AllFreeNovel
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Monica: I’ll share everything on Monday. Just be praying!
Mom walked into the room, and I pulled my eyes up from my phone. “Hey, Mandy and Carla said they’re bringing some meals tonight and tomorrow.”
Mom smiled. “That’s so sweet. You and Bryce have the best friends, sweetie. Did you know Jake was at the hospital with Bryce the whole time you were unconscious?”
I pressed my lips into a smile. “Oh? I didn’t realize that.” Why would he have been at the hospital? Maybe to be with Bryce?
Mom waved a hand. “He popped into your room with Bryce for a minute when you woke up, but not very long. Probably had to go back to the station or something.”
I frowned. I didn’t remember any of that. It seemed odd that he would come in to see me. Not even the rest of the small group had been there.
On Monday evening, I grabbed my bag and Bible like I always did for small group. I started toward my car and then stopped short on the front step. My car wasn’t there, I realized. It had been totaled. It had been two weeks, but I hadn’t even thought about getting a new one.
And I wasn’t supposed to be driving yet, I remembered with a groan.
I didn’t even know where I was going. Jake was hosting the small group, as though it was something he had done many times before. He probably had.
But I had no idea where Jake lived.
Frustration rose within me like the blood pressure of a stressed-out, overweight businessman. I pivoted sharply on one foot and stomped up the front steps.
When I got inside, I found my mom in the kitchen. “Hey, Mom. I need a ride to small group. Think you can drop me off?”
“Oh, of course. I didn’t even think of it. Let’s go.”
Sitting in Mom’s car, I felt like a teenager unable to get her license.
“Where are we headed?”
Mom’s question made me lean back, pressing into the seat as though I hoped it might swallow me.
Come on, stupid brain. Why couldn’t I remember?
I waited, silently pleading with my mind to have mercy and unlock the memories it had trapped behind this impenetrable fortress of trauma.
Nothing. I knew Jake lived in Minden. That was it. The feeling was incredibly frustrating. Obviously, I should know where he lived, because otherwise the group would have shared.
And then it hit me. Maybe somewhere in the group text was Jake’s address. I was determined not to draw attention to my lack of memories by asking the group, though I was sure someone would probably reply in seconds.
“Umm, give me a minute.” I hit the search bar and typed in the word “address.”
The pieces of conversations showed up on the screen, dating all the way back to early last year. The oldest, I recognized. Then, there it was.
A message from January. I sagged with relief as I read the message from Jake.
Jake: See you all tonight. My address is 451 Shady Grove Court. I’m in unit B.
I plugged the address into my phone. I was just grateful I wouldn’t be late. That would only bring questions. I was never late. Unless that had changed in the last six months as well.
Maybe I should ask Mandy.
When we pulled up, I saw familiar vehicles parked in front of the unfamiliar duplex. Mom pulled in behind Carla’s blue Ford Focus.
“Do you need me to pick you up?”
I shook my head. “I’m sure someone can give me a lift after we’re done.”
“Okay. Call me if you need me,” Mom said, making me think of high school all over again. I half expected a “make good choices” reminder.
