Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 54383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
“Why would they ever want a felon on their team?”
“You mean in addition to other felons that they already have?” He jokes. “You’re asking the wrong question, son.”
He pats my shoulder. “Who wouldn't want Easton Rush on their team?”
51
EASTON
After dropping my dad off at home, I speed onto the highway. The extended care facility that Tully mentioned in her “last letter” is five hours away, but I don't care.
I have to see her.
I need to see her.
Not hearing her voice and feeing her skin while I was at her side in the hospital was bad enough, and despite all this time that’s passed, I refuse to believe she wants us to be over.
The mere idea of her being on the mend and wanting me to move on without her is infuriating.
How could she think I’d ever be okay with that?
When I make it to the lobby, the receptionist stares at me without saying a word.
“I’m here to visit Scarlett Crane,” I say. “Can I sign in, please?"
She says nothing.
“Is there something else here or someone else here that needs to handle this for me?”
No answer.
I'm tempted to walk past her and find Scarlett myself, but a man in a white coat appears.
“How may I help you Mister…” He raises an eyebrow. “Easton Rush?”
“I'm here to see Scarlett Crane, please.”
“She hasn't been a patient here in months, damn near a year actually.” He crosses his arms. “Is this some type of joke?”
“No … Did she move to another facility?”
“I can't give out a patient’s personal information, son.” He slides a clipboard toward me. “But if you write down your email and phone number, I can pass along that you dropped by, if you like.”
“No, that's okay.”
I rush back to my car.
I search for every long-term care facility on the internet, but then I hear a tapping sound on the window.
It’s the nurse.
“Yes?” I roll down my window.
“We're not allowed to give out patient information, Mr. Rush.”
"I heard the doctor the first time he said it.”
“I wrote it on a napkin and accidentally dropped it into your car...” She slips it through my open window, walking away as I unfold it.
32 Yellowbird Cove,
Mountain Brook, Alabama
That's closer to my home, but too far for me to drive tonight.
I decide to check into a hotel and enjoy a real bed for the first time in years. I'll head towards Scarlett in the morning.
52
EASTON
Their new house is light blue with a veranda that stretches around to the backyard. Pink roses and bright lilies dot the flower beds, and on the right side of the house are metal ivy brackets.
Armed with flowers and a bag filled with a few things I brought from home, I take a deep breath before walking up the driveway.
When I reach the front door, I pause and read the words above the doorbell.
The Crane Sisters
Best Friends for Life
I press a finger against the doorbell, and the soft sounds of Scarlett’s favorite song play.
The door swings open and Tully’s smile falters. She grips onto a cane and steps forward.
“Um…hey,” she says. “What are you doing here?”
"Hey." I hold out the roses, but she doesn’t take them.
“I thought they gave you ten years…”
“The governor pardoned me.”
“Wow," She says, looking shocked.
“That’s good for you. Why are you here?”
“I want to see Scarlett.”
“Then come back later,” she says. “She’s out on a date with her boyfriend.”
“She’s seeing someone?”
“That’s what I said.” She shrugs. “Anything else?”
“Tully, look,” I say, “I know I’m the last person you want to talk to these days, but can you please just set that to the side for a few seconds?”
She sighs. “It’s time for me to take my medicine, so you can come in, but only for a couple minutes.”
“Thank you.”
She takes the flowers from me, and I follow her inside a beautiful and airy living room and into a kitchen.
“This is a very nice place,” I say.
“Thanks.” She opens a cabinet. “I picked it since I figured this was close enough to our past, but far enough for a fresh start.”
She sets six different prescription bottles on the counter and stares at them. Then she looks at me. “Um…Scarlett usually does this for me but she’s late. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” I pick them up one by one and dispense whatever’s on the label into her hand while she sips from a glass of water.
"How have you been, health wise?"
“As good as I can be. My doctors claim I need to invest in a shit ton of hydrotherapy since I can’t seem to get consistent with the three-times-a-week physical therapy.”
I tilt my head to the side, remembering a line from her old letters. “I thought your physical therapy only had to be once a week.”
“I wish that was the case.” She shrugs. “I just don't like thinking about it."