Georgia Rainstorms: Chapter 8
Justin
The next few weeks fly by in a blur. I visit Katie once in awhile, whenever her mom is out. She says her chemo is actually going better, but I’m not sure if I believe that. Lately though, she seems more lively, happier than she was before.
It’s late, one Wednesday night, I’m hanging out with Katie at her house. Leaning back on the couch, I let her rest her head on my shoulder.
“I’m glad you’re here…” she murmurs, brushing my cheek with her fingers and snuggling into my arms.
“You need the company, doc’s orders, whether your mom wants it or not,” I whisper, caressing her cheek.
“Well thanks for coming over like this, I really appreciate it,” she murmurs.
We sit in silence, listening to the rain on the windows, just relaxing in each others’ arms. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten to spend real time with her, and I’ve got to say it’s really nice.
And then the unexpected happens.
The door swings open quietly, a narrow line of pale light falling across the floor. In walks a man, only inches taller than me, with his arm in a sling.
“Daddy?” Katie whispers, sitting up in surprise.
She bolts up and is across the room in seconds, her arms wrapped around his waist, him letting out an “Oomph” in surprise.
“Hey baby girl,” he whispers, setting down his bag, and embracing her. He’s dressed in standard Army uniform, has his wings, his bands, and two medals, pinned to his uniform. “I missed seeing you when I de-planed sweetie.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there Dad,” Katie whispers, sighing.
“And why on earth are you here alone?” he asks, not noticing me still standing in the living room.
“Mom had to work, but I’m not alone…” Katie says pulling away and leading him into the living room. “Dad this is Justin.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you sir,” I say, extending my hand.
“The pleasure is mine,” he says, shaking my hand with a firm grasp, “You’re the young man who saved my little girl. It’s an honor.”
“It was nothing,” I whisper, feeling my ears get warm.
Her father wraps his arm around Katie, hugging her close. “Now sit and tell me about what’s been going on here at home sweetheart.”
I sit in silence, listening to Katie recap the last few years of her life, all that had happened since he had deployed. It was really hard to hear what had happened between her and her mom over me, just with more details, and it was harder to listen to her tell him about the arguments and the fights.
Five o’clock comes and goes, and just as I’m standing to leave after a nice afternoon of conversation with Katie and her father, the door opens again, only this time, I don’t go unnoticed.
“What is he doing here?” she asks, the malice showing in her voice.
“He’s here because I asked him to come,” Katie’s dad says walking out of the kitchen.
“Robert…” Katie’s mom whispers, embracing him.
“Hello Sasha…” her father whispers, returning the hug, then mouths at me, “Go,” and leans his head towards the door.
I dash out the door, closing it softly behind me, and run down the street. The rain is pattering softly on the earth and I dash towards my house. Pulling out my phone I text Amanda.
Will be there soon, running a little late, tell mom I’m okay so she doesn’t freak.
I continue jogging down the street until I reach the corner by my house. Once there though, I wish I had never come home. A dark blue sedan is parked in the driveway, and I can see the door hanging open.
“Oh dear God…” I hiss, sprinting towards the house. Sliding on the sidewalk, I jump through the gate and run to the doorway. Dad is standing in the entryway, his back to me and Mom, Amanda and Jason are standing there in front of him.
I look around at the scene, then jump the couch and stride over to mom. She’s standing in a field of broken glass, most likely a plate she dropped in surprise.
“Mom, are you okay?” I ask, reaching out and touching her arm.
It’s late, one Wednesday night, I’m hanging out with Katie at her house. Leaning back on the couch, I let her rest her head on my shoulder.
“I’m glad you’re here…” she murmurs, brushing my cheek with her fingers and snuggling into my arms.
“You need the company, doc’s orders, whether your mom wants it or not,” I whisper, caressing her cheek.
“Well thanks for coming over like this, I really appreciate it,” she murmurs.
We sit in silence, listening to the rain on the windows, just relaxing in each others’ arms. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten to spend real time with her, and I’ve got to say it’s really nice.
And then the unexpected happens.
The door swings open quietly, a narrow line of pale light falling across the floor. In walks a man, only inches taller than me, with his arm in a sling.
“Daddy?” Katie whispers, sitting up in surprise.
She bolts up and is across the room in seconds, her arms wrapped around his waist, him letting out an “Oomph” in surprise.
“Hey baby girl,” he whispers, setting down his bag, and embracing her. He’s dressed in standard Army uniform, has his wings, his bands, and two medals, pinned to his uniform. “I missed seeing you when I de-planed sweetie.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there Dad,” Katie whispers, sighing.
“And why on earth are you here alone?” he asks, not noticing me still standing in the living room.
“Mom had to work, but I’m not alone…” Katie says pulling away and leading him into the living room. “Dad this is Justin.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you sir,” I say, extending my hand.
“The pleasure is mine,” he says, shaking my hand with a firm grasp, “You’re the young man who saved my little girl. It’s an honor.”
“It was nothing,” I whisper, feeling my ears get warm.
Her father wraps his arm around Katie, hugging her close. “Now sit and tell me about what’s been going on here at home sweetheart.”
I sit in silence, listening to Katie recap the last few years of her life, all that had happened since he had deployed. It was really hard to hear what had happened between her and her mom over me, just with more details, and it was harder to listen to her tell him about the arguments and the fights.
Five o’clock comes and goes, and just as I’m standing to leave after a nice afternoon of conversation with Katie and her father, the door opens again, only this time, I don’t go unnoticed.
“What is he doing here?” she asks, the malice showing in her voice.
“He’s here because I asked him to come,” Katie’s dad says walking out of the kitchen.
“Robert…” Katie’s mom whispers, embracing him.
“Hello Sasha…” her father whispers, returning the hug, then mouths at me, “Go,” and leans his head towards the door.
I dash out the door, closing it softly behind me, and run down the street. The rain is pattering softly on the earth and I dash towards my house. Pulling out my phone I text Amanda.
Will be there soon, running a little late, tell mom I’m okay so she doesn’t freak.
I continue jogging down the street until I reach the corner by my house. Once there though, I wish I had never come home. A dark blue sedan is parked in the driveway, and I can see the door hanging open.
“Oh dear God…” I hiss, sprinting towards the house. Sliding on the sidewalk, I jump through the gate and run to the doorway. Dad is standing in the entryway, his back to me and Mom, Amanda and Jason are standing there in front of him.
I look around at the scene, then jump the couch and stride over to mom. She’s standing in a field of broken glass, most likely a plate she dropped in surprise.
“Mom, are you okay?” I ask, reaching out and touching her arm.