Chapter twenty one
Crossing the finish line of the Easter charity race for the centre with Jay felt amazing. The crowd cheered everyone who crossed the line, whether they we sprinting or barely walking. All kinds of people turned up for the race – families with kids, mothers with prams, college students in fancy dress, even a few pensioners who looked too frail to walk, let alone run.
There were no winners. Everyone who crossed the 5K finish line received a medal.
The day was beautiful and I couldn't help but marvel at Jay’s organisational skills. He’d singlehandedly planned the whole thing, involving the whole community. People I’d never seen before greeted him by name and asked him questions about the centre. He pointed them in Shane’s direction, who was swamped with attention and – more importantly – donations.
Chris and Rick were handling the cookie stall, barely able to keep up with the demand. Freddie was delegated to the calendar stall where the calendars we’d posed for were being sold like candy. The huge pile I’d seen before the race had already dwindled in half.
Cedric stood next to the calendar stall talking to Meredith, a rare smile on his face. Although, to be fair, ever since the fire, Cedric had changed. Guilt for leaving Jay in the burning library ate at him until Jay couldn't take it anymore and they had a heart to heart. He wouldn't tell me exactly what happened, but Cedric seemed relived afterwards. During the past couple of months, he smiled more and his eyes had softened. I might be imagining it but he seemed to stand taller, his movements more fluid, his words gentler. Even I wasn’t a thorn in his side anymore, the animosity I always felt from him completely gone.
“Excuse me, Amir Gopal?” A woman’s voice asked from behind me. I turned to face a short, middle-aged woman with a huge smile on her face. She was holding a calendar in her hand and a pen in the other. “That’s you, right?” She pointed to the calendar’s cover.
“Yes,” I said with much less enthusiasm than I probably should have.
Jay elbowed me in the ribs, hard, and I glared at him. He was grinning at me cheekily, thoroughly enjoying my embarrassment.
“Could you sign this for me?” She handed me the calendar and the pen, fluttering her eyelashes at me.
“I hate you so much right now,” I told Jay once the woman departed.
“No, you don’t.” He was still grinning at me and I couldn't help but smile in return. Jay’s smiles were always contagious.
“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” I said, jerking my head towards the calendar stall.
“Pfftt,” Jay scoffed. “I talked Shane into it. You were way easier compared to him.”
“Yeah, but he’s not on the cover, is he? I’ll probably have to sign every calendar people buy today.”
“Enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame,” Jay said, clapping me on the back. “Besides, do you see how well it’s selling? We’ll probably have to reprint after the event. Shane said there were already over fifty web orders, and it’s not even on Amazon yet.”
I had to admit, the calendar was beautiful and really well-made. Jay had refused to compromise on the quality to lower the price. He’d been adamant that people would pay the higher price if the quality was good, and he’d been right.
“Amir,” a familiar, stern voice called behind me.
Jay and I both turned to see his parents, with his brother and sister, coming our way. I still hadn't visited with them as Margaret had asked, but we’d been so busy during the past few months that we barely saw each other, let alone had time for anything else. I’d talked to Will and Sophie on Skype a few times but we hadn’t met face to face until now.
“So good to finally give you a hug in person,” Sophie said as she hugged me.
“You too,” I replied, squeezing her back. She looked a lot like Jay and their mother, while Will had taken after John.
Will shook my hand and patted me on the back, and so did John. Margaret gave me a brief hug then excused herself to go find Mum. Apparently, the two of them had become quite close, talking regularly on the phone and becoming friends on Facebook. I’d nearly choked when Mum told me that a few weeks ago – I didn't even know she had a Facebook account.
Will and Jay had already started arguing about something and Sophie couldn't help but get involved. Those three could never agree on anything. Most of their Skype sessions consisted of arguments about the most pointless things. It was always good-natured, though, and they seemed to have fun taunting each other.
“Amir? May I have a word?” John asked, taking my elbow and steering me away from his children.
“Of course,” I said belatedly. I wasn't really given a choice.
“I want you to know that the work you’re doing for the John Sherwood Centre is commendable. I found out about it when James told me at Christmas, and I’ve done my own research. Since then I’ve been in talks with the manager, Shane Sanford, about arranging a regular donation schedule.”
“I... I didn’t know that, sir,” I stammered, caught off-guard by his admission. Jay had never mentioned anything, neither had Shane. “Thank you. I’m sure your generosity will be greatly appreciated, and it couldn't come at a better time.”
“Yes, Shane has told me about the financial trouble the centre is experiencing. Shame, really. We need more places like this, not shutting down the ones we already have.” John shook his head in disapproval. “He’s also told me that things were looking up ever since Jay had started campaigning for more exposure. People were responding well, and small but regular donations were coming in each month, tiding the centre over.”
“Yes, that’s true. Jay has done wonders for the centre. He’s really talented and full of ideas.” I couldn’t hold back the smile that appeared on my lips as I said that.
I was so proud of Jay, of everything he’d achieved and of all the hard work he’d done. He put his heart into everything he was doing and it showed.
John stopped abruptly and turned to face me.
“I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough, but I’d rather tell you myself. I know how much the centre means to you, Amir. And you can rest assured you won't be fighting for its survival on your own anymore. I’ve arranged a considerable donation with Shane, and I’ll do everything I can to bring more money in.”
I was struck speechless with gratitude. Having someone like John Brooke on our side would mean an end to a lot of financial insecurity. It’d mean Shane could focus on his patients instead of constantly worrying about paying everyone’s salary on time, or if he’d be able to secure the medicines everyone needed this month.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice coming out hoarse.
John nodded, accepting my thanks, the clapped me on the shoulder, his shrewd gaze burning into me.
“Take good care of my boy, Amir.”
It sounded like a warning, and maybe it was, but I didn't feel threatened. I’d never do anything to hurt Jay, and we both knew it.
When John went to look for his wife and left me standing alone in the middle of the field, I felt Jay’s hands sneaking around my waist.
“You alright?” He asked, frowning at my expression.
“Yeah...”
“As good as anyone could be after a talk with my dad?” Jay smiled, but his eyes remained worried.
“Your dad may have singlehandedly saved the centre.” Jay’s eyes widened in surprise. “You didn’t know he was talking to Shane about donating?” Jay shook his head. “Well, he’s pledged a considerable donation, in his words. My guess is that’ll be more than enough to let the centre float above water for a while.”
Jay scanned the crowd for his dad, locating him a few yards away talking to my mum and Margaret. As if feeling his son’s eyes on him, John looked in our direction, meeting Jay’s gaze. Jay beamed at him and, as it turned out, his smiles were contagious even for his stoic father. John’s lips curved before he nodded, acknowledging Jay’s silent thanks.
“What else did he say to you?” Jay asked, looking up at me.
“He told me to take good care of his boy or he’d feed me to the pigs.”
Jay laughed, the sound vibrating through my chest as he hugged me tighter.
“He did not say that.”
“No, he didn’t. Because he knows there’s no need for threats.” I cupped Jay’s cheek, rubbing my thumb on his cheekbone. The scar had faded to a pink line, nearly impossible to spot if you weren’t standing close enough. But Jay was still terribly self-conscious about it, and it broke my heart to see the hurt in his eyes when he looked in the mirror.
“He’s a very perceptive man, your dad,” I continued. “But he knows I love you more than everything in this world.”
“Yeah?” Jay arched an eyebrow.
“Mhm.” I bent down and kissed his scar, feeling a shiver run through his body. “I love you with all your scars and all your imperfections, because they make you you. And I’ll always love you.”
Jay smiled widely, then lay his head on my chest. I buried my fingers in his hair and kissed the top of his head.
I never knew what it meant to be happy until I met Jay. But now that I knew, I was never letting him go.
THE END