there like the crest of a wave. Audra felt the pull of its tide, anchored to the drawings tucked into her purse. A Nazi in an electric chair. Jack and Audra falling from the sky.
A twist of angst tightened her chest, along with the need to purge. “It’s Jack. He’s been struggling with pretty bad nightmares.”
Tess nodded, waiting for more.
“The school asked me to come in this morning. That’s part of why I was late. They’re worried about some pictures Jack’s been drawing in class. All of them about death.”
A gentle smile played on Tess’s lips. “Oh, yeah. I know that meeting. Been to a couple of them actually.”
“You have?”
Audra didn’t intend to sound so surprised. But the gal was a bionic supermom. PTA President of her daughter’s grade school. Fund-raising co-chair of her son’s lacrosse team. And when it came to baking, she threw off the curve. If she weren’t such a good person, a dozen other moms would have hired a hit on her by now.
“Grace had the same issues,” Tess explained, “back in kindergarten, when Russ was in chemo.”
“My gosh, of course.” Audra should have thought of that.
“She was fascinated by the idea of dying and where we go from here. It lasted quite a while, even after he went into remission. Cooper didn’t say much about it. I think as the older brother—he was in fourth grade at the time—and just from being a boy, he wanted to look like the strong one. But eventually I do remember him having some pretty rough dreams. I guess, sooner or later his brain had to deal with all those emotions.”
Now, three years later, Tess’s husband appeared so healthy, it was easy to forget the challenges the family had faced.
“You know what?” Tess said, a revelation. “That might be why Jack had a problem with flying. Not just from fear of crashing—which tons of adults are scared of, by the way—but having so little control over life.”
“True ... I suppose that could’ve been it.”
If the theory was right, Jack had already discovered a reality that had taken Audra more than thirty years to figure out.
“What about the nightmares, though? Were Cooper’s ever ... super vivid? Like with his eyes open?”
Tess waved her hand. “All perfectly normal. Just talk to Jack about it. I’m sure you’ll both feel a lot better.”
In many ways Audra already did. Everyone could be worrying over nothing.
What was it Devon used to say? Nuttin’ but a scratch. Blood would be pouring from a cut on Jack’s knee, or his elbow swelling from a fall off his skateboard, but hearing that assurance always calmed him right down. Even from the start, whenever Jack took a small tumble while learning to walk Devon would instantly clap and cheer; in response, their son would giggle rather than cry.
Bottom line, for a child the problem was only big if you told them as much.
“Speaking of kids.” Tess regarded her watch. “Cooper’s got practice today, so it’s my turn to drive Grace to equestrian. I’d better get some charts done. And hey, I almost forgot. Any time you and Jack want to ride my sister-in-law’s horse, just say the word. Tracy said you two are more than welcome.”
“But ... isn’t that how she shattered her pelvis before?”
“No, no. That happened from a snowmobile. Chestnut is the gentlest creature ever. You should get to know him yourself. Swing by the stable during the summer, or in the fall if it’s easier.”
Audra noted her friend’s insertion of an enticement to stick around. “I’ll keep it in mind,” she said with a smile.
Tess gave her a look, acknowledging the failed attempt. “All right, back to the salt mines.” She started for the hallway but dragged to a stop. Turning back, she spoke with all the enthusiasm of performing a full day of dental cleanings. “A friend of mine works at a pet clinic in Boston. He happened to mention they’re hunting for another vet. I could pass your info along if you want.”
Audra
A twist of angst tightened her chest, along with the need to purge. “It’s Jack. He’s been struggling with pretty bad nightmares.”
Tess nodded, waiting for more.
“The school asked me to come in this morning. That’s part of why I was late. They’re worried about some pictures Jack’s been drawing in class. All of them about death.”
A gentle smile played on Tess’s lips. “Oh, yeah. I know that meeting. Been to a couple of them actually.”
“You have?”
Audra didn’t intend to sound so surprised. But the gal was a bionic supermom. PTA President of her daughter’s grade school. Fund-raising co-chair of her son’s lacrosse team. And when it came to baking, she threw off the curve. If she weren’t such a good person, a dozen other moms would have hired a hit on her by now.
“Grace had the same issues,” Tess explained, “back in kindergarten, when Russ was in chemo.”
“My gosh, of course.” Audra should have thought of that.
“She was fascinated by the idea of dying and where we go from here. It lasted quite a while, even after he went into remission. Cooper didn’t say much about it. I think as the older brother—he was in fourth grade at the time—and just from being a boy, he wanted to look like the strong one. But eventually I do remember him having some pretty rough dreams. I guess, sooner or later his brain had to deal with all those emotions.”
Now, three years later, Tess’s husband appeared so healthy, it was easy to forget the challenges the family had faced.
“You know what?” Tess said, a revelation. “That might be why Jack had a problem with flying. Not just from fear of crashing—which tons of adults are scared of, by the way—but having so little control over life.”
“True ... I suppose that could’ve been it.”
If the theory was right, Jack had already discovered a reality that had taken Audra more than thirty years to figure out.
“What about the nightmares, though? Were Cooper’s ever ... super vivid? Like with his eyes open?”
Tess waved her hand. “All perfectly normal. Just talk to Jack about it. I’m sure you’ll both feel a lot better.”
In many ways Audra already did. Everyone could be worrying over nothing.
What was it Devon used to say? Nuttin’ but a scratch. Blood would be pouring from a cut on Jack’s knee, or his elbow swelling from a fall off his skateboard, but hearing that assurance always calmed him right down. Even from the start, whenever Jack took a small tumble while learning to walk Devon would instantly clap and cheer; in response, their son would giggle rather than cry.
Bottom line, for a child the problem was only big if you told them as much.
“Speaking of kids.” Tess regarded her watch. “Cooper’s got practice today, so it’s my turn to drive Grace to equestrian. I’d better get some charts done. And hey, I almost forgot. Any time you and Jack want to ride my sister-in-law’s horse, just say the word. Tracy said you two are more than welcome.”
“But ... isn’t that how she shattered her pelvis before?”
“No, no. That happened from a snowmobile. Chestnut is the gentlest creature ever. You should get to know him yourself. Swing by the stable during the summer, or in the fall if it’s easier.”
Audra noted her friend’s insertion of an enticement to stick around. “I’ll keep it in mind,” she said with a smile.
Tess gave her a look, acknowledging the failed attempt. “All right, back to the salt mines.” She started for the hallway but dragged to a stop. Turning back, she spoke with all the enthusiasm of performing a full day of dental cleanings. “A friend of mine works at a pet clinic in Boston. He happened to mention they’re hunting for another vet. I could pass your info along if you want.”
Audra
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