Part 9 (2/2)
Jake takes his hand away from her forehead. ”We know, Mom.
It's all good. That stent will keep you going for a long time, like the Energizer Bunny.”
”You okay, Josh?” she asks.
He nods but looks far from okay. He pulls on a corner of his mus- tache. Everything is droopy and lacks his usual swagger.
”I'm fine, Mom. This is about you.”
”You should sit,” I tell him and point at the chair.
Without argument, he pulls it up to the side of the bed and sits.
”The good news is I'm going to make it.” Mom glances at me. ”At least I hope it's good news.” Her thoughts are almost visible as they bounce around her head. I hear her regret.
”You boys would have a hard time without me.” She nods at me.
”You too, Morgan?”
”Of course.”
Jake frowns at me as if I've done something wrong.
60.
sixteenthings.indd 60 9/9/13 2:21 PM.
1 6 t h i n g s i t h o u g h t w e r e t r u e She turns to Josh. ”Would you mind going to see if I can get some ice to chew on?”
He nods and stands. ”Sure.” He hurries out of the hospital room as if he's grateful to have something to do.
”Poor Josh,” she says when he's out the door. ”This is hard for him. He doesn't like hospitals. You never know how you're going to react to stuff like this.” She smiles. ”Like you, Jake. You're handling this so well. I always said still waters run deeper.”
He stares out after his twin. ”Josh doesn't like the smells and...”
”The sick people?” I add.
”It's okay. George, your dad, is the same way,” she says to Jake.
”He almost fainted when I gave birth.” Mom looks right at him. ”Why don't you go help Josh? Give me a minute with your sister.”
Jake looks at me, raises his eyebrows, then glances back at her.
”Help him get ice?”
Mom nods.
He glares at me. ”Is everything okay?”
”Fine,” Mom says. ”Just give us a minute.”
”Sure. Okay.” He slowly walks out of the room.
We both watch him leave.
”He was in the chapel during your surgery,” I tell her.
She smiles. ”Jake is my sensitive one.”
I wonder which one I am.
”The nurse said they're going to send me home tomorrow,” she says. ”As long as my insertion site heals okay. In and out.” She stares off into s.p.a.ce.
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sixteenthings.indd 61 9/9/13 2:21 PM.
J a n e t G u r t l e r ”I wish they'd keep you longer. Just to be safe. It seems so fast,”
I tell her.
She turns to look at me. ”That's the way it is, less expensive in the long run. I'll be seeing my own doctor regularly.”
We're both quiet again. It's obvious we're thinking about the same thing- the elephant in the room. The name. Such a simple name. Such a complicated name.
”I found the papers,” I tell her. ”In your jewelry box. With his name. Bob White.”
She sighs. ”Morgan. I really thought...I didn't think I would make it. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. Allowed you to find that doc.u.ment about your dad.”
”You mean Bob White?”
<script>