Page 96 of Until Now
Nerd.
I imagine him painting the single dark gray wall behind the bed with his mom on a Sunday afternoon. Breaking Benjamin plays softly in the background as he tells her about the coming week. The soft blue and gray plaid comforter reminds me of his plaid shirt I had worn in Haven and the others he has been favoring during the colder months.
On his nightstand, a brand new copy ofThe Shiningby Stephen King. I open it to the last marked page, 426, and start to read…
“The tub lady scarred me for life.”
“Shit!” I drop the book at the sound of his voice. “Dammit, Alex, don’t do that.” I kneel to retrieve the book from under the bed. Finding the marked page, I’m about to return it to the nightstand when I notice something now sticking out of the pages. Releasing it, my heart sinks.
A photo.
From his birthday.
My head thrown back in laughter, my leg draped over him. Nick’s eyes crinkled, a toothy grin as he stares at me. His hand on my exposed thigh. Dimple on full display. Who took this? It had to be Eileen, but why didn’t she show me?
“He misses you.” Alex stands over me.
“Alex…Please don’t.” Blinking back the tears, I use the photo to bookmark page 426 and return the book to its original place. I wipe my eyes and push past him without another word.
Returning to the living room, I settle on the couch next to Jimmy and we fall into easy conversation. I can’t deny I feel more comfortable with the Davis family than I ever have my own most days. They’re normal. Something I have never experienced. It’s a nice change to be around a family that doesn’t worry about what to say or do to impress others. Though, I do feel like Alex is trying to make a good impression. From my peripheral, I watch him subtly pick up things that are out of place or clear clutter that covers some of the surfaces. When Jimmy goes into the kitchen to refill my tea, I gently stop him.
“You know, Nina,” Jimmy says when he returns. “There is something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about. Nick told me about your mother…”
“Jimmy—”
“Let me say this,” he stops me. “Nick is a very loyal person, sometimes to a fault. When Evie…” Jimmy clears his throat. “Well, he took it upon himself to take care of us. I should have stepped up and taken care of them, but I couldn’t. Her passing was too much to bear. Cancer is a cruel thing.”
The pressure builds behind my eyes. I try to swallow it back down, but it continues to grow. Alex keeps his gaze in his lap, holding back his tears. The death of Mrs. Davis still obviously affects them. I can’t even imagine that type of loss.
“Nick is very much like his mother. He’s a kind soul, and when he loves, he loves hard. He wants to protect those he loves. When Nick found out about your mother and this Lee fellow. He confronted her. And—”
“Dad, don’t,” Alex stops him.
“She deserves to know, Alex.”
“You promised him.”
“It’s okay, Jimmy. You don’t have to. I-I know he meant well. Even if it hurt me.” Even if I’m still pissed off, I’ve started to understand why he did it. The time on the clock catches my attention. “Shit, I have to go. I’m supposed to be at the airport in twenty minutes. I’m so sorry.”
“Of course, you’re a busy woman,” Jimmy concedes. “Where ya headed?”
“Daddy and I are flying to Denver.”
“Denver?” Alex helps me slip back into my coat.
“He’s working on making final transitions for Kai to take over by January and I’m looking at office spaces.”
“A new office? That’s great, Nina!” Jimmy’s smile is sincere. When we step outside, a sudden clang and a mumbled curse from the garage catch our attention. Jimmy sighs, “I should go help him.”
“He’s been keeping up, everyone knows what happened,” Alex argues.
Even if it’s true, it doesn’t help subside Jimmy’s guilt. I think he and I share the same concern — worried Nick will fall back into his old routine. Worried that he will return to nonstop work inside the garage. The doctor ordered Jimmy to take a few weeks rest, which meant no work. Which means the load lands on his son. “Well, shouldn’t you be going?” Jimmy asks me.
“He’s probably going to leave without me at this rate.” I feel the same sense of safety when I hug Jimmy that I feel when I hug my father.
Alex hugs me tightly. “Thank you for everything.”
I kiss Alex’s cheek before I run to my car hoping I’m not too late.