Everything We Always Were

Twelve: Rain

I managed to actually get good sleep in James' bed. No nightmare, I just passed out and woke up at noon.

James had picked me up breakfast at one of the diners and warmed it up for me when I woke up. I was scared to ask him how he was affording all of this but I knew he probably wouldn't give me an answer. He always fought me to make sure he paid for everything even in grade school. He didn't get an allowance but his dad did leave him a bit of money. A few thousand I think, probably more, and his mom let him take 200 out every once in a while. Sometimes he asked, sometimes she offered. It was almost monthly for a whole year.

I don't know much about why his dad left but I did have educated guesses. He was a semi-wealthy man, but he never wanted to marry. He wanted to work at his father's company in Portland. So he wasn't around much. That's why his dad left him money, and why I think it's more than a few thousand. His father had plenty of money but he only ever gave what the court mandated him to for child support.

They were married but separated and James' mother spent a lot of her mother's money on lawyers to get him to pay for child support since he wouldn't give her anything to help and he was never there to support them.

When she got sick, there was a month after the diagnosis that Jay's dad didn't show up. He usually showed up for a few hours once a week, usually on the weekend. Then the divorce papers were served to her while she was in a hospital bed.

She signed them without thinking twice, I was there for it.

It took over a year of treatment and before that year was up, me and James went into 8th grade. I wasn't there for the "cancer-free" phone call.

But now I'm here when the diagnosis is much worse, and I guess that's all that matters in the end. I was there for her at her worst, even though she's apparently getting a little better right now.

That woman helped the internet raise me, the least I could do was visit her more often than her ex-husband ever did.

After eating and visiting with her, his grandma, and the hospice worker we hired named Maria, James offers to go somewhere.

It's only 2 pm so I ask, "Where do you want to go?" And grab my jacket. We had stopped by my house so I could shower and get a bag together. "I packed a swimsuit."

"Perfect! Go grab it, I know an awesome spot."

It's no secret that there are tons of lakes, creeks, and ponds in the woods surrounding our little town. As well as caves with naturally occurring waterfalls and pools. I've never been to any, as most take a long time of hiking through the woods and part of a mountain to get to, but I have an idea that James might be taking me to one. Since neither of us like the community pool.

But I don't say anything and just grab my swimsuit before rushing out the door with him and to his truck.

I was right. It was a swimming hole. It was a 20-minute hike but it wasn't too bad and it wasn't on an incline or anything, all flat land. The only problem was all the hidden roots under the leaves on the path. I keep almost tripping.

James caught me every time.

The little swimming hole is surrounded by rocks, I'm not sure if they're naturally occurring or if people put them there. But surrounding those rocks are tall trees and drooping leaves, keeping the little pool of water in the shade. It's big enough to fit maybe four people comfortably. We had stopped on our drive up the mountain, the opposite side of town as the road to Fran's, to get some snacks and for me to put my swimsuit on before we got here.

I strip my tank top and shorts and watch from my peripheral vision as James takes his shirt off, leaving him in just swim trunks. He has a big smile on his face as he looks around him.