LISA
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The two-story brick home was bigger than what I'd grown up in, but not that much. I expected it to be a lot larger than this. They did have five kids. Seemed like that would require more house.
I stepped up onto the porch, still unsure if this was a good idea. JK had called and invited me to dinner. Said his mom wanted to cook for me and send a plate home to Uncle D. I wasn't good with the big family setting simply because I'd never been around it.
If I was being completely honest, I would admit I was here because of the girl and my curiosity. I wanted to see her awake. Hear her talk. Watch her with her family. We'd both gone through a life-changing event at the same time. Maybe that was what drew me to her, or maybe I was just a nosy son of a bitch. Whatever the reason, I was here. Because of her.
She had surprised even the doctors by her will to conquer rehab. They had released her after only a week. She had to come back once a week to the rehabilitation clinic, but other than that she had been sent home to live her life.
I had been on my way to her room when Somi, a nurse I really wish I hadn't fucked this summer, told me she had been released. Then she'd invited me over for the night. The woman was at least five years older than me and I wasn't convinced she wasn't married. There was something secretive about her.
I lifted my hand to knock when the door swung open and JK stood there with a grin. "You made it."
"Yep," I replied. "Not going to miss out on home-cooked food."
"I hear ya. I have to ride home to Momma's some weekends because I miss the eating. The fast food and cafeteria food get old during the week."
It was all I knew, but I nodded like I understood the difference. Uncle D and I had lived on microwave dinners. The one time he tried to cook spaghetti, he set the stove on fire and we ended up at the burger joint in town.
"Lucky for you the whole family won't be here tonight. Momma has been keeping the crowd back for Jennie's sake. She's adjusting to being home and all."
I was glad to hear I didn't have to do the big family thing. I was curious about Jennie, not the other brothers.
"How's she doing?" I asked, following JK inside.
He shrugged. "Good, I guess. She's quiet. Less chatty and lively than she once was. But the doctors said that's normal. She'll be back to herself soon."
In the photos I'd seen of her before, she was always laughing and smiling. That smile and the way her eyes danced were two of the things that drew me in. Made me want to know more about her.
"I don't think so. Here, Momma, let me do it." A female voice caught my ears and I paused. It was her. Even without having heard the voice before, I knew it was hers. It may be simply because she was the only girl I knew to be here, but still. The sound of her voice fit the face I'd seen.
"Okay, fine. You butter the bread. I'll worry about mixing up the tea," Mrs. Kim said.
"Come on in here and meet my sister." JK led me into the bright white-and-yellow kitchen. "Company is here," he announced.
My gaze went directly to hers. Her dark hair was different—washed and full of body. It hung long down her back, curling at the ends. She and JK had the same clear blue eyes. Almost like you could see through them. I'd never admired JK's before, but on his sister they had a different effect.
"Mom, you know Lisa," JK said.
I turned my attention to his mother. "Hello, Mrs. Kim. Thanks for having me."
She waved a hand at me. "Now, I've told you to just call me Karen. We're past the proper 'Mrs. Kim.' We've had pound cake and coffee together too many times for that." Her smile was genuine. I had always felt like she wanted me around when I'd come by Jennie's hospital room.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied with a smile.
JK stepped toward his sister and I was able to focus on her again.
"And this, as you know, is Jennie. Jennie, my frat buddy Lisa. Although she spent plenty of time in your hospital room reading to you, you've never actually met."
Her smile wasn't real. Her eyes looked too lost to truly smile. But she tried.
"It's nice to meet you," she said, moving toward me to greet me with a handshake, which I thought was cute. It didn't last long, though. Her tiny hand was gone too soon and she then gave the attention back to the bread she was buttering.
"We're almost ready to eat. Your dad is out back messing with that old engine in the lawn mower again. I swear that man is too stubborn for his own good. We need to just buy a new one, for goodness's sake."
JK nodded. "So I need to go get him. Is that what you're saying?"
"Yes, you run and get him and have him wash up. Lisa, why don't you have a seat anywhere you like around the table and I'll bring you a fresh glass of sweet tea. I want to hear how your uncle is doing."
JK patted me on the back. "Sorry, she's nosy. It comes with the food," he whispered, then headed to the back door of the kitchen.
"Uncle D is playing hardball. Won't take the chemo treatments and they're talking about sending him home next week. But I know he'll be smoking a pack a day once we get there and that's no good."
I glanced over at Jennie and she was watching me. Listening. There was concern in her eyes and I knew it was for my uncle. Something about that got to me. A girl who had just woken up from a coma to find out she had missed a month of her life, caring about someone else's problems. Most girls I knew were too shallow.
"What happens if he doesn't have the chemo?" Jennie asked. She had a really good voice. The sadness in her eyes was hard to look at. It bothered me. A girl like her should be protected. Not have to face hard shit.
"He'll die sooner. The chemo won't cure him. Just prolong his life."
She sighed and put her knife down. "I don't know that I blame him. Chemo sounds like a terrible thing. But for you, I'm very sorry. I wouldn't want my parents to go earlier than they had to, either."
The frankness of her words was refreshing. She didn't try to make it sound better. I needed that.
"Could you get him to stop smoking when he goes home? Might help things," Karen said. That was the kind of suggestion I was used to.
"I don't expect that would be fair, Momma. He's a sick man and he is dying. Why take away something he enjoys? Would that really help at this point?" Again, Jennie's words were exactly what I was thinking. She got it. She made me feel more human. Stating my thoughts as if they made sense.
Karen nodded and let out a sigh. "I suppose you're right."
Jennie didn't respond. Instead she put the bread in the oven, then washed the butter from her hands and dried them. I watched her every move. She was fascinating. This girl who I had thought about so often over the past few weeks. Even before she woke up.
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