I got a text during seventh period from Mrs. Matson.
Jeff asked about you. Can you come after school today?
Jeff asked about me. Jeff was awake enough to talk and he asked about me. This was great news . . . really great news, I told myself again.
I texted her back.
Yes! Of course.
It was all my brain could think about the rest of school. I went immediately to the hospital after school for two reasons. One, so my parents, who were concerned about my emotional state (thank you for the heads-up, Owen), wouldn’t tell me I couldn’t go. And two, so that I wouldn’t interfere with Zach’s time. He wouldn’t head over until after baseball practice.
By the time I got to Salt Lake the anticipation of seeing Jeff, of talking to Jeff, had me so jittery that my hands were shaking. At first I sat in the car, trying to calm my nerves, but realized that it was only making me more anxious. I rushed through the parking lot and straight to the waiting room.
Mrs. Matson’s smile was brighter than ever. “Autumn, we’ve missed you. You haven’t been visiting.”
“We’ve been on the one-visitor-a-day schedule. Like you said.”
“That was meant for his friends. You’re family, remember?” She gave me a wink.
“Oh. Right.” Dallin would die if he’d heard that.
“Come on. Jeff’s waiting for you.” She tucked my arm in hers and led me to him.
When we walked in, he was asleep. My heart sank. But his mom left me at the foot of his bed and went to his side. She patted his arm. “Honey, you have a visitor.”
He groaned and his eyes fluttered open. “Mom?” It was so good to hear his voice again after two weeks.
“Yes. Hi.”
“Can I get some pain meds?”
“I know you’re sore, but not yet.”
“No respect,” he said, and a small smile flitted across his lips.
I smiled too. It was the first sign I’d seen of Jeff being Jeff and that made me know everything was going to be okay.
“In a couple hours. You’re doing good. Down to twice a day.”
He nodded.
“Autumn is here.”
“Hi,” I said, and his eyes were immediately on me.
“Mom. That’s the kind of thing you lead with,” he said. “Now she thinks I’m an addict.”
“She doesn’t think you’re an addict.”
“No, I do,” I said.
He tried to laugh but it came out as a cough.
“Come and sit,” he said, pointing to the chair.
“Are you sure? You seem tired.”
“I’m bored. And since I can’t have pain meds . . .”
His mom squeezed my arm on her way toward the door. “Not too long. He really does need his rest,” she said in a low voice.
“I didn’t lose my hearing, Mom,” he said.
Mrs. Matson sighed and shook her head, but there was so much joy in her eyes.
I lowered myself to the chair by his bed. “How are you?”
“Pretty good. Did you see my cool new scar?”
My eyes went to his forehead and the pink line there that would forever remind him of this accident. “I did. I spent several days checking it out.”
“I heard you’ve been here. Thank you.”
“Of course.”
He may have thought he could handle a long conversation but his speech was thick and eyes were already becoming lidded.
“You need to sleep.”
“No, I’m fine. Tell me everything I missed in the last couple weeks.”
“Not much. A basketball game. A party.” Dallin accusing me of putting you in the hospital.
“Sounds fun.” His blinks were becoming slower, longer.
“You’re going to fall asleep on me.”
“I am,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t be. I’ll come back.”
“Come tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is Dallin’s day.” The only day I didn’t want to risk showing my face here.
He reached for my hand and I provided it for him. “Come tomorrow,” he said like he hadn’t heard me.
“Okay.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
He nodded, but his eyes were already closed.
I left the hospital room with a smile. Jeff was awake. My life was now back on my previously planned course.