Chapter Three - 8/19/2016
Three months had passed since Oscar's death, and Stephanie was meeting Steve for coffee, to talk about Jaime. Maybe, Steph thought, Mom's best friend can help her.
"How's your mom doing?" Steve asked.
"I'm not sure. She really doesn't talk much these days, about anything. I know she'll probably mourn Dad the rest of her life - they were so close - but this seems like more. Something's really wrong, but I can't put my finger on it..."
"Is she getting outside at all? Fresh air and sunshine seem to revive her spirits; at least, they used to."
"She doesn't leave the house. Not ever. And she's gotten so thin; I don't know what to do, or how to help her. I don't wanna push her too hard. She has every reason - and every right - to be mourning now, but I'm worried about her health."
"I could try and talk to her," Steve offered. "Your dad asked me to look out for her, you know."
"Don't be too hard on her..."
"No way. Just a friend talking to a friend."
"Thank you."
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Stephanie used her key to let Steve into the house, helping him look around for Jaime. They found her on the back porch, in Oscar's favorite rocking chair, staring vacantly at nothing.
"Mom? Steve's here," Stephanie said. Jaime didn't answer, or even turn her head. She looked almost catatonic. Steph looked pleadingly at Steve. "I'll...leave you two alone." Steve nodded agreement.
Steve sat down. "Jaime? Steph says you aren't eating. She's really worried, and to be honest, so am I." He waited for an answer but, not getting one, he went on. "Talk to me? I know you're hurting - I can't even imagine what you must be feeling - but maybe it would help to talk to a friend. Two waterproof shoulders, no waiting."
Nothing. Steve looked at her closely. She was sad beyond tears; her eyes seemed empty, her skin pasty as though she hadn't seen the sun in months, which she hadn't. "C'mon - take a walk with me," he told her.
"I can't right now. I'm really tired."
"From what? Sitting?" Steve didn't mean to be cruel, but she needed a reality check. "Oscar wouldn't want you to sit here fossilizing, so let's go. Glare at me all you want. We're going down to the river, and I'll carry you if I have to."
"Steve -"
"You've got 'til the count of five to get up, Jaime. It's for your own good."
"You've got to be -"
"One."
"Steve -"
"Two."
"I don't want to."
"Three."
"Oh, come on."
"Four."
"No."
"Five. You asked for it -"
"I'm up," she sighed.
"That's a good start." He took her hand. "C'mon, my friend."
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Jaime sat listening to the river as it rippled past them and staring at the waves. While it couldn't erase her pain, her soul definitely felt soothing by the calming effect of the water. "You were right," she told Steve.
"I know."
Jaime smiled, just slightly, but Steve saw it and was relieved. "Thank you," she said simply.
"You know, I promised Oscar I'd look out for you, and you haven't been making it easy, not answering your phone or the door..."
"I'm sorry." Jaime looked at him sadly. "It's so hard, Steve. The biggest part of my life, the most important part, just...isn't there anymore. I still reach for him at night, and there's just a pillow."
"I know how that feels, at least a little bit. I still reach out for Peggy, sometimes."
"I'm sorry," Jaime told him.
"It really was for the best. The thing is, when you feel that pain, that emptiness, you've gotta reach out and talk to someone - anyone - 'cause if you bottle it up and send it inside yourself, it's gonna kill you. I hope you know that I'm always here for you, Jaime. I would move Heaven and Earth to help you."
Jaime nodded. "But - when did Oscar ask you to watch out for me?"
"The day you put Peggy in the fountain. I think he was in the process of deciding -" Steve stopped, not wanting to re-open old wounds or cause unnecessary pain.
"Deciding not to see Michael anymore."
"Yeah."
Jaime looked into her old friend's eyes. "What do you think about what he did? He said we were wrong to be tampering with nature. I - I've been thinking about that a lot lately, wondering if he was right."
"I guess we each have to decide that for ourselves. I know that, for Oscar, it had to be a tough decision. He loved you so much."
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"Probably because you'd have done anything in the world to stop him, including forcing the serum on him if you had to. Right?"
Jaime nodded slowly. "Yeah. It's just that we had no warning, no time to prepare, or say a proper goodbye."
"If he'd never taken the serum, it probably would've happened the same way...no warning."
A light of understanding came on in Jaime's eyes. "You know, you're right."
Steve grinned at her. "I know."
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