The Weight of Love by Perry Jolene Betty

Author:Perry, Jolene Betty [Perry, Jolene Betty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Next Door Books
Published: 2013-10-07T00:00:00+00:00

22

ELDER WORTHEN

21 months

I know Jaycee’s moving, and I know I’m about to leave here. The simplest thought occurred to me. My mom would be a perfect resource for her. I know the Allen’s are around a lot. Maybe my mom and sister could fill in some of that gap when she moves. How was this not my first thought?

There’s a big part of me that’s doing it for selfish reasons. I want her to like my family, to be comfortable with them. I won’t be out here forever. I just hope I’m not out here for too long—meaning so long that she finally relents with one of the guys who are chasing her. Church has just finished, and I scribble Mom’s number on the back of one of my cards.

“Hey Elders!” Bridger steps up to us and sticks his hand out for us to shake. He’s doing good.

“Hey, Bridger, where’s your mom?” I ask, bending way over to give him the chance to look at me if he will. He does but only briefly. Each time I see that kid’s eyes, it feels like a small victory.

“Right here.” Jaycee’s voice has an edge of laughter to it that I love.

I snap to standing. “Hey, I was just thinking. With your move?” I let my eyes fall onto Jaycee. I know I’m being carefully watched by my companion. That’s good. It’ll keep me from doing something stupid. “My little brother is autistic. I think a bit more severe than Bridger.”

Her attention is completely on me. “You’ve said.”

“Here’s my mom’s number. I told her to expect you to call so you should. Call, I mean.” I smile. “I should have thought about it when I first moved here and I didn’t.”

She reaches out and takes my card. “I feel bad and I…” She flips it over to see Mom’s number on the back.

“Don’t feel bad. She’d love it. Think about how you’d feel if your experiences with Bridger would be able to help out another mom, okay?”

“And you told her I’d call.” She’s still wary. Her eyes float from me to the card.

“She’s expecting it.” I lean sideways against the wall, watching her.

Elder Barris clears his throat. “We should get going.”

He’s right. I’m going too far—staring at her, leaning against the wall next to her… Right now I really wish I hadn’t said anything to him about Jaycee.

She reaches out with her hand and touches my arm, but my coat’s on and I barely feel it. “Thank you.”

Elder Barris gives me a playful shove, trying to be discreet and trying to get me to follow.

“I’m comin’” I laugh, hoping it all comes off as a big joke rather than what it is: him trying to keep me from going too far. Because I’m about a breath away from going too far. Well, my thoughts are already way astray. The proximity to her doesn’t help, and he knows this.

The problem is that no matter how careful I am in keeping up appearances, I really don’t care what these people think of me.

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