The room is warm as I rest on the cot next to his bed. The doctor wants to remove the breathing tube from his lungs today. They tell me this step is considered progress, but I am afraid. I have so many thoughts and questions. I have spent too many days alone, talking to a person who never answers back. But even in my fears, I believe he will wake up. I still have hope.
Hearing a faint noise, my eyes flip open. I roll off the cot and walk over to the side of his bed. My heart beats fast and I feel as if I’m dreaming. The single blue eye looks around frantic. Jess is awake!
“It’s ok. Don’t be scared. I’m here.” Tears fall down my cheeks as he stares back as me. I clasp his fingers on the good arm. My heart breaks in a thousand pieces as I see the fear etched in his face. “You had an accident. We're in the hospital in Dallas.” I swallow hard, biting my lip. “Do…do you understand what I’m saying? Do you, um, do you know who I am?”
The doctor said he could have brain issues from the swelling. I am scared in a different way now, seeing the confusion, worrying he can’t recognize me.
“Jess?” I whisper.
He slowly nods his head.
“Good.” I smile at him, squeezing his hand. My heart beats fast in my chest, and I want to faint with relief. I pull in a deep breath, feeling calmer. Jess lets go of my fingers and reaches toward by stomach, placing his hand against my shirt. I swallow hard. “You…you heard me talking?”
He moves his head up and down, very faintly.
I smile through the tears rolling down my cheeks. Reaching over, I press the call button to signal the nurse. I pull the edge of my shirt up, exposing the beginning of the bump on my stomach. I hold his hand against my body, looking into the sweet face. I swallow the thick lump in my throat. The bandages cover so much of his skin. Jess didn’t know the extent of his scars and injuries. He didn’t know some of the damage is permanent. My heart hurts for him as we stare at each other.
“I love you,” I whisper. “I love you no matter what. You know that right?”
He nods his head as a tear falls out of his single blue eye. I lean over, placing my lips against the corner of his mouth. My own tears drip onto his cheek. I want to wrap my arms around his body and never let go. I can breathe again. My miracle came true. Jess came back to me.
Epilogue
On a hill far away, a beautiful house rises up from the ground with a wrap-around porch. It reigns over the land like a beacon in the meadow. A woman stands by an old stump in the yard. The bark crumbles from years of the beating sun. Her crooked fingers trace the names carved in the blackened wood.
JESS + ALEX
They remain old and withered in the stump, followed by eleven more added through the years as the children got older and the grandchildren begged to have their names carved in the wood too.
She turns and walks up the stairs; her steps slow with old age. Taking a seat on the little porch swing, she touches the short, grayish red curls resting on the back of her neck. The sun dips down below the earth. The woman waits patiently for the show to start in the dark sky. One by one, the stars come to life. She smiles, feeling content.
“Looks like a clear one tonight.”
She turns, hearing the voice of the man resting on the other side of the old swing. He grins as his single blue eye lights up as bright as the twinkling dots in the sky.
“Yeah it does,” she answers back. Her heart beats just a little stronger just like it always did at the sight of his sweet face. The one right by her side since she was eight; the one she promised to love until they had no teeth and no hair.
Reaching over with a shaky hand, her crooked fingers slip into his old, callused palm. They rock back and forth as the sounds of the meadow grow louder in the night. Sometimes if she listens closely in the breeze, a chorus of small voices echoes off the trees and the grass.
“What’d you wish for?”
“Can’t tell you or it won’t come true.”
“Will you tell me if it does?”
“Yeah.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah, I promise.”
Acknowledgements
I want to thank each and every one of you for reading the story of Jess and Alex. So many wonderful books exist out in the world, and I feel privileged that you fit The Mason List into your busy schedules.
I have wanted to write a novel for a very long time. Even after I started the process, it took many years to turn a concept into a full-fledged story. This book only exists because of the wonderful people who provided support along the way.
My husband John, who believed I could write a novel before I had words on paper. You would not let me quit. Each time I was discouraged, you would tell me to keep going – even after you read the first draft! Thank you for always being supportive of my eccentric, creative ideas. I know it’s difficult living with a part-time Hobo, who believes piling up things is being organized. Without you, I could never write a love story. You are the love of my life – fun, fights and all.
My brother Kyle, who asked if he could wait to see the movie. Nothing is more encouraging than someone who thinks my story will be that successful. You were always supportive both vocally and financially. I appreciate all your input – including the web series idea created on speaker phone while I was driving in my car.
My parents, Darrell and Georgia, who have been supportive my whole life, even when I stayed in school an extra year or so (whose counting) to get a degree in Journalism. I have always been a story teller. As my Mom use to say – “You tell Grandma Lily stories”, which means I like to include the details. I think we all knew the writer was in me, I just had to figure out how to get it on paper. Thank you for always asking about my book and being financially supportive of The Mason List. And most importantly, thank you for encouraging me to read as a kid. You bought me stacks and stacks of books, and took me on numerous trips to the library.
My in-laws, Billy and Gayle, who have always made me feel included in their family. You are very kind and sweet. I appreciate your support both vocally and financially. Thank you for always asking about my writing project and listening to the planning details. You have spread the word online and many of my followers are because of you. You thought my story would be wonderful without ever reading a word.
My beta readers: Kelli, Patty, Rachel, Bonnie, Beth, Brittney and John. The Mason List would not be the same without you. I took your suggestions and factored those into the final story. I appreciate each of you for listening to me talk for hours about plot and characters. More importantly, you read the beta copy and loved it – even when it was twenty-thousand words longer. All of the readers should send you a GIANT thank you for helping me make those changes.
My writing buddy Dan, who introduced me to the world of National Novel Writing Month (NANOWRIMO). I had wanted to write, but didn’t have the platform to constructively put words on paper. Thank you for letting me babble on and on about editors, word count and writing software. I’m sure there were many times you wanted to yell, “Just publish it already!”
My book buddy Kelli, who gave encouragement to keep writing this story. You were both a beta reader and my target audience. You read original drafts out of context - sometimes even broken dialogue I created in the notes section of my phone. When I was discouraged about a chapter, your excitement over the story would always get me back on track.
My editor Anna Floit, who was tasked with the original 138,000 word final manuscript. Bless you girl! I will always be incredibly grateful for the many hours you put into The Mason List. I know this project was very difficult at times. Thank you for sticking with The Mason List!