Chapter 5
Lauren
Ican'tbelieveGavin is back. He’s all I can think about as I take the long way home, trying to wrap my head around everything. Of all the ways I thought I'd run into him again, this wasn't it. Not even close.
Mom always said God has other plans, and she was right. As if my thoughts have summoned her, my phone lights up with her caller ID.
"Hey, Mom."
"Hi, baby. You’re not still at work, right?"
"I'm heading to pick up Graham. How’s Grandma?"
"She's fine. Went to her knitting circle today."
My parents were a huge help during the early years with Graham. I had no idea what I was doing, and without them, I wouldn't have been able to go to school. They took on a second and third parent role.
While I was at school, they watched Graham for me and didn’t charge me anything. They took care of him when I pulled double shifts as a waitress and later as a bartender and even watched him on weekends. My mom potty trained Graham, and my dad taught him how to read before he started kindergarten.
When my mom got the call that my grandparents needed help, she and Dad realized they would have to move out to Arizona. It was a decision that broke their hearts, but fortunately, I’d just finished school and secured a decent job.
For a year, I moved in with my friend Faith from school and saved up money to buy my house. In the summer, right before Graham started kindergarten, we moved in. Everything fell into place.
Everything other than my mom, who still tries to parent Graham and me from thousands of miles away.
“Grandpa had a good day. At least he recognized Grandma,” Mom says, pulling me from my thoughts.
Grandpa was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, which prompted my parents to move to Arizona. My dad takes charge of Grandpa’s care in the nursing facility, and Mom takes care of Grandma and runs her around to all her social events.
"That's great. I bet Grandma’s over the moon."
"She is. She was asking about the interview you had last week."
Mom is trying to convince me to move to Arizona, but I'm hesitant. To keep Mom happy, I applied for a job out there, and so far, I've had two phone interviews.I love my job here and value my independence. Besides, now Gavin is back, there’s no way I can move. But I'm not ready to tell my parents about him yet.
"It went well. I got an email stating they want to do a video meeting in two weeks for the next round, so I'm waiting on the information."
"Oh, that's great! Now, what are you packing Graham for lunch? You aren't using white bread, are you? Make sure you give him strawberries because you know he loves them, but he hates blueberries, so avoid those. He will eat bananas too. And he's due for a haircut. The last face time call, his hair was a bit long."
"Mom, I know. Graham asked to grow his hair longer, and I said yes, so we aren't cutting it. I'm just pulling in to get him, so I’ll call you later. Love you!" I hang up and take a deep breath.
I love my mom and am so grateful for all her help, but sometimes she forgets I’m an adult and Graham's mom. Right on cue, my phone starts pinging with text messages.
Great.
I pick up Graham, hoping it will clear my head of everything, but it doesn't.
As I make dinner, I run over everything that happened today in my head. Every little detail, what was said, and what we talked about. I try to formulate a plan for Gavin’s recovery, but I'm distracted by memories of him and make no progress.
I pull out my phone and call my friend Faith, who's a great sounding board. We met in school and have been the best of friends since. She’s the friend I moved in with for a while before buying this house.
Currently, her job is in Savannah, about thirty minutes away, and we see each other a few times a month for lunch or shopping. She works teaching people sign language and how to best accommodate deaf people.
"Hey, girl. How's your new patient?" she asks in her friendly and lighthearted voice.
"He's my ex."
There’s a pause, and I'm not sure if she’s waiting for me to tell her more or if she can't believe what I said. She knows all about Gavin because she was my roommate for a time.