“No. She’s, um, in the hospital.”
“Hospital? Why?” I asked, feeling myself about to panic, just as Truce came and stood next to me with Scottlyn in his arms.
“She caught pneumonia a few weeks ago and has been in there since then. I was just stopping by the house to get her more clothes. I can take you to her.”
“Can you please?”
“Of course. Follow me.”
Truce and I got back inside his truck and followed Alex to the hospital.
“I hope she’ll be okay,” I voiced, rubbing my hands down my thighs to settle my racing nerves.
“I’m sure she will be.”
“And she got married. I’ve only been gone a year, and already she’s married? She wasn’t even dating when I was here.”
“Maybe she was keeping him a secret.”
“We never keep secrets from each other. She would have told me. And she used to be a whole doctor. How the heck did she catch pneumonia?”
Truce chuckled lightly. “Doctors get sick sometimes, too, love. Don’t stress yourself.”
I sighed and nodded, remaining quiet the rest of the ride to the hospital. We pulled into the hospital’s valet ten minutes later, and Truce put the car in park, getting comfortable in the driver’s seat.
“I’ll wait out here for you.”
“Would it be too much to ask… if you could come in with me?”
“It wouldn’t. I just thought you’d want a private moment with your moms.”
I shrugged. “I like having you around.”
Because you give me peace and comfort, I wanted to add, but felt I’d be overstepping my boundaries if I did.
“I like being around…”
We stared at each other for a long moment before we were interrupted by a tap on his window. It was the valet ready to take care of his truck. We got out of the truck and followed the Alex guy inside the hospital. We took the elevator up to the fourth floor and walked down a few halls before approaching my mother’s room. He opened the door, and the first person I saw was my sister sitting beside her bed, watching television.
“Draya, someone is here to see you,” Alex called into the room before we walked inside the standard-size room.
Both Jas and my mom looked over at me, and Jas jumped up from her seat, racing over to me. “Jelly Bean!”
I opened my arms and received her as we both cried audibly. We held each other so tight and for so long that hearing my mom’s voice reminded us that she was there also. I approachedher bed and took her hand as tears flowed down both of our cheeks.
“My Jelly Bean.” She smiled, and I fell into her bosom.
“Mommy!” I cried.
She wrapped her arms around me while kissing my forehead and rubbing my hair. This moment seemed so surreal. I felt like I was in a dream I never wanted to wake up from.
“Baby, I’m so happy to see you. Why haven’t you called me?” she asked, holding my face in her palms.
“You would never imagine what I’ve been through, Mommy. I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you and Jas. I’m so, so sorry!”
“It’s okay, my love. You’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”
“How are you, Mommy?” I asked, concerned.
