Chapter Text
Jacob’s mother dies on December 12th, 1995.
It’s a Tuesday, which is kind of weird. Nothing ever happens on Tuesdays; they exist as the weird, grey area between the beginning and middle of the week. It’s like limbo.
Except the universe seems to have other, greater plans in mind, because Jacob spends it next to Sierra Holland’s hospital bed with Maddie in his lap, even though she turns twelve in the Fall and is shooting up like a weed.
It takes a long while. Despite the dread seeping through his blood and the grief already clogging his throat, he can tell.
When the machines finally stutter to a halt and begin to wail, Jacob stands with Maddie still in his arms; the doctors rush in as he carries her out into the hall, as she starts to cry. For her sake and maybe for his own, he makes no noise. Doesn’t shed any tears.
“Shhh,” Jacob mutters. He doesn’t feel floaty, or numb, or far away, he just feels—tired. “Shhh, Mads. I know.”
Their next-door neighbor (Mrs. Wayland, who babysat them both when they were young and is—was—Sierra’s only remaining friend), is pacing in the waiting room. The second Jacob comes through the door carrying his sister, her lips pinch in understanding, and she goes to gather Maddie up.
“I’ll only be a minute,” he says, once she’s been handed over. He rubs absently between Maddie’s quivering shoulder blades, trying not to think, it’s just us now. “I—want to say goodbye.”
“Of course, honey,” Mrs. Wayland replies. Her eyes are sad. “You take as much time as you need.”
The offer is nice, but Jacob can’t afford to take it. He goes back to talk to the docs (albeit briefly), accepts a few awkward condolences, and squeezes his mother’s thin, already cooling hand. For a second he thinks about how easy it’d be to break the bones, she feels so damn frail, and the thought has Jacob running back to Maddie like hell is on his heels.
They’re allowed to leave with Mrs. Wayland. She decided to take custody of Maddie months ago; most of the paperwork is already filled out. Jacob’s is, too, except three days later there’s a man on the porch wearing a suit. He’s holding a briefcase.
Jacob’s mother dies on December 12th, 1995.
On December 15th, his father finally comes calling.