“Thank you.”
We spent the rest of the morning studying, and by the time it was lunch, we returned to the cabin to find everyone but Thayde eating.
“He’s asleep,” Mom said as if reading my mind. “He’ll sleep a lot until he starts to heal. Whenever that may be.”
I didn’t answer. I knew it would be very soon when she’d let me know I would have to leave to take care of Limus. I wasn’t looking forward to it.
The rest of the day was spent in vigorous training with Aletheia, Lars and Mom while Thayde slept like the dead up in our room. The smell of dinner didn’t wake him, nor did Lars and Jacob’s impromptu game of charades. It wasn’t until the middle of the night that he woke up and crawled into bed with me.
“Did you have a bad dream?” I asked as he curled up to me, his arms circling around mine grasping my hands. His knees pushed behind mine, pulling me into his infant-like position.
“Yeah,”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.”
“Okay,” I cradled his slim arms in mine, feeling the veins splayed so obviously all over them. The change in Thayde had been so drastic, it was hard to believe he had looked so healthy only a month before. Thoughts plagued my mind. The responsibility of everything still weighed heavily on me. Jacob’s words brought me peace. Give your burdens to Him.
Thayde’s slow, deep breathing on my neck told me he had fallen back asleep and it wasn’t long before I too, drifted away.
I was being kissed on my forehead. Soft and light butterfly wings tickled my face. Opening my eyes, my love was inches away, a smile upon his gaunt face.
“Good morning,” I said.
“Hello baby.” Thayde answered.
I ran my hand through his hair and pulled his head to me, so I could kiss his lips. They were too cold against mine and I pulled back, startled. It wasn’t a good sign.
If he noticed, Thayde said nothing about my reaction. Instead, he sat up and leaned against the wall.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, pushing myself into a sitting position.
“Not well.”
The smell of coffee tingled my nose making me sneeze. Coffee always smelled so good in the morning.
“You feel like breakfast?” I asked.
“Not really.”
“I’m sure you should eat something, Thayde.” I pressed. “It’ll keep your strength up.”
When he nodded, I slid off the bed and opened the drawers in the wooden bureau against the wall. Sure enough, it was filled with sweaters. Grabbing a heavy one, I held it up. He nodded and I took it to him, stood at the edge of the bed and told him to raise his arms. He looked embarrassed.
“Hey,” I said, “We’re in this for life, remember?”
Again, he nodded and I wrestled the bulky sweater onto him. It hung loosely about his bony shoulders. As he got to his feet, he stood uneasy and hunched, his breathing shallow.
“What is it?” I asked.
His look said it all; time was running out.
By the time we made it downstairs, everyone else was already up and helping themselves to a breakfast buffet. Shirley had gone all out and there was more than enough for the seven of us.
I helped Thayde settle into a patio chair and after pulling a blanket around him, joined the others in the dining room. Mom watched Thayde through the dining room windows. After filling our plates, I stood next to her. Thayde held his head in his hand, his elbow resting on the arm of the chair. He was looking at the misty morning view.
“You don’t have much time left.” Mom’s tone was ominous.
“I know,”
“Tammer is in Vero. He has Limus.” She faced me. “You must leave today. Thayde won’t last the week.”
My heart began to race. “What do I do?”
“You’re going to have to leap home. Limus can’t remember. You’ll have to make him.”
Make him. That would be interesting.
“How?”
“Morgandy, we’ve taught you all we can. It’s time for you to start trusting and believing in yourself.” She cupped my chin in her hand. “You can do anything you set your mind to.” With that, she left me to help Naira with her food.
I watched Thayde for a few moments before taking him his food. There was nothing else for my family to do. It was all up to me now. Anxiety swept over me and Thayde shifted uneasily. So much lay on my shoulders. I could feel the weight of the world sinking into them. I’d have to leave today. Better now than never I suppose. Thayde’s tired eyes watched me as I joined him.
“You okay?” I asked.
“I think I need to go back to bed,” he answered.
“Okay,” I began to stand but he held up his hand.