CHAPTER 6
After Jason, Josh, Jeremy, and Candy have finished eating supper and the dishes are cleaned, Candy takes her basket and starts for the door. "Wait up, Candy," Jeremy tells her. "I'll walk out. . .I mean I'll go out with you." He shakes his head in disgust and embarrassment. Everyone else tries to act like they didn't hear.
Jeremy closes the door and takes Candy's hand. "Thank you, Miss Pruitt for a wonderful day. I'll never forget it."
Candy looks at Jeremy strangely. "Jeremy, I know there's something going on that you don't want to talk about. You've been acting strange all afternoon. You know you can talk to me."
"Strange?" I didn't realize I was acting strange. I think getting out and seeing things I haven't seen in a long time, just made me realize how much I've missed by being stuck in the house. That's all, Candy."
"Well, if you say so. We'll just have to get out and do more things. You can't stay in this house forever," she giggles.
"Candy, will you sit for a minute?" He nods his head at the bench on the porch. She sits as he requests and Jeremy moves his chair as close to her as he can get. Reaching over to her, he wraps his arms around her. "I love you so much, Candy. I wish I could show you how much you mean to me."
Candy puts her arms around Jeremy saying, "I love you too, Jeremy. I know you love me. I never have any doubts about that. Even when I said I didn't know if you loved me anymore, I knew in my heart that you did. I'm so sorry for the things I said." Tears well up in her eyes.
"It's all right, Sweetheart." He places his lips on hers for a tender kiss.
Candy pulls away. "Now, I know there's something going on. Jeremy Bolt, you've never called me Sweetheart before."
Jeremy looks surprised. "I haven't? I've called you Sweetheart many times in my head." He gives her his big grin that she loves.
"Well, I like it." She places her hands on each side of his face and pulls him towards her. She gives him a big kiss on the lips.
They wrap their arms around each other again and Jeremy hugs her tightly not wanting to let her go. After several more kisses, Jeremy backs away. "I guess I better let you get back to the dormitory. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"You can count on it." Candy rises and touches Jeremy's cheek. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Sweetheart," Jeremy chuckles and Candy giggles. Jeremy watches Candy until she gets out of sight, then he thinks to himself, Now, for the hard part. I don't know how to tell them this. Well, I might as well get this over with. Lord, please stay with me. Help me get through this.
"Well Jeremy, it sounds like you and Candy had an enjoyable day. Glad to see you finally getting out and doing things," Jason says when Jeremy enters the cabin.
"Yeah, it was nice. I have to do what Candy wants before I leave." Jeremy looks down at his hands.
"Leave? Where you goin'?" Josh chuckles.
Jeremy looks at his brothers with apprehension. "There's something I have to tell you." He clears his throat and continues. "Um, I'm going to move to a group home in San Francisco. They'll teach me how to take care of myself and how to cope with the kind of life I'm stuck with now."
"So you're giving up, just like that?" Josh asks with anger in his voice.
"I have to face facts, Josh. I know now I'm never going to get any better. You need to face it too," Jeremy says with a quivering voice. Josh slams his hand down on the table and walks over to the fireplace. He can't look at Jeremy right now.
With a calm voice Jason asks, "Jeremy, how did you hear of this home?"
"Allyn told me about it." As soon as he says it, he regrets saying it.
"Allyn! She has no business interfering in your life like this," Jason says angrily.
"Jason, I asked her for help. Don't get mad at Allyn, she's helped me a lot. I don't know what I would have done without her."
Josh turns around and faces Jeremy. "How long you planning on being gone? How long will this take?"
Jeremy takes a deep breath. "Well Josh, I'm planning on being gone until I can walk again. And since I know I won't ever walk again, I guess that means I'll never come back home."
"Jeremy, you don't mean that!" Jason shouts. "You can't mean that!"
Jeremy wipes his eyes and chokes out, "I'm afraid I do. Look, my accident didn't just change my life, it changed both of your lives too. And Candy's. All you do anymore is work at the camp and come home to tend to me. You never go out to Lottie's or go out with girls anymore. You never laugh and have fun. I'm not going to ruin your lives."
"Ruin our lives? Jeremy, if you go through with this, that will ruin our lives," Josh states.
Jeremy shakes his head. "I don't see it that way, Josh. Please understand. I don't want to do this, but I have to do this. For all of us."
"Jeremy, you haven't told Candy about this, have you?" Jason asks.
"No, I haven't. Not yet. I plan on telling her tomorrow."
"What do you think she's going to say?" asks Josh sarcastically.
"I know she'll probably hate me for this, but in the long run, she'll see it's best for all of us. I can't be a real husband to her. I can't have her giving up her hopes and dreams to stay with me. I'll not do that to her."
"Jeremy, you are Candy's hopes and dreams. Don't you realize that?" Jason says calmly.
"My mind is made up. Please don't try to change it. Let's spend what time I have left here, being the Bolt brothers, not being at each others throats," Jeremy says.
"When are you leaving?" Josh asks.
"I'm not sure. Whenever Clancey gets here and is ready to set sail again. Please don't hate me for this. I need your support." Jeremy puts his fist out hoping his brothers will follow suit. After some hesitation, Jason places his hand on Jeremy's and Josh places his on Jason's. Jeremy tops it off with his other hand. "Thanks for everything you have done for me. I know I don't say it, but I appreciate your being here for me." His voice breaks up when he says, "I love you both."
"We love you too, little brother," they tell him.
"Are we allowed to come visit you?" Josh inquires.
"I hope you will visit anytime you come to San Francisco. I just can't come back home. I don't think I can handle seeing Candy with someone else." Tears well up in his eyes again.
"Jeremy, you sound like you think she's going to run out and find another beau just as soon as you leave. I've got news for you brother. She'll never marry. She loves you and she will not give up on you," Josh says.
"I know it'll take time, but I hope she will find someone to love her as much as I love her. I want her to be happy." Jeremy runs his hand through his hair. "Can we change the subject? I've had enough of this for tonight and I'll have to go through it again tomorrow with Candy. I wish tomorrow would never come. It's going to be the worst day of my life." Jeremy closes his eyes and prays.
