Im holding my son.
Rachel rests her head on my arm, and we stare at him.
We stare at him for so long. I tell Rachel he has her red hair.
Rachel says he has my lips. I tell Rachel I hope he has her
personality. She disagrees and says she hopes hes just like me.
He makes life so much better, she says.
He sure does.
Were so lucky, Miles.
We sure are.
Rachel squeezes my hand.
Weve got this, Rachel whispers.
Weve so got this, I tell her.
Clayton yawns, and it makes us both laugh.
Since when did yawns become so incredible?
I touch his fingers.
We love you so much, Clayton.
Chapter twenty-seven
TATE
I drop down into the chair beside Cap, still dressed from head to toe in my scrubs. As soon as I got home from work, I studied for two hours straight. Its already after ten, and I havent even had supper yet, which is why Im sitting next to Cap right now, because hes getting to know my habits and had a pizza ordered for the two of us.
I hand him a slice and grab my own, then shut the lid and set it on the floor in front of me. I shove a huge bite into my mouth, but Cap is staring down at the slice in his hand.
Its really sad when pizza can make it to you faster than the police¸ he says. I just ordered this ten minutes ago. He takes a bite and closes his eyes like its the best thing hes ever tasted.
We both finish our slices, and I reach for another one. He shakes his head when I offer him a second slice, so I put it back in the box.
So? he says. Any progress between the boy and his friend?
It makes me laugh that he constantly refers to Miles as the boy. I nod and respond with a mouthful. Kind of, I say. They had a successful game night, but I think it was only successful because Miles pretended I wasnt there the whole time. I know hes trying to respect Corbin, but it kind of makes me feel like shit in the process, you know?
Cap nods like he understands. Im not sure that he does, but I like that he always listens so attentively anyway. Of course, he texted me the entire time he was in the living room sitting next to Corbin, so I guess I have that. But then there are weeks like this week when hes not even in the same state, and its like I dont even exist to him. No texts. No phone calls. Im pretty sure he only thinks about me when Im within ten feet of him.
Cap shakes his head. I doubt that. I bet that boy thinks about you a lot more than he lets on.
Id like to believe those words to be true, but Im not so sure they are.
But if he doesnt, Cap says, you cant be mad at him for it. Wasnt part of the agreement, now, was it?
I roll my eyes. I hate that he always brings me back to the fact that Miles isnt the one breaking rules or agreements. Im the one with the problems in our arrangement, and thats no ones fault but my own.
How did I get myself into this mess? I ask, not even needing an answer. I know how I got myself into this mess. I also know how to get out of it … I just dont want to.
You ever heard that expression, When life gives you lemons …?
Make lemonade, I say, finishing his quote.
Cap looks at me and shakes his head. Thats not how it goes, he says. When life gives you lemons, make sure you know whose eyes you need to squeeze them in.
I laugh, grab another slice of pizza, and wonder how in the hell I ended up with an eighty-year-old man as my best friend.
Corbins home phone never rings. Especially after midnight. I throw the covers off and grab a T-shirt, then pull it over my head. I dont know why I bother getting dressed. Corbins gone, and Miles isnt due back until tomorrow.
I make it to the kitchen on the fifth ring, right as the answering machine picks up. I cancel the message, then put the phone to my ear.
Hello?
Tate! my mother says. Oh, my God, Tate.
Her voice is panicked, which immediately causes me to panic. What is it?
A plane. A plane crashed about half an hour ago, and I cant get through to the airline. Have you talked to your brother?
My knees meet the floor. Are you sure it was his airline? I ask her. My voice sounds so terrified I dont even recognize it. It sounds as terrified as hers did the last time this happened.
I was only six, but I remember every single detail as if it happened yesterday, down to the moon-and-star pajamas I was wearing. My father was on a domestic flight, and we had turned on the news right after dinner and saw that one of the planes had gone down due to engine failure. Everyone on board was killed. I remember watching my mother on the phone with the airline, hysterical, trying to find out information on who the pilot was. We found out it wasnt him within the hour, but that hour was one of the scariest of our lives.
Until now.
I rush to my room and grab my cell phone off my nightstand and immediately dial his number. Have you tried calling him? I ask my mother as I make my way back to the living room. I try to make it to the couch, but for some reason, the floor seems more comforting. I kneel down again, almost as if Im in prayer mode.
I guess I am.
Yes, Ive been calling his phone nonstop. Its just going to voice mail.
Its a stupid question. Of course, shes tried calling him. I try again anyway, but his phone goes directly to voice mail.
I try to reassure her, but I know its pointless. Until we hear his voice, reassurance wont help. Ill call the airline, I tell her. Ill call you back if I hear anything.
She doesnt even say goodbye.
I use the home phone to call the airline and my cell phone to call Miles. Its the first time Ive ever dialed his number.
I pray that he answers, because as much as Im scared to death for Corbin, its also running through my head that Miles works for the same airline.