I saw her blush, but she didn’t look away. “You saw me and you didn’t come say hi?”
“Well, you looked kind of happy and I wasn’t having my best day.” I sighed, as I ran my finger in circles over the top of my paper coffee cup. “I have missed you, Mollie.”
My heart skipped when I saw her smile. “And I have missed you too, Jack—but my life is pretty crazy right now. It’s been total chaos. So, you never told me about your mom. I’ve been checking on her and she’s really bad, but I never see you there.”
I nodded and felt a little disappointed at her answer, but I was determined not to show it. “Yeah, I go. She is bad, and I don’t know why they keep her in there like that. She’ll never leave that hospital alive.”
“Jack!”
“I know it sounds bad, but, Mollie, you’ve seen her.” I took a deep breath and composed myself. “I’ve got so much happening in my life right now, I just…” My words trailed off as I looked at my watch and realized it was almost time for me to go sign the contract.
I grinned at Mollie and saw the compassion in her eyes. She was a great nurse. A great person. “I hate to say this, but I need to go. Stockton picked me up as a driver for their new TV show, Redemption Road. It’s kind of funny. It’s a fucking reality show and I guess they thought I needed redeeming,” I laughed wickedly and continued, “Today, it becomes official. I’m signing a two-year contract with them.”
“Wow…that is the best news ever, Jack! I am so happy for you—I knew you could do it!”
“I don’t know that I deserve anything so good, but I am grateful,” I told her honestly.
“Damn, you’ve changed Jackson Fitzgerald.” She leaned forward and whispered to me across the table. “And everything will change for you—and for the better. I am so happy you got this.”
I leaned toward her and smiled. I reached across the table and took her hand in mine. This was it, the moment I had waited for and wanted for so long. How many times had I dreamed about finding Mollie, of kissing her, making love to her? I thought I might kiss her right then, if she didn’t pull away, but my fucking phone rang just at that moment. If it had been any other day, I’d have ignored it, but what if it was Sylvia looking for me? The magic of the moment was gone and we both leaned back in our chairs. Too late. I regretted answering the phone immediately. I took it out and looked at the screen. It was the hospital. Fuck!
“What? When? Okay, I’m headed there now. Thanks.” I got up from the table and fumbled for my keys.
“What is it, Jack? What’s happened?”
“It’s my mom. I’m sorry, Mollie, but I have to go.”
“Wait!” She grabbed her coffee and purse and followed me out the door. “I’m coming with you.” I didn’t argue with her. There didn’t seem to be much point and I was too frantic to try. Shit! This was so like my mother—I’ve finally got my big break and she wants to screw that up too. I knew that wasn’t what I should be thinking or feeling, but I did. She was a giant screw up and I wondered why she’d even bothered to give birth to me.
We didn’t talk on the way to hospital. I just gripped the steering wheel and stared at the road ahead. If Mollie hadn’t been sitting beside me, I’d have been cussing up a storm by now.
“You know, I dreamed about riding in your new car.” She laughed a little, obviously trying to lighten the mood.
“It’s not new, just fixed. I’ll give you a ride anytime you want one,” I smiled at her.
She ignored my weak attempt at flirting with her, and in a more serious tone she said, “Listen, Jack. I don’t want you to miss your appointment today. Let’s go check on your mom, and if she’s okay, I’ll sit with her while you go sign the papers. What did the doctor say?”
“I appreciate the offer, but let’s see what’s up first. She’s going in and out of consciousness and they don’t know if she’ll make it through the night.” I squeezed her hand to say thank you, but I didn’t want to talk about this anymore right now. I had to see her and make sure she knew I was there for her. No doubt about it, she was a heartless, drunken bitch, but I was all she had and if she were going to die today, I was determined that she wasn’t going to be alone.
We didn’t hit any traffic, so it only took fifteen minutes to get there and I found us a spot in the emergency visitors’ section. Mollie slid her phone into her pocket, but left her purse in my car and we ran upstairs together. I was glad to have her here and maybe she’d stay with me a while—that would piss Dylan off and make me extremely happy. She smiled up at me as we walked through the double doors that led to ICU. I hadn’t noticed before, but Mollie had her hospital tag around her neck and showed it to the security guard who let us through without the normal wait.
“Hi, we’re here to see Nellie Fitzgerald.” Before the on-duty nurse could say anything, I took Mollie’s hand and led her to my mother’s room. She was asleep.
“Why did they call me? She’s fucking sleeping. I gotta—”
“Jack,” Mollie said softly. “She’s not sleeping. Did you sign a DNR?”
“I don’t know. I signed a lot of things. What’s a DNR?”
“Do not resuscitate. Her organs are shutting down. The hospital will keep her alive unless you signed a DNR.”
“Fuck, Molls! I really don’t know.” So Mom was finally going to have her last fuck-up-Jack’s-life hurrah on the day I needed to sign the papers to secure my future. “Fuck!”
“Jack, go sign your contract.” Mollie walked over to the side of the bed and took my mom’s hand in hers. “GO! I’ll sit with her until you get back.
“Molls, I can’t. I can’t ask you to stay here with her. She’s my mother.” I immediately thought about Mollie’s mom, and if this is how she’d been with her when her mom passed away. So loving and caring, even for my bitchy old mother.
The on-duty nurse came in with a file, looked over at Mollie, and then back at me. “Are you her son?”
I slung my hands in my pockets and nodded. “Yeah, I’m her son.”
“Are you okay? I know this is difficult for you, Mr. Fitzgerald, but she doesn’t have much longer. I see we have a DNR on file.”
“You do?” Mollie asked, with a surprised look on her face.
“Yes, ma’am.” She opened the file and handed me a piece of paper. “She signed it herself when she was admitted. The man that brought her said she’d had a seizure. That can happen when someone drinks too much alcohol and doesn’t eat any food for a long time. Poor girl. I’m so sorry.” The nurse shook her head and I handed her back the paper. So, Nellie doesn’t want to be resuscitated. I guessed she knew what she was doing when she signed it and it was probably for the best. She was in a pretty bad state—but still, she was my mother.
I looked over at Mollie. She was holding my mom’s hand and humming a song. I couldn’t believe she was so—so perfect. I walked over to her and when she looked up at me, I could see tears in her eyes. “Molls, you don’t have to stay here. I’ll stay with her.”
“No, Jack. You go sign your contract and I’ll be here when you get back. Promise.” I knew she’d still be here. She couldn’t leave, and not because her purse was still in my car—but simply because she was the beautiful and compassionate, Mollie DuBois. Nevertheless, I didn’t feel right about her staying with my dying mother, while I whooped it up at Stockton’s office.
Mollie took my hand and held it between hers. I squeezed it and said, “I know. She’s looking pretty bad though, isn’t she?”
Mollie glanced over at my mom, then back at me. “Jack, I don’t know what to say to make you feel better, but I really think you should go. Stockton is your future whether your mom passes away or not. I’ll be here.”
I turned when I heard the curtain slide open, and the doctor entered the room. He walked over to Nellie, presumably to examine her. “Hello. How’s Mrs. Fitzgerald today?” He had her medical records in his hand and looked over at me. “You’re her son, right?”
“Yes, Doctor. I am.
” I hated that she had the same last name as mine. I was better than that—better than a drunken old bitch who hated her kid.
“Let’s step outside in the hall.” He walked back toward the curtain, and I gestured to Mollie to follow us.
The doctor asked Mollie, abruptly, “Are you family, Miss?”
I looked at her, then back at him and answered for her since she opened her mouth and was about to speak. “Yes—yes she is,” I lied. I needed Mollie right there next to me. He closed the door and let out a long sigh. The doctor glanced down the hall and then back at me. “There’s no easy way to say this, but her liver is only working at about 15 percent of what it should be. Her kidney’s, even less. I’m sorry, Mr. Fitzgerald, but there’s nothing more we can do for her and your mother will need to go to a hospice center—or you can take her home and have hospice care for her the—”
“—I’ll do it,” Mollie interrupted. “I’ll take care of her.”
“Mollie, no. I got this.” Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I had no idea what I was going to do with Nellie. I tried not to look at my watch, but I couldn’t help myself. Sure, I could call, and I’m sure they’d be very understanding considering my situation, but I really didn’t want to miss the meeting at Stockton. I did not want to fuck that up. “How long does she have, Doctor? I mean—until I have to take her home.”
“I’ll order her to stay until Monday and then you and I can talk again. It’s the weekend and we understand that you have to make arrangements at a facility, so we’ll keep her as comfortable as we can until then. I’m sorry, Mr. Fitzgerald. She may have a few weeks, or just a few days. It’s hard to tell.”
“Thank you, Doctor. I really appreciate it.” He jotted something down on his clipboard, nodded his head and left. “Fuck, Molls. What am I going to do now?”
She wrapped her arm around mine and said, “You’re going to get in your car, drive over to wherever you’re going, sign your contract, and get your butt back here as fast as you can. We’ll figure it out.”
She put her arm around my shoulder and pulled me next to her. “It’s getting late. Go to the meeting and take care of your business. I don’t have anything else I’d rather do today.”
“Are you sure? You don’t have to do this, Mollie. I can probably postpone it.” I felt bad about leaving Mollie here with Nellie.
“Yes, I’m sure. Go on and sign that contract—and don’t forget to take pictures! I want selfies!” She smiled that beautiful, dimpled smile at me and my heart melted right there in my chest.
“All right,” I hugged her one more time. “I’ll be right back. Okay?”
“Okay!” she laughed. “You have to go. I’ll come down with you.” Together we walked out into the bright sunshine and fresh air. I hated the smell of hospitals, but Mollie’s sweet scent filled the air as we walked and it was heavenly—like vanilla, a sexy vanilla. When we got to my car, I turned to thank her again, and before I knew it, she threw her arms around my neck and pressed against me—her warm, sweet lips on mine. I’d dreamed of this moment so many times since I’d last seen her, and now, here we were. Mollie still wanted me. My hands went to her face and I crushed my lips against hers. I felt my dick harden in my pants, and there was no way I could hide my overwhelming desire for her. If I didn’t have Stockton or my mom to worry about, I’d have pulled her into the car and driven her somewhere, anywhere. I wanted to kiss every inch of her body—her lips, her neck, her breasts, her thighs, right down to her little princess toes—I wanted all of her.
When we pulled apart, she looked at me as intensely as I must have been looking at her. Her eyes flashed with desire and her hands were in mine. “Be safe. I’ll see you soon.”
“I will. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I know. Break a leg—or not!” she laughed, as she walked back into the hospital. I stood there for a moment, just watching her move until the doors closed behind her. I got into my car and let out a loud whoop! Mollie DuBois was back in my arms again and this time, I’d never let her go.
Chapter Five — Mollie
I sat next to the bed and held Nellie’s hand. She felt so cold. I gently rubbed her hands between mine to try and warm her up. The room seemed so stark, so clinical. Like death waiting to happen. I’d never felt this way inside a hospital room and I’d been in hundreds. Most rooms had hope. This one didn’t. It had lights and oxygen tanks, but no life. The steady beeps coming from the monitor almost lulled me to sleep, but I knew I couldn’t doze off. Jack would be back soon and I’d promised him I’d take care of Nellie.
As I sat there, I thought about everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours. Chinese food with Dylan—that was a complete failure. He was a great guy, just not the guy that made my heart palpitate. The man that melted my heart was the one I’d seen at Starbucks a few hours earlier. The man whose mom lay dying in the bed next to me. My life seemed so ironic. One minute I didn’t even know where Jack was and I thought he’d given up on me, and the next we’re together again, as if nothing had ever changed. No matter what had happened in the past, I was here for him now. He needed me, and I was glad I could help. He had to go sign that contract—it was his future.
I must’ve been in a daze as the notification from my phone startled me. I pulled it out of my pocket, thinking it might be Jack, but it was Natalie.
Well? What happened? Did you hook up? Finally?
No, I’m at the hospital
What? What the hell happened?
I wore my fingers out telling her the story then she sent me back a sad face and I sent her a happy face.
I got to see Jack!
Okay, call me when you’re on your way
I thought about Jack’s good news—he’d be racing for Stockton soon. He’d be on TV, and with his good looks and driving skills, he’d have no problem finding company of the female persuasion. That is, if he wanted company like that.
In between lullabies and hand washing sessions, I thought about what a future with Jack might be like. Before his much-deserved success, he was broken and I wanted to help him, but now, it didn’t seem like he needed me so much. Life had probably been a struggle for him, since he hadn’t had the benefit of all the privileges that I had. I didn’t even know if he’d finished high school or had any trade school training. However, he did know cars, and he knew them very well. He’d said that he wanted to be with me, but I didn’t know what that meant. For a day? For a week? I knew he didn’t have girlfriends around for very long and I didn’t even know if he had a girlfriend now. I’d like to believe he didn’t. I didn’t want to be another conquest, another notch on his dashboard, and now that he knew about Dylan, well, there was that, too.
Truthfully, how could I ever know what either of them really wanted from me? They hated each other, and now they had another reason to compete—me. I shook my head. I felt like a piece of red meat tossed straight into a dogfight.
If I chose Jack, Dad and I would never reconcile. He despised him and there was nothing that was going to change his mind. Life with Jack was bound to include heartache with Jack’s not-so-pristine history, and now a fast-paced racing career.
Dylan. He’d been waiting so patiently for me to fall into his arms and I realized now, that I never could. I knew he thought that I’d wanted Jack and honestly, sometimes I thought I did, but I wasn’t sure. If I chose Dylan, life would be very different from what I’d have with Jack. Dylan was a career man, a natural athlete who loved having fun and treated me like a queen. He had a respectable reputation, despite his dabbling in illegal racing. People liked Dylan right away—even Natalie couldn’t understand why I hadn’t “shagged that handsome hottie.” How many times had Dylan insisted on picking me up from the hospital to drive me home? How many times had he surprised me with lunch and dinner? All of those small things, thoughtful acts of kindness, had won my heart—to a degree—but then there was Jack. Always, there was Jack. The guy who stole my heart.
Now here I was. It wasn’t Dyla
n’s mom I was taking care of, but Nellie Fitzgerald. A woman who’d just as soon slap me as look at me. I looked over at her gaunt face and noticed her eyes and lips looked dry. I found a clean washcloth in the bathroom and dampened it with warm water. Even though she couldn’t talk, I told her, “Now, this may be a little warm.” I also patted her mouth and chin clean. Her fingers moved a little, so I held her hand again. They say people know when someone is with them, and if she were on her way out, I wanted her to know she wasn’t alone. I deposited the cloth in the bathroom and washed my hands.
When I sat back down, I started singing lullabies to her again, in case she could hear me, when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out, and my heart dropped. It was Dylan. What was I going to say to him? Sorry, can’t talk. I’m at the hospital with Jack’s mom. Then I thought, what if Natalie had told him? She’s definitely been on Team Dylan the whole time. No way. My friend would never do that. I hit the ignore button and promised myself that I’d call him back as soon as I could.
Suddenly, I heard Nellie take a deep breath, then another. Her breathing was labored, like she was fighting for air. Then it stopped. I jumped up and she started breathing again. Thank God. I really wanted her to wait for Jack. It wasn’t like she had a choice, but he’d probably want to be here. I held her hand in mine and prayed. I didn’t know what religion she was, or even if she had a religion, but I prayed anyway. She struggled to breathe, and the machine she was connected to beeped furiously, then a long dead silence followed. It took me a second to realize what was happening. “Awww shit!”
I scrambled to the door as fast as I could, “Carla!” I yelled. “She’s flat lined!” I rushed back to Nellie, as Carla hurried into the room. I reached for Nellie’s hand and held it, but Nellie was gone. She had passed away in the short time Jack was away at the signing.
Carla called the time. “I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m really sorry, Mollie. I’ll page the doctor.”
Fueled Obsession 4 Page 3
