Georgia Summer

by Heather Colleen

  “Got a few minutes, dad?” Landon asked. He shoved his hands in his pockets anxiously as he looked at his dad.

  Dr. Young nodded. “Sure. Come on in, Landon.” He turned around and walked back towards the kitchen, pulling at his tie and taking it off.

  “How was work?” Landon asked.

  “Work was fine,” his dad answered curtly. He took a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water at the sink. “Would you like some water?” He glanced over his shoulder at Landon.

  Landon shook his head. He took a deep breath, steeling himself. “Look, dad. I know you’re not exactly on board with my decision to leave for Boston—”

  “Not exactly on board?” Dr. Young asked, turning around to face Landon. “Of course I’m not on board. You’re barely eighteen and you’re running off to Boston with some girl.”

  “She’s not some girl, dad,” Landon objected, rushing to Emmarie’s defense.

  Dr. Young shook his head. “Fine. Maybe I haven’t given Emmarie enough credit. But regardless, you have no plan. You have no money. You can’t expect me to endorse a decision like this.”

  “I’ll get a job, dad—“

  “Doing what? Busing tables?”

  “If that’s what I have to do, then yes,” Landon answered. He balled his hands into fists. “Look, dad. I love Emmarie. I want to be with her. And the rest, well, I’ll figure it out…” Landon’s voice trailed off as he looked at his dad, his eyes begging him to understand.

  Dr. Young shook his head, locking his jaw into place. “I can’t support your decision, Landon. I told you, you have other options—“

  “Other options meaning the military or college? Yeah, I can count. Two whole options,” Landon said sarcastically.

  Dr. Young took a long sip of his water, closing his eyes briefly. Dr. Young was a calm man by nature, but Landon could tell he was struggling to remain composed. Dr. Young set his water glass down on the counter. “You know what makes a man, Landon?”

  Landon almost rolled his eyes, but caught himself. He waited, clenching his jaw.

  “Sacrifice,” Dr. Young said, answering his question.

  Landon could feel his teeth biting into his tongue as he tried to keep his cool. How many times had he heard this sermon before?

  “Look at the sacrifices I made to become a doctor,” Dr. Young went on. “I went to medical school. I served in the Vietnam War. I live a life of service in this small town. All of these experiences are what made me into a man. That’s what builds a man. Sacrifice,” he repeated.

  Landon could feel the anger blooming in his chest. “So was giving up your marriage to mom just another sacrifice you had to make? What about your relationship with me, dad? Was that a sacrifice, too? Another casualty of your manhood?” Landon fired off his questions like cannons.

  Landon’s dad looked like he had been slapped. He gazed at Landon solemnly, and Landon instantly regretted his words. “I think you should leave, Landon,” Dr. Young said quietly. He drained the rest of the water from his glass.

  “Gladly,” Landon said sharply. He turned and walked out, not looking back once at his father as he slammed the front door behind him.

  The silence that followed Landon’s departure was overwhelming—almost unbearable as Dr. Young stood in his kitchen. He stared at the front door long after his son had left, his heart breaking as he realized his failure as a father.

  Chapter 12

  The Note

  Georgia felt the car slowing to a stop as she opened her eyes. She looked out the window and saw Virginia’s house.

  “Georg?” she heard her dad ask.

  She turned to see her dad in the driver’s seat next to her, and felt Millie’s hot breath in her ear as she panted next to her shoulder.

  “You passed out for a few seconds back at the station. I want you to stay here at Virginia’s tonight. God only knows when I’ll be home.” His voice sounded tired.

  Georgia rubbed her head as she collected her thoughts, trying to remember why she was here. She remembered running to Sage River with Millie and seeing the baby blue Cadillac, and wondering where Dr. Young was. And then that moment when she found his lifeless body, soaking in his own blood. She felt the nausea churning in her stomach again.

  Her dad leaned over and unbuckled her seat belt before getting out of the car. Georgia sat up, frowning as she tasted vomit in her mouth. Coming around to her side of the car, her dad opened the door and helped Georgia out. Millie bounded out after her, staying close to her side.

  “I gave Virginia a heads-up from the station. She knows you’re comin',” he said as he shut the door behind her.

  As if on cue, Georgia saw Virginia come outside, her face shadowed with worry. She ran across the grass to Georgia, barefoot and beautiful, her blonde curls bouncing. “Georg!” Virginia wrapped her in a hug.

  Her dad stepped back so that Virginia could hug her. He then cleared his throat. "I need to get to Maple Leaf Park.”

  Virginia loosened her hug on Georgia, but still kept a protective arm around her as she faced their dad. “Okay. Thanks for bringin' her by, dad.”

  “She’ll need sleep. She’s had quite the night already,” he said.

  Georgia frowned, feeling annoyed. Here she was standing right beside them after she had discovered Dr. Young’s dead body, and they were talking as if she were just a small child, unable to comprehend such things.

  Her dad’s radio went off and a fuzzy voice announced, “Ten seventy-nine.”

  Her dad sucked in his breath. “I’ve gotta go, girls. Virginia, I’ll call you later.”

  "Okay, dad," Virginia said anxiously.

  He turned and hurried back around to the driver’s side of the car.

  Georgia felt a pang of guilt for feeling annoyed only moments earlier. She wanted to yell to her dad to stop, to not leave her. She didn’t want him to see what she had seen by the river.

  “Let’s go inside, Georg,” Virginia said, cutting off her thoughts. “Come on, Millie,” Virginia called to the dog.

  Georgia let Virginia usher her across the yard, her motherly instincts clearly kicking in.

  Opening up the front door, Virginia spoke more softly, “Now the girls are already asleep, but I’ve got the spare room made up for you. There’s a towel on the bed in case you want to shower.” Virginia shut the door behind her and locked it. “I’ll put Millie in the mudroom tonight,” she added as she led them into the kitchen.

  Georgia nodded.

  “Are you hungry? I’ve got a casserole in the fridge.” Virginia gestured towards the fridge.

  Georgia shook her head. “No. Thank you,” she answered stiffly. She stood there, not knowing what to do, unsure as to how or if she could ever move past what she had seen barely an hour ago.

  Virginia took her hands into her own. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Georgia shook her head again and looked down at the floor. How could she even begin to explain the gruesome scene by Sage River? Surprising herself, she heard her own voice speak, her voice sounding strangely muffled to her own ears, “How could he?” She looked up at Virginia, not knowing how anyone could answer this question.

  Virginia sighed. “Why does anyone ever take that final step? We’ll never know, Georg.”

  Georgia’s eyes fell. She let go of Virginia’s hands and crossed her arms against her chest. “I saw him only a couple of days ago. I visited with him regularly. I knew he wasn’t well, but I never knew he would…” She caught herself, not daring to say it.

  Virginia's eyes met her own. “No one would have ever known it would come to this, Georg. He must have been in a pretty dark place…a dark place where he felt there was no other way.”

  A few moments of silence passed as Georgia took in her words. “What do I do?” she asked softly, almost whispering. Though she was here with her sister in a familiar setting, she felt lost and helpless.

  Virginia leaned against the counter, rubbing her arm pensively. “You pray. You ta
ke care of yourself. And you live for those who are still here.”

  Georgia bit her lip, thinking of her mom and how she would have given her the very same advice. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “I think I’ll go to bed,” Georgia said, though her voice sounded uncertain.

  “That’s probably a good idea. I’m going to as well, but I’ll leave the light on in the kitchen if you need anything or get hungry. There’s plenty of food in the fridge, so just help yourself.”

  Georgia didn’t reply. Normally a remark like this from her sister would have made her laugh. It was such a Southern way to think that a warm plate of homemade food could heal any ailment, visible and invisible. But tonight, Georgia was just thankful to have her sister.

  After showering, Georgia dressed in her room. Virginia had laid out some of her own pajamas on the bed, as they were the same size. Georgia gratefully slipped on the pink nightdress, inhaling the comforting smell of floral laundry detergent. She then peeled back the covers and climbed into bed, her limbs feeling oddly sore and weighted. She remembered how she had run practically the entire length of the town earlier. It was no wonder her muscles ached as they did.

  Georgia stared up at the ceiling, her mind attempting to sort through her thoughts and make sense of what had happened tonight with Dr. Young. Thoughts of her mother ran through her head, and seeing her bedridden for so many months before cancer had finally claimed her life. It had been a slow, punishing death for her mother.

  Georgia’s mind turned back to Dr. Young, whose death was decided by the simple pull of a trigger. One moment he was there, and the next he was gone. There was no phase in between life and death. There was no struggle. Just a decision, and a fatal one at that. She wondered which was better: a gradual, painful death where you wait for your fate to be decided, or a quick, instant death where you decide your own fate. She didn’t know. She closed her eyes and rubbed her head, massaging her temples.

  Just then, Georgia heard the door click. She started, sitting up. The door opened slowly and she heard movement behind it. “Hello?” she asked hesitantly.

  “Auntie Georgia?” a little voice asked.

  Georgia relaxed as she recognized her niece's voice.

  Ella Mae came around the door, gently shutting it behind her.

  “Ella Mae,” Georgia said, holding her arms out to her niece.

  Ella Mae came over and climbed into the bed with Georgia. “Why are you here, Auntie Georgia?” she asked, crossing her little legs in front of her.

  Georgia smiled at her small, curious face. “Well, I was going to surprise you and Charlotte in the morning, but it seems the secret’s out.” Georgia reached out and stroked her fine, blonde hair.

  “Did you miss us?” Ella Mae asked.

  “I did, sweetie. That’s why I came over.” Georgia held up the covers and Ella Mae crawled under them.

  She snuggled up next to her aunt, her nose only inches away from Georgia’s. “I heard your voice in the kitchen,” Ella Mae said knowingly, her eyebrows raised.

  “Yes. I was talking with your mommy.”

  “About what?”

  Georgia paused, not knowing what to say to her as she thought again of Dr. Young. “About…breakfast,” she said, making an effort to pull her thoughts away from the night’s events. “I was thinking we could make chocolate chip pancakes in the morning.”

  Ella Mae squirmed with delight. “Can we make pancakes now?” she asked excitedly.

  Georgia laughed softly. “We can after we get some sleep. Pancakes actually taste better in the morning when you’ve had a good night’s sleep.”

  Ella Mae’s eyes widened with awe. “Oh,” she said, her voice full of understanding.

  Georgia nodded. “Let’s go to sleep, sweetie.”

  Ella Mae closed her eyes obediently, a little smile playing across her lips as she thought of chocolate chip pancakes in the morning.

  Georgia leaned over and kissed her forehead, catching the sweet scent of her baby shampoo. She watched Ella Mae doze off, the child’s breathing deepening as she entered a faraway dreamland. A dreamland where death didn’t exist, and mothers and fathers never left their children. Georgia felt her eyelids grow heavy as she wished for such a place.

  ✽✽✽

  She woke up to the sounds of pots and pans clattering. Georgia rolled over, remembering where she was. She could hear the pitter-patter of little feet running across the bare floors, punctuated by laughter and soft voices.

  Georgia sat up, letting her feet dangle off the bed. She stretched her legs out in front of her and felt some of their soreness ebb away as the fibers elongated and realigned. Then she remembered last night, and why she was even here at Virginia’s place. She rubbed her forehead and dropped her feet back to the floor, wondering how she could even begin another day after last night. And Dr. Young…What had they done with his body? With his car? The questions multiplied in her mind and she felt a headache coming on.

  Georgia took a deep breath, closing her eyes briefly as she made every mental effort to distract her thoughts from last night. She listened to her little nieces chattering away in the kitchen, unknowing of what had happened last night with Dr. Young. Georgia dressed in her clothes from yesterday, pushing the thoughts away of what had happened the last time she wore them. She then made the bed, smoothing the sheets and duvet cover back over the mattress.

  As she came out into the kitchen, she was greeted with the delicious smell of buttermilk pancakes, warmed syrup, and coffee. Ella Mae and Charlotte were standing on their little wooden footstools next to the counter as they helped their mom make pancakes. Virginia was pouring the freshly made batter onto the griddle, while the girls took turns adding in chocolate chips as the pancakes cooked. So busy they were as they made breakfast that they didn’t notice Georgia right away.

  “Good morning,” Georgia said.

  The twins looked up first. “Auntie Georgia!” they practically screamed, jumping off their footstools and running over to her.

  “I understand you had a little visitor in the night,” Virginia said. She looked up with a knowing smile.

  “I did.” Georgia smiled as she bent down to hug the girls.

  “I also heard that chocolate chip pancakes were on the menu this mornin'.” Virginia raised her eyebrows, glancing at Ella Mae.

  “Oh, sorry. Hope that’s all right,” Georgia said as she straightened back up.

  Virginia laughed. “No, that’s fine! We love chocolate chip pancakes around here, don’t we girls?”

  Charlotte tugged on Georgia’s shorts. “Can you make pancakes with us?” she asked, her expression hopeful.

  Ella Mae scrambled back onto her footstool next to Virginia, exclaiming, “You can stand right here where mommy is!”

  Georgia looked at Virginia.

  “Fine by me if you want to, Auntie Georgia,” Virginia said, winking at her sister. Virginia handed her the spatula and Georgia took her place. “So, how’d you sleep?” Virginia asked as she refilled her coffee. “Want some?” She held up the pot.

  “Yes. Please and thank you,” Georgia said appreciatively.

  Virginia poured her a mug. “Black, right?”

  Georgia nodded as Virginia handed it to her. “I slept well, all things considered.” Georgia flipped a browning pancake with her free hand and the girls giggled. They each grabbed a handful of chocolate chips from the bag on the counter. “Plus, I had a little snuggle bug to keep me company.” Georgia nodded towards Ella Mae, whose blonde hair bobbed eagerly as she dropped the chips into the batter.

  “That’s good,” Virginia said. She sipped her coffee. “Oh!” she exclaimed, clapping her hand to her forehead. “I almost forgot. Dad called Duke’s this mornin' to let him know you wouldn’t be in today.”

  Georgia dropped the spatula, shocked and annoyed that she had forgotten all about her job. “Oh, shoot! How could I forget?” she said in a frustrated voice as she picked up the spatula from the floor.

  Virginia wav
ed her hand. “Don’t worry about it. Word is out all over town about last night and Duke completely understood.”

  Georgia bit her lip, still irritated with herself. Then she registered Virginia’s words. She looked over at Virginia. “Really? Word’s already gotten out?”

  Virginia set her coffee down on the counter before crossing her arms over her chest. “A suicide’s a big deal in a small town, especially one as small as Willow Creek,” she said matter-of-factly.

  Georgia shuddered as the image of Dr. Young’s dead body painted itself once more in her mind.

  Not noticing her reaction, Virginia went on, “By noon, every man and his dog will know about Dr. Young…Poor dad. He would’ve been up all night.” She shook her head.

  Georgia slid the finished pancake onto the spatula and transferred it to a plate. “Poor Dr. Young,” she said softly.

  A moment of silence passed as they both thought of him. Virginia gazed at her twin daughters as they stacked the pancakes up on a plate, thinking of how Dr. Young had taken care of them all when they were born. “He was such a kind man, not to mention a wonderful doctor,” she said.

  Georgia looked down at her nieces, unable to believe that Dr. Young had helped deliver both of them into this world, a world he had ultimately chosen to leave just a few, short years later. Georgia felt her stomach twist as she thought of his bloodstained suit. His grisly departure was the antithesis of her nieces’ joyous arrival. “He will be missed,” Georgia managed to say as her eyes welled with tears. She picked up the bowl and poured the remaining batter onto the griddle.

  ✽✽✽

  After they had finished breakfast, Virginia and Georgia loaded up the girls into Virginia’s van, along with Millie. Virginia worked part-time at Jud’s Drugs on Main Street, and was going to drop the twins off at the sitter on her way.

  “You sure you don’t want me to watch them? I don’t have anywhere I need to be,” Georgia said as they pulled up outside of their dad’s house.