by Lowe, T. I.
“Thanks, son. This has been our homestead for the last fifty years. Me and Betty wanted to raise our children near the water.” We look out to the mellow water rolling by and it is just amazing.
“This had to be a great place to grow up.” I glance over to Julia and find her watching me with concern. She’s been doing that ever since this morning. I wink at her and she smiles a small smile. “I’m starved, so let’s get to these fish.” At this Julia walks away from us.
Stan laughs. “My Betty always did the same thing and went to running as soon as it was time to clean and fry fish.” He says this fondly.
I watch Julia and add, “Julia runs from anything food related, especially when it comes to cooking.”
Me and my man Stan get on to frying up fish while Julia wanders over and spends her afternoon in a hammock under one of those large shade trees. She seems in her own world today.
After we’ve eaten our weight in fish and fried potatoes, we sit at the end of the dock and watch the day drift out with the tide. I sit on the hard wood bench for as long as I can stand it, but everything starts aching again. I stand and try to stretch out my back.
“What’s ailing you, boy?” Stan asks.
I cut my eyes over to Julia and smirk. “Miss Priss over there attacked me last night right in the middle of the ocean. I think she jarred something loose in my back.”
She pops her hand on her hip. “I thought that shark was going to get me.”
“A shark?” Stan questions. The little man looks concerned with wide eyes.
I laugh. “There was no shark except for Julia’s imaginary one.”
“You kids are something else.” Stan seems proud at this.
I rub my sore chest and think about asking Stan for some Tylenol. “You know, I did wrangle in that twenty pound flounder. I think that might be the cause. My chest is pretty sore too.”
“Talk about an imagination, Stone! You’re telling one tall fish tale there, buddy. That flounder was no more than ten pounds.” Julia’s pointing that prissy finger at me.
We go back and forth for a while until I give up. She bickers better than I do. And Stan’s laughing keeps cracking me up.
We leave Stan late in the evening with promises of keeping in touch. I don’t promise to stop on the way back through. I really feel it’s time to wrap this trip up. As much as I want it to keep on going, it’s time for this journey to come to an end.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Julia
We are in Florida and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve never been to Disney World. We arrived early yesterday evening and pulled into the Fort Wilderness Campground. It’s such a charming place with lots of Disney magic. I spotted a gift store and so while Greyson set us up, I went on a shopping spree for all things Disney. I purchased every baby item I could find that isn’t gender specific. I bought souvenirs for my two nephews as well as the whole lot of Mason Kids. I also got Greyson and me matching Disney shirts to wear tomorrow. Cheesy I know, but he got the biggest kick out of it.
I’m feeling bittersweet about Disney, because it is the very last stop on our road trip. The original itinerary included a three day cruise, but Greyson canceled that while we were still in Bay Creek. He said something came up and we wouldn’t be able to get that in. So Disney it is and then back to reality. Now that is one epic one-eighty for sure.
Once I hauled all my loot back to the RV, we headed over to the Trail’s End Restaurant where a gigantic country buffet greeted us. Greyson didn’t eat nearly as much as he has been. I have to say, it worries me.
When I asked him about his appetite, he just brushed it off. “I think my body is finally caught up on food.”
We strolled hand in hand over to the beach after supper and watched the Electric Water Parade where floating sea creatures danced along the top of the lake. It was quite magical and I felt like a kid oohing and aahing over it. The night was finished off by a grand fireworks display and I think it was the best show I have ever seen.
Greyson is still sore. When I asked him in concern about it last night, he just brushed that off too. “You’re always more sore the third day. No worries.”
No worries... No worries… That’s his answer for everything. No worries. Well, I’m worrying anyway. Something feels off and I’m worried.
I’ve been a good girl and have moved back to my bed even though it’s lonely without him. Greyson went directly to bed after the fireworks last night. So I don’t feel bad about waking him up at six this morning. I hear you have to hit the parks early if you’re going to have a fair shot at checking everything out.
I scoot into his room and find him snoozing away. I leap onto the bed and start bouncing up and down. “Disney Baby! Woohoo!” I shout. Greyson just grumbles and rolls over.
“Get up, sleepy head,” I sing out as I plop down bedside him. I’m about to set in to tickling him when I notice he’s sweating. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just stuffy in here.” He wipes the fine sheen of sweat from his face and slowly sits up.
Without another word, he heads to the bathroom. After I hear the shower come to life, I work on preparing us some oatmeal. I noticed the stiffness of his walk and feel right guilty about it. I place two more Tylenols by his bowl.
Greyson comes out with his dark hair damp and is wearing his Disney shirt. Even in such a whimsical shirt he is still delicious. He rolls his shoulder a few times and looks at me in a painful grin. “You did a number on my left shoulder, Thorton.” He’s only teasing, but it makes me feel even worse.
While we have breakfast, we plot out our plan of action at Magic Kingdom. Or I do anyway. Greyson just nods his head at whatever I say as he pushes his oatmeal around the bowl. “What’s wrong with the oatmeal, honey? Did I not fix it right?”
“No. I just think I have finally had my fill of it. Maybe it’s time to pick another breakfast choice.” He scrapes his bowl out into the trash and places it in the dishwasher. “Okay, little lady. Let’s take our selfie in these cheesed up shirts and send it to my parents.”
By the time we unload from the ferry, the park is already swarming with visitors. We start to the left of the park. Our plan is to make a loop around. We enter Adventure Land and board the Jungle Cruise. It’s silly and fun and we laugh all the way through it. The guide is a pretty good comedian. Next, we climb on board for the Pirates of the Caribbean ship ride.
We’ve only been on two attractions and the day is already passing quickly. I feel like if we don’t get it in today, I’ll never get it in. Greyson’s been dragging, so I keep trying to hurry him along.
“It’s just so much to see. I’ve not been since I was a young kid. Can’t we just slow down and take it all in?” he asked me earlier. So we’ve slowed down and I try not to be too antsy.
We eventually make it to Frontier Land and watch some animated bear show that Greyson got quite a kick out of. We then braved an abundant line for Splash Mountain. We emerge from our log slightly wet and giggling.
“That was fun,” I say as I grab his hand and start us over to Thunder Mountain. I feel Greyson tug my arm slightly.
I look over and find him gazing at the ride skeptically. We watch as a train barrels around the track roughly with passengers squealing. “I don’t think my shoulder can handle that. It’s pretty tender. You go ahead and I’ll wait for you here.”
“No. If you’re not up for it, we can just do something else.” I smile at him.
“You sure?”
I start us walking past the line. “No worries,” I tease, and he chuckles.
Greyson asks to stop shortly after this. We are just outside the castle. “You mind if we take a break at your home, Princess?”
“I guess.” I’m starting to worry we aren’t going to get the whole park in with just one day.
Greyson sits on a bench along the side of the castle and instructs me to pose for some pictures. He snaps away and sends one to his parents declaring he finally got me home. I
didn’t find that too funny, but he did. I sit next to him for a while and watch people stroll by us.
“You want me to grab us something to eat? I know you have your heart set on one of those gigantic turkey legs.”
“Nah. Maybe later.”
“Are you okay?” I look over at him and he’s sweating again. It’s relatively warm, but not that warm.
“Yeah. This heat has just zapped my appetite.” He smiles weakly over at me. “I could really use something to drink though.”
“Got it.” I leave him resting on the bench and go grab two Gatorades from a street vendor.
I carry it back to him and he downs it in one shot. I drink about half of mine as I watch him closely.
Placing the empty bottle beside him, Greyson clutches his stomach. “Maybe I drank that too fast,” he grumbles. I see his face flush.
“Honey, are you okay?” I ask again. “Maybe we should call it a day. You don’t look to be doing so well.” I make to stand, but he stops me.
“Just give me a minute. I really want to get the Haunted Castle in.” He smiles weakly over at me again. He’s not fooling me though. He looks right miserable.
“What’s with you and scary stuff? You have to know I’m not a fan by now.”
Greyson chuckles weakly. “I think that’s the reason I like it so much. But this one is mild. You can even hold my hand.” He waggles his eyebrows, trying to be funny and I let him.
We finally make it to Liberty Square and stand in line for about thirty minutes for the Haunted Mansion. It’s more cool than creepy. I think it’s the best of all the rides so far. Plus it was inside with nice air conditioning, for which I’m glad for Greyson’s sake. He was true to his word and held my hand all the way through. It didn’t escape my attention that his hand was hot and clammy.
Fantasy Land is in our sites after this. We’ve not hit as many attractions as I’d like nor shopped as much as I had planned, but the circle is coming closer to being complete. The day has turned to late afternoon by the time we make it to It’s a Small World. We sit in the shade and wait for a lull in the line. This ride’s popularity is evident and it makes me even more excited to check it out. It looks so whimsical from what I can see.
“All right, Thorton. Let’s get in line,” Greyson finally declares. So we take our spot and wait patiently for our turn. He seems to be giving out, and so I think after this we should call it a day. He either leans on the railing or is kneeling during the wait. He gruffs out at one point that he needs some Tylenol. But I forgot it back at the RV. I promise to find him some after the ride.
Once we are seated in the front of a boat, we are set off into magic land. The place reminds me of maybe Willy Wonka. It’s so brightly colored and whimsical. It’s breathtaking for the first minute, but then I am over it. Dolls of all ethnicities and cultures are dancing around and singing the most annoying song ever written as we float by at a painfully slow pace. Greyson lays his head down at one point. I laugh and pat him on the back.
It just keeps going and going and I feel like we have embarked on a worldwide trip to purgatory. Never will I ride this one again. Cross it off. I’m done.
I’m just over it, so I sit back and start studying the map for somewhere I can grab Greyson some Tylenol—if we ever make it to the end of this ride that is. I hear Greyson muttering something. “What was that, honey?”
“Get me off of here,” he grouches out. I’m about to laugh, but catch the true edge to his voice.
I look over in time to watch him lift his head and vomit out all of the blue Gatorade. I grab his hand and find him burning up—so hot that I can barely stand to touch him.
“Call Mom,” he garbles out. He has this confused look on his face and his eyes seem to not focus. It scares me and I panic.
“Help! I need Help!” I yell over the psychotic children that keep singing as though there’s nothing amiss. Everything keeps at its languid pace as I keep holding him screaming.
Greyson clutches his stomach in pain and I notice his hair is completely wet through with sweat. He starts dry heaving, and then a fountain of blood spouts out of him and I scream until my voice threatens to leave me. I feel like it’s an out of body experience. Like everything is muted but on full blast at the same time. I want to shout out at those brats to just shut up! SHUT UP! I look around to see workers running alongside the ride, yelling something at me, but all I can hear are those brats singing over and over, It’s a small world after all, it’s a small world after all. It’s a small, small world. I hold tight to Greyson who has slumped into my lap. I beg God. Please, God. Please! I notice the signs at the end of the ride telling us goodbye in all sorts of languages. I beg God some more. Not yet! Please, God! Not yet!
Emergency workers stop our boat as soon as we emerge from the tunnel. They pull Greyson out with some effort from our seat while I sit in shock. I look down and find my Disney shirt smeared with his blood. Then I hear someone wailing all of a sudden. Looking around to find the woman, I realize it’s me.
The EMT’s pull me out and bring me along with them. Isn’t this supposed to be the happiest place on earth? These thoughts strike me oddly, as I glance around the park while they shuffle us out a side emergency exit. They keep asking me questions as we load into the back of the ambulance, but I can’t respond. All I can do is watch on helplessly as they strap an oxygen mask over Greyson’s beautiful face and start an IV.
Before we make it to the hospital, I sort of snap out of it enough to tell the EMT what I know about his medical history with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and how long he’s been in remission. I fish his phone out of his pocket and hand it to another EMT so they can call Greyson’s parents. I just sit and watch him. He’s been unconscious since we left the park. I hold his hand and cry out to him not to leave me, but he doesn’t respond. His fever has hit a dangerous one hundred five and there’s a slight tremble to his body. A body that has looked so healthy. So happy. And now he lays here and I feel so helpless. I want all of his pain. I want to free him from it. He doesn’t deserve this…
Once we reach the hospital, they whisk Greyson away and I’m left alone with some lady wanting me to give her information that I really don’t know. I keep muttering to her that his parents will be here in a few hours. I’m just too shocked to help. Everything is muffled by the rushing blood assaulting my ears. The world in the ER is continuing along its way and I feel suspended. I want to shout out to everyone—Stop! Instead, I sit mutely in the waiting room for what feels like eternity. At some point, a nurse brings me some wet wipes and helps clean the blood off my hands. She gives me a can of soda that goes untouched. I can’t do anything but watch that door, waiting for someone to reassure me he’s okay, but they never come.
Not until hours later. I’m still alone when a doctor emerges from the doors and asks for the family of Greyson Stone. Coming to life, I stand and rush over to him.
“I’m his friend. I need to see him,” I stutter out, but stop in my tracks when the grim looking doctor shakes his head no at me.
In that moment everything shatters and falls away. The floor moves quickly yet curiously slow towards me and everything instantly goes blank. Crumbling and fading in a vortex of anguish, my world collapses.
Epilogue
Julia
It’s been almost two years since I lost him. Kneeling in front of his grave, my hand gently brushes the sandy film from the beautiful stone that the ocean recently kicked up here during a storm. My eyes briefly ease over to the sea and find it tranquilly calm today. The sun is kissing it and the breeze is just barely blowing. I look back at the gravestone and think about the man memorialized on it. I trace my fingers over his name and my throat tightens at my regrets. I simply did not have enough time with him.
“Hey.”
I glance over my shoulder and find JP watching me. The midnight-blue suit fits him perfectly, and he looks ruggedly handsome as always. I find familiar comfort with him finally letting his hair grow back out s
lightly, making him look more like the brother I’ve always known. Short hair just does not suit his rebellious nature.
I give him a slight smile and whisper back, “Hey.”
“You hanging in there?” JP asks as he helps me stand.
I smooth my white gown and face away from the gravestone. “Yes. I just wish he were here today to see I finally got my act together.” I sniffle away the tears trying to escape.
“I’m sure he had faith that you’d eventually figure it out.”
“Still,” I rebuke.
JP offers me his arm and I weave mine into the crook. He then hands me my white rose bouquet. “You ready for this?” he asks as he walks me over to the entrance of the Oceanfront Chapel.
“Absolutely,” I confirm as we walk in and find the sanctuary is filled with sweet familiar faces. The piano player is playing the traditional wedding march melody.
JP leans close and whispers, “Dad would have been so proud of you.” He then leads me down the aisle that is lined with lush white roses.
I glance to the left and smile over at the Mason family. All those white heads lined along the pew is pure beauty. My gaze moves to the front pew. Miss May is seated there along with Lulu and Stan. Savannah and Lucas, who’s holding my baby nephew, are flanked by my other two nephews. Both boys are craning their necks, watching me and JP approach. I tease both of them with a wink each and quietly chuckle when the oldest boldly winks back. That one is something else and he and JP have formed quite the mischievous team.
We opted to have neither groomsmen nor bridesmaids. I wanted a simple service between just me and my groom and God.
Savannah reaches out and touches my hand as I pass. I pause to give her a kiss before continuing to my groom where he is awaiting with the pastor.
My groom is a spectacular man and I would have never guessed God would grant him to me after all I have gone through. He takes a few unexpected steps towards us and takes me from JP