Interlude: A Quiet Road, A Loud Truth
When fear looms large, the best antidote is support from those who care. Jim reminds Skylar she’s not alone.
The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the hills as Skylar climbed into Jim’s truck. Her muscles ached in that satisfying way that only a day spent working in the garden could bring. She stretched her fingers, still faintly stained with soil, and let out a breathy laugh.
“You’re filthy,” Jim teased as he glanced over at her, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Occupational hazard,” Skylar replied, brushing a stray wisp of hair from her face. “Gardening has a way of making you forget about appearances.”
Softly, Jim chuckled as they pulled onto the dirt road leading away from Raven’s ranch. The ride was quiet for a few minutes, the truck’s tires crunching against the gravel and the hum of cicadas filling the evening air.
“So,” Jim began, his tone casual but inviting, “how’d the day go?”
Skylar leaned her head back against the seat, her expression softening as she thought about the day. “It was good. Exhausting but good. There’s something about digging into the earth that clears your mind. Plus, Raven has this way of making you feel like you’re doing something meaningful.”
Jim nodded, keeping his eyes on the road. “Sounds like you’re enjoying yourself.”
“I am,” she admitted. “Riley was there too. She’s… struggling, though.”
Jim glanced at her briefly, his brow furrowing. “Struggling? What’s going on with her?”
Skylar sighed, crossing her arms loosely. “She’s questioning everything—her career, her move, whether she made the right choices. She feels lost like she doesn’t know who she is anymore.”
Jim didn’t respond immediately, letting her words settle. He finally said, “It’s not unusual to feel that way after a big life change. But she’s got good people around her. You, Raven, Val… Quinn. You’re all helping her find her way.”
“Quinn’s been her anchor,” Skylar said softly. “They’re best friends, and Riley leans on her more than she probably realizes. But Quinn left for Japan this morning, and I know Riley’s going to feel that absence. She didn’t say it, but you could see it in her eyes. She’s going to miss her.”
“Val really stepped up today,” Skylar added, her expression brightening slightly. “She shared her story—about leaving nursing and how empty she felt afterward. Riley listened, really listened. It was like watching someone find a piece of the puzzle they didn’t know they were missing.”
Jim nodded thoughtfully. “It’s good Riley has people she can lean on. Sometimes you just need to hear someone else say, ‘I’ve been there.’”
Skylar tilted her head, studying him. “That’s true. But not everyone is ready to share their struggles, even when they should.”
The shift in her tone didn’t escape Jim. He glanced at her again, his gaze steady. “Speaking from experience?”
Skylar hesitated, looking out the window as the ranches and open fields blurred past in the twilight. “Riley asked me today what I was afraid of. She could sense I was holding something back.”
“And?” Jim pressed gently.
“I didn’t tell her,” Skylar admitted, her voice quieter now. “I wasn’t comfortable. Not today.”
Jim didn’t speak right away, giving her the space to continue.
“I mean, how do you say something like that out loud? ‘I’m terrified that one day, I’ll end up like my mom and grandmother, that I’ll lose my memories, my independence, myself?’ It feels… too big. Too raw.”
Jim tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his jaw working as he mulled over her words. The truck bumped gently over the uneven road, but Skylar hardly noticed.
“Sky,” he said finally, his voice calm but firm, “you can’t keep carrying this around like it’s some dark secret. It’s not healthy.”
“I know,” she replied, her tone defensive but tinged with vulnerability. “I just… I don’t want to make it real by talking about it.”
Jim sighed, shaking his head slightly. “You’ve been worrying about this for years. But here’s the thing—worrying doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t give you answers.
Skylar turned to him, her eyes searching his face. “And what if the answers are worse than the questions?”
“Then at least you’ll know,” Jim said simply. “And knowing means you can do something about it, or at least prepare. Ignoring it won’t make it go away.”
“Times are different now. Your mother’s diagnosis was years ago, and there is much new research and treatment for Alzheimer’s. There’s a testing process. There’s a protocol for prevention and lessening the symptoms. You believe in science, right?.”
She looked down at her hands, her fingers tracing absent patterns against her jeans. “Yes, but I’m still scared, Jim.”
“I know you are,” he said softly. “But you’re also one of the strongest people I know. You’ve faced things most people wouldn’t even dream of, and you’ve come out the other side. If they find you test positive, it isn’t going to break you, Sky.”
She smiled faintly, but the doubt lingered in her eyes. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It’s not simple,” Jim admitted. “But it is straightforward. Get the gene test done. Find out if it’s even something you need to worry about. And if it is? Then we’ll face it together.”
Skylar blinked, her throat tightening. “You’ll be there for me no matter what?”
Jim glanced at her, his expression unwavering. “Of course I will. You think I’d let you go through something like that alone?”
The weight of his words settled over her, warm and steady like a blanket on a cold night. She nodded slowly, taking his hand, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll think about it.”
Jim smiled faintly, turning his attention back to the road. “That’s all I’m asking. Just… don’t let fear keep you from living your life, Sky. You’ve got too much left to do, too many stories left to tell.”
Skylar let his words wash over her, a small spark of hope flickering in her chest. The road ahead stretched out before them, bathed in the soft glow of the final rays of the setting sun.
And for the first time in a long time, the unknown didn’t feel quite so daunting.
Another great chapter. I understand Skyler's hesitancy. I think a lot of of us are like that and a lot of us aren't.
I know people that avoid getting things tested or finding answers because they feel like if they don't see it or speak it then it's not there.
I'm the opposite if something's going on I'm gonna sit with myself and try to figure it out myself but if I need to, I will find the answers because I think once we find the answers, then we have choices that we can make, and those choices will be better choices because we have all the information.
Another cool and insightful chapter. Tuesdays are becoming more special as I look forward to getting to know these characters better!