Those Bygone Dog-Star Days - Chapter 28 of 37
~ Chapter 28 ~
"....and the insurance company is okay with it?" Mom asked Dad.
"Yeah, apparently," Dad shuffled through a small pile of bills, notices, and letters on the dinner table. Steam rose from an enchilada on his plate; Dad dug in. "I've doubled and triple-checked with Mr. Hughes to make sure he's comfortable with everything and he says not to worry about anything. He's personally overseeing his company's liability policy and anything that they won't cover, he's going to pay for out of his own pocket. I guess this is the best he says he can do since the driver was someone who slipped through the cracks of their background check. That's also being revised, Mr. Hughes said."
I sat there, eating my dinner and trying to act disinterested - insurance policies, et-cetra, boring stuff. I choked down some water and played with my food.
"He's a godsend," Mom sighed, "Without his help we probably would be over our heads with the bills. We should do something to thank him for his generosity. Invite him over for dinner some time, maybe. Cade, honey?" Mom turned to me, "Your fur's on end. You feeling okay?"
Gig's up, Johnny! Make a break for it! We're not gonna get caught, see?
"Yeah, Mom," I croaked woodenly and nodded, "I think I just put too much red pepper on my enchilada."
"Want some milk?"
"That'd be great."
Mom got up and left for the kitchen.
The doorbell rang and I practically jumped out of my chair, "I'll get it!" I offered to dad as he stared up at me from his pile of papers. Anything to get me away from hearing any more of that conversation.
"We should thank that officer who was on the scene, too," Dad turned his attention back to Mom as I raced out of the dining room, "Wilkes, I think?" The sound of his voice trailed off as he faced away from me.
I approached the front door with relief and trepidation. We weren't expecting company as far as I knew. A shadow of indeterminate species shifted across the glassy partitions that framed the door. I opened it.
"Hi, Cade," A dusty jackal smiled timidly at me.
"Wow. Oh, hey, Jason," I paused to take in the Canan in front of me.
Jason shifted. He rolled his eyes casually, looking at nothing in particular, and looked back at me, "Can I come in?"
"Oh!" I took a step forward, "Actually can we talk out here?"
"Sure."
I closed the door behind me and I sat on the railing that fenced in our porch with my back resting against a column. Jason leaned against the frame of the door with his hands in his pockets.
"How's Rebecca doing?"
"She's," I searched, "been better."
Jason snorted in humore then looked ashamed. I smiled, shook my head, and waved it off.
"She's stable, which is good," I continued. "She'll probably be in the hospital for a few months. Luckily she didn't have anything severed or punctured but it'll be a while before she's back on her feet."
Jason nodded. He was, not older, than I remembered. More mature, I guessed. Growing up I had a small crush on him and seeing him here sparked that small flame again.
"If it's okay," Jason pulled out an envelope from a pocket, "I got her a get well card."
"Yeah, that's fine," I reached and took it from him. Our fingers brushed each other and I felt a shameful candid thrill shimmy its way up my spine. "Why did you and Becky break up anyway?"
He shrugged, "We both realized we were too young to be in a serious relationship. It was just a high school fling and we needed to do different things. It wasn't going to work and we both knew it."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Instead of drawing everything out, we decided to end our relationship on mutual terms and take some time apart."
"Still taking some time apart?"
"Who knows?"
We sat there, him still looking like a deer caught in the headlights and my ass going numb from the cold concrete rail.
"How about you?" Jason asked, "Got anyone special in your life, yet?"
"You know you've been the only one for me," I winked; he laughed.
I stood up, stretching and massaging my ass, "We're having dinner, wanna come in?"
"Nah, that's okay. I got some stuff to do."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I'll stop by again - I'll call before coming over," Jason walked down the front steps, "Say 'hi' to your mom and dad for me!"
I walked back into the dining room. Mom and Dad were seated, discussing something that happened at Dad's office. A glass of milk stood by my plate.
"Who was that?" Mom asked as I sat down.
"Nobody," I automatically answered. Jason's card was still in my hand, under the table, and I subtly slipped it under me.
"You were out there for a while."
"Just wanted a little fresh air," I continued.
We ate and Dad regaled us with more of his office's antics.