Page 30 of When Forever Stays

We leave Crew’s apartment and get into her car. I give her the directions to my place, and as we travel down my bumpy gravel driveway, I send up a prayer of thanks.

“This is it,” I say as she parks next to my Ford Ranger. The mere sight of my truck screams “freedom,” and another wave of gratefulness washes over me.

“It’s cute,” Dana announces as she looks at my tiny hut.

“Do you want to come in?” I ask.

She grips the steering wheel as she shakes her head. “No, I’m sure you have some people you need to contact?”

“You’re right,” I respond. “I should probably give Ashley a call and check in on Oscar.”

“That’s what I was thinking.” She gives me a genuine smile, and my chest warms at her understanding.

“All right, well, I’ll see you tonight. I’ll pick you up this time.” I’ve missed driving and want to be a perfect gentleman on this outing.

“Are you allowed to drive?”

“According to Dr. Woodhouse, yes.”

“Okay, then I’ll see you later.”

I fight the urge to lean across the console and kiss her cheek. Instead, I just say, “Thank you, Dana. For everything.”

“I was happy to do it.” The sincerity in her voice sets me at ease.

After we say our goodbyes, I go into my hut and straight to my phone on the counter where I left it before the accident.The battery is dead, so I plug it in and wait impatiently. I try to pick up the minimal clutter to keep myself occupied. As soon as I see the screen light up, I call Ashley.

“Well, glad to hear you’re still alive!” Ashley answers in a clipped tone.

“I’m sorry it’s been a couple of days. But I had a bit of an accident.”

Her tone immediately softens. “Are you okay? What happened?”

I tell her the full story, from my surfing accident to the part where Dana dropped me off at home. Thankfully, I don’t need to go into detail about who Dana is to Ashley. After my surgery where I gave Oscar part of my liver, I was loopy coming off the anesthesia and told Ashley about Dana.

“Wow,” she says, clearing her throat. “Thank God you’re okay and that Dana found you. What a surprising blessing.”

“You have no idea.” I run my free hand through my hair. “How’s Oscar? Has he…” I trail off, knowing Ashley will understand what I’m asking.

“No. I’m sorry, RJ really.”

I push down the lump that forms in my throat. “Can you call me Rhett?” My stage name was just that—a stage name and not someone I want to be associated with anymore. She’s been calling me RJ since we reconnected but now it just feels wrong.

“Yeah, of course,” she says. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it bothered you that I called you RJ.”

“Don’t apologize. It’s a me thing. I wanted to bring it up before but it didn’t seem important in light of everything else. But ever since coming to Christ, I’ve become a new creation and want to shed the image of who I once was.”

“I get it,” she whispers into the phone. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay now. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Let me know if Oscar changes his mind.” That lump in my throat returns.

“I promise.”

We say our goodbyes and hang up. Immediately, the heaviness in my soul is back as well as the pull between wanting to forget who I once was and knowing that if it wasn’t for my past self, Oscar wouldn’t exist. Even if he wants nothing to do with me.

I scan through the minimal pictures I have of my son. Ashley sent them to me after Oscar’s successful surgery, wanting me to at least be able to see pieces of his childhood.

My son is now sixteen, the age when I should be teaching him how to drive. I’ve already missed out on so much of his life, and as hard as it is to stay away, I know it has to be his choice to connect with me.

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