C Box: Blue Heaven

Annie glanced toward the door, then rose and leaned to Jess. “Mrs. Hearne told us what you did.”

Jess worked his hand out from beneath the covers and reached out to her. He was shocked at how spindly his arm looked, how gnarled and old his fingers had become. Nevertheless, she took his hand in hers. She didn’t seem to mind. Jess felt a twitch of a smile. “What does your mom think about that?”

“She can’t believe it.”

He snorted, anticipating pain. Astonished, he said, “It used to hurt to laugh. Now it doesn’t.”

“Why did you do it?” Annie asked, demanding an answer.

Jess said, “Because you’re tough. You can handle it. You’ll do well.”

She nodded. No point in arguing that.

Jess said, “You agree with me, then.”

“Annie.” It was Monica, entering the room, her face flushed. “Jess, I’m sorry,” Monica said. “You know Annie.” Monica glared at her daughter, who smiled back.

Jess looked up at her. It was good to see her again.

“She’s a pistol,” Jess said, his voice thick.

“Jess, we need to talk about what you’re doing. Laura Hearne talked with us and explained how it all works. She’s been an angel, considering the circumstances. She says she’ll help us every way she can, just like Jim would have done. She’s a remarkable woman.”

“I agree,” Jess said.

“But I still don’t understand why.”

Jess nodded. “Annie knows,” he said, looking at Annie, who nodded, as if they were sharing a secret.

“You might want to rethink this when you’re well,” Monica said. “You’re pretty busted up.”

Not just that, Jess wanted to say. He lowered his eyes, looked at the contours of his body under the blanket, the way the sheets draped away from his knees and trunk. He wanted to see a fitter version of himself, but it was not to be.

Annie was still squeezing his hand. “Like Laura told you, Annie, I don’t care what you do with it as long as you benefit from it. You can sell it to developers, or divide it up, whatever you want to do. Jim had some good ideas on how to keep most of it intact. He was a smart man, and Laura is just as smart. You and your mom should listen to what she has to say.”

Annie flushed and rolled her eyes, saying, “Jeez.”

Monica moved further into the room and put her hands on Annie’s shoulders. “This is a lot for Annie to understand right now. I can’t believe it myself. You’ll likely want to change your mind when you get better,” she said, chuckling softly.

Jess reached up and brushed a strand of hair out of Annie’s face. She had tears in her eyes. She knew.

He felt suddenly exhausted and happy, as if he’d just had a huge meal in the middle of the day. He felt sleep reaching up and pulling him back to somewhere dark, shadowed, and peaceful, and when he opened his eyes, it was light again, and he was riding Chile, his legs firm and strong, the sun high, the sky cloudless, and the air smelled of pine and cattle.