Page 206 of Finding Us

“I’ll do it.” I move around him and go up to the counter.

Sara’s hiding in the back. She comes out when she sees me. “You didn’t tell him, did you?”

“No. And I won’t. So stop worrying about it. I wanted to give you our order.”

She takes the order, then says, “I understand if you don’t want to be friends with me now.”

“Sara, it’s fine. Really. I’m sure I’ll be spending a lot of time here between classes and I’d like us to be friends. And if you ever find a single guy to take you to dinner, the babysitting offer still stands.”

She smiles. “Thanks. Your order will be right up.”

When Sara brings out our food later, she won’t even look at Garret. I think she’s afraid I’ll get mad, which I would never do. It was just a misunderstanding and it’s not like this hasn’t happened before. I know other girls check out Garret and some of them probably flirt with him. They did at Moorhurst and they will here, too. That’s what I get for marrying someone as hot as him.

After lunch Garret and I go to our afternoon classes, then we go to his doctor’s appointment. I’ve avoided talking about his shoulder ever since he told me about it. He’s already worried enough about it so I didn’t want to keep bringing it up.

The appointment is at a small hospital 20 miles away. He has to have tests run on his shoulder and the hospital is the only place that had the equipment.

When we arrive, Dr. Cunningham is waiting for us in an office at the hospital. The office belongs to some other doctor and has diplomas on the wall and family photos on the desk.

I still don’t know how Cunningham does this. How does he just step in and borrow someone else’s office? And how is he able to use the hospital’s equipment when he doesn’t even work here?

“Garret. Jade.” He greets us as we walk in, shaking our hands. “Congratulations on the marriage.”

“Thanks.” Garret’s trying to act normal but I know he’s nervous. He thinks these tests will tell him he can’t swim anymore which is the last thing he wants to hear.

Cunningham takes a seat behind the desk and we sit in the chairs across from him.

“So the shoulder isn’t getting any better,” Cunningham says, his eyes on Garret. “I’m not going to lecture you here, Garret, but I will say that waiting this long to address this could mean you’ve done permanent damage. And you may need surgery.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Surgery? I’m already holding Garret’s hand but I hold it even tighter after hearing that. I don’t want him having surgery. Surgery is dangerous. Things can go wrong. Anesthesia can kill you. It’s not likely, but it happens.

“We’ll do some tests and go from there. The best case scenario is that we just have to get you back in physical therapy and this time you actually have to go.”

Garret nods. “I will. What about swimming?”

“We’ll have to see, but given what you told me on the phone about the pain you’re having, I’m guessing you can’t compete this year.”

Garret doesn’t respond. He just nods again, like he knew that would be the case.

Cunningham continues. “You also shouldn’t be surfing until we get this healed. And weight lifting should be limited to whatever exercises the physical therapist gives you.” He stands up. “Well, let’s get you down to radiology.”

I sit in the waiting room while they run whatever tests they’re doing on Garret’s shoulder. Then we leave and go out for dinner while we wait for the results. Normally we’d have to wait a few days, but Cunningham is able to consult with the radiologist right away so we don’t have to.

Even this short wait is making me anxious because I have no idea what they’re going to find. Last year on the news I saw a story about a teenage girl who had pain in her leg and thought she hurt it playing soccer, but when she had tests run they found out she had some kind of rare cancer.

Of course I would remember this now. I hadn’t even thought about that in months. Why does my mind even go to these places? Garret does not have cancer. And he does not need surgery. He’ll be fine. I know he will.

CHAPTERFIFTY

GARRET

Around 7 Jade and I go back to the hospital to get my test results. Jade’s been really great about this whole thing. Ever since I told her about my shoulder, she hasn’t forced me to talk about it or lectured me about how I should’ve taken care of this last year. She’s just been there for me and I love her for that. It’s exactly what I need right now. When I’m ready to talk about it, I will. But I can’t until I know what’s going to happen.

I didn’t say much during dinner and I hardly touched my food. Jade talked a little about school and current events, trying to keep my mind off the test results. It was sweet of her to try, but it didn’t work. I couldn’t stop thinking about those tests and how the results could end my swimming career. I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t swim. Swimming is such a huge part of who I am and I can’t give it up.

We meet up with Dr. Cunningham back in the office we met him at earlier. I have to know the results, so as soon as he sits down I say, “Just tell me how bad it is. Bottom line. Can I swim again?”

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