The Undertaking of Adam Novak

by Sofie Hern

  Jaycob is doing much better. Well, less nervous about everything. I assume because of Tianna’s passing, he understands that he needs to step up and be more self-reliant and supportive. He’s becoming a bit stronger, mentally. He no longer leaves the room every time the nurses come in to check on Aaron. He also changed all the utility bills from Tianna’s name to his name I made the address change at the post office and the DMV.

  We’ve been trying to figure out how to locate Levy on our own because the investigation is on hold pending Aaron’s awakening. One of my coworkers put me in contact with his brother, Thomas, a private investigator who’s helping me get more information on Levy’s whereabouts but so far nothing has turned up.

  It’s our first Thanksgiving without Tianna and a difficult adjustment. This will also be the first time we won’t be having a Thanksgiving dinner. For years, while my parents were alive, Tianna and I spent the day volunteering, but when Irene and Levy came into the picture we both stopped doing it.

  The day doesn’t quite feel like Thanksgiving. I came to the hospital as soon as I could. Jaycob was here all night and I sent him home to rest, which has become our daily routine since the accident. Jaycob stays with Aaron during the night, me during the day and Rita helps out as well. She keeps Jaycob and me positive and also helps Jaycob deal with his anxiety.

  Aaron’s teacher, Mrs. Ayala visited with him a couple of times; she brought flowers and cards which were made by Aaron’s classmates and we decorated the room with all those cards, colorful balloons and flowers. His friend Sal and his mom brought him a stuffed bear from the gift shop downstairs. Sal is one of those witnesses who reported the mysterious man and I wish I had a photo of Levy to show him because I’m one hundred percent certain that it was Levy.

  In regards to Aaron, there’s been no change. The nurses continue to keep him as comfortable as possible. They help him change positions as best they can—considering the halo—to prevent bedsores. At times I think I see movement, but it’s only wishful thinking.

  I’ve become accustomed to the sounds of the machines and the intercom. One good sign, according to the medical team, is that Aaron’s vitals have remained steady and normal since the accident. Dr. Jian continues to wait for Aaron to wake up so that they can begin the series of tests needed to determine the extent of his injuries but I worry that it’s taking too long. What if his spine gets worse? But Dr. Jian assures me that everything is good.

  –

  I’m sitting next to Aaron in the most uncomfortable chair on the planet. Rita tells me to talk to him like I normally would, which I do. A lot. Aaron’s doctor checks on him every four hours and sometimes I get scared that he’ll give up on him.

  “Happy Thanksgiving,” says a nurse. She walks in to check on Aaron. She’s younger than the rest, with blond hair pulled back in a high ponytail and her bangs touch her eyelids. She’s wearing neon pink scrubs with bubble gum color shoes and pink lipstick.

  “Thanks,” I tell her, returning the smile. “You, too.”

  She takes Aaron’s chart and studies it for a moment in silence and I say, “Haven't seen you before.”

  “I'm a new transfer,” she says this without looking at me. She walks around the bed to the machines to look at and log the numbers.

  “Out of town?”

  “Reno. I’m here temporarily though.”

  “Change of scenery?”

  “You could say that.” She looks at me now; her smile is warm and sincere.

  “He's a tough cookie,” she says, glancing at Aaron. I nod and go stand by the bed.

  “He sure is.”

  “Your son?

  “My nephew,” I say proudly.

  Usually, I’m prepared to give the explanation as to why I’m white and he’s black. You’d be surprised how many people still ask these questions in this day in age.

  She finishes writing down her notes, then gives me her hand to shake. “I'm Beth, by the way.”

  “Adam.”

  She has brown eyes and a scattering of freckles over her nose and cheeks. Up close she looks even younger. “Everything looks good. I’ll be back to check on him in a couple of hours,” she says and turns to leave. “Nice meeting you,” she calls over her shoulder.

  I touch Aaron’s arm. “Hear that, tough cookie?” I say and stay fixated on him, looking for any moment and when I don’t see any, I take out my phone to text Jordyn.

  I wish her a happy Thanksgiving and she does the same and tells me that she’s going to the mall for a few hours. I promise her that Jaycob will bring her after so we can hang out.

  I’ve been checking on her every day to make sure that she’s okay and that she doesn’t think I’m abandoning her. I ask her about school and try to help her in any way to keep her motivated and focused. She’s like a daughter to me and I can’t leave her.

  Since Aaron’s accident my dreams have become more intense with a new version where Aaron and Tianna are crossing the street and get hit by a train, sometimes a red truck or a school bus. It keeps me up most nights. I go sit on the sleeper chair by the window and the rhythm of the machines eventually puts me to sleep.

  47

  IRENE

  Irene has been a ball of nerves since Levy left and hasn't called, which is good, but she doesn’t like the feeling of being alone in her own mess. The boy has been in a coma the entire time and she hopes that he won’t pull through or else he’ll tell Adam that in fact, it was Levy who caused the accident. She constantly asks Jordyn for updates as she spends time at the hospital with the little bastard.

  To keep busy Irene did a lot of cleaning. “Maybe if you attempt to clean the house once in a while he’d consider coming back,” Jordyn had told her during one of their ever-growing arguments. She finally got rid of the cardboard boxes from the porch and donated everything. She then asked Jordyn to please mention said donation to Adam so that he’d see that she is becoming a better person.

  She removed the drapes from the windows and keeps the blinds open, making the family room and office look clear and clean with sunlight pouring in. She rented a Rug Doctor and washed the carpet in the family room as well as all the rooms upstairs. Adam always wanted the spare room for his office and so that was going to be Irene’s next project in the coming days.

  She’s making positive changes in her life and is certain that Adam will be home in no time. If the boy dies—best-case—Adam will have no reason to remain absent. If the boy lives, she is willing to bring him into her home and once here figure out how to send him to California with Levy. Or she can learn to live with the boy, make his little life miserable while Adam falls in love with her. See? Simple. She reorganized his and her side of the closet; Adam hasn’t taken all of his clothes, which she interprets as a good sign. She also sent the television in for repair and was told it will be ready in a few days.

  –

  When she’s done with the laundry she goes to the kitchen to prepare lunch for Jordyn who’s been in her room all morning. Irene needs Adam to know that she’s being a good mother. Jordyn wants to spend Thanksgiving with her friend Karina and Irene argued that they need to be together on Thanksgiving, but what Irene wants is to keep her daughter at home in case there’s news about the boy.

  Julia has been in touch and Irene thinks that her sister-in-law is being way too sensitive about the boy. She thinks that Julia has turned weak and that Ken needs a strong woman, like herself, for example. A week ago, when Ken returned from Texas, they got together and enjoyed each other for a few hours while Jordyn was at school. She didn’t mention her involvement in the boy’s accident, for obvious reasons.

  According to Jordyn, the investigation has gone cold, but Irene keeps Levy’s threat fresh in her mind. “You go down with me.”

  She made a couple of ham and cheese sandwiches, takes two orange sodas from the refrigerator and puts them on the table, then sits, waiting for Jordyn who comes down shortly. The girl eyes the sandwiches, then glances at her mother who is sm
iling.

  “Any news on Aaron?”

  Jordyn sits and takes a bite of her sandwich. “Going to the hospital later,” she says as she opens her soda.

  “On Thanksgiving?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Hey, maybe we can take your dad a nice dinner?”

  Jordyn makes a growling sound and rolls her eyes. “He's not my dad. And stop acting like one of those caring housewives.”

  Irene ignores this. “What do you say?”

  “Don't push it, mom.”

  Irene needs to find a way to be alone with the boy. She’s been searching the internet trying to find out what complications or secondary illnesses his being in a coma may lead to.

  “Why not?”

  Jordyn takes a bite of her sandwich and drinks more soda. “Because,” she says, getting to her feet. “He doesn't want you there. Thanks for lunch, mom. Oh, and I’m going to the mall with Karina.”

  “Need any money?”

  “No,” Jordyn says over her shoulder as she leaves the kitchen. “Adam gave me some yesterday.”

  Irene hears the front door close and hits the table with both hands. Her daughter is spending way too much time with Adam. It’s time to remedy that.

  48

  ADAM

  I wake up from the same dream and I’m not sure how long I was out, but Rita is standing by the bed looking at me.

  “Hey,” she says with a smile. That sweet smile.

  “Hey, you. When did you get here?” I ask and stand to check on Aaron so Rita and I face each other.

  “About ten minutes ago.” She walks to the small table, picks up a paper bag and says, “Hope you're hungry.”

  “Starved.” I pull out a chair and sit across from her as she proceeds to remove food from the bag.

  “Holy shit, that smells good,” I say.

  On the table, she places a plastic container with a club sandwich and fries. The food smells delicious and I realize I have not eaten in hours.

  “You're a lifesaver,” I tell her with a mouthful of sandwich and she smiles again.

  “You need to keep your strength up.”

  I like that she’s constantly looking after me and Jaycob when most of the time I don’t. She was Tianna’s friend for years and I never took the time to get to know her. I recall the night I told Irene that I wasn’t going home, the thought that something good comes in tragedy comes to mind. Tianna’s death brought Rita and me closer.

  “So, how are you spending your Thanksgiving?” I ask and give her a moment to answer.

  “At my mom’s.” She wipes her lips with a napkin and picks at the crumbs that fell on her shirt. “I don’t cook, so.” She shrugs. “My mom wants me nowhere near the kitchen.”

  This makes me laugh.

  We talk about our respective family traditions. She tells me that each year they go on a camping trip the Monday before Thanksgiving and return home on Thursday morning to start cooking—or in her case, to stay away from the kitchen. She skipped the trip this year because she wants to be near in case Aaron wakes up. I, in turn, tell her about my family’s tradition of volunteering.

  Being in her company makes the time go by quick. I polish off the food container and we remain at the table. I lean back on the chair with a happy belly and Rita looks longingly at Aaron. We are quiet for a while, but the silence isn’t awkward or uncomfortable, it’s just… nice.

  “How's Frank?”

  She has on an AC/DC Black Ice graphic tee, jeans, and canvas shoes and her red hair in a loose bun. She speaks without looking at me, her arms crossed over her chest.

  “Busy of course,” she answers after a beat and I can hear disappointment, bitterness in her voice.

  “That’s too bad.” I steal a glance toward her out of the corner of my eye while she stares at the bed. Her face has changed, she now looks sad, but I’ll assume it is because of Aaron.

  She clears the table and I take that as a sign. No more husband talk.

  “I appreciate this. What you do for us, Rita,” I tell her and help her get the trash.

  “You're most welcome,” she says and turns to the clock on the wall. “I should get going.

  We stand side by side at Aaron’s bedside and she leans in to kiss his forehead.

  “I'll be back, little man.” She takes his hand in hers and caresses his cheek with the other. “Please wake up. Wake up… wake up…”

  I rock on my heels with my hands in my pockets, watching this woman in awe.

  “Okay, I'll be back tomorrow,” she promises and turns to leave.

  “Thanks for lunch,” I say.

  She gives me two thumbs up as she leaves the room and I turn back to Aaron. “Come on buddy. Wake up.”

  –

  Some time passes after Rita leaves when I hear her voice.

  “Hey.”

  I’m still trying to wake Aaron and I glance over to see Irene standing at the threshold. I cross the room and take her by the elbow.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “It's Thanksgiving.” She jerks away.

  I put my hands on my hips and say, “Irene, please leave.”

  “Why?” she says sadly and I think I’m being unfair to her.

  I take a deep breath and gesture an invitation into the room.

  She approaches the bed. “How is he?” She speaks without looking at me. Her gaze fixed on Aaron.

  “The same.”

  She can’t take her eyes off him; must be too much for her to see him that way.

  “Is he going to be okay?”

  “I sure hope so.”

  “Why?” She looks at me now. “Are they saying otherwise?”

  “No, No.” I wave that off. “They're hopeful.”

  “If… if you want I can stay with him for a bit?”

  I have been a complete asshole to her. Here she is, checking on Aaron when all I have done is treat her like shit. If I want to a smooth divorce, I need to stop behaving like an ass.

  But what if Levy contacts her? What if he sent her? “Don’t let your guard down;” Rita told him the day of Tianna’s funeral.

  I shake my head and say, “I’m good.”

  49

  IRENE

  Her eyes burn with tears of anger when she realizes that her plan has collapsed as she’d planned to be left alone with the boy.

  Adam walks to the small table and turns to her with his hands in his pockets. Irene thinks he looks fatigued with messy hair and shadows under his eyes. God, he looks so tired. She goes to him and stands close. She longs for him, for his touch and those wonderful lips. He takes a deep breath and scratches at his stubble.

  “Listen, Irene.”

  She wants him to say that he’ll be returning home, that this is all big mistake.

  “I know this is probably not the best time, but…” He steps away from her, rubbing the back of his neck.

  Irene follows him and they stand by the window, facing each other.

  “I want a divorce.”

  She can't move and feels her eyes burning.

  “What?” She steps closer.

  “I… I need to take care of Aaron.”

  She takes his hand. “I know that,” she says and he pulls his hand back. Irene knows that what she’s about to say will come back and bite her in the ass but she’s desperate. “He can stay with us. We… We have the guest room. We can take care of him there.”

  Adam studies her for a moment, then shakes his head and Irene starts to panic.

  “I can’t do this anymore, Irene.”

  “But… What about Jordyn? She needs you. She—”

  “I'll still be there for her. I'll continue to support her.”

  She’s losing. After everything she’s done to keep him, she’s losing. “Please think about this, love.”

  “Irene, please.”

  She can see that he’s becoming frustrated. “I'm sorry, I'm…” she trails off and looks down at the floor.

  Adam reaches over and lifts h
er chin gently and Irene feels she might melt. She closes her eyes. His touch is unlike anything else and she imagines that they’re okay. That everything is back the way it was. She opens her eyes and looks into his. They are so beautiful and full of sorrow. She sees herself in them and knows for certain that she simply cannot live without this man.

  “We both know we’re done, Irene.”

  “I know you're under a lot of stress and exhausted, but think about this.”

  He takes her hand and holds it with both of his. Once again she looks into his eyes.

  “We need to do this,” he says and she shakes her head then looks down once again.

  “Irene, look at me.”

  She shakes her head and tears escape her eyes.

  He lets go of her and takes a deep breath, then walks to the bed. “I need to be here.” He looks down to the boy. “I'm going to adopt him.”

  Irene’s heart sinks and she starts to shake for she cannot believe what she’s hearing. “Adam.” She takes his hand and he turns to her.

  “I'll be there for him too.”

  Adam shakes his head and pulls his hand back. “I'm sorry, Irene but... I’ve made a decision.”

  She stares at him for a long quiet moment in disbelief, then grabs her bag and walks out of the room.

  “You will regret this,” she whispers as she goes through the double doors, wiping the tears away and into the elevator. She can't believe that he’s thinking about a divorce and worse, thinking about adopting that… bastard.

  –

  She steps out of the elevator and walks out of the hospital to a clear afternoon. The sun hides behind a large white puffy cloud and the wind is cold. She walks to her car wanting to scream. She wasn’t expecting this. “I should’ve killed you, you little shit!” For a moment she can't move, she hits the wheel with her palms and begins to sob. She feels lost and knows she’s running out of time. Think, Irene. She’s shaking and can’t think straight and takes a deep calming breath. When she feels better she calls Julia.