Strawberry Wine

Tire Swing

June and Jeffrey rushed through the ER doors to the registration desk. The woman behind the desk looked up at her with tired eyes as June said," My son Wade Miller was brought in here not too long ago. I need to see him." The woman began typing on her computer before pressing a nearby button on the wall. She pointed towards a door beside the desk and said," Just go in and turn left. He's in cubicle twenty one." June said a quick 'thank you' as they quickly walked to the door and went inside. She  practically ran to cubicle twenty one and found her son in a green hospital gown. She ran to him and brought him into a hug. Wade wrapped his arms around her as Jeffrey stood behind them. Wade smiled up at Jeffrey before pulling away. A police officer smiled and said," Ms. Marshall can I talk to you down the hall, Ma'am?" June looked to Jeffrey, who nodded and sat down in the chair beside Wade's bed. The officers lead them down the hall and said," The doctor says Wade's all good. He was in slight shock from when he saw his Dad in cuffs. I had to catch to him before he went to the floor." June shook her head as she leaned against the wall. The officer frowned lightly and said," I regretfully have to tell you this but you might want to find a place to stay for a few days. Mr. Miller completely knocked down your front door and trashed most of your apartment. But your landlord told one of my officers that he would start your repairs tomorrow morning, he also said you're one of his best tenants." June let out a deep sigh as she looked up at him. She wrapped her arms around herself as she said," Is he in custody?" The officer nodded as he pulled out his small notepad and pen. The officers nodded and said," He had a alcohol field test reading of .10. Has he had problems with alcohol before?" June just nodded as looked down at her left hand. The hand where her wedding band set used to sit. She sighed and said," Towards the end of marriage it was the worst. We were fighting a lot, he was having several affairs. His grandfather had just passed away. I thought he'd never get over that. But his father passed away earlier today. I guess that's what brought on the drinking again. He supposedly got sober but I always knew when he was buzzed." The Officer wrote a few things down and began leading her back to the cubicle and said," Your landlord wants to press charges for damages. Do you want to press charges fornyour son?" June shook her head 'no' as she looked to her son. He was the spitting image of her ex father in law.  She smiled lightly and said," His daddy may be something else but I never want him to think it was his fault for him being in jail." The Officer just nodded as he lead her to Wade's cubicle. Jeffrey quickly stood allowing June to sit down with Wade. June gently brushed Jeffrey's hand and gave him a soft smile before she sat down. She took Wade's hand into hers and said," Do you know why your daddy did what her did tonight?" Wade shook his head 'no' as she squeezed his hands tighter. June blinked away tears and said," Well Grandpa Wade passed away, sweety." She watched as Wade just shook his 'no- as he pulled his hands from hers. Tears came to his as Jeffrey and the officer stepped out and walked down the hall. Wade looked down at his hands as he shook his head. He took a shaky breath and said," Are you sure? I mean he was fine yesterday? He was laughing and he promised he'd take me fishing in a few weeks." June just nodded as she stood and wrapped him in a large hug. She felt Wade wrap his arms around her as he laid his head in the crook of her neck. She felt his body shake from silent sobs as she rubbed a hand up and down his back.

Jeffrey carried in two duffel bags as June and Wade followed in behind him. June couldn't believe Jeffrey had offered them to stay at his place till the apartment was fixed. Wade was in awe of the small farmhouse. Wade smiled as he took in the huge flat screen TV on the living room wall. Jeffrey set the duffel bag by the couch and said," There's pizza on the counter, buddy, if you want some?" Wade immediately ran for the kitchen wanting to get his hands on the cheesy goodness. June couldn't help but giggle as he ran off. She felt two hands capture her hips and  laid a sweet kiss on her shoulder. She smiled as she looked up to him and said," Thank you, Jeffrey. It means the world to me." Jeffrey just shrugged lightly as he laid his chin on her shoulder. She leaned into him and said," Do you have tomorrow off?" Jeffrey thought about and nodded. June smiled and said," Good. I gotta work a half day tomorrow but I'll bring lunch home and we'll watch a movie. Both Wade and Gus will be at school." Jeffrey smirked and nodded. He kissed her cheek and pulled away picking up the duffel bags. He grinned and said," It's a date, Sugar britches." June couldn't help but blush as Wade come the kitchen with a pizza slice in his hand. He grimaced and said," Y'all are disgusting." Jeffrey couldn't help but laugh as June's blush grew a deeper shade of red.