Page 120 of The Comeback Summer

“Thank you,” I say, trying to cover my confusion. Josh hasn’t mentioned anything about his mother having health problems. “How are you?”

“Well, it’s been a rough road.” She motions to herself like I know what’s going on. “But it’s made a world of difference to have Joshua back. I was so grateful when he said he’d move home during this whole ordeal.”

My confusion blooms into full-blown worry. Does she have cancer? Was she in an accident? I look at Karl, hoping for a clue.

Realization dawns on his face. “Joshua didn’t tell you?”

I shake my head.

“Jeannie has ALS,” Karl says, his voice grave. “Lou Gehrig’s disease? Diagnosed about six months ago.”

“ALS...” I trail off, racking my brain.

“It’s a progressive neurological disease,” Jeannie says apologetically, like she’s sorry to give me the news. “Remember the ice bucket challenge a few years ago?”

My heart drops; I remember enough to know this is bad. Weakness, paralysis, eventually death. No cure.

I can’t speak. Jeannie has the kindest, most generous heart; she was like an extra mom during my teenage years. My eyes flood with tears, and I order myself not to cry. They shouldn’t have to spend an ounce of energy comforting me.

“I’m so—I’m so sorry,” I stammer. “I had no idea.”

Jeannie and Karl glance at each other, and something wordless passes between them.

Then Karl says, “Joshua is... having a hard time with this.”

“But he’s seemed much better since you’ve been back in his life,” Jeannie rushes to add.

“We thought he’d told you,” Karl says.

They’re gazing at me with such concern, and I can’t let them worry about my feelings when they’re the ones facing this devastating diagnosis.

“I’m sure he’s been waiting for the right time,” I say, going down on a knee so I’m at eye level with Jeannie.

It seems like they’ve been wanting to talk, because it all spills out as we stand there on the sidewalk. They tell me that Jeannie’s symptoms aren’t too advanced yet—she can still walk, she says proudly—but she tires easily, hence the wheelchair. She isn’t having any difficulty breathing or swallowing, Karl says with a smile.

They just got back from a trip to Disney with their grandchildren, Zella and Drew, and they’re going to New Zealandnext month with their best friends—trying to get in all the bucket-list vacations before Jeannie can’t travel.

As they talk, my mind keeps wandering back to Josh. This is what he’s been dodging, every time his parents came up in conversation. Did he think I wouldn’t be able to handle it? Did he think I wouldn’t support him? Or maybe—and this makes my stomach churn—he didn’t think I’d be around long enough for it to matter.

No, I tell myself. There has to be an explanation.

Eventually Karl glances at his watch—they need to get going. I give Jeannie a gentle hug, then straighten up for a bear hug from Karl.

As we go our separate ways, I have only one thought in my mind: I need to talk with Josh.

•••

NOT LONG AFTER,I’m being led by a kind security guard through the administrative areas of the aquarium to Josh’s office. After I left the clinic, I sent Josh a text asking if I could stop by; he respondedOF COURSE, followed by a GIF of an excited golden retriever hopping up and down. My mind has been spiraling through possible reasons Josh would have kept this from me, but I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt and wait until he can explain.

When I reach his office, my hands are shaking with worry. Josh opens his door, a huge smile on his face.

“What’s wrong?” he says, his smile fading into concern.

My eyes well up with tears. “I—I ran into your parents at the doctor’s office.”

Josh’s face goes blank, and then he just... crumples. In a heartbeat, I know why he didn’t tell me—it’s not that he didn’twant to; it’s not that he was trying to keep things from me. He simply could not say the words.

I hold my arms out and he collapses into me, burying his face in my neck. With one foot, I nudge the door closed behind me for privacy.

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