Second Chances(63)

"So where now?" Paige asked as they neared the end of the bridge.

"Well I don't know. I know I need to get some more clothes, but I thought maybe we could get lunch or maybe we should check-in first."

"Check-in? Where?" He could see her relaxed state slipping away.

"A place called Bayside. I arranged for it when I was getting the rental car. If there is somewhere else you would like to stay..."

"No. That's probably fine. I just...I don't know, wasn't expecting it I guess."

Nathan didn't know what she had intended to say, but he didn't think that was it. He didn't press, mostly because she seemed to be drifting out of their lane.

He decided to try and redirect her and said, "Okay so what do you think then? Lunch?"

"Sure, sounds great." Her voice didn't match her words. The butterflies in her stomach were once again awake and active. She wondered if she'd be able to eat a thing.

"Wonderful. Well you know the area, so you pick anywhere you want."

She flashed him a strained smile. As they exited the bridge Nathan noticed the sign pointing right for downtown Newport and was not the least bit surprised when Paige went left.





CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE



Sarah left him sitting by the window. She had waited patiently for him to show any response to her questions. Any response at all. Words, another squeeze, even a shift in his gaze, but after that initial squeeze there was nothing. She had gently wiped the tears from his face and waited for more, but again nothing more was forthcoming.

She wondered what she was missing. Had he been responding to her harsh words about Julie? Had he been trying to defend her? Had that squeeze and those tears been the only defense he could mount? She was ashamed to think it was possible. Had the first real interaction with him in a long time come from her disparaging words against the woman he loved?

She leaned against the front desk and put her head in her hands.

"Sarah?"

She looked up to see Doris coming down the stairs.

"Hey, Doris."

"Is anything wrong?" She looked from Doris over to Jason and back.

"Yes. No. I don't know. I think I might have...I don't know, hurt Jason."

Doris quickly crossed to Sarah, her eyes alarmed. "Does he need medical attention?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Poor choice of words I guess. I think I might have hurt his feelings or hurt his trust in me. I don't know."

"Why don't you tell me what happened?"

"It was Julie, Ms. Murphy's, visit."

Doris remained silent, waiting.

"You remember what I said earlier? How he tends to seem more withdrawn after her visits?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Well. I opened my big mouth."

"You didn't say that to her, did you?"

Sarah shook her head sharply. "No, no. Of course not." She dropped her head into her hands again. "I said it to him."

Doris' only response was, "Oh."

"Yeah. I don't even really remember exactly what I said. It is just that like I said, he seemed to withdraw after she left and I...I didn't think."

Doris reached out and patted Sarah on the arm.

"Don't beat yourself up. Who knows, I hate to say it, but in his state I am doubtful he even comprehended what you were saying."

"That's just it. I think he did understand."

"What?"

"He responded, sort of."

"Really?" Doris glanced over at Jason. He didn't seem any different than he ever did. "Are you sure? I mean, yes he occasionally seems to respond, but he also sometimes just moves or utters sounds at random. How can you be sure he was responding to you?"

"I guess I can't, but it just seemed like he did."

"What did he do?"

Sarah let out a slow breath. "He squeezed my hand, though I am not sure the force he used actually qualifies as a squeeze."

Doris smiled, understanding her words. "Is that all? That was likely only..."

"And he cried."

"He what?"

"Not balling his eyes out crying, but he had tears in his eyes and on his cheeks."

Doris was quiet. She again shifted her gaze to Jason, her lips pursed in thought. After a few moments she patted Sarah on the arm again.

"Maybe you are looking at it all wrong. This might well be something positive."

"What? How would me bad mouthing Ms. Murphy and making him cry be a good thing?"

The older woman smiled and a gentle laugh passed her lips. "Because it means he is still in there. Yeah it might have been better if you could have gotten him to respond with a smile or a coherent word or two, but you did get a response. That means he may still comprehend the world around him, the words spoken to him. Doesn't that sound like something to be happy about?"