Three Days of Rain (28 page)

“So what’s all this about wanting to talk?”

“Well, since I have no idea how long I’ll be lucid, I figured I’d take advantage of it. There’s a lot I have to say to you, Jacob Morgan, and I need you to sit and listen. Besides, what are you gonna do? Walk out on a sick girl? I think not.” She joked like the fact she was dying completely escaped her.

Her eyes challenged him playfully, and he relaxed instantly. She was right, of course. He wasn’t going to walk out on her.

“All right. So what’s up?”

“First, I want to tell you how sorry I am for what happened to Lily.”

His eyes shifted immediately to the floor and Madison moved so she was sitting directly in front of him, taking his hands in hers.

“I know it’s hard. When I saw you two together the first time, I was out of my mind. The way you looked at her, the way you touched her—was never something you and I had. To be honest, I was so jealous. I couldn’t understand. You two had known each other only moments it seemed and she had everything I wanted. Even though I knew why it wasn’t like that with us, it would never be like that with us, I was jealous. And I was wrong. I am sorry.”

“Maddie, you don’t have to—”

She waved off his protests. “No. I do. I am so sorry for everything. For my behavior two years ago, hell ten years ago, and my behavior when I first came back. You don’t deserve that. You never did. I could tell she was special. Hell,
I
was enamored. And I’m the most cynical person you’ll ever meet.”

“Yes, you definitely are. But, listen, you don’t have to apologize.”

“Dad told me Lily was pregnant.”

“Yeah, she was.”

“How can so much bad happen to someone so good?” Her voice was soft, full of regret.

He shrugged. “I haven’t always been good. You know that. I could’ve been better to you. To everyone around me.”

“You weren’t like that until we started dating so I am taking responsibility for that, too.”

“You can’t take responsibility for someone else’s actions.”

“I can, too. I’m sick remember? Now shut up and let me get through this without crying.” She squeezed his hands and was surprised when he squeezed back.

She watched as Jake finally relented, leaning back in his chair, and tossing his Yankees hat on the side table.

“Go ahead.”

She brought her hands to her head and grimaced.

“Are you okay? Need me to get your parents?”

“No, no. I’m fine. Well, not fine since I have a tumor growing in my brain. But I just feel like I have so much to say. I had it all prepared and now everything’s all jumbled. Just give me a minute.”

She stood and shook out the tension as Jake watched with a new sense of familiarity. She looked the same, moved the same, but she wasn’t the same Madison who left him with a dying baby.

“Okay. Look. I look back at who I was and I cringe. I mean, who the hell did I think I was? All those drugs, cheating on you—God I was so self-absorbed. I never cared about anyone or anything unless it had some use to me. And then I got pregnant. We got married, and little Joey was born.” For a moment, she was lost in the memories.

“The first time I held him, my whole life flashed before my eyes and I came to the conclusion that no kid should grow up with a mother like me. From that moment, I planned on leaving. I didn’t know at the time he was sick. I didn’t know he wouldn’t leave the hospital. But that’s why I never came to see him. I had already left. I didn’t leave because I didn’t love him or love you because I did. I swear to God, Jake, I loved the two of you like I’d never be able to love anything again. I left because I was ashamed that he’d grow up and figure out what a terrible person I was. And you were good. He needed to know you.”

Finally Jake was given the reason for her departure. It didn’t make it hurt any less but at least he knew. He’d never have to question himself again.

“We could have talked about it.”

“Think about it. Do you honestly think that was something we could’ve talked about? Can you honestly tell me you can’t see the logic in my thinking?”

“But he was your baby. He was sick. I can’t see the logic in that.”

“I know it’s hard but I need you to try.”

Jake’s silent stare was the only response he gave.

“Dad took me to Joey’s grave this morning. I’d never been there before. The headstone is beautiful. You picked a great location; right on the end, before the drop to the meadow. It’s like he can see everything from where he is.”

“Thank you.”

“I need to ask you something. I will understand if you say no. But if I don’t ask, I know I’ll regret it.”

“What is it?”

“I wanted to know if you’d be okay with me being buried next to him.”

Color receded from his face as he was presented with a question he’d never thought would be asked.

“You don’t have to answer now. Just tell me you’ll think about it.”

“I don’t have to think about it.”

“Please Jake, just listen. I know I don’t—”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“I think it would be perfect for you to be buried beside Joey. I think he’d like it.” As the words came, he knew he was doing the right thing.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Oh my God, Jake. You have no idea how much this means to me. I know I don’t deserve it.”

“You’re his mother. Regardless of anything that happened in the past, the fact remains that you’re his mother and always will be.”

He caught her mid-air as she leapt into his arms and kissed him on the cheek. In that moment, all the pain of the past washed away and they truly began the friendship they’d never had.

***

That was the last conversation they’d had. Madison’s health went downhill quickly after that. The next day, she was back in bed, barely able to move. The doctor’s attributed it to random brain activity. Jake knew better. That day, in Madison’s room, he could’ve sworn he’d seen Lily standing next to her. Even in death, Lily had a way of making things right, of presenting things in a new light.

He dusted off his jeans and walked back to his Jeep. Next to him on the passenger seat was his guitar. He’d finally finished the song he’d written for Lily and called Billy to ask if he could come in and play it. It’d been over two years since he’d played there. It had been a few months since Lily showed him the sadness in that. Tonight he’d play for her. He’d play for everything she ever taught him, everything he never saw until she opened his eyes. Today was her birthday. And tonight he’d play for her...

Three Days of Rain

By Jay Liberatore

Two days of sunshine

Three days of rain

Won’t somebody give me a sign?

Is Hell frozen over,

Has God gone away,

Or am I just losing my mind?

I met me a girl by the railroad yard

On the way to my 9 to 5

She’s sweet as a sip of southern tea

And cool as a country drive

Oh, but where I come from

A man don’t become

A fool for love after only a kiss

But after some wine

On an evening this fine

I was singing her something like this.

I said, baby, baby

You sure look good in the summertime

Baby, baby

Won’t you always be mine?

I would lay in the field

With her hair in my face

As the locks of it dangled and curled

And she’d talk about moving on down to Georgia

And her plans to take over the world

And I never would guess

If I tried my best

The truth I had known just then

I could live for a thousand years or more

I might never feel this good again

I’d say, baby, baby

You sure look good in the summertime

Baby, baby

Won’t you always be mine?

There she goes again

Hair like a willow blowing in the wind

Falling softly on her summer skin

In my mind

Now who’d ever thought that a sinner like me’d

Have an angel know my name

I am evil, yes I’m evil

But she loves me just the same

She has given me light

When I’m lost at sea

And guided my troubled heart to land

She’s given me shelter

’Til I’m able

To bury my ghosts in the sand

So I say, baby, baby

You sure look good in the summertime

Baby, baby

Won’t you always be mine?

I’ll be all that you need to get by

I’ll be all that you need to get by

About the Author

Christine Hughes spent much of her childhood losing herself in books and creating stories about many of the people she’d met. Falling in love with literature was easy for her, and she majored in English while attending college in New Jersey.

Not sure where her love of reading and writing fit, she became a middle school English teacher. After nine years of teaching others to appreciate literature, she decided to take the plunge and write her first novel. Now at home focusing on making writing her new career, she spends her time creating characters and plot points instead of grading papers.