Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Jada

I had put off coming here for the past two weeks because I was afraid, but I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer.

“Just stay in the car. I’ll only be a half an hour.”

Creed peered through the windshield up at the sprawling building. “You a volunteer or something?” he asked.

“Something,” I muttered. “Just please stay here.”

I never knew what to expect when I walked through the front doors of Larson House. I hadn’t known for the past four years what to expect, and that wasn’t ever going to change.

“I can’t let you go in there on your own.”

“If you tell me because you think I’m meeting Candace in there, then you are completely wrong,” I growled.

Creed shook his head. “I wasn’t thinking that, but now that you put that thought in my head, I am for sure going in with you.”

God dammit.

“Please just let me go in by myself,” I pleaded again.

Creed shook his head. “No dice, gorgeous. I’m stuck to you like glue.”

I growled but didn’t argue anymore. There wasn’t any use. The longer we sat in the parking lot, the longer it would be until this was over. “Fine.”

I opened my door and headed to the front doors without waiting for Creed. If he wanted to come in with me, then he was going to be the one to keep up.

Walking into Larson House felt like stepping into a different world. The outside of the building was unassuming, a standard brick structure with neatly trimmed hedges and a small, well-kept garden to the side. As I pushed through the double doors, the scent of disinfectant and the faint aroma of lavender greeted me. The lobby was bright and cheerful, with sunlight streaming through large windows overlooking the garden. Potted plants added a touch of greenery, and the walls were adorned with colorful paintings and photographs of smiling residents.

Sharon, the friendly receptionist, sat behind a curved wooden desk, her warm smile reaching her eyes as she looked up. “Good morning, Jada! It’s so good to see you!” she sang, her voice cheerful and welcoming. “It’s been a while since you’ve been in.”

There was that shot of guilt I always felt when I came here.

I smiled but knew it didn’t reach my eyes. “Things have been kind of crazy lately. I hope I came at a good time.”

“It’s always a good time for family to visit. Last I checked, she was in the recreation room doing some crafts.”

“Is it a good day?” I asked.

Sharon’s eyes softened. “She hasn’t had a good day in a while.”

That was what I was afraid of. The good days were getting fewer and further between. “Okay, well, we’ll just head down there.”

I could tell that Sharon was interested in knowing who Creed was, but I wasn’t sure what he was.

The hallway was lined with doors, each decorated with the residents’ names and small personal touches like photos and colorful wreaths. I passed a few staff members, all of whom greeted me with friendly nods or smiles. The atmosphere was surprisingly vibrant at Larson House, filled with the sounds of conversation and laughter drifting from various rooms.

As we approached the recreation room, I heard the soft hum of a television and the chatter of people engaged in various activities. I paused for a moment at the doorway, taking in the scene. The room was spacious and bright, with large windows letting in plenty of natural light. Several tables were set up for different activities: a group of elderly women played cards at one table while others worked on a jigsaw puzzle nearby. A couple of residents sat in comfortable chairs, watching a movie on the large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.

I spotted her sitting at a table near the window with a soft smile as she haphazardly cut shapes out of a piece of purple paper. Her silver hair was neatly styled, and she wore a bright floral blouse that added a splash of color to the room. Taking a deep breath, I walked over to her, my heels clicking softly on the floor.

I could feel Creed behind me, but I wouldn’t worry about him right now.

I watched her as she carefully cut a circle out of the paper and then reached for a glue stick. Her hands moved with a practiced ease, though the task seemed to consume all her attention. I didn’t want to startle her, so I waited until she looked up.

“That’s pretty,” I called softly, trying to keep my voice gentle.

The woman looked up at me, and my heart clenched. She didn’t know who I was. I could tell it instantly.

“Thank you,” she smiled brightly. “I’m making... something.”

“Would you mind if I sit with you?” I asked, my voice steady even though my emotions were anything but.

She smiled and nodded to the chair across from her. “Go right ahead. Your handsome husband can sit with you, too. I’m Kim, by the way.”

I glanced at Creed and silently prayed that he wouldn’t correct her. “I’m Jada, and this is Creed. Thank you for letting us sit with you.” The best thing to do was just go with whatever she said. Not like she would remember anything the next time I visited.

I sat down, and Creed did too.

“That looks like a bouquet of flowers, Kim,” Creed observed, leaning forward with genuine interest. “I like it.”

Kim smiled proudly. “Thank you. I like to use all the purple I can find.”

“Purple is my favorite color,” I said with a smile, trying not to add that I told her that every time I visited.

“Mine too,” she gasped. “We should be friends.”

I nodded, unable to hold back a sniffle. “I would like that.”

Creed’s warm hand rested on my thigh, and he squeezed gently. I should have told him what we were walking into. It wasn’t fair to throw him into something he knew nothing about, but it was hard for me to talk about it.

I leaned slightly into Creed and continued watching Kim cut out different shapes and glue them onto the paper. She hummed softly to herself, seemingly lost in the simple joy of her activity.

“Jada,” Creed whispered, his voice filled with tenderness.

I glanced at him, my eyes glazed over with tears. “It’s okay,” I whispered back. I had come to grips with this a long time ago. It was still hard, but I knew Kim was happy, which was all that mattered.

Creed and I sat there for a while, just watching Kim work. The room was filled with a quiet, comforting energy. Despite the situation, there was a certain peace in just being there with her, even if she didn’t remember who I was.

“Do you come here often?” Kim asked suddenly, looking up from her project.

“Yes,” I replied, my voice soft. “I visit whenever I can.”

“That’s nice,” she said, nodding. “It’s good to have visitors.”

“It is,” Creed agreed, his hand still resting on my thigh. “And it’s nice to meet new friends.”

Kim beamed at him, her face lighting up with joy. “Yes, it is. Thank you for sitting with me.”

“Thank you for having us,” I said, my heart aching with both love and sorrow.

Kim went back to her cutting and gluing, and I leaned back in my chair, trying to absorb the moment. This was my mom, even if she didn’t know it. This was the woman who had raised me, loved me, and cared for me. And now, in this strange, reversed world, I was the one watching over her.

“Do you want to help?” Kim asked, holding out a pair of scissors to Creed.

“I’d love to,” he replied, taking the scissors and starting to cut out shapes from the colored paper. They worked together, creating a colorful collage that slowly took shape on the table in front of us.

As I watched them, a sense of gratitude washed over me. Despite everything, I still had these moments. Moments where I could see my mom happy and engaged, even if she didn’t know who I was.

“You’re really good at this,” Kim said to Creed, her eyes twinkling with admiration.

“Thank you, Kim,” Creed replied, smiling. “I had a good teacher.”

Kim laughed, a light, airy sound that filled the room. “You’re funny,” she said, patting his hand. “We should all be friends.”

“We are friends,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. “We are.”

We continued to sit with Kim, working on the collage and chatting about nothing in particular. It was a simple, peaceful time, and I cherished every second of it.

Eventually, it was time to go. Kim looked up, slightly confused but still smiling. “Are you leaving already?”

“Yes, we have to go,” I said, standing up. “But I’ll be back soon, okay?”

“Okay,” she said, nodding. “It was nice meeting you both.”

“It was nice meeting you too,” Creed said, his voice gentle.

I bent down and gave her a hug. “Take care, Kim. I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye,” she said, waving as we walked away.

As we made our way to the car, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. Sadness, yes, but also a deep sense of love and gratitude. Creed squeezed my hand as we walked, offering silent support.

When we got to the car, I turned to him. “I’m sorry,” I said, my voice choked with emotion. “I know it was a lot. I should have told you what we were walking into, but most of the time, I don’t even know.”

Creed pulled me into a hug, holding me tightly. “God dammit, gorgeous,” he choked out. “Your mom is amazing, Jada. And so are you.”

I clung to him, needing his strength and warmth. Visits with my mom drained me, and it always felt like I had run a marathon afterward. “I’m sorry,” I sobbed softly.

“Stop apologizing to me, Jada,” he growled.

We sat there for a moment, just holding each other, until I finally pulled away from Creed. “I think I’m good now,” I sniffled. “This might seem crazy, but that was a better visit. Sure, she didn’t know who I was, but she was kind today.”

I buckled my seat belt and leaned my head back.

“Where to now?” he asked.

“Home.” I did have a few other errands to run, but I wasn’t up for it. They could wait until tomorrow. “You can just drop me off.” All I wanted was my bed and mindless reruns of 90210 for the night.

“I’ll take you home, gorgeous, but I’m not just dropping you off.”

“I don’t have it in me to argue with you right, Creed. Can’t you just do what I say?”

Creed pulled out of the parking lot and shook his head. “Not today.”

“Tomorrow, you’ll do what I say?”

He glanced at me and cringed. “Huh, not likely. I tend to do what I want.”

I sighed and closed my eyes. “It’s gonna be really hard to fall in love with you when you don’t listen to me. I’ll have to talk to your past girlfriends to find out how they did it.”

He chuckled lightly. “I would have had to have one before for you to do that, Jada.”

I cracked open one eye. “You’ve never had a girlfriend before?”

He shook his head. “Negative.”

“You’ve never…” Did that mean he was a virgin?

“Jada,” he laughed. “If you’re asking if I’m a virgin, I am not. You can have sex without having a girlfriend.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I’m not fit enough to have this conversation with you.”

The radio loudened. “Then we won’t have it,” he chuckled.

Thank god.