Page 89 of Say it Ain’t So

My heart didn’t slow until he’d settled himself on the couch again, and it didn’t return to its normal rate until he’d picked up his leg and strapped it back on.

“You didn’t need to do that,” I mumbled as he lifted his attention away from his leg. “I know how much pain you’re in.”

“You’re right. I am in pain.” He reached out and took my hand. “But if I didn’t work through the pain, I never would have gotten out of my hospital bed and moved back home. I never would have met Susie, and I never would have met you. And while you may cause me pain,” he said, giving me a crooked smile, “I’ve never regretted a moment of it.”

I squeezed my eyes closed as my heart clenched in my chest. After a few deep, steeling breaths, I looked back at him. “I need your help, Pops.”

“All you gotta do is ask, kid.”

A little over an hour later, Pops pulled his rental car up to the curb near Joss’s apartment. He rounded the vehicle, helping me climb out and get situated on my crutches. Then he grabbed the can of unsalted peanuts from my seat.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, eyeing me like he thought I might be crazy.

The thing was, it was true. I was crazy. Crazy for Joss. And I knew, if I didn’t do this, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.

“I’m sure,” I told him, taking the can and stuffing it into the pocket of my sweats. “Stay here. Frank doesn’t like strangers.”

While Pops got himself back into the car, I shuffled my way over until I was directly across from Joss’s fire escape. Frank was up on the roof with his buddies, and I swore I could feel his beady little eyes staring down at me. Bracing myself on my crutches, I slowly reached for the can in my pocket and pulled it out. Frank spread his wings when I gave it a shake but didn’t make a move.

“Oh, come on, Frank. It’s me! Your buddy, Rylan!” When he stomped his foot, I shook the can again. When he didn’t move, I opened it up and dumped a few peanuts into my palm. “Come on, buddy. You can’t tell me you don’t remember me. You’re the one who kissed me.”

Frank bobbed his head while he made a noise that sounded like laughter.

“Well, I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t need your help.” I lifted my hand, damn near losing my balance as I did. After a couple more tries, I was able to show my palm to the crow.

Frank jumped off the building, swooping down to the street in front of me. I glanced toward the car and caught Pops watching with fascination dancing in his eyes. I dropped a nut to the ground, tempting Frank closer. Then dropped another when he didn’t try to fly away.

After that, though, I just held my hand out flat. If he wanted more, he was going to have to work with me.

“Come on, Frank. Come on up here. I can’t get down there like I used to.”

He eyed me, tilting his head back and forth, and I was sure this whole thing was a waste when he opened his wings and let out a squawk. But suddenly, those wings flapped, and the bird took flight for all of a few seconds before he landed on my arm. He plucked a peanut out of my palm and swallowed it down before he turned his eyes on me.

“Find anything shiny lately?” I asked, the same way Joss always did when we met him on the street. “You been bringing Joss pretty things?”

Frank bobbed where he stood, then spread his wings wide before taking a menacing step toward my face. He jumped, and I swore I was going to lose my eyes, that the bird was going to pluck them right out of my head. But instead, he landed on my shoulder. And when his beak came toward my face, it was only to peck my cheek.

Laughter shook me as a smile ripped across my face. “Good job, Frank.” I brought my hand up, offering him the last peanut I’d shaken loose. “I’ve got a job for you.” I patted him atop the head, like Joss did when she was happy with his tricks. “Do you think you could do a job for me?”

He tilted his head side to side and seemed to glance at my empty hand.

“I’ve got more,” I promised. “I’ll give you all you can eat if you help me out.”

He blinked, then spread his wings. But he didn’t fly away.

Slowly, careful not to lose my balance and fall onto my ass in the middle of the street, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a pretty, pale blue box. Frank watched intently as I opened it up, then bobbed excitedly when he saw what was inside.

“I need you to take this,” I told the crow as I extracted Joss’s wedding ring from the black cushion where it sat. “I need you to take this up there and give it to Joss. Can you do that for me, Frank? Bring it up there and knock on the window and make sure she gets it?”

Frank bobbed again and spread his wings, reaching for the ring. I pulled it back, far enough away that he couldn’t snatch it and run.

Was I crazy? I had to be. I was about to give an expensive diamond ring to a bird who made his living stealing shiny objects and trading them for food. But I had to try. I had to get Joss back. And I wasn’t sure how else to do it.

“Promise me, Frank,” I whispered, my throat tightening as I pictured him flying away and taking Joss with. “I need her to say yes. I need her to take the ring and put it on her finger and say yes. Can you do that for me? Can you help me out?”

Frank stomped his foot like he was telling me I was stupid. Either that or he really just wanted the ring. He snatched it right out of my fingers when I brought it too close, then flapped away with my only hope.

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