in mysterious ways. Easton had naturally been put on hold, at least for now.

In the car, Jake inundated me with questions about Easton. “How do you know him? When did you meet? How long have you been dating him? You know he’s married, right? How can you accuse me of being an adulterer when you are too?”

I didn’t have the energy to go back and forth with Jake. I was more concerned about his mother. I think I helped to take his mind off of her for a second, but not long enough for me.

I’d thought Tobey and Linda were bad. He asked me so many questions, firing one after another. Some of them I didn’t have the answer to. I prayed we would get to the hospital soon. If he didn’t shut up about Easton I was going to ball up my fist and dot him in the eye.
EMS would take her to the hospital the furthest away from my house
. To make a shift in the “Quiz Alex” program, I took out my book and pretended to read. It didn’t work. Finally I said, “Jake, can we focus on what, and who I’m here for?”

Finding it hard to keep his eyes on the road, he said,
“You need to tell me something, Alex.”

“Jake, we’re not going have this conversation right now. Let’s stay focused on your mother, getting her back on her feet and home. You can quiz me about Easton later.”

The ability to have his questions answered later proved to be satisfactory. For now, he let it go. The EMS vehicle had arrived before we did. We drove around to find a spot to park. A very busy night at the hospital, which wasn’t a good thing. It was taking too long. “Just pull over and go in, I’ll find a spot,” I said.

It took a minute, but I finally found something way on the other side of the hospital. I walked around to the emergency-room entrance. I could see Jake in the waiting area talking to a person who looked like a doctor. Jake was visibly upset by what he was hearing. I entered just as they concluded their conversation and the doctor headed back to the treatment area.

Jake reached out and pulled me into him. He wrapped his arms around me and whispered in my ear, “she’s not doing well, Alex.”

I pulled away and took a step back to look into Jake’s eyes. “What did the doctor say?”

“He said her vital signs are weak. They’re still assessing her. We can see her in a few minutes. They’ll call us back.”

I grabbed his hand. “Let’s sit down.”

Jake wasn’t thinking clearly. It was hard for me to get information out of him. We found a spot in the corner with two seats that wasn’t too crowded with other families. “So what does that mean, she’s not doing well? What’s wrong with her?”

“She has a bacterial infection. In a healthy person that’s no big deal, but with her diagnosis, her body is having a hard time fighting it off.”

I grabbed his hands. “Do they think she’s going to recover? How serious is this?”

“It’s pretty serious. They’re trying to get her to respond to the antibiotics. I don’t know, I guess we’ll know in twenty-four hours. They’re going to admit her.”

“Can we go back and sit with her?”

“Yeah, remember—he said they’ll call us.”

“Okay.” I released his hands and sat back in my seat. “Are you thirsty? I can get us some water or coffee.”

“Yeah, would you? Some coffee would be good.”

“Okay, let me ask where I can get some.”

I got up and walked over to one of the emergency room desks. The woman said there was a coffee shop in the South Tower. On the walk over I called Easton. The phone rang a few times before he picked up.

“Hey, babe, how is Jake’s mother doing?”

“Not good. She has a bacterial infection and according to the physician’s assistant—”

“Is that the doctor?”

“No, it’s like the doctor’s assistant, I don’t know, Easton. The man in a white coat that came out from the back said it doesn’t look good. He could be my mailman, for all I know.”

“Okay, I’m sorry. I know you’re upset so I’m going to ignore that last part.”

“God, I’m sorry—it was a long car ride,” I said. “But that’s what he said and Jake’s having a hard time—it’s his mother.”

“Well, I know you have to be there for him, so when you get some time let’s try and get together.”

“Hey, thank you for being so understanding. It’s not too many men who would be cool with their girl leaving with her ex-husband, no matter what the situation.”

“Oh, are you my girl?”