“All right, man. I’ll see ya then.” James gave a small wave as he walked away.
I kept my eyes focused above everyone’s faces as I walked to my room. I didn’t want to be bothered, and I certainly didn’t have anything good to say at the moment.
The day passed slowly. Although I was grateful to get to my last period, I also shared it with someone I wasn't interested in seeing. I slipped into my seat and hung my head. I realized my breakup with Brittany was old news, but I guessed that since I’d returned today, the whispers had started flying again. I wasn’t sure if she was playing the pathetic or scorned ex-girlfriend, but it looked like I was about to find out.
“Walker,” Brittany said as she sat at the empty desk next to me. “Nice haircut.”
I ignored her.
“Walker, please,” she said, placing her hand on my arm.
“Don’t do this here,” I muttered.
She pulled her hand away as the teacher entered the room. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I was such a bitch.”
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. Not once in three years had she ever given me a real apology.
“I miss you,” she said. “Can we talk?”
“It’s not a good time.” I shifted in my seat and angled my body away from her.
“Fine,” she said, smacking her book against the desk.
I rolled my eyes. I didn’t have time for this, but I knew I’d have to talk to her sooner or later. If I had my way, it’d be later. I kept my eyes straight ahead and on the teacher.
Somehow, I managed to make it out the door before Brittany had time to grab her books and follow me. I exhaled as I pushed the school door open and stepped outside. The cool air was a rush of relief as I hurried through the parking lot toward my car.
But I stopped a few feet away from my Nissan. I just wasn’t going to make it out without a confrontation. I squared my shoulders as I approached Brandon.
“What do you want?” I asked, glaring at him.
“Man, don’t be pissed, just let it go. What happened, happened.”
“Really?” I asked, stepping toward him. “You lacing a joint and fucking my girlfriend just happened? Oh, wait, ex-girlfriend.”
“Come on, Walker, we’ve been friends since grade school. Can’t we just forget about it?”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Listen, I need to pick up my brother from school. I really have more important shit to deal with than you and Brittany. You do realize life is actually bigger than the both of you, right?”
“Since when do you pretend to be a big brother and pick up Garrett?”
I dropped my gaze to the ground, took a deep breath, then stared right at him. “Since my mom was diagnosed with cancer. And while you’re here leaning against my car and in my way, she’s at home dying. So please, leave me alone. Go fuck whoever you want to, because I’m not kidding when I say I have more important things to deal with.”
Brandon’s eyes widened. “No shit?”
“No shit. Now move before I move you myself.”
“Yeah, sorry,” he said, raising his hands. “I’m really sorry, dude. That’s some messed up shit.”
I got into my car, shut the door, and started the engine. I glanced in my rearview mirror as Brandon stood there gawking, and I pulled away.
I swore under my breath. I hadn’t meant to say anything about Mom. The words had just flown out of my mouth. I hoped Brandon wouldn’t say anything to James before I had a chance to talk to him tonight.
Five minutes later, I turned into the junior high. I waved as I parked next to the curb where Garrett was waiting. He opened the door and slid into the front seat.
“Hey,” I said as he buckled his seat belt.
“Hey,” he muttered.
“I know this is a stupid question, but are you okay?” I asked as I pulled the car into traffic and headed home.
“How? How are we supposed to be okay?” he asked, frowning.
“I know,” I replied quietly. “Obviously shit’s changing so… I’m sorry for being a dick all the time.”
Garrett’s eyebrows knitted together. “Did you just apologize to me?”
“Yeah, I sure as hell did.” A smile pulled at the corner of my mouth. “I know shit’s getting real, and I’m here for ya. I’ll be dropping you off and picking you up from school. I’ll take care of the house, clean, keep you fed, and help with homework, okay? We’re not going to be mean to each other anymore either, so if you’ve got something to say, we take it outside of the house, got it?”
“Yeah,” he said, looking out the window. “Walker?”
“Yeah?”
“Before we get home, what happened with Brittany?”
“You haven’t heard?” I asked, peering at him.
“No, I haven’t heard anything.”
“I broke up with her. We’re done.”
Garrett breathed a sigh of relief.
“I take it you’re okay with that?” I asked.
“Man, am I. I so didn’t want her over with everything going on. I just want it to be us for a while, ya know? We don’t even know how much time with Mom we have left.” Garrett turned his head away and wiped his tears.
“Sounds good. Just family for now, but I do need to talk to James about some stuff tonight, so do you think you can keep Mom company for a little bit?”
“Yeah, of course.”
We rode the rest of the way home in silence. My heart ached for him. Mom was right—he was a minor, and that meant his future was the most unpredictable. I mentally swore that I’d do everything I could to protect him.
* * *
“Walker, James is here,” Garrett said.
“Thanks,” I said and tossed my English book on the bed. I walked into the kitchen and poked my head around the living room corner. “Mom, I’ll be outside with James for a few minutes. Garrett, you come get me if she needs anything, you got it? Interrupt me.”
Garrett frowned. I’d always sworn at him for interrupting me, but things were different now.
I waved James outside and closed the front door behind us.
“Shit, it’s freezing out here,” I said as I zipped my coat. “Let’s get in my car.”
We hurried to the car and got in.
“Supposed to snow tomorrow,” James said, rubbing his hands together.
I glanced at him for a minute. I couldn’t tell if he knew or not. “Did Brandon say anything?”
“Brandon? Nah, I haven’t talked to him since lunch.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “Dude, we’ve been friends since we were kids, and thanks for having my back with all this Brittany crap. It’s been tough.”
“You’d do the same for me. That shit wasn’t okay.”
I nodded. “Unfortunately, that mess is the least of my concerns.”
James sat silently while I struggled with the words. What the hell was wrong with me? When I didn’t want to tell anyone, I blurted it out. When I needed to say something, I struggled for the words.
“It’s Mom.”
“Your mom?”
“Yeah, she’s sick. Cancer,” I muttered and stared out the side window. I couldn’t face him right now.
“Fuck.”
“She might have a year left. The doctors aren’t sure.”
“Fuck.”
“My thoughts exactly.” I dared a glance at him, and as I’d suspected, his face registered the same horror I felt. “I need to take care of my brother and spend as much time with Mom as I can.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.”
“I need your help, though. You gotta keep Brandon away from me right now. I don’t want to lose my temper again. I’ve never beaten anyone like that before, and it’s not something I’m proud of.”
James shook his head. “Dude, he had it coming. I woulda done the same damn thing. But I hear ya. I’ll do my best to keep him occupied. What about Brittany?”
“I’ll deal with her,” I said, rubbing my jaw.
; “You need anything around here? I can pick up Garrett and stuff too. Just let me know. Your family… shit, your mom helped raise me. Fuck,” he said shaking his head. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ll take you up on it if I need to. Right now, for me, no more parties, no drinking, no weed, no late nights. I’m done. All that matters to me is getting my crap together and taking care of my family. That’s it.”
Silence hung in the air.
I stared at the blank clock in my dashboard and sighed. “All right, thanks for coming over. I should get back to Mom.”
“Yeah, let me know what you need.”
We exited the car, and I stepped back into the house.
“Man, it’s cold out there,” I said, rubbing my arms. I slipped out of my coat and hung it on the coat rack. “Garrett, you got homework?” I asked through his bedroom door.
“Yeah,” he grumbled.
“No attitude. Come on in here and sit at the table while I get dinner started.”
Mom was sitting in her chair in the living room, watching The Golden Girls on TV.
“Are you hungry?” I asked her.
“No, honey, I don’t have much of an appetite. My stomach gets queasy with the medication.”
“You want some toast and applesauce? You need to eat something. I’ll make you anything that sounds good. I can even go to the store.”
A smile eased across her face.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m proud of you, son. You’ve really stepped up.”
“I’m trying,” I mumbled.
My chest tightened, and I turned my face toward the ceiling and took a deep breath. I couldn’t lose my shit in front of her.
“Okay, toast and applesauce coming right up,” I said, turning away from her and walking into the kitchen. “What kind of homework ya got, sport?”
“English, and I hate it,” Garrett said, scrunching up his face in disgust.
“Yeah, it wasn’t my favorite either, but I took all my credits my sophomore and junior year so I could have an easy senior year. You should do the same. No one wants to be there by then anyway.”
Garrett chewed on his pencil as he listened to me. “How are you so calm about everything? The last few weeks have been total shit.”
“Watch your language,” Mom said before bursting into a coughing fit.
“Dude, what the hell?” I said, running to Mom.
My stomach tightened as I realized there was nothing I could do for her except pat her back and wipe the blood off her mouth. Nothing I’d ever done in my life up to this point had prepared me to deal with watching my mom die.
“You okay?” I asked.
Mom nodded as she dabbed her mouth with a tissue and leaned back in the chair. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to talk, just rest,” I said, fluffing her pillow behind her head.
She’d insisted on sitting in the recliner so she could have a choice of sitting or lying down. She wanted to be close to us too. I just wanted to keep her comfortable.
I walked backward slowly, making sure she didn’t need me again, before I went into the kitchen and pulled up a chair next to Garrett. “Listen to me, when we’re out of the house, you can swear like a sailor. I don’t care when it’s just us. But while we’re here, no swearing, do your homework, and be on your best behavior. We need to make sure Mom doesn’t raise her voice, okay?”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, chewing his bottom lip.
“It’s all right. Sorry I snapped at you. I’m going to get Mom some dinner, and we’ll have some grilled cheese sandwiches and chips, okay?” I asked, ruffling his hair.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“I gotta teach you to cook,” I said, standing.
“That’s all right. I got homework,” Garrett said, grinning from ear to ear.
The rest of the evening we spent in the living room with Mom. As she drifted off to sleep in the chair, I glanced at her, and wondered if tomorrow would be the day she wouldn’t wake up.
Chapter 10
I rubbed my face as the sun peered through my bedroom window. I stretched then bolted out of bed. I ran across the house and slowed as I neared Mom’s room door. It was open.
“Mom?” I asked softly.
“Morning,” she said as she struggled to sit up.
“Let me help.” I tucked my arms underneath hers, slid her frail body up in the bed, and situated the pillows behind her head.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. It’s the least I can do,” I said, sitting on the edge of her bed.
“You in a hurry this morning?” Mom asked, grinning.
I glanced down at my boxers and groaned. “Sorry, I just woke up and you were the first thing I thought about. I needed to see you, I guess.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What? Why would you apologize?” I asked, frowning.
“Because I’m supposed to die from growing old. I’m supposed to see you and Garrett graduate, get married. I’m supposed to play with my grandbabies. I’m not supposed to leave you like this,” she whispered.
“Mom.” I took her hand. “I know that even when your body isn’t here, you’ll be watching over us.”
“That’s a very brave thing to say, and I’m not buying your shit,” she said, a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth.
I laughed. “I had to try. I don’t want you to worry about us. We’ll be okay. I’m considering some different options after graduation so I can take care of Garrett.
“He has a father, you know. You have a father.”
“No, I don’t. He walked out on us years ago. He made his choice and I made mine. Besides, Garrett belongs with me,” I said, releasing her hand and folding my arms across my chest.
“You have to keep him in mind. And the courts might step in, so you can plan and we’ll talk about it, but you can’t be certain what will happen. Okay?”
“Yeah,” I muttered.
“Not the way I wanted to begin our morning,” she said and patted my hand.
“It’s okay. I’m off to a slow start anyway. I forgot to set my alarm last night. Since Garrett and I are already late for school I’ll get dressed and make you some coffee. By the way, where’s Aunt Linda?”
“She’s gone to pick up some prescriptions for me and run a few errands. She wanted to get out early and beat the traffic, so I wouldn’t be home alone for long.”
“I’m not leaving until she gets back.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“This isn’t up for discussion. It won’t hurt us to be a few more minutes late.” I turned and walked out of her bedroom before she could argue with me.
I let Garrett know he could sleep in and that I’d wake him half an hour before we needed to leave. Poor kid was sound asleep again before I finished my sentence. The news had worn on all of us, and although a year wasn’t much time, in some ways, it was too much.
* * *
I walked straight into the school office when I arrived.
“I need a pass to class, please,” I said to Ms. Johnson, the office assistant.
“Reason you’re late?” she asked, grabbing the tablet and pen.
“My mom’s dying,” I said quietly.
“Young man, I hardly think that’s an appropriate joke.”
I took a deep breath, ready to get this over with. “I’m not kidding. She was diagnosed with cancer, so I’ll be late some mornings. I have to get my brother to school and take care of her in the morning until my aunt can.”
“Oh, hon, I’m so sorry. I thought you were pulling my leg. Come on back here right now,” she said, ushering me through the waist-high swinging door that allowed me behind the desk. “Mrs. Juniper, Walker Farren needs to see you right away.”
“It’s okay, really, I don’t—”
“No, this isn’t a request,” Ms. Johnson said, guiding me into the counselor’s office.
I sighed as the door shut behind me.
“Walker? Have a s
eat. What’s going on? I don’t think I’ve seen Ms. Johnson so concerned before,” she said, her eyebrows knitting together as she sat down at her desk.
I slipped into a chair as my shoulders slumped forward. I put my head in my hands, and after a minute, I leaned back. “I keep just saying the same crap over and over, so I’ll give you my last few weeks in a nutshell. I broke up with my girlfriend after three years together because I found out she’d lied to me, cheated on me, and had two abortions that she didn’t bother to tell me about. Then last week while I was skipping school because of her, my mom told me she’s dying. Cancer. Lung cancer. So lots of changes in a few weeks. I might be late some mornings, and I’ll most likely miss some days. I do have every intention of finishing with good grades so I can go to college if it’s what I want to do. But I’m probably not going because I need to figure out how to support my brother and myself after Mom is gone.”
“Wow,” Mrs. Juniper said, her eyes widening. “Wow.”
“Not my choice of words, but close enough.”
“Walker, hon, I’m so, so sorry. Let me help. Let me assist you with some of those decisions. I’ll talk to your teachers, and as long as you don’t abuse the privilege, you can do some of your classwork at home. We can set up a late arrival and an early release. I’ll monitor your homework and grades to make sure you’re getting the support you need. I can assist you with options for you and Garrett too. Maybe a trade school might be a good fit?”
I nodded, not sure what to say. Everything had happened so fast, I was struggling to wrap my brain around it. “Yeah, okay, that’ll work. Thank you. Where do I start?”
Over the next hour, we set up a plan for my teachers to sign off on. Mrs. Juniper made sure I understood that this was a privilege and she was trying to help my family. She’d just thrown me a life preserver, a way to be able to spend more time with Mom. No way would I blow it. Besides, it would provide some distance from Brittany, Brandon, and Nicole. The only real friend I still had was James.
By the time we were finished, the first lunch bell had rung. I picked up my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. “Thank you,” I said, taking the papers from her. “I’ll have these signed and back to you tomorrow.”
My Hurricane (The Truth Series Book 0) Page 5