AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah well . . .” I took my coat off and hung it on the stair railing. Who needs a coat rack anyway? “Someone has to close up the building.”
Both my brother and sister were already sitting at the table, and Jacob’s son was settled on his lap, enjoying the snack puff that was put in front of him.
“Where’s Andrea?” I asked, looking around for Jacob’s wife.
“At home with Kenzy. She brought something nasty home from school, so Wyatt gets to stay with grandma.” Jacob began to bump his knee up and down. My nephew began to giggle as his hand tried to stay steady to get the snack.
“He’s always welcome,” My mom came over and scooped up her grandson. “Well now that we are all here . . .” she trailed off, giving Wyatt a kiss on his cheek. “Your dad was lucid today, for about an hour. He didn’t know where he was—he was kind of scared—but by the time I got there he had calmed down.”
Sydney sat up straight. I think out of all of us, dad’s memory loss has affected her the most. “What was . . .” she stammered. “What happened?”
“He was confused. Worried he would forget again. I tried to tell him as much as I could, even though I couldn’t tell him everything . . . but he wrote it down.”
Sydney’s bottom lip quivered as she slumped back into her chair. I put my arm on her back and rubbed lightly, bringing her some source of comfort.
“Why didn’t you call us on your way?” Jacob spat. For the first time since Mom had taken Wyatt, I looked over at him. He was hunched over, his elbows resting on his knees, his gaze focused down. “We could have made it there.”
“I was at the salon,” Sydney sniffed.
“You three have more than enough on your plate. Sydney, your salon is taking off and Jacob, you were telling me about a surgery you had today. I knew Elliot was close, but he was busy at the office.”
My eyes darted towards her, biting my lip to stop myself from saying anything. Now was obviously not the time to bring up selling.
“We listened to one of your songs, Ell,” she said softly.
I let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Oh, I bet he loved that.”
Giving me a soft smile she nodded. “He wrote down‘Elliot’s wasting time singing’in his notebook.”
“Oh, that makes me feel so good about my life choices,” I added. I went into business for my dad. I followed the pathhewanted me to follow.
“Mom.” Jacob’s voice was harsh again. “Next time he’s lucid, I don’t care what I’m doing, I need to know.” Jacob stood and reached for Wyatt.
“Oh Jake, I know you—”
“Mom.” Jacob interrupted. “Next time he’s lucid, I don't care what I’m doing. You need to call me. I need to know,” he repeated himself, as if she didn’t get the message the first time.
He stared at our mother, standing taller than her. My mother though, as broken as she was sometimes, still stood strong. She took her grandson back and glared at her son.
“I don't care how old you’ve gotten, Jacob Dalton—you do not talk to me that way. I went and sawmyhusband. We talked. He’s proud of all of you. He’ll read his notebook tomorrow, just like he always does, and maybe when we go visit on Sunday, he will remember something. He remembered today, and that’s something.” Her glare never once left Jacob. Even at the age of forty-two, you could tell Mom still made him quake. “Now, I am going to go play with my grandson. Sydney, Elliot, can you two please set the table.”
“Sure thing, Mom.” I smiled, not taking my eyes off of my older brother.
“Of course, Mama.” Sydney stood and walked to the kitchen.
Once my mom and sister were out of ear shot, I looked over at my brother.
“You good?” I asked.
Jacob’s jaw was tense. He let out a breath and I could see his entire body relax, that jaw, however, stayed stiff.
“I know a hygienist that wouldn’t like how you're clenching your teeth,” I mumbled.
“She should have called us.”
“I know, but, Jake, she just wanted to see her husband.” I sighed. “You’re still a part of that study . . . right?”
Jacob nodded. “Yeah, nothing new to report there. I just . . .” he sighed, “I wish I could have talked to him.”
