by J. L. Paul
She nodded. “I remember reading stories about him.”
I sat back, closing my eyes. “He was always so strong, but his dad died unexpectedly. They were so close. His dad was a wonderful man.”
I teared up thinking about James Johnson and how he’d always been there for me even though I wasn’t his kid.
“Jake took it bad, huh?” Jenny asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “He loved and respected his father over anything. At first, we thought he’d be okay. He had to look out for Greta, his sister. But then, he changed. Nick finally figured out what it was. We confronted Jake but he denied it. Finally, he pushed me away.”
Jenny was silent for a second as she took a sip of her drink. “You still love him.”
I turned my moist eyes in her direction. “I don’t want to, but I do. I’m engaged to Brad.”
“But you’re not married,” she said, taking my hand in hers. “You can break off the engagement.”
I shook my head. “No, I can’t. You don’t understand.”
“Well then make me,” she said as my cell phone rang.
Freeing my hand, I got up to retrieve my phone. I frowned as Greta’s number appeared on the screen. “Hello?”
“Iz, I’m so glad I got you,” she said, breathless. “You have to come to the hospital.”
My heart fell. “What’s wrong? Is Jake okay?”
“Jake is fine,” Greta said. “But Carly went into early labor. They’re trying to stop it but they can’t. Ronnie is a mess. He’s scared for Carly and the baby.”
My knees shook as I stood there, wondering what to do. It didn’t take long to decide. “What hospital?”
Once she told me, I ended the call and turned to Jenny.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Ronnie’s baby is coming and it’s too early,” I said, gathering my purse. “I have to go.”
“Okay,” she said as she followed me to the door. “I’ll make excuses for you. Just go and call me when you can.”
Thanking her, I bolted to my car, praying for Ronnie, Carly, and that sweet, innocent baby.
***
Driving like a mad woman, all I could think about was Carly in pain, worried about her baby. And Ronnie. Ronnie, the comic relief of the group, pacing, scared.
When I reached the hospital, I was surprised to see a handful of reporters lingering in front of the main doors. Controlled Environment was hot right now, but it wasn’t as if Ronnie was royalty and his heir to the throne about to be born. What did they care?
Deciding the reporters didn’t matter; I put my head down and weaved through them. I rode the elevator to the maternity floor, hoping that by the time I located Greta, everything would be okay.
I found the waiting room easily enough. It was a decent-sized room but appeared smaller with all the people gathered inside, draped over the furniture. Matt and Greta sat next to each other on a small sofa, holding hands. Nick sat next to a dark-haired woman who resembled Ronnie so much that she had to be his mother. And Jake stood by a tall window, gazing out at the parking lot.
Greta spotted me first and crossed the room to hug me. “Iz! I’m so glad you came.”
At the mention of my name, Jake turned to give me a weak smile.
“Any word?” I asked.
Greta shook her head. “Ronnie is in the room with Carly. The doctor is trying to stop the contractions but they haven’t had much luck.”
I nodded, helplessness washing over me. I dropped to a chair on the other side of Nick and sat, waiting with the rest of them. No one spoke much, just a word or two here and there, mostly about the time and what the weather was like. It was horrible.
Finally, Jake nudged my arm and asked me to take a walk with him. Reluctantly, I rose and followed him out of the room and down the hall.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
He punched the elevator button and grinned. “Earlier, Nick and I found a courtyard where the employees take breaks,” he said as we got into the elevator. “I just want to have a smoke.”
I pursed my lips, not saying a word.
“I know,” he sighed as the doors opened and he led me to a set of glass doors. Pushing them open, he waited for me to go ahead of him and then shoved a rolled up magazine between them to keep them from closing all the way. “I know. I did quit. I just smoke once in awhile to ease the nerves.”
I didn’t nag – I’d rather he smoke than the other thing - and pointed at the doors. “Do they lock or something? Because that’s weird.”
“I’m not sure,” he answered as he sat on the top of a picnic table and lit a cigarette. “There’s a panel to swipe an ID card so I don’t know if you have to have an ID to get back in or what. Why take the chance?”
“I suppose,” I said as I sat next to him.
“This is the perfect spot to have a smoke and hide from the press.”
“Why are they here?” I asked.
“Someone must have tipped them off,” he shrugged. “Probably a hospital employee who’ll get some cash for letting the press know.”
“That’s disgusting,” I said. “Profiting off someone’s hard times.”
“You know firsthand what they’re like,” he reminded me.
I nodded. “Yeah, but that was different. That didn’t involve the health of a tiny baby.”
“The band is really hot right now,” Jake said. “People want to know everything. When word got out that Carly was pregnant, the press hounded Ronnie at every appearance. Carly was living by herself in an apartment downtown and somehow, the tabloids found out where. So, Ronnie moved her into his house.”
“Where is Carly’s family?” I asked.
“Her parents died years ago,” he said. “She raised her little brother, Jeremy, by herself. He’s in New York now. He attends NYU.”
“Does he know what’s going on?”
Jake nodded. “Ronnie called him but told him not to fly out just yet. Jeremy was ready to drop everything and come.”
“What about Ronnie’s brothers?”
“Mrs. Stone told them to stay home,” Jake said. “Ronnie’s youngest brother is twelve. It would probably be too much for him to sit here this long.”
My phone, which I’d set to Silent, vibrated in my pocket. Taking it out, I glanced at the text and frowned.
“Mr. Wonderful not too happy that you’re here, hanging out with the low-life, drug addicts?” Jake asked.
I shot him a dark look. “No, he didn’t know where I was. I left without telling him where I was going. He was worried.”
“Sure, Iz,” he said as he snubbed out his cigarette and put it in a trash can. “I can’t believe this is happening. Carly has been meticulous about eating right and taking care of herself and the baby.”
“This is the best hospital in the area,” I said. “They’ll get her all sorted out.”
“I know,” Jake said reaching for my hand. “Ronnie shocked Carly when she told him she was pregnant. I guess she wasn’t expecting much – you know how Ronnie comes off, joking all the time. But he told her he’d take care of everything. He asked her to marry him on the spot – and not just because of the baby. He really loves her. Almost as much as I love you.”
“Jake…”
“There you guys are,” Nick said as he opened the door. “Ronnie just came in the waiting room. He said they can’t stop the contractions. They’re going to just let her have the baby.”
Eight
The waiting was horrible. Sitting around, in that little room with the gaily painted walls was awful. Nick remained beside Ms. Stone while Matt and Greta spoke quietly. Jake rifled through the magazines and when finding nothing that interested him, paced. I slumped in my chair, my eyes growing heavier with the hour, praying that things would turn out okay.
I hadn’t realized that I’d dozed off until Jake was shaking me gently, whispering my name.
“What is it?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”
“The baby is her
e,” he said, smiling as Ronnie embraced his mother.
“Is he okay?” I asked, looking at the tired, smiling faces around me.
“Iz,” Ronnie said as he swept me into his arms. “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course,” I said. “How are the baby and Carly? Is everything okay?”
He shrugged. “Carly is fine. She’s resting. The doctor said the baby will probably have to spend a few days in the NICU but he should be fine.”
Relief showered me as I, too smiled. “Congratulations, Dad!”
His grin widened as he hugged me again. “Dad. Wow. Can you believe it?”
“You’ll be a fantastic father, Ronnie,” I said.
“I hope so,” he said as his brow furrowed. “He’s just a little dude, though. Only five pounds.”
“He’ll grow fast,” I assured him.
“I’m going to take my mom to see Carly and the baby,” he said. “Are you sticking around?”
“No,” I said as lead settled in my heart. “I need to get home. But I expect to see pictures.”
“I’ll send so many of them that you’ll get irritated,” he said, a dazed, but happy expression on his face. He pecked my cheek. “Thanks for coming.”
“You bet,” I said. “Now take your mother to see her grandbaby.”
He gave me one last squeeze before taking his mother by the hand and leading her out of the room.
“You leaving, Iz?” Jake asked.
“Yeah, I need to get home,” I said, glancing at my cell phone. I had several text messages and two missed calls. “It’s really late.”
“You don’t have to drive all the way back,” Jake said. “I’ll get you a room or something.”
“I’m fine, really,” I said. I didn’t want to give Brad any more ammunition. I said my goodbyes and let Jake walk me to the elevators.
“I’m really sorry about what happened at my house Memorial weekend,” he said while we waited for the doors to open.
“You don’t have to apologize,” I said. “I probably overreacted. Again.”
“No, honestly,” he said, touching my shoulder. “I put you in a bad spot and I shouldn’t have.”
I just wanted to forget the whole thing and I especially didn’t want to talk about it in a hospital with ears all around.
“Let’s just put it behind us, okay?” I asked.
“Sure,” he said as the doors opened. He stepped inside with me. “I’ll walk you out. It is late.”
I didn’t object because it wouldn’t do any good. Besides, I wanted to stretch out the time I had left with him.
Once we stepped into the lobby, I could see that the reporters outside the doors had multiplied. I stopped Jake by the empty reception desk.
“You don’t need to go out there,” I said, pointing at the horde waiting outside. “I’m parked close and I can get through the reporters no problem. They don’t scare me anymore.”
He cracked a tiny smile. “Okay. But, try to keep in touch, okay?”
“I’ll try,” I said. Waving, I walked away, bracing myself for the onslaught. I could only hope that they hadn’t seen Jake and wouldn’t recognize me. It had been years since I’d been the focus of their cameras and notebooks.
Once outside, a few reporters gave me curious glances. My hopes rose until a young, ambitious man stepped forward.
“Are you a friend of Ronnie Stone?” he asked. “Has the baby been born?”
Ducking, I continued to walk, a little faster, making my way through the crowd.
“Was that Jake Johnson in the lobby?”
“Did you see the baby?”
“Aren’t you Isabella Ames?”
I faltered, glancing up quickly to see the vapid, cheesing face of Candy Something-or-other, a reporter for the Star Gazer, Annie’s formerly favorite tabloid.
Without a word, I hurried to my car and got in, praying that no one had taken any photos.
***
As I drove, I couldn’t stop the memories from playing in my mind, making me wish that I’d done something different back then – something to stop Jake from his downward spiral. Maybe we’d still be together.
“Jake, are you okay?” I asked as Ronnie and Nick followed him into the house.
“Fine, angel, don’t worry,” he said as he brushed past me to the kitchen.
Nick and Ronnie stopped before me, weary and worried.
“Jake’s attorney thinks he can make this arrest disappear,” Nick said, scrubbing his face. “But I’m not so sure. This is the second time, Iz.”
“I know,” I said, casting a worried glance at the kitchen.
Jake sauntered into the room, beer bottle in hand, and fell to the sofa.
“Jake, why won’t you listen to us,” I pleaded. “Please.”
“Nothing to listen to,” he said as he grabbed the remote off the coffee table.
“We just want to help,” I said.
“You know what, Iz, you can help,” he said. “You can help by backing off, okay? I don’t have a drug or alcohol problem. I have a nagging girlfriend problem.”
I flinched but held my ground. “That’s what you think, is it?”
Nick moved closer to me while Ronnie stood beside Jake.
“Yes, it is,” he said as his eyes avoided my face. “You know you need to do? You need to pack up and leave. You need to go to school.”
“You want me to leave?” I asked in a pathetic voice, my heart twisting violently in my chest.
He ran a hand through his hair. He looked so old, yet he was only twenty-one. His voice was soft when he replied. “Yeah, Iz, I do. I want you to leave. I want you out of here tomorrow.”
Without waiting for a reply, he snatched his beer and disappeared into the kitchen. A moment later we heard the basement door slam. Nick placed an arm around my shoulders while Ronnie tried to smile, sympathy in his eyes.
“I’ll take you home tomorrow morning,” Nick said. “We both will.”
Not knowing what else to do, I agreed.
I got home, tired and relieved. All I wanted was a cup of tea and a long sleep. As I inserted the key into the door, I discovered that it wasn’t locked. My heart fell to my feet. I was more than positive that I’d locked up before I left. It could only mean one thing.
“Where the hell have you been?”
I stepped inside and shut the door, dropping my purse and keys on the little foyer table.
“My friend had her baby and I went to see her,” I said as I brushed past him on my way to the kitchen. But he was too fast. He snagged my arm and jerked me around to face him.
“You went to see some crack-addicted baby?” he asked, his face an expression of anger.
“The baby is not an addict and neither are my friends,” I protested as my heart pounded.
“Not anymore,” he said. “You are finished with them. No wife of mine will be associated with people like that.”
“People like that?” I asked. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I checked up on them,” he said. “Did you know that your friend, Jake Johnson was arrested numerous times on drunk driving and drug charges? But he got off every time.”
“He must have had a good attorney,” I said.
He shoved me into the wall, banging my head. “He wrecked his car in a drunken stupor and walked away with a broken leg and minor injuries.”
“Good, I’m glad he wasn’t seriously hurt,” I said. Not too smart when the man was leering in my face, anger dripping from every pore.
“You are done with those people,” he said. “Do you hear me? You are done.”
He released me and I slid to the floor. Quickly gathering strength, I rose to my feet, not wanting him to see me as weak.
“You can’t stop me,” I said in a calm voice. “They are my friends.”
“Not anymore,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m leaving Monday for the West Coast trip. I expect you to keep your nose clean. I’ll have people watching you and chec
king on you.”
“I’m not a child, Brad,” I said.
“The stop acting like one,” he said as he strode to the door. “Go to bed. It’s late. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I waited exactly two seconds after his departure to lock the door and throw the deadbolt. Sighing, I leaned against the door, hoping that I would have the strength to stay away from Jake for the two weeks that Brad would be gone.
***
Jenny dropped by unexpectedly Saturday morning, eager for news about the baby. I ushered her into the living room and poured us each a glass of sweet tea.
“Greta sent me a text this morning that the baby is doing extremely well,” I said. “It seems as if they’d estimated her due date wrong. I mean, going by the due date that she was given initially, the baby would be four weeks early, but Greta said the doctors think he’s only about two weeks early. His lungs are strong and he’s eating.”
“That’s wonderful,” Jenny said. “Did you get a chance to talk to Jake?”
“Not really,” I said. “We were all too worried about Carly and the baby.”
She nodded, taking a drink from her glass. “And how often does Brad leave bruises on your arm?”
Startled, I glanced at my left arm and sure enough, there was some bruising from where he’d grabbed me. Covering it with my right hand, I shrugged. “We argued last night and he grabbed my arm when I tried to walk away. It’s nothing.”
“I don’t think so, Bella,” Jenny said. “When I went home last night, Brad questioned me about where you were. I finally told him that a friend of yours was in labor and wanted you to be there. He tried to play it off but I could tell he was angry.”
I shrugged again.
“I’m sorry,” she continued. “I should have lied or made something up.”
“No, don’t apologize,” I said. “I don’t want you to lie for me. I intended on telling him where I was anyway.”
“Has he ever hit you?” she asked.
“No,” I said. “He’s never hit me.”
She stared into my face, looking for lies in my eyes. “Don’t make excuses for him, Bella. If he’s hurting you, then you need to leave.”
“I promise you that he’s not hitting me or hurting me,” I said. “I would leave if he did.”
