I touched his face before leaving the room and returned to mine. The rest of the day passed with lots of rest and Roger coming in and out to check on me and bring me food – which mostly consisted of fruits and veggies. Apparently, it was important for recovering sick people to eat healthy. Though, I would argue, sick people need feel-good food. Like chocolate cake, for instance.
Friday morning, I was fully functional. I took a bath and came out feeling brand new.
"Try to eat some breakfast," Ella said after combing my hair. I followed her to the table, trying to decide if I felt hungry.
"I'll see if Felix is hungry," she said and left.
Roger was washing his plate and picking the crumbs from Jason's seat. They were finished eating, but there was still plenty on the table. And when Ella returned, Felix was staggering behind her. I think it was the first time he had been on his feet since all of this had happened.
He sat across from me. And Ella made us our plates – which means she was portioning it and putting more than I would have put on my own plate. It was her way of saying 'get better and don't go skimpy. You need the fuel and you need to gain the weight back'. I'd try my best. But there were no promises.
"I'm glad to be sitting up and eating at the kitchen table," Felix said humorously and took a huge bite of sausage gravy and biscuit.
"Me too."
Ella smiled. "Well, Jane is coming over before dinner. Tom is supposed to be feeling better but she's still having a hard time getting him to eat. Sarah is dying to come over, LeAnna."
After breakfast, Felix and I walked to the porch.
"Tom was right," I said, pulling the strings on my hoodie. "It's freezing. He said it would be."
"Yes, it is."
I sat next to him on the swing.
"I wonder how he's doing," Felix pondered.
"Tom?"
"Yes. I wonder why he won't eat. He's been like that more than a week before he got sick."
I looked down. But with my silence arose suspicion.
"Do you know why?"
I shrugged. "Not really."
"Anna." His tone of voice said everything. It was the kind of tone that demanded to be answered. The kind that made the deepest part of your belly quiver.
"Yes." I couldn't look up.
"Look at me."
I looked. I saw his eyes. This is what he wanted.
"What happened between you two while I was away. Please don't lie to me."
It was the latter part of that sentence. I was done in.
"Well, Tom r – really likes me and he started showing it while you were away, and he tried to kiss me behind the church." I swallowed hard. "The next day he found me by my tree to apologize. I told him we could still be friends and he said he promised to leave me alone if I let him kiss my cheek. I let him, but he went for more and then I slapped him. He's still been very upset that I love you instead of him and that's why he's not eating."
He was frowning. And his gaze stretched out toward the field.
"I didn't want to tell you because Sarah said it would ruin yours and his friendship. I didn't want that to happen."
The silence was killing me.
I turned as tears moistened my eyes.
"You do love me, right?"
"More than anything."
"More than Tom?"
"Of course."
"Then will you stay away from him?" It was dark. The way he said it. I could feel the heat, the jealously, the anger all in his tone. And he meant it.
"Y – Yes."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
He stared into my eyes. "I love you more than anything."
"I love you too."
I looked down. Despite him saying that, I felt he was disappointed in me. I know I was.
"Don't cry."
"Are you disappointed in me?"
He took my hand. "I just love you. I don't like to imagine you and Tom together by your tree him doing what he did. It's not entirely your fault but it's not going to happen again." There was the serious tone again.
Chapter 26
Friends
After corndogs for lunch, I sat on the couch with one of my books from school.
"I feel bad. I've missed a week of school"
"It's okay. We'll work extra hard this new week." Felix was sitting next to me. And later than evening, there was a knock at the door. Ella answered it and led the Blanks inside.
When Sarah saw me, she ran over.
"How are you? I was so worried!"
"Much better, thanks."
Tom slowly walked into the living room. I didn't look his way. I didn't dare.
"It's so cold out now. I froze to death while waiting at the mailbox for the bus. Even all bundled up."
"I bet. I can't wait to go to school Monday. I've missed this whole week."
"That's alright. They'll understand. I'm just glad you're better now."
"Me too."
Tom was awfully quiet. And I knew it was strange how neither boy made a single effort to communicate. I needed to fill Sarah in first chance I got.
"I have Ella a present," she said.
"Really?"
"Yes. It's in the truck. I meant to bring it in."
I stood and followed her outside and as soon as we escaped the door and began to tell her everything.
"So, you have to stay away from my brother?"
"Yes."
"That's not fair. Felix shouldn't be bossing you around like that. I mean, I understand him not liking what happened, but he can't make you not talk to Tom at all."
I frowned. "I'm just going to do what he says. I love him."
"You're going to hurt Tom really bad. And now, his and Felix's friendship is shot."
"It's not my fault, Sarah. I didn't want it to be this way."
"You could at least talk to Tom some. It's not fair to block him completely just because you have an overly jealous boyfriend."
"I don't care about Tom! I love Felix!" Tears fell from my
