I nodded and smiled in return. "When is your next radiation treatment?"
"Well, they didn't schedule it after all. Instead, they set an appointment with my oncologist for Tuesday morning. I guess they need to treat my cancer a bit more aggressively." Oma patted Cathy's shoulder reassuringly, her eyes filled with sadness as she looked at Cathy.
"I'll stop by to visit later this evening, maybe after you rest a bit." My throat was dry and scratchy as I spoke.
"I would like that very much."
I glanced at Oma, who was smiling proudly. Then I turned to Varick. "Ready?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. We walked to Varick's motorcycle. Riding it was both exciting and terrifying. I loved watching the world fly past as we sped down the road, the only connection to the pavement a few inches of rubber. I loved how I was totally dependent on Varick and his skill. And I loved the closeness of our bodies as we rode. I stared at the bike, smiling slightly.
"Here," Varick handed me a black helmet from the back of his bike.
"Hey, where'd you get this?" I asked, taking the helmet.
"Your bedroom," Varick answered, grinning rakishly.
I laughed easily and threw my leg over the motorcycle, hoisting myself up on it.
Laughing, Varick put his ball cap on backward and placed his helmet over top of it. He started the motorcycle and revved the engine a few times.
"Hang on," Varick's voice spoke in my ear. I wrapped my arms around his waist. I was very aware of how thin his cotton t-shirt was, his stomach taut and firm under my hands. I was grateful the helmet hid the blush that had deepened across my cheeks.
With a scream of gears turning and grinding, the motorcycle jerked forward, speeding through the parking lot and out onto the road, where Varick weaved the fast cycle around slower traffic. I leaned in close to Varick, the front of my body pressing on his back. I leaned with him as we turned around a corner.
"We're just going for a little ride."
Although we were speeding down the road, the world racing past on either side, I heard his voice clearly in my ears. I closed my eyes and tightened my grip. Instead of turning onto the expressway that would lead us back home to Byron, Varick turned down a rural road. It was paved but had no lines. I felt Varick lean down closer to the bike and I followed, leaning over his back. Varick accelerated and we screamed down the roadway. The landscape blurred into brown, green, and blue. The speed was exhilarating. But I wasn't afraid. I was with Varick and I knew I would be safe with him. Always.
When we finally pulled into Oma's driveway, the sky was beginning to darken. Oma had the front porch light on waiting for us. She came out onto the front porch as we drove into the driveway.
Varick leaned the motorcycle gently onto the kickstand and we both climbed off. He took off his helmet, placing it on the seat of the cycle.
"Can I have my helmet back?" he asked, reaching his hand out towards me.
"You mean my helmet?" I teased, holding it closer to my body.
Varick smiled, his teeth flashing white in the dim light of evening. He stepped closer to me until his body bumped against the helmet. He was so close, our faces almost touching. With anyone else, I would have taken a couple of steps back. But with Varick, I had to fight the urge to get closer. I kept the helmet tight between us, my fingers gripping the sleek edges.
Varick's hands came up, softly overtop of my own hands. "Yes," he said quietly, his eyes staring deeply into mine. "Your helmet." His words were almost a whisper.
"Uh, Jacey. Can you come up here a minute?" Oma called out to us from her place on the front porch.
I didn't move. I couldn't breathe. The electric current tingled as it passed between us.
"Jacey?" Oma called again, her voice sounding a bit more urgent.
I reluctantly tore my eyes away from Varick, and turned to Oma on the porch. "Yeah, just a minute, Oma." As I turned back to Varick, his hands fell away from mine.
"Sorry about that," I apologized, rolling my eyes.
"That's alright," Varick chuckled.
" Thanks for the ride," I said. "And thanks for coming to the hospital. Your presence is calming." I spoke softly and slowly as my eyes fell away from Varick's.
"My pleasure," Varick responded, sounding like it really was his pleasure to be with me and calm me.
I started walking back to the porch and to Oma. Varick stayed at his bike, watching me leave.
"Hey, Varick?" I said, turning to face him.
"Yeah?"
"Will you be around later, ya know, when it happens?"
"Yes, Jacey. I'll be around."
I returned a smile, knowing that he would be. I could count on that.
I turned and ran up to Oma on the porch. I knew I wasn't real late, maybe just past suppertime.
"I've got dinner on the table, just some shepherd's pie I whipped up."
"Mmmmm, sounds yummy."
I couldn't help the smile plastered goofily across my face as I glanced back to Varick by his bike.
Oma looked at me, then to Varick, and back to me. Her smile faded. "Jacey, will you go in and start some coffee for us for dinner. I forgot." Oma gave me a weak smile.
"Sure," I said, my face crinkled with curiosity at Oma's request. She never forgot to make coffee.
I made the coffee quickly, dark and rich the way Oma preferred it. The house smelled wonderful, the combination of fresh, warm yeast rolls warming on the stove, mixed with the aromas of hamburger, potatoes, and cheese from the casserole baking in the oven. I grew warm just smelling the yummy comfort food.
I walked back onto the porch and was just about to call out to Oma, when I stopped abruptly. I grabbed onto the pole of the porch as if I could hide behind it. Oma was no longer on the porch, but she had walked down to where Varick stood by his motorcycle. Although I couldn't hear her, her arms and hands moved dramatically.
I watched Varick. His hands were shoved into his front pockets. He looked at Oma as she spoke, his face serious. Occasionally, his head would nod stiffly in acknowledgement. Then, Varick glanced toward me. My heart jumped, the beats immediately accelerating.
What was Oma saying to him?
Oma turned back to me, when she noticed Varick's gaze had shifted. A pained grin was on Oma's face as she gave me a short wave.
I waved back, my mind racing with ideas as to what Oma would want to talk with Varick about without me.
Varick wasn't smiling. Oma turned back to him and said something else I couldn't hear. Varick just continued to stare at me. Then he reluctantly turned back to Oma, nodded curtly and hopped on his motorcycle. Without even putting his helmet on, he started the motorcycle and left.
Oma watched him leave, only turning to walk back up to the house when he couldn't be seen any longer. I stared at Oma, confusion covering my face.
"Coffee smells wonderful, honey. Let's go in and eat."
"Oma, what was that?"
Oma continued past me and into the house. "What was what?"
I followed her, trying hard to remain calm. I didn't want to get angry at Oma.
What did she say to Varick?
It obviously wasn't good whatever it was. Taking a steadying breath, I tried to remain calm. "Oma, what were you talking to Varick about?"
Oma pulled out her chair and sat, taking her paper napkin and placing it on her lap. She looked at me, expecting me to sit next to her. I had already placed our dinner on the table. But I didn't sit. Instead, I stood behind my chair, my hands gripping it tightly. I just stared incredulously at Oma.
"Oma, please. What were you talking to him about?" My voice softened, became almost pleading in sound.
Oma sighed heavily. "Jacey, please have a seat next to me."
I pulled the chair out and sat down. I didn't realize how hard I had been gripping the chair until I released. My knuckles were tight and painful as the blood pulsed suddenly back into the bloodless joints.
Oma looked down at her plate. "Jacey, I just don't want you getting too close to him."
"Too close? What do you mean?" My voice was edged with suspicion and irritation.
"I just don't want you falling...in love with him." Oma looked up at me, searching my face. Her face expression drooped, her eyes widening with fear. "Oh, honey. You already have."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Varick is my Protector, so we're close, but-"
"But, you have fallen for him. Oh, Jacey," Oma moaned.
I was confused and angry.
Why is this any of Oma's business? I am eighteen years old.
I can like anyone I want. So what if I have picked Varick to be that one.
"And what if I have? It's none of your business." As soon as I said the words, I regretted them. Oma's face filled with sadness and I watched her struggle to control her emotions. "I'm sorry Oma. I do like Varick, a lot. But, I am not in love with him."
Not
yet, anyway
.
Oma spooned some casserole onto her plate and pushed the dish over to me.
"Oma what did you say to him?"
Oma shrugged her shoulders as she pushed her food around on her plate with her fork. "I basically told him to remember his duty is to protect you, that's all."
"That's all?" I didn't believe her.
Oma put her fork down on the plate.
I stared at her until she spoke.
"I just told him he needed to be careful...with you. That neither of us wanted a repeat of what happened to your mother and father."
"What?" I asked, stunned by Oma's admission. "Why would you say that to him? How do we have anything to do with what happened to my parents?"
Oma placed her hand gently on my arm. "Jacey, honey, I just worry about you so much. I don't want anything to happen to you. I'm just worried that history will repeat itself with you and Varick if you get any closer to each other." Oma had a pained look in her eyes as she spoke to me.
I shook my head in denial. "No, never. Varick would never let anything happen." I could feel my chin begin to quiver as I struggled to prevent the tears from falling.
Oma rubbed my arm. "I didn't think your father would ever let it happen either."
I shook my head. "My father didn't let it happen." I knew how they were killed. Varick had told me. Everything happened so quickly, he didn't have time to protect my mother.
"I just want you to have a normal relationship with a normal guy, that's all."
"Oma, what part of me is normal? It's not normal to be able to cure illnesses and injuries with your bare hands. But, you want me to be normal?" I scoffed.
"I want you to be safe," Oma answered softly, removing her hand from my arm.
"Varick keeps me safe." My voice broke with emotion as I thought of the way Varick had protected me from the frightening attack by the Fury. "You don't understand Oma." I pushed my chair away from the table to stand.
"Honey, I'm sorry. Aren't you going to eat?"
"No, I'm not hungry." I stood up to leave the kitchen. "I'll be in my room. Let me know when you're ready to go over to Cathy's, so I can heal her." My words were sarcastic. I didn't wait for a response, instead I ran upstairs to the safety and seclusion of my room.
I buried my face in my pillow and allowed the tears to dampen the soft pillow case. My frustration at Oma's meddling changed to panic and anxiety. I didn't even know how to make contact with Varick. I needed to see him and tell him how I felt about this, that it didn't matter what Oma said. I tried to calm myself. I would see Varick tonight, when I cured Cathy. He promised he would be there. I wiped the tears from my eyes. Yes, I would talk to Varick and explain everything to him. I was suddenly anxious to get to Cathy's home.
I walked into the bathroom so I could freshen my make up and run a brush through my hair. Then I walked slowly down the stairs and into the living room. I had to apologize to Oma. I knew she only had my best interest in mind and that she loved me with her entire life. I guess I couldn't blame her for what she had done or said to Varick. It was her way of protecting me.
As if I need more protection.
I didn't walk into the kitchen where Oma was. Instead I waited silently in the curved doorway.
"Oh, okay, Cathy. Yes, you sound very tired. Tomorrow then? Get some rest and call me if you need anything." Oma hung up the receiver slowly and stood staring at the phone.
"Oma?"
"Jacey? You startled me."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. And I also didn't mean to get so upset with you. I know you meant well."
Oma pressed her lips together, attempting to smile at the same time. "I'm sorry too, Jacey. I should have just told you my concerns and let you handle Varick."
I walked over to Oma and threw my arms around her. I hugged her tightly, feeling the boniness of her small frame. We finally pulled apart after a minute. "So, was that Cathy?" I asked cautiously.
"Yes, apparently she is tired and doesn't feel up to having visitors tonight," Oma said frowning. She refilled her coffee cup.
"Oh." My voice was full of disappointment as I carried the dishes to the counter.
"Will we just go over tomorrow?"
"Yes, I think so," Oma pressed aluminum foil around the edge of the casserole dish before she placed the dish in the refrigerator. Her voice sounded distant. I was sure she really wasn't thinking about answering me as much as she was worrying about Cathy.
I was disappointed. Not that my date to cure Cathy had been postponed, but rather, that I wouldn't be seeing Varick tonight after all. He definitely wouldn't just stop by after the talk Oma had had with him.
Sighing, I began to place the dirty dishes and pots and pans into the dishwasher. This was going to be long night.
Suddenly, there was a loud rap at the front door, startling both Oma and me. Another loud knock at the door forced me into action. "I'll get it, Oma!" I yelled as I ran to the front door.
He came to see me anyway. Varick came.
I grinned widely as I flicked on the front porch light and threw open the door.
The smile on my face faded quickly. It wasn't Varick standing at the door.