Last To Know *COMPLETED*

Last To Know Chapter 2

Chapter 2-

I didn't do much of anything during the plane's flight. I just sat there, occasionally noticing when Jill glanced at me, and wondering why when she did. I didn't know why I had taken an interest in her, or vice versa.

I finally stepped off the plane, expecting to just see my aunt, all cheerful, running to hug me. Well, I didn't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't what happened. My phone rang. I answered to hear my aunt sobbing, "Hon, Jim just had a heart attack. I can't make it to pick you up, babe. I'm sorry..." she was crying. "Oh, no. I'll find some way to get to the hospital, okay. Don't worry, just go be with him, 'kay?" I hung up.

"What happened?" I just about jumped out of my socks, and then turned to see Jill, waving shyly and smiling, despite my sad expression.

You might think that was a twist of fate, her meeting me because of the plane's delay, and then my uncle having that heart attack. You might think it couldn't be a coincidence that she showed up just then.

To be honest, James, I thought so, too.

"Um... my uncle had a heart attack, and I need to get to the hospital. But I can walk to the city from here, and catch a cab..." I trailed off, though I wasn't planning on walking that far.

"No, no, I'll give you a ride. You can't walk that far, especially with all that stuff you're carrying. My brother's here already." I should have known, after all that had happened to me that she would insist on the ride, which she did. I tried unsuccessfully to talk her out of it while walking to her brother's car. "You really shouldn't, you know. I really hate mooching off of people." I kept saying that countless times, and she would disagree. That just made me think about what type of person she was, and if she was meant for me.

I found out, as you know, that we were not meant to be.

But obviously I'm going to continue my story...

So, we got into the car, and she started it up. "Um... Where's your brother?" I asked, wondering why she was in the drivers' seat.

"I didn't say he was driving, did I? He got a ride with a friend, but he left his car. He thought I'd probably want to go shopping here, which was a good guess." She giggled. I just sat there, speechless.

How could this happen? It's just too much to be an accident. The flight was delayed, then we were on the same plane, and she showed up and offered a ride. Now, we were alone, when I'd thought her brother was taking us. It just couldn't get any stranger.

James, I'm going to skip ahead a little. We did talk, but I won't bore you with details. She told me much of what you probably already know about her. She said she lived in Boulder, but most of her family was from New Bern, North Carolina. She said that her brother was the best, and I'm sure you know that, too. She told me all the things he had done for her, especially after her dad passed away.

So, to skip ahead, we made it to the hospital, and she surprised me by insisting that she walked with me inside. I didn't argue, because I didn't want her to leave despite myself.

We walked in, asked where Jim Stewart was, and headed to his room. My aunt was sitting in the small chair by the chained bed sobbing silently. Jim was asleep, though I assumed he hadn't been that way for long. "I'm so sorry Mrs....." Jill was saying as soon as we hit the door. My aunt smiled and said "My name is Louise, sweetie... And you are?"

"Jill Brewer." Jill, I thought. That's a great name...

"Babe, I didn't know you were seeing anyone..." My aunt said to me with a hint of humor in her voice. "Oh, no, Mrs. Stewart. We aren't...together." Jill said politely. "I just met Aaron today, just happened to be coming home."

"Oh, so you live here?"

"Yes, ma'am."

My aunt just laughed. "I've never met such a nice young lady in all the years I've lived in Boulder."

My uncle was okay, just so you know, but he spent a few days in recovery, my aunt by his side. Usually, I came as soon as I woke, and stayed until late at night spending time with my aunt. I figured it that if I was leaving in another week, I might want to spend as much time with both of them as possible. If this was the only way, it was worth it.

I was just pulling into the hospital on the second day, that is, two day's after I arrived in Boulder. I walked in and politely waved at the nurse in the hall, walked to Jim's room, and stepped in. Once again, I wasn't expecting who I saw. Jill.