“I know.” I hung my head and stared at the dials on the sled.
We sat in silence for a few moments, lost in our own thoughts.
Mac wandered over to me and stood on the other side of the windshield. “But I reckon you did what you felt you needed to do, to make yourself whole as a person. And you shouldn’t worry about not having anyone to share it with right now. There’ll come a time when an opportunity presents itself, and you’ll know he’s the right one.”
My eyes glassed over. I swallowed audibly to keep back the cry.
“Now stop your crying and let’s get these beauties ready to load.”
With a laugh, I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. “Who said you weren’t good with these talks?”
He stepped around and gave me a hug. “Next time call your mama.”
“Oh God! Yeah, right!”
We both laughed as I walked to the shop garage door, pushed the green button that raised the electric door, and waited until it stopped to walk out to the lot.
Mac and I worked seamlessly together, hitching up the trailers, backing them in towards the garage and then loading the sleds one by one.
As soon as we were satisfied that we were ready for the morning, I left Mac to close up the garage and I headed back to the shop. Morgan, Cody and Camille were all sitting in front of the gas fireplace.
Morgan was such a pretty girl. She was young and studious, with the beautiful auburn colored hair that most of the Archers had. Her eyes were the color of sherry, and her skin was like cream. She was going to be stunning in a few years.
Approaching them, I realized my clothes were dirty, and that I needed to change before we went to the airport. I plucked at some of the dirt on my turtleneck as I came to a stop behind one of the couches.
“Hi Morgan, thanks for helping out. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s okay Mia, I don’t mind helping when I can.” She smiled at me from across the seating area.
I looked at my watch. Two forty-five. Looking at Cody next, I said, “I’m going to run upstairs and change really quick, and then we can go.”
His response was a quick, “sure.”
Taking the steps back up to my apartment, I let myself in and went directly to the kitchen to get Jacob some more aspirin and a glass of water.
His door was still ajar. When I pushed it open a bit farther, I saw he was fast asleep and breathing deeply.
I sat down on the edge of his bed, gently nudging him awake.
“Jacob. Jacob, wake up. Jacob, it’s Mia, I brought you some aspirin. Wake up.”
His eyes opened slowly and they were glassy with fever.
“Sit up as best you can and take these. Morgan’s here, and we should be back in a short while.”
He sat up, took the aspirin and water quickly, and then flopped back down on his bed. Throwing his arm back over his eyes, he mumbled, “Mia, I’m sorry about Cole.”
Adrenaline shot through my body, and I inhaled sharply. “What?”
“Cole. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Cole.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. Cole Blackwood was my high school sweetheart, and kind of college boyfriend. More importantly, he was my first love. And if I was honest with myself, my only love.
“Jacob, what didn’t you tell me?”
Jacob had nodded off to sleep again, and I pushed at him. A little louder, I said, “Jacob! What didn’t you tell me?”
But he was out and I wouldn’t get an answer.