Chapter 42

Several minutes passed. Nessa's body tensed. She had not connected with Jamison since he had given her directions to Carson's Cafe. She had never felt this detached, and this was an isolating, desperate time for him. Being an only child, she had never had younger siblings. Maz was the closest she would ever come to a little brother, and now she had no idea what was happening with him.

"Maz," she murmured. "Where are you? Are you at the cafe yet?"

Jamison laid his head against the windowpane. He sighed.

"Maz," Nessa said through her hologram. "Are you alright? I haven't heard from you in a few minutes."

"I'm alright," he whispered. "Where are you?"

"Bud, who are you talking to?" Trevon interrupted.

Nessa strained to see the markings on the buildings downtown. Chaves County Library. She shook her head. A liquid crystal projection read Carson's Cafe, and it had the configuration of a ship on it. The shape of it reminded her of an uncarved game creature.

She spoke through her hologram again.

"I'm headed into the landing bay stretch behind Carson's Cafe."

Jamison gave a quick nod and a thumbs up. Then he kicked his dad's seat.

"How long am I going to be in the hospital?" He asked.

Trevon glanced into his rearview mirror. Emotion tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"It doesn't matter how long it takes," he admitted.

Nessa's hologram and Jamison shared side glances, and Nessa could feel impatience building inside of her.

"Can we have one last dinner together since we won't see each other for a while?" Jamison asked.

"Sure, bud," Trevon consented. "Where are you thinking?"

Jamison gazed at the lot between the library and a neighboring store. He pointed at the Carson's Cafe sign.

"There," he said.