�Alex, was that Nick on the phone?� Eva wanted to know, as she paced the parlor waiting for Nickolas to call with word on Jacqueline. �Is Jackie ok?�
�It wasn�t Nick,� Alexander said. �It was my mom.�
�Why isn�t he calling? He said he�d call.�
�If there was any change.� Eva looked at him. �Apparently there wasn�t any change so he�s not calling.�
�Her condition probably got worse so he ain�t calling, because he knows I�ll flip out.�
�I�m sure he�ll soon call.�
�Why don�t we just go down there so I can be with her? She�s my best friend and she needs me.�
�She�s got Nick.�
�But she needs me.�
�C�mere, Baby.� He hugged her. �Jackie is going to be perfectly fine.�
�We just went through a lot together and she was always there for me and shit.�
�And she�ll continue being there for you.�
�She was the first one I shared my biggest secret with and she was there for me through the whole thing.�
�A secret you don�t want to share with me.� They looked at each other.
�I ain�t ready to share it with you, Alex. When I am I�ll let you know.� He nodded, as the phone rang.
�Maybe that�s Nick.� Alexander picked up the phone and Eva looked at him. �Hello�hey man�how is she doing?� Eva looked at him closely and watched his facial expressions. �I�m sorry, Bro.� Eva started biting on her nails. �What�d the doctors say?�
�What�s going on?� Eva asked and Alexander held up his hand to quiet her.
�You�re kidding right?� Alexander said into the phone and Eva just watched him impatiently. �Are they allowed to tell you that?�
�Alex, what�s happening with Jack?� Eva wanted to know and Alexander waved her off.
�Yeah,� Alexander said into the phone again. �We�ll be right down�ok�see ya in a little bit.� He hung up the phone and looked at Eva.
�What�s wrong with Jack?� Eva questioned and Alexander looked at her. �What is it?�
�The doctors told Nick that they don�t think Jack�s going to make it,� Alexander said.
�Excuse me? They have no right saying that.�
�They told him she�s too sick and there�s not really anything they can do for her anymore. They said it�s a 50/50 chance that�ll she�ll�� Eva shook her head. �It�s a wait and see game now.�
�Dr. Carey told him this?�
�No; Dr. Carey was in surgery.�
�They have no right telling Nick that.�
�Nick�s hoping her fever will break and she�ll be ok.�
�She better be.�
�C�mon; we�ll go down and be with her and Nick.�
�Yes let�s go.� Eva picked up her purse and they walked out of the house. �I just don�t see where hospitals get the right to tell someone that a patient is going to die. God, I really hate hospitals.�
�I think everyone does, Baby.� Eva left out a disgusted sigh as they got in the car. �Jack�s going to be fine though. She has all of us praying for her.� Eva nodded.
�Maybe this is my punishment from God for being so hard on Nick yesterday.�
�I don�t think God is punishing you or anyone for that matter. You were just concerned about your friend.�
�I still am.�
�Of course.�
�Did Nick say anything about the baby?�
�Nick doesn�t know I know so no he didn�t.�
�Right.�
�I�m sure the baby�s fine also.� Eva nodded again. �Eva, ya have nothing to be worried about. Jackie and the baby are going to be perfectly fine and before ya know it, Jackie will be all better and at home driving Nick nuts like she always does.�
�Yeah.� She looked out the window. �Can you just hurry up and get there so I can see her?�
�Yes. I�ll go as fast as I can.�
�Thank you.� She looked at him and grinned.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Nick, how�s Jack doing?� Eva asked and Nickolas looked. �How is she?�
�Dr. Carey is in with her right now,� Nickolas said.
�What did he have to say?� Alexander questioned.
�He basically said the same thing,� Nickolas answered. �But he didn�t tell me she was dying. He just said that if her fever doesn�t soon break things won�t look very good.�
�It doesn�t mean she�s going to die does it?� Eva wanted to know.
�Of course not, Baby,� Alexander assured her. �Like I keep telling you, she�s going to be perfectly fine.� Eva nodded.
�Can I see her?� Eva asked.
�Dr. Carey doesn�t want anyone in her room right now,� Nickolas stated. �I sure the hell wouldn�t be standing here if we could be in there right now.�
�What about the baby?� Eva blurted out and Nickolas looked at her. �Don�t lie and tell me there ain�t one, because Jack told me.�
�The doctor ain�t sure,� Nickolas replied. �Wait and see he keeps saying.�
�I�m sorry, Nick,� Alexander said and Nickolas shook his head.
�If the baby makes it,� Nickolas started, �it�ll be a miracle.�
�I�m sure they�ll both be ok,� Alexander said.
�Jack�s a strong girl,� Eva said. �She�ll pull through.� Nickolas sighed and shook his head again.
�Her temp keeps going up,� Nickolas said.
�And it can go down just as fast as it went up,� Alexander stated. �She�s in the hospital, she�s young, and the doctors are taking care of her.�
�Maybe this is my fault,� Nickolas said.
�Why?� Eva asked.
�She didn�t want me to take care of her before,� Nickolas said. �And now that I really have to I have no idea what to do.�
�Jackie was use to people not taking care of her,� Eva stated. �She practically raised herself.�
�That doesn�t matter,� Nickolas said.
�Quit being so hard on yourself,� Eva said. �That�s my job to be hard on you.� He just looked at her a second then back into Jacqueline�s room. �It�s a joke.�
�I really ain�t in the mood for joking, Eva,� Nickolas said not taking his gaze from Jacqueline�s room. He continued looking in the window and Eva and Alexander looked at him. About a half hour passed before Dr. Carey walked from Jacqueline�s room. �Doc, how�s Jackie? How�s my fianc�e?� Eva and Alexander looked at him.
�Miss Montgomery�s temperature hasn�t dropped yet,� Dr. Carey replied. �I�m really feeling the worse here.� They just looked at him. �I�m doing all I can right now, but if her temperature goes up any higher she could die.�
�This ain�t happening,� Nickolas said.
�It�s going to be alright, Nick,� Alexander said.
�Not if she dies it won�t be,� Nickolas snapped.
�She�s not going to,� Eva said.
�It�s going to take a miracle right now,� Dr. Carey said. �And a lot of praying.�
�Excuse me, Dr. Carey,� the nurse interrupted. �I think you better come in here.�
�Excuse me,� Dr. Carey said walking away and Nickolas looked back into the room.
�Can you see what�s happening?� Eva asked and Nickolas shook his head.
�I don�t know what�s going on,� Nickolas said.
�The doctor will let us know,� Alexander assured them.
�Aren�t you worried?� Eva questioned. �That�s my best friend in there.�
�I know that,� Alexander said. �And I am worried about her.�
�You�re really acting like it,� Eva snapped and Nickolas looked at them. �You�re really showing some compassion towards her.�
�I�m sorry I�m not freaking out like you think I should,� Alexander said. �Everyone has different ways of dealing with things like this.�
�Well your ways aren�t helping me any,� Eva said.
�Will you guys knock it off,� Nickolas requested. �You�re not helping Jack any with that kind of attitude.� They looked at him and he looked back into Jacqueline�s room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Have you seen, Mr. Carter?� Dr. Carey asked and Eva and Alexander looked.
�He went to the restroom,� Alexander replied.
�How�s Jackie doing?� Eva asked and Dr. Carey just looked at her. �How is she?�
�Um, Miss Montgomery isn�t doing any better,� Dr. Carey began, �in fact she is getting worse.� Eva froze in her spot and just stared at the doctor. �We�re doing everything we possibly can, but we can�t get her fever down any.�
�What does that mean?� Alexander asked putting his arms around Eva. �Does this mean she can die?�
�I�m afraid so,� Dr. Carey answered, as Nickolas rejoined them.
�What�s going on?� Nickolas questioned and they looked at him. �Did something happen to Jackie?�
�I�m sorry to say that she ain�t getting any better,� Dr. Carey stated and Nickolas just looked at him. �Her fever ain�t going down and I don�t know what else we can do for her.� Nickolas sighed. �I�m going to give her 24 hours.�
�24 hours for what?� Eva asked. �To live or die?�
�For her condition to get better,� Dr. Carey replied. �If not then I�m going to have to completely quarantine her which will not allow any visitors.�
�Can we do anything to help?� Alexander asked.
�All I can tell you to do right now is continue praying,� Dr. Carey said and they nodded. �Are there any more questions?�
�May I see her?� Nickolas asked.
�Of course,� Dr. Carey said and Nickolas walked away. �Anything else?�
�Not at the moment,� Alexander said. �Thank you.�
�If you need anything just come and find me,� Dr. Carey said and he walked away.
�They�re not doing anything to help her,� Eva said, as her tears went down her cheeks.
�They�re doing all they can,� Alexander stated.
�No they�re not. If they were she wouldn�t be getting any worse, she�d be getting better.�
�She�s going to be fine.�
�No she�s not and it�ll be my entire fault.�
�It�s no one�s fault. Just an act of nature.�
�No it�s my fault.� He looked at her and she dried her eyes. �God is punishing me, Alex, and I deserve this, but I don�t see why he has to take it out on my best friend.�
�Why would he be punishing you?�
�Because he is.� She sat down and put her face in her hands. Alexander sat next to her and she started sobbing again. �It�ll be my entire fault if Jack dies. I�m not being honest and fair to anyone and God is punishing me. If I can�t be honest with my boyfriend then he�s going to take my best friend away from me.� Alexander took her in his arms and she buried her face in his shirt.
�God�s not going to take anyone away from you.�
�Yes he is and he�s going to start with Jack.�
�Why would he take her away? She has so much to live for. She�s got a great dancing career, a terrific boyfriend, a baby on the way��
�He�s going to take her because I ain�t being honest, Alex, especially to you.�
�What could you possibly tell me that I don�t already know?� She looked at him and wiped her eyes. �Baby, what is it?�
�It�s nothing.�
�Don�t lie to me.� She got up and walked back over to Jacqueline�s room. She stood there alone for a moment and then Alexander joined her again. �Eva, ya know you can talk to me about anything. You can confide in me.�
�Jackie is the only one I confide in.�
�If you�re right and God is punishing you for not being honest, you�re not going to be happy with yourself if Jack dies.� Eva looked at him. �You�re going to feel horrible about what happened and hate yourself. You�re not going to be happy. We�re not going to be happy.� She swallowed the lump in her throat and hugged him. �What is it, Baby?�
Just barely a whisper, Eva said, �I was molested.� Alexander didn�t say anything, but just listened to those words play over and over in his head.
CHAPTER 12
HOME