Finding Forever: A Tuck Everlasting Story

Chapter 7 Part Three

Winnie's conscious struck her greatly at the irony that Eliza would be the one consoling her with her own father's life possibly hanging in the balance. It was in that very moment that Winnie realized how completely selfish she truly was.

Restless hands weaved their way to hers as Winnie sat stiffened in her seat. What was meant to be a soothing gesture put her even more on edge. They had been in the air for just a few short hours while her stomach was busy continuously tossing. She was downright repulsed with herself. She thought Eliza confronting her would somehow make things easier, but it only confirmed her worst fears were still yet to come.

Winnie didn't know it could be like that with someone, to completely lose yourself and feel like every fiber of your being were a live wire. She felt like she had flown into a utopian future full of marvel and exhilaration and yet she was horrified all at the same time. Her fear of intimacy on that level had gone so far away it was as if it had been a distant memory. It was if her eyes were open wide for the first time in the past 100 years since she had first laid eyes on Jesse Tuck. However, the distaste of deceit of her actions was making her feel extremely ill. She hated herself for lying to him about the nature of her and Jesse's relationship and the feelings she had kept hidden about him.

"Winnie love? I can't feel my hand."

Isaac's words blurred snapping her out of her reverie. She didn't realize she had grasped onto his hand so tightly.

"I'm sorry." She smiled hesitantly, "I can't wait to be back on the ground."

He swiftly leaned in and pressed a warm kiss to her temple. Winnie fought the urge to cringe against him. Ironically, the physical intimacy he was trying to exhibit was to reassure her that things would be okay. Sadly, Winnie felt that things would only worsen before they got better.

"I'm sorry we had to be so abrupt..." Isaac started.

"Please, don't apologize," she interrupted, "None of this is your fault. Your dad needs you and Liza. I just wish I could make things better for you somehow."

"You are, love. Just by being here with me. That's what marriage is all about. Making sacrifices for the one you love. I know it meant a lot to you to see them and yet here you are with me...on a plane. No questions asked."

Winnie caught a glimpse at Eliza from her peripheral vision who was sitting to her left. Her lips were pursed in a hard concerned line. Winnie knew she was trying to hold herself together. Eliza had an extremely close relationship with her father. She had fallen to pieces when he had his stroke several months before. The idea of not knowing if he would be the same tore at her heart. She had vowed to Winnie that she would spend more time with him.

Winnie placed her left hand atop Eliza's which were linked firmly together on her lap and somehow found the courage to put her fear aside and be there for her best friend who graciously accepted.

Isaac was immediately on the phone with their mother upon landing, hoping to determine their dad's recovery. Once Winnie had time to compose herself, she sent a hurried text to Jesse apologizing once again. His only response was that he loved her and to call as soon as she could. She hadn't told him about Eliza's confrontation or about her wanting him to stay in Charlotte even though she knew he was fighting the urge to follow her. There was this insane undeniable gravitation that was tugging at her and she knew she had to preoccupy herself or she would go mad.

Isaac rushed to get all of their belongings into his car, which he had left parked at the airport while they were away. The flight had lasted a little bit over four hours and they still had about two hours of drive time till they would make it to the hospital.