5
LEXI
2004 - THE HOSPITAL, BREVARD, NORTH CAROLINA
When I pulled up in front of Jen’s house, she emerged after about five minutes, looking like she had just awakened: bedhead hair pulled into a loose bun, rumpled clothes, strolling. She yanked open the door, sank into the seat, and put out her hand. I placed a coffee travel mug in it. “Don’t spill in my Beamer.”
“Of course not, and don’t speak until I drink.”
I said, “I wouldn’t dare.” I pulled my car away from her house.
She drank and stared out the window, then smacked her lips. “It is a testament to how much I love you that I’m here. The only reason is because we’re practically sisters. We’ve been friends since like, when?—?”
I said, “Phew, an exhausting —twowhole years.”
She joked, “Everyone knows it’s the new friends who are the real friends. The people you went to high school with are?—”
I said, “Buttheads and deserters.”
“Yep, they all ran off to college leaving you here, practically friendless, which is ridiculous because I’ve met all of them and you’re the best of the lot. Look at you, beautiful, with yourlong golden hair, and bright blue eyes, you practically glow with sunshine, but here you were,friendless,and I took pity on you and we’ve been friends ever since.”
“Yep, like we were meant to be.”
“And I introduced you to Cooper and here we all are, practically family.”
“That’s why I called, because you’re my bestie, practically family, you’re always there for me.”
“Damn right. I even got out ofbedfor you — better have a damn good reason. Where are we going again?”
“Hospital — there was a guy in my yard last night.”
Her eyes squinted. “In youryard?But like… you live on the outside of town. Was he a lumberjack or,” her eyes went wide, “axe- murderer?”
I shrugged and turned left at the light. “I have no idea. He didn’t look like either, not really, but he was injured, so I called an ambulance.”
She sipped from her coffee. “Kinda think you don’t need to visit an axe-murderer at the hospital.”
“He left something in my yard. I guess I think he wants it or needs it.” I gestured toward my big bright green handbag. “There, on top.”
She plucked up the object. “What is it?”
“I have no idea. The whole thing is so mysterious. What was he doing out in my woods during a storm — what is this thing he left behind? I spent a lot of time sitting beside him in the dark last night, waiting for the ambulance while he was unconscious. Watching over him. I’minvested. That’s why I’m going to the hospital and why you’re coming with me.”
“Fine, now I’m intrigued too, but we gotta get food on the way back. I’m already hungry.”
I said, “I brought you a snack, I know how you get.”
She reached into my oversized handbag again and pulled out a paper lunch sack. She unfolded the top and looked inside, “An egg sandwich, forme?”
“Yep, I ate hours ago. I’ve been up since four.”
Jen took a big bite of her sandwich and asked, “How was Coop’s send-off?”
“Dramatic, I had a nightmare and woke him up, then there was a stranger in my yard. Woke him up, again.”
“Then he had to be ready to go at the crack of dawn.”
“Yep, it wasn’t optimal.”
