~ Cherish ~
by Ambrosia
Disclaimers can be found in Chapter One.
Feedback: You wanna send me some? Ah gee, thanks! Please send your comments to SumrBrezze@aol.com.
CHAPTER NINE
January of 1993
Tonight wasn't just an ordinary concert. Tonight's concert would surely secure them a recording deal if the high profile producer seated in the front row were impressed with their band and music. Unsurprisingly, the members of Beat Brigade were so nervous that their palms were clammy as they waited to be called to the stage. Another band was giving their performance and though the five people within the dressing room could listen to them through the speakers piped into the room, they chose to keep the volume low enough that they could barely hear. They wanted to concentrate on their performance and what they intended to sing. In their heads they went over the lyrics, including Lucky who would be seated along with the audience.
His back pressed to the wall as he sat on the floor thumping at his knees with a pair of his luckiest drumsticks, J.T.'s thoughts drifted from lyrics to the small vial tucked inside his jeans. Earlier in the day he purchased three vials, but control wasn't on his side because two of those were already gone. The drummer told himself that he would wait to use the remaining vial until after the concert, yet that tiny voice in his head wanted it emptied immediately. He tried to ignore it, but the seemingly insatiable voice wouldn't be silenced.
J.T.'s sudden tight grasp on the drumsticks caused his palms to ache. It couldn't wait. He needed the fix. Convincing himself that the contents of the little vial would help him on stage, he told his friends that he would be right out as he headed toward the restroom. Seated on the toilet he pulled the precious glass container from his jeans and took a moment to study the white powdery stimulant inside. His last high wore off over an hour ago. This would help him. This would quell his nerves.
J.T. could just imagine his confident fingers dancing along the wooden sticks as he beat the drums under those colored lights accompanying Pirate on his keyboard, Diego strumming his guitar and Jaden's enchanting vocals. The crowd would go crazy. He grinned, pulling the rubber cap out with a faint pop. The girls would go crazy. Had to love those girls.
Finding a pack of matches in his back pocket, J.T. used the edge to make three even lines of cocaine on the sink. He was rolling up a twenty-dollar bill when the band manager knocked on the door. It was time for them to go.
"'Kay," J.T. replied in a loud voice, which carried through the locked door. "I'll be right out Lucky. About to wash my hands." To sound convincing, the drummer flushed the toilet and then turned on the faucet. The tip of the bill in his nostril, J.T. hurriedly sniffed each line. Since a few crystals were left over, he touched his index finger to the running water and then ran it over the sink collecting those crystals. By the time he finished distributing the leftovers behind his bottom lip his heart was racing.
Wanting to brush it off as nothing, he switched off the faucet and opened the door. Walking into the empty room he winced, clutching his chest because of the quickly escalating pressure. It felt like an elephant was using his torso as a chair. Stumbling against the wall, J.T. fought to catch his breath but it was nowhere as easy as it had been five minutes ago. He wanted to call out for help but he wasn't capable of speaking. He had dropped to his knees when Lucky reentered the dressing room to collect him.
"J.T. what the hell is taking--J.T.?" Yelling for someone to call an ambulance, she ran to him. She eased him into a sitting position and stroked his back, although she figured that it wouldn't stop the pain. "Josh an ambulance will be here in just a couple of minutes. Hold on. It'll be okay." Lucky spoke in a sweet voice, which the drummer had no idea was possible for his longtime manager and sometimes friend. So worry could bring out the sweetness in her.
His eyes meeting hers, J.T.'s lips curved slightly as though he were trying to smile. A second later his eyes closed, his body going limp. Lucky had called his name several times when the rest of the band along with curious strangers arrived at the room. She resorted to CPR, but it was no use. When the ambulance came, they ended up checking for vital signs that were non-existent.
##########
His mother out of the picture since he was a teenager and his father barely bringing in enough income to support himself, the costs stemming from J.T's funeral were paid by Lucky and Pirate. Close to two hundred people attended the funeral and most of those were fans wanting to pay their final respects. J.T. had received so many flowers and kind words from his female fans that most likely he was beaming in the after life. When Lucky brought that up during the service when she stood behind the podium to talk about the drummer she was able to rouse a few soft chuckles.
The gathering following the funeral was private, so around thirty people including J.T.'s father and older brother were invited to Pirate and his wife Shelia's home. Somehow the five months pregnant woman had cooked enough food to fill the bellies of an entire army of soldiers, so while people conversed in small groups they heartily ate.
Needing fresh air and a smoke, Lucky walked into the kitchen and out the door leading to the back porch where she found Diego seated on the top step sipping a brandy. Pulling a Lucky Strike from the silver case in her slacks, she lit the tip and dropped into the space next to the quiet musician. Though they acknowledged one another with a slight tipping of their heads, they said nothing right away.
Lucky was almost done with her cigarette and Diego had emptied his glass when she chose to speak. "Can't believe he's gone. Twenty-eight years old and had a fucking heart attack." Taking a deep comforting inhale of nicotine, she shook her head in disbelief. When Diego offered nothing she continued, "He pissed me off a lot but I did love him. Never told him that." Chin resting against her chest, Lucky remorsefully stared at her shoes.
"He knows now," Diego replied in his usual mellow tone. When he noticed a tear escaping her eye, he turned his head away. He allowed a minute to pass before asking, "How's Jae taking it?"
Lucky quickly wiped at her cheek, unaware that she had already been caught. "She hasn't said much. Cried though. Especially at his graveside." She glanced toward the screen door as though expecting her girlfriend to be there. "I should go look for her. Haven't seen her in a while." Diego nodded with a quiet 'okay'. Crushing the butt below her shoe, Lucky picked it up to drop in the trash. Her hand on the screen's handle, she called the guitarist's name.
"Yeah?" Diego turned around so that he could look at her.
"I love you. And if you tell anyone that I said that, I'll deny it and then beat you to within an inch of your life." She sounded serious but he hoped that she was kidding. At least about the beating within an inch part.
Displaying a rare grin, Diego nodded. "Cool and right back at you boss."
Searching the first floor of the modest two-story home, Lucky was unable to find her partner, but she did find a sleeping three year old curled into a little ball on the couch. Carefully picking up Pirate's daughter, she let Sheila know that she was taking her upstairs. Anna's bedroom having her name painted on the door with a pink heart surrounding it, Lucky walked inside with the sleeping child in her arms. Once she had her tucked in bed, she made sure that the baby intercom was on and then tiptoed out of the bedroom to resume her search for Jaden.
Muffled sniffling led her to the main bathroom on the second floor. She tried knocking and saying 'hello' first, but when the person on the other side didn't respond, Lucky opened the fortunately unlocked door. The unexpected scene before her turned her stomach into a jumbled mess and for a moment the Italian woman looked as if she were about to be sick.
"Oh, Jaden," she whispered, kneeling on the cold tile beside her girlfriend. She used a clean handkerchief that she had thought to bring to gently wipe at the tears streaming down Jaden's face. Shadowed blue eyes were downcast and the younger woman obviously had nothing to say. The only sound produced by her was the sniffling and uneven breathing. Lucky inwardly questioned if Jaden knew that she had entered the bathroom because she didn't appear fully cognizant.
Jaden's skirt and the waistband of her underwear had been pushed down so that her groin was exposed. Her eyes watering due to reasons besides J.T.'s passing, Lucky carefully removed the needle still imbedded in Jaden's groin. Capping the emptied syringe, she put it in her pocket for adequate disposal later before readjusting the other woman's clothing.
Reaching out to caress Jaden's cheek, she shook her head as her watery eyes leaked. "What the hell have I done to you Jae?"
##########
Because Jaden had yet to purchase a couch for her new studio apartment, Vanessa sat on the inflatable bed with her dearest friends flanking her sides. Thanks to Jaden she had fresh tissues, one of which she used to dab at her face. Perhaps some day in the far, far future she would think otherwise, but now this felt like one of the worst days of her life. Though futile to, she hoped that she could wake up to discover none of this was true. Yet at the same time Vanessa wanted this to be a dream, her thoughts were intertwined with guilt.
The first day it happened, she blamed her nausea on bad Indian food. The second day she held on to this, although when she called Craig to ask how he was, he hadn't become ill. Although the third day was better than the previous two, she wasn't able to get through it without vomiting. By the fourth she had grown suspicious wondering if she could be what she wasn't ready to be. Though she was technically late, that wasn't necessarily a cause for concern because Vanessa's periods were often erratic. So she waited until the following day to make an appointment and this morning her suspicions were confirmed by a doctor.
She was pregnant and when the doctor used his computer to perform the calculations, Vanessa discovered that her baby was approximately due June 4th of 2004. She drove to Craig's workplace to share the news with him in a fog. By the time she left there the fog had thickened as she traveled to Jaden's apartment where she hoped to find Georgie because she was in dire need of her best friend's shoulder. Replaying that visit in her mind, she wondered why it had taken her so long to figure out that her boyfriend was a…
"Son of a bitch," Georgie murmured, her thoughts also on Craig. She wasn't the only person in the room who wanted to choke the life out of him. What kind of bastard would give his pregnant girlfriend an ultimatum?
When she was able to clearly speak, Vanessa informed them of Craig's two options. The first involved her getting an abortion because at thirty years of age he didn't feel responsible and ready enough to be someone's father. The best thing to do is to get rid of it--Craig's words verbatim. If Vanessa chose not to abort the baby, whether she opted to give it up for adoption or keep it, she could lose his number. Meaning he wanted zero involvement. More of Craig's words verbatim--When you fill out the birth certificate, don't bother putting my name in the space where it reads father.
Jaden and Georgie derived a small amount of satisfaction from Vanessa claiming that she slapped him hard across the face and walked away for an answer. The moment her doctor confirmed her pregnancy, Vanessa knew that she would keep her baby. Even if her own life were in danger she would never concede to having an abortion and she couldn't stand the thought of someone else raising her child when she was capable of doing so. She was terrified of abruptly becoming someone's mother, but she had roughly seven months to prepare for it. This was her baby. If Craig refused to help, then fine. She didn't need the…
"Asshole." Blue eyes glazed over with an iciness that neither Georgie or Vanessa had witnessed before, the musician slipped her arm around Vanessa's waist. "You want me to kick his ass? Just tell me where he lives." Despite her irate expression she was jesting--or so Georgie and Van guessed. Each was about 80% sure.
Vanessa chuckled for the first time that day. "Dude no. We don't want THE Jaden Connelly landing herself a scandal! Your reputation is immaculate so let's keep it that way." She squeezed the other woman's knee. "But thank you for asking."
"You mean more to me than the public's estimation of me. Screw the scandal. I'll gladly kick his ass."
"Jaden! Where did this potty mouth come from?" Since her hand remained attached to the brunette's knee, Vanessa lightly slapped it as she attempted a scolding look. "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" She glanced toward her best buddy. "Georgie please go retrieve me a bar of soap so I can wash your girlfriend's mouth out."
Unwilling to be the only party lectured about swearing, Jaden pointed at Georgie. "Did you not hear her say the 'b' word five seconds ago?"
The blonde's simulated innocent gaze could make Bambi the Disney doe appear immoral. "Jae I said no such thing. Would you like me to buy you a hearing aid for Christmas?" A soft pillow smacked her in the face. "Not only is she a potty mouth, she's violent too Van. Soap won't cure that. Anything you could do for it?"
Jaden looked curious and a bit frightened as the two younger women began to whisper into each other's ear. Although she slid closer, she was unable to hear their hushed conversation. Sharing a look with her observing puppy, Jaden was caught off guard when a couple of petite bodies tackled her. Her back connected with the inflatable bed while wiggling digits found her most ticklish regions. Apparently, Georgie and Van thought that tickling her was the apt cure.
Because her mommy was thrashing around and laughing uproariously, Sasha stood up, stretched and then raced to the bed to join in on the three humans fun. Because her paws weren't suitable for tickling, she chose to give her mommy's face a tongue bathing.
Once Jaden cried mercy the tickle attack ceased. The heavily breathing trio lay on the bed with Jaden now occupying the middle. Tuckered out from the playing, Sasha retreated to her canine bed for a nap. Rolling to her side, Georgie reached across the musician and patted Vanessa's flat tummy.
"You might fuss at me a lot 'cause I intend to spoil this little one rotten. As his or her auntie I consider it my prerogative."
Jaden raised her hand as she smiled. "That makes two of us. I'm abundantly experienced at spoiling children--just ask my sister's brood and my sister who does fuss. So I'm willing to train Georgie."
Tears filling her eyes Vanessa hugged them simultaneously, wrapping an arm around each woman. "I love you guys," she uttered in a voice thick with emotion.
"We love you too," Georgie answered for herself and Jaden. "And I know you're afraid Van, but this will work out. You have so many people in your corner, so many people who love you. And this baby," again she touched her friend's stomach, caressing the area with her fingertips, "is a blessing--I'm already in love." She softly smiled. "And you, you'll be a wonderful mom because you had an exemplary mom of your own. I'm sure you picked up a few pointers from Aunt Nora."
Vanessa chuckled a bit as she wiped at her face. "Thank you babe. I hope you're right."
"She is," Jaden interjected, leaning toward the CNA to kiss her damp cheek. "Not a single doubt in my mind that she is."
Unable to fall asleep, the Alaskan Malamute sauntered back to the three women and licked the smallest one on her cheek, which tasted salty. That more than likely had something to do with the tiny drops of water falling from her eyes. She needed a kiss. Feeling generous, Sasha swiped her tongue along the other cheek. Sitting on her haunches, she happily thumped her tail as everyone laughed. Her tail thumped harder when Vanessa proceeded to scratch her behind the ears and remind her of what a sweet girl she was.
Her mommy had the coolest friends.
##########
In her mind she sang along to Good Vibrations, which was being played through the many speakers planted around the large gym while she completed her program on the treadmill. The particular program she was doing had the treadmill's deck in an inclined position so that it felt as though she was actually running uphill. When the song ended and was replaced by an equally energetic number, Georgie checked the monitor to see how much further she had to run before she finished the program. A mile and half--excellent. She couldn't wait to jump in the shower because she was soaked in sweat.
"We haven't decided what our costumes will be for Halloween," Jaden breathlessly started, running along the treadmill on Georgie's right. "Next Friday will be here before you know it."
Georgie grinned as she raised a water bottle to her lips. "You don't want to be my warrior princess like Dylan suggested?" Taking a couple sips she dropped the bottle back into the cup holder attached to her treadmill.
"Are you willing to wear a skimpy bilious green halter top and a short brown skirt?"
The blonde took half a second to come up with an answer. "Um, we can go as someone else."
Jaden laughed. "I was thinking about finally wearing my fedora. Halloween is the perfect opportunity."
"The pimp hat?" The musician confirmed her question with a nod. Georgie thought for a moment before saying, "Don't tell me you wanna dress as a pimp? That would make me your what? Hooker?" Georgie feigned irritation as a laughing Jaden tried to keep a steady pace. Tripping over her own feet she nearly fell from the deck. "Flipper Birch may have occasionally played a hooker in her movies, but she's never resorted to actual prostitution."
Jaden had to get herself under control before she could respond. "That's fine. She's too much of a lady to be a hooker. I was thinking more along the lines of me dressing in a leisure suit that matched my purple fedora and you as my disco diva." The intense program ending, Jaden began her cool down period by slowing to a walk. "I got the idea from watching Saturday Night Fever a few days ago."
Georgie chuckled while trying to picture her friend in a leisure suit dancing under flashing lights in a happening disco club. "Is this leisure suit purple with leopard trim by any chance? You could also wear purple platform shoes." She would pay good money in order to see Jaden dressed like that!
"That's an idea. If I hurry maybe I could get a suit custom made because I doubt that I'll be able to find an outfit that matches my hat. Now what about your costume?"
"How about one of those mini dresses with the long bell shaped sleeves? And I could buy a pair of gogo boots to go along with my dress, which could have purple in it to match what you're wearing. Does that sound good?"
Jaden hoped that her girlfriend didn't notice her salivation. "You in a mini dress?" A sly smile quickly followed. "That's better than good. It's spectacular!" Georgie's blush increased the slyness of her smile. "Not that I didn't think them amazing before, but with all this exercising, the bike riding, your legs would look primo in a dress." Just as she had suspected, the blush deepened. "It's settled then. After we're finished here we can go shopping."
Walking along the treadmill now, Georgie nodded while she polished off the rest of her water. "Cool. I'll buy you lunch first."
"You're a sweet girlfriend."
##########
Using her key, Georgie walked into the studio apartment and smiled as her sense of smell informed her that delicious food was being prepared in the kitchen. "Honey I'm home!" She called out although she spotted the imposing woman standing before the stove. She heard Jaden chuckle as she approached her. Wrapping her arms around the brunette's waist from behind, she leaned up to kiss her cheek.
"Good evening J-Co. What smells so good?" Her lips nuzzled the side of Jaden's neck, eliciting a tiny mewl from her. "Besides you."
Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of red as she pointed toward the sizzling wok with her wooden spoon. "Stir-fry. We're having a combination of thinly sliced sirloin steak and veggies such as carrots and broccoli." Lifting the lid from a nearby pot, Jaden unveiled steaming fluffy white rice. "And I whipped up a pot of rice to accompany the meal." Glancing over her shoulder, she offered Georgie a smile. "Uncle Ben helped with that." The stir-fry finished cooking, she extinguished the flame beneath the wok before turning around to give her girlfriend a proper sweet little kiss on her mouth.
Smiling, Georgie leaned in for another kiss while her right hand headed toward the wok for a sample. Hip to the blonde's plan to distract her, Jaden lightly slapped the wandering hand away from her stir-fry. She frowned slightly and shook her head. "Gigi, darling the food is quite hot. I don't want you to burn these because like each part of you, they're very special to me." Bringing Georgie's hand to her lips, she started to kiss the tip of each digit while the younger woman's smile grew with each brush of Jaden's soft mouth on her fingers. "Wait until Van arrives and then I'll gladly fix you a plate. Alright?"
"Alright." Deciding to steal a hug instead, Georgie pulled the taller woman back into her arms. Burying her face in her neck, she breathed in Jaden's fruity scent. Her empty stomach growling, it made her hungry for pie. "Are you wearing an apple fragrance? I like it."
"It's green apple shower gel that I ordered from a website a couple of weeks ago. Tried it for the first time this morning."
Georgie chuckled. "You're still having trouble committing to one soap for long, huh?"
The musician helplessly shrugged. "Yep. The boredom sets in before long. I can't help it. Though I really like the apple gel. It might make it until Friday."
George looked impressed. "Wow, all the way until Friday and it's only Sunday. Perhaps there is hope for you yet Jae." Grinning, she managed to steal two small kisses before the doorbell rang. She glanced at her watch. If the visitor was her, Vanessa was right on time. "I'll get it."
As though she intended to answer the door, Sasha strutted toward it and took a seat. Her tail thumped with excitement while she waited for the person on the other side to be revealed. She enjoyed her Mommy's visitors. They were always so pleasant to be around. The puppy equivalent of a grin lit up her furry face when Georgie opened the door and there stood Vanessa with a bottle of sparkling apple cider. She waited until the best friends hugged first before inserting her canine self between them for the caresses on her head that Vanessa gave so well.
The attention didn't last too long, because Jaden also wanted a hug. Apparently, Vanessa was a hot commodity. Sasha didn't mind though, because her Mommy had placed her bowl of Iams on the placemat next to her doggie bed. Yummy. Suppertime was on! With a lick of thanks to Vanessa, she hurried over to partake.
Each having a glass of sparkling cider with their stir-fry, the three friends moved to the couch, which had been delivered two days prior. While Georgie and Vanessa relaxed on the couch with a couple of t.v. trays in front of them, Jaden had pulled one of the two dining table chairs over. Since she only had two t.v. trays, she shared with Georgie. They barely spoke as they dived into the savory meal, most of their vocals spent on complimenting the chef.
Only when their plates were nearly empty did Jaden bring up her primary reason for inviting the CNA to dinner. During the week she, Georgie and Vanessa's father collaborated on how to assist the young woman while she prepared to have a baby. Between the three of them they came up with the perfect solution. At least they thought it was perfect. Hopefully, Jacob's often headstrong daughter would be in agreement.
Because participating as a volunteer on the Spirited Saddlers Ride would mean missing at least one week of school, Vanessa had chosen to delay joining a nursing program so that she could obtain the training needed to become an LVN. She initially wanted to join a class that started in September and fortunately she found one starting on the twelfth of January. She had planned on continuing working a full-time schedule at Sunshine Convalescence while completing the curricular requirement of 1,530 hours. However, her pregnancy would undoubtedly prove that a difficult task.
"Van, Georgie and I had a talk with your dad the other day," Jaden began after reminding herself to sound casual.
Placing her fork on the plate without a sound, Vanessa sat back on the couch with her hands folded in her lap. Eyes focused on Jaden, she didn't appear upset by that surely unexpected revelation. She asked her friends what they and her dad spoke about, although she figured that she had been the main subject. More specifically her pregnancy.
When she told Jacob that she was pregnant the day following the discovery, she almost had to beg him not to go over to Craig's place and pummel him until his long dead ancestors felt the pain. Vanessa was amused by her dad's depiction of how much he intended to put a hurting on her ex. She hadn't any doubt that he was capable of doing so.
"We discussed the future," Jaden cryptically replied.
"The future? The future of what or whom? This country? The world?" She gently smiled to assure them that she wasn't angry. "Perhaps me?" She watched Jaden and Georgie exchange looks before the younger of the two nodded.
"Van your intention is to juggle a full-time schedule at work and at school correct?" The CNA wordlessly confirmed. "Sweetie I love you and I think you're mighty intelligent, but that's stupid."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "Damn. Dude please don't hold back. Say what you really feel."
"No, no Van I'm sorry," Georgie paused, sighing. "What I mean is that working and going to school full-time is unwise. Even if you weren't pregnant I'd have concerns, but the baby only makes it that much more…"
"Stupider?"
"Unwise," Georgie corrected. "After speaking with Jacob, we've devised something doable."
"Georgie as much as I appreciate yours, Jaden's, and Pop's concern, I can handle it. I'll go to work and school Monday through Friday. Work from seven to three and then have class in the evening--weekend off to study and relax. That's a schedule that I'm confident I'll be able to manage." She sounded more confident than she actually was. Vanessa ascertained from their expressions that they weren't buying what she was attempting to sell. "Guys I need to finish my training and take the NCLEX. Hopefully I'll pass the exam so that I'll be eligible for a promotion at SC. The reason I'm going to attend school full-time instead of part is because I want to finish as soon as possible so I can make more money to support my baby. If I begin in January at full-time I won't be able to graduate until the following January. Now imagine how long it'll take part-time."
"That's understandable, but you couldn't support your baby with your current salary?" Jaden inquired.
"I could, but an LVN paycheck would be more helpful."
Jaden appeared reflective. "Okay, so attend class during the day." She smiled. "It's been my experience that the human brain is fresher in the daytime. I know your school has morning schedules."
"I would prefer mornings, but when would I work? I don't want to switch to nightshift."
"That's why Jacob gave us this." Georgie dropped a manila envelope into her friend's lap. Although Vanessa saw her name written along the front in her father's handwriting she didn't open it. She looked up when Georgie called her name. "Opening it today would be nice." The blonde winked at her.
Vanessa began to open the envelope with the care of a person disarming a bomb. Enclosed was a folded sheet of paper, two keys on a ring, and a standard sized business envelope. Removing the paper first, Vanessa read the contents of it aloud although she assumed that her friends knew what her father had written.
Van,
Who paid for your college tuition? Your scholarship paid half while you took on the rest as your responsibility, refusing any help from your parents. The last substantial item of yours that we purchased was your car, which is now seven years old. That is my grandbaby growing inside of you and I won't have him or you under all the stress that would go along with a double full-time schedule.
Inside this envelope you'll find a pair of keys and a check, which will cover the salary you would make in a year at Sunshine Convalescence. Truthfully, it's a bit more than a year's worth salary, but I don't want to hear you fussing kid (smiley face). I'm giving you this--this is not a loan, do not even think of giving me the money back--because you need to take a leave of absence from work. Don't be upset, but I've spoken with your administrator and your year long vacation has been authorized. They'll be overjoyed to have you return next fall or winter.
Now you can concentrate on school--that I approve of attending full-time just as long as you're careful when completing your clinical hours.
The keys. Not that I don't like the apartment that you and Georgie live in now, but it's a two bedroom and short on space. Jaden mentioned that the apartment across from hers is empty so I bought it. Well, I leased it and no rent will be required until you graduate in January of 2005. I've given Georgie her keys already. Apt. 8A belongs to you and her. Unlike Jaden's studio apartment, it has three bedrooms--one for you, Georgie and the baby when he's ready to meet us. It's literally empty, so I'll leave it up to you both to decorate.
As much as you might want to decline, I'm begging you not to. I have the money and it's my pleasure to help. I love you and Little Jacob (or whatever you choose to name him--smiley face) and I want the best for you. This way you'll have Jaden who I can tell cares deeply for you across the hall and you don't have to worry about work, paying rent or money while you obtain further education. And if you need anything else I'm only a call, email or twelve-mile drive away (I clocked the distance).
I look forward to your call kid because I'm sure you might want to give me an earful. Take care of you and L.J. That has a nice ring to it (three smiley faces).
Love,
Pop
She slowly refolded the paper and tucked it back into the manila envelope. Silently pulling out the business envelope, hazel eyes widened at the sight of the five-digit number neatly written on Jacob's personal check. It truly was more than she would make in a twelve-month period-- the amount was closer to a year and half salary. Vanessa softly sighed as she gazed at the keys, which would open #8A in this luxurious apartment complex.
Her father wouldn't allow her to turn him down. She couldn't deny that his offer was tempting. So stop being stubborn and accept it. With your plan you might end up killing yourself or having a nervous breakdown. Neither of these is acceptable.
The keys dangling from her index finger, Vanessa smiled at her quiet friends, her eyes gleaming with yet to be shed tears. "You dudes are the definition of awesome." Stretching her arms out, she added, "Come here." The three squeezed onto the couch while sharing a hearty a three-way hug. Now content with her full belly, Sasha felt left out, so trotting over she jumped into the love fest.
##########
"Are you sure that you don't want to come?" Slipping her snow-white leather gogo boots on, she looked at the other woman stretched across the end of her bed. "It's gonna be so much fun sweetie." She checked the clock. Her date wouldn't arrive for another thirty minutes. "We still have time to put a costume together for you. Between your closet and mine I know we can create something."
Vanessa smiled as she shook her head. "Nah, once I snap a few pictures of you and Jaden I'm going over to Pop's and help him pass out candy. You two have fun and tell me all about it later."
"And what about you?"
"I'll have fun with Pop. He's ordering takeout, we're going to hand out candy, watch movies that will surely give us nightmares and play board games. I'm looking forward to it." A grin settling on her lips, Vanessa admiringly observed her friend's outfit as Georgie removed a piece of costume jewelry from a small box. She definitely wanted pictures of the blonde dressed in her mini psychedelic dress and gogo boots.
Since she and Jaden were color coordinating, Georgie's dress was a swirl of a couple shades of purple and white. Her hair held away from her face with a headband that matched her dress, flowed around her shoulders and appeared lustrous enough to attain her an Herbal Essence commercial if she were to audition. White hoop earrings and the necklace she was about to put on completed the costume.
Asking if she wanted help with the necklace, Vanessa walked over and gently lifted the gold-plated thin chain from her fingers. She smiled at the word 'diva', which connected the two parts of the chain.
"Jae commented that she wanted me to be her disco diva so when I found that necklace I considered it a sign that I had to purchase it." She thanked her friend after she clasped the lightweight jewelry around her neck. A spritz of perfume on her neck and wrists along with adding a touch of color to her lips and Georgie was ready for Halloween.
"Are you going to spend the night at Uncle Jacob's?" Georgie inquired while she and Vanessa traveled a short distance to the living room, choosing to sit on the couch. Tomorrow the couch along with most of their furniture would be relocated to their new apartment. Having already packed up most of their belongings, they couldn't wait to move in on Monday evening after Vanessa's shift ended. The coming week would be her last at Sunshine Convalescence until late 2004.
Vanessa answered the question with a nod. "Are you spending the night at Jaden's?" She countered with a grin.
Georgie shrugged. "We haven't discussed that. I guess we'll play it by ear," pausing, she took note of the other woman's roguish expression. "What? What do you really want to ask me Van?"
"Have you gotten any further action since the phone nookie?" She chuckled when Georgie rolled her eyes. "Are rolling eyes indicative of a yes or no response?" The blonde sighed. "I'll take that as a no. Besides I'd most likely know if you were getting any. For example I knew when you hooked up with Ronnie and you were over two thousand miles away at the time."
"Van!"
The CNA adopted innocence. "What? It's true!" Excusing herself, Vanessa hurried into her bedroom leaving Georgie shaking her head in wonder and softly chuckling. When she returned, her right hand concealed whatever she went to retrieve. Plopping down onto the couch she dropped the small item into her friend's lap. Georgie's mouth gaped open. "Shut that before you attract flies," Vanessa said while snickering. "Just in case you and Jaden decide to get physical, I want you to be prepared."
Picking up the colorful thin square package, Georgie read it. "A dental dam?"
"Even better." The CNA grinned. "A grape flavored dental dam. I have other flavors too if you want. Just keep that in your wallet for an 'emergency'."
Georgie's cheeks reddened while she imagined ripping the package open to get to the sheet of latex inside for use on her waiting lover. "Um, Van thanks honey, but I won't be needing this." She tried to give the dental dam back, but Vanessa wouldn't accept it. "There won't be any 'emergency' Van."
"How do you know? Can you tell the future?"
"Jaden and I aren't that…intimate. So I don't need to carry a female condom around like I'm expecting to get lucky at any minute."
Her expression unreadable, Vanessa stared at her for a moment. "Georgie?"
"Yes?"
"Dude just put the damn thing in your wallet. Humor me and I'll stop harassing you about it."
The blonde chuckled. "Alright."
##########
Vanessa had quite a few pictures to upload by the time she finished the amateur photo shoot with the disco couple. They were quite the stunning duo. Tony Manero from Saturday Night Fever would be proud.
A compliment to her younger partner, Jaden wore a tailor made purple leisure suit with leopard patterned piping down the outer sides of her bell-bottom pants. A white satin shirt with a wide collar was covered by a purple vest and jacket. Although her white platform shoes had two-inch heels on them (the shortest she could find), she didn't appear any taller than Georgie since the gogo boots added a couple of inches. Wild and tousled hair reminiscent of the famous Farrah Fawcett 'do of the late 70's lay underneath Jaden's purple fedora. A pair of shades with heart-shaped purple tinted lenses covered blue eyes bright with excitement.
Once they said goodnight to one another, Jaden and Georgie were on their way in the musician's Hummer. Jaden had mentioned that she had an important stop to make first, so that was their immediate destination before heading to the Jungle Gem party.
While they rode, an aroma tickled one of Georgie's senses. Softly sniffing the air led her to look over her shoulder toward the backseat where she discovered six cardboard boxes. Two of the boxes each held a crimson food hot bag, two others were stacked to the top with individual sized plastic containers filled with mixed fruit, another contained napkins, plastic utensils, and paper plates and the last box had every kind of candy that a candy aficionado could think of. Sour Patch Kids, Gummy Bears and Sugar Babies…oh my!
The fruit and candy wasn't what had attracted Georgie's sense of smell. It was the contents of the food bags and she knew exactly what those contents were. They had a stop to make. Were they headed to a party besides Dylan's bash? It was time for her to seek answers. Up until then she hadn't questioned Jaden's first destination because she hadn't been positive that she would be granted a valid reply, but now curiosity begged her to at least try.
"Jae is that pizza?"
Braking at a stoplight, Jaden turned toward her, eyes straying down to a pair of exposed thighs. Georgie was definitely working that mini dress. Too bad Halloween was only once a year. Hearing her name called, she hurriedly looked up. Georgie had to repeat her question.
"Oh, yes it is." She pressed on the gas pedal. "Five large boxes in each bag. Mostly pepperoni. I think most people who like pizza like pepperoni."
"Ten large pizzas. Wow. Who are they for?"
"Lil' Angels."
Georgie's brow scrunched. "Little Angels?"
"No," her companion grinned. "The correct pronunciation is Lil' Angels."
"Uh huh. And who are these Lil' Angels? A little league baseball team? I could picture you as a coach. Very cute."
Jaden chuckled while shaking her head no. "Lil' Angels is the name of a house. However, I consider the people who live inside of that house angels."
"Okay." Georgie was obviously confused while Jaden appeared to be enjoying herself. The blonde had another nickname for her--Big Tease. "Why does this house have a name?"
"Because I thought it should have one."
"You named it?" Jaden nodded without clarification. "Why did you name this house Lil' Angels?"
"Because I liked the sound of it."
Smirking, Georgie grabbed the door handle. "Jae do you want me to get out of this vehicle? Keep it up and I will."
Jaden glanced at the speedometer. "That wouldn't be smart since I'm driving 45 miles per hour. But," she shrugged, "you're a grown woman, so I can't stop you."
"Jae?"
"Yes my sweet?"
Her smirk evaporated when the touching endearment reached her ears. "What is the objective of Lil' Angels?" She thoughtfully inquired.
"To provide care, comfort and love to as many little angels as is possible. It's a foster home that will have been providing service for six years come January. Two incredible women, Josephine Whitfield and Katherine Vidal are the house parents and longtime highly experienced RN's. They along with a mostly volunteer staff may take care of up to forty children ranging from newborns up to age eighteen. They specialize in caring for foster or orphaned children who have medical conditions."
"That's wonderful Jae. I assume that you're responsible for Lil' Angels becoming a reality?" Her love and admiration for the woman behind the wheel grew tenfold.
Jaden appeared shy as she confirmed Georgie's inquiry. "I was driving along one day and as is frequently the case in L.A., I was in the middle of a traffic jam. My eyes started to wander almost immediately landing on a mansion about a fourth of a mile away. It didn't look as though anyone lived there. Most of the vegetation had withered, weeds littered the property, the trees obviously neglected and the mansion although large needed an abundance of TLC--broken windows and a roof that might collapse with a single raindrop. I recognized all of that from a distance so imagine how much worse it was on closer inspection.
"Making my way through the rusty wrought iron gate, which surrounded the property, I walked around the mansion and when I arrived at the front entrance I had made up my mind. If possible I was going to purchase that house. Surprisingly--or maybe not so surprisingly considering the condition of it, I paid much less than I had expected to. In fact, the repairs and embellishments cost more than the purchase price."
"How did you meet Josephine and Katherine?"
Jaden began to smile as she remembered meeting the powerhouse duo six years ago. She had interviewed twenty odd applicants and had one major of a headache when the forty-one year old women entered the sparsely decorated office located on the first floor of a five-story mansion. She chased a couple of Advil with a glass of water as the pair settled in the chairs positioned in front of her desk. Their radiant smiles were catchy, so by the time Jaden set her empty glass on the desk she was smiling although she knew little about their skills.
Within minutes Joey and Kat (they insisted on the nicknames) had ridden the musician of her headache. She was positive of this because the Advil although helpful never worked that quickly. Joey and Kat had known one another since they were twelve, forming a fast friendship when they ended up in the same foster home where they fortunately were able to stay until they graduated high school.
Both deciding to become nurses, they attended the same community college while working full-time as certified nurses assistants at a nursing home near their school. After they received their Bachelor of Science in registered nursing they furthered their education and enhanced their skills by obtaining a Masters degree. Coming prepared, they presented Jaden with recommendations they had received from employers at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles where they had worked for the last fifteen years.
Along with having ample pediatric nursing experience, Joey and Kat were state licensed foster parents. In fact, they had adopted three small children two of which were biological siblings. The youngest was now twenty-three and the oldest twenty-six.
Jaden hadn't finished reading the first recommendation when she decided that hiring the couple (actually she wasn't 100% sure that they were a romantic couple) would be one of the wisest choices she could make. Thanks to them and their amazing staff, throughout the years numerous children had been rehabilitated and thoroughly nurtured. The Lil' Angels staff considered it a plus when they were adopted or returned to their families if it was proven that their blood relations were able to care for them in a safe and healthy environment.
Georgie smiled. "I can't wait to meet Joey and Kat. They sound terrific."
Jaden nodded her agreement. "They are. Not that I'm bragging, but I couldn't have selected better executives." Thinking of something, she chuckled. "After six years of knowing them I still question if they're involved or not. They've never given me a straight answer--no pun intended."
"Involved as in life partners?"
"Right."
"They have three children? Three children that they adopted together?"
"That's correct."
"So how many people that are 'just friends' adopt children and raise them together? Do you know if they're at least gay?"
Jaden shrugged. "I have my suspicions, but I'm not 100% positive."
"Have you come out--also no pun intended--and asked?"
The musician chuckled. "Nope. Never tried that method."
"Geez." Georgie shook her head. "Six years of knowing these women and you don't have a clue if they're wives or best buddies. We need to get your gaydar fixed because this is just sad." Jaden resumed chuckling.
##########
Ten minutes into meeting them had Georgie's gaydar blaring. If Joey and Kat weren't lovers she would eat her gogo boots. Regardless of their sexual preference, they had to be the sweetest and most remarkable women to dedicate their lives to so many children. Caring for up to forty children twenty-four hours a day couldn't have been easy, especially since these children unfortunately had disabilities. The energy and joviality that they greeted she and Jaden with when they arrived astounded Georgie.
Like Vanessa they wanted pictures that they planned to frame and place around the mansion. Kat found the digital picture and took several pictures. Since Jaden insisted that the four of them take at least one picture together, Kat set the timer before they all posed for a couple of photos. The foster parents promised to send the costumed pair copies.
When they finished, the children who would be eating pizza and fruit gathered in the large dining area set up with padded benches and round tables, each with four multicolored chairs. Those that weren't able to go trick or treating with volunteers earlier were especially excited about the candy Jaden had provided them with. Kneeling on the floor, Jaden had been conversing with a group of preteens at one of the tables when Kat walked up to her. Able to tell that the older woman had something important on her mind, Jaden excused herself. She walked alongside Kat as they left the room.
"I know Joey and I have said it already, but thanks again for the goodies Jae," the Hispanic woman said as they took a seat in the den. It resembled more of a playroom with the baskets of toys scattered about and built-in wall shelves seeming to contain every children friendly video or DVD ever produced.
"My pleasure," Jaden said while smiling. "I didn't see Evan in the dining room and pizza is his favorite food. Has everyone returned from trick or treating?" Her stomach started to churn as Kat shook her head, her expression one of dismay. "What happened? Is he…where is he?"
"He's on the nursing floor where he's been staying for the last two weeks. The NHL is getting worse despite intense chemotherapy and the tumors have spread to Evan's brain," the nurse gently explained. Reaching over, she placed her hand on top of Jaden's knee. "He's endured a couple of seizures, but he is lucid."
Jaden swallowed over the growing lump in her throat. Having to clear her throat first, she asked, "What's his CD4 count?"
"Dr. Palmer ordered tests Monday and Evan's CD4 count came back as sixty."
"Shit," the younger woman murmured as she closed her eyes. Tossing her fedora on the couch, she nervously ran her fingers through her hair. With her eyes remaining closed she asked Kat why she hadn't been contacted. Having visited Lil' Angels in mid September and having either spoken with Evan on the phone or exchanged instant messages with him via the Internet several times, Jaden hadn't been aware that his condition had worsened.
Three and a half years ago the now twelve year old boy had first entered the doors of Lil' Angels where he stayed for four months until his mother recently released from a drug rehab program promised that she was capable and ready to take care of him. Seven weeks later Evan was returned after his social worker dropped by for an impromptu visit and discovered his mother barely coherent because of the amount of drugs in her system. She never made another attempt to get him back and a bit over a year later she died from complications of AIDS. Born with HIV, Evan developed full-blown AIDS not long after his return to Lil' Angels.
"Sweetheart there wasn't anything that you could do," Kat replied, her voice soft. "And Evan didn't want you to know." A quizzical stare prompted her to continue. "He said that it would worry you and he would hate for you to be worried about him."
Jaden managed a soft smile although she felt on the verge of tears. "That is one special guy. Could I see him?"
"Of course! Evan would love to see you. Put your pimp hat on--that ought to tickle him pink."
Jaden feigned exasperation as she grabbed her hat from the couch and carefully settled it on top of her head. "I'm not a pimp Kat. I'm the female equivalent of Tony Manero from Saturday Night Fever."
"Sure Jae. Whatever you say. I hope that your 'ladies of the evening' never catch you denying being a pimp. It might hurt their feelings."
##########
Pushing the curtain aside, Jaden took one step before her eyes landed on the small boy sleeping beneath covers decorated with a racecar motif. She recalled how much he loved racecars. Last summer when she had a couple of weeks to herself, she took Evan along with Nate, Bell and a friend of hers to an amusement park. Evan rode the miniature racecars seven times during the day and came in first in most of the 'races'. Jaden had the pictures of him beaming as he expertly navigated his mini green automobile around the track.
As Kat left them alone, Jaden moved closer to the hospital bed and took her seat in the chair already placed next to it. The only sounds in the makeshift room were the humming of the oxygen tank and Evan's personal 13-inch television, which had been turned to the Disney channel.
Reaching through the bedrails, she grazed the back of the young boy's hand with her fingertips. He looked so much smaller than the last time she saw him and could have passed for an eight year old, rather than someone about to turn thirteen in January. Her eyes beginning to blur, Jaden pulled a tissue from a nearby box and dabbed at them as one of the nurses working on this floor entered to check Evan's vital signs. Having known Jaden from previous visits, they greeted one another in hushed voices before the nurse wrapped a blood pressure cuff around her patient's upper arm. She waited for him to fully awaken and then proceeded to place her stethoscope at the base of the cuff and pump inflating it.
Aware that someone else was in the room, Evan turned his head toward the right. A thousand watt smile lit up his face as he looked at the coolest musician on the planet. At least that was his opinion, though he was certain that other people shared it. She was easy on the eyes too. "Jaden," he called, his voice sounding hoarse yet excited. "Hey, what's up?"
"Not much buddy. What's up with you?"
He shrugged keeping a smile fixed on his lips. "Nothing much with me either." While his nurse gently put the throwaway tip of a thermometer into his ear Evan observed as much as he could see of Jaden. She was gladdened to hear his giggle. "The seventies called and said they want their clothes back," he good-naturedly teased. The brunette laughed, as did the nurse. "Just kidding. Your Halloween costume is really cool."
The musician grinned at him. "Thanks buddy." Folding her arms on the railing, she rested her chin on them. "So I know what you're up to." First thanking his nurse as she jotted down information on the clipboard hanging from the end of his bed, Evan asked Jaden what she thought he was up to. "Kat explained to me that you've been hanging out up here for two weeks. This is your clever way of getting a vacation from school. You've gotta get up pretty early in the morning to fool me."
The preteen giggled again. "Dang. I'm busted. Guess that makes you more clever than me Jae. Probably 'cause you've lived much much longer."
"Hey!" Jaden pretended to scowl. "When you were born I was only…eh never mind." Even started to laugh and she quickly joined in. The boy's laugh gradually turned into a hacking cough. His face reddening with the exertion it took to sit up, Evan covered his mouth, his slight shoulders trembling with the force of the coughing. Jaden rubbed his back, relieved that it didn't take too long for him to settle down. She offered him some water and Evan pulled two small sips from the straw before he laid back down, placing his palm over his head.
"You okay bud?" She softly inquired while willing herself not to cry. It wouldn't do Evan any good to witness her tears. She needed to be strong in front of him. Evan was strong. She could learn a thing or two from her young friend.
"Yeah, Jae. I'm okay." He tried to reassure her with a smile. "Thanks for the laugh. It was nice." Involuntarily wincing, Evan thought he had concealed it with a swift grin. "Heard you had a girlfriend."
Focusing on the wince, Jaden didn't acknowledge the statement. "What's the matter Evan? Do you need the nurse?" She was about to rise when the boy stretched his arm out to press her shoulder, urging her to remain in the chair. Although part of her wanted to go grab the nearest nurse, she stayed put. "Is something hurting you?"
Evan tapped a finger to his temple. "The coughing gave me a headache, but it'll go away soon."
"I can't get you any medication?"
"No thanks. I'm tired of all the medicine." Pausing, Evan tried out his most serious expression on the musician. "Jaden, since you're here I need to talk to you about something and I need you to really hear me out."
Jaden hesitantly nodded, something telling her that she wasn't going to like the direction that their conversation was headed. "Okay buddy. You have my undivided attention."
"I've thought about it a bunch and I've decided that I'm done with chemotherapy. I'm not going to my next scheduled treatment. It's over."
Jaden had begun shaking her head in disagreement before he could finish. "What? No Evan, you can't do that."
He bobbed his head on the pillow. "Yeah, I can. Jae the chemo makes me feel worse and it's not helping any. I don't feel any better. I feel like all it does is make me sick and I'm so tired of feeling sick." Evan paused long enough to wipe at watery green eyes. His lower lip quivering, he whispered, "I'm ready for this to be over."
"Evan…"
"Please. Please talk to Joey and Kat for me. Tell 'em I don't want anymore chemo." A tear fell from the corner of his eye and was quickly absorbed by his pillowcase. "Please Jae. Will you do that? They won't wanna listen to me 'cause I'm only twelve but I think it should be my choice. Right?"
"Buddy we can talk to your doctor. Perhaps the medications that make up your treatment or the dosage just need to be changed."
"No. We've tried that. I want it to totally stop."
Jaden hadn't replied when the nurse returned with a supplemental drink rich with the vitamins and minerals the preteen needed since his appetite was barely just fair. Pressing a button located on the hospital bed to elevate his upper body, she then shook the can before opening it and inserting a straw. Placing the health shake in his hands, she urged him to finish it, trying to rouse his interest by commenting that it was chocolate. Evan had swallowed a fourth of it by the time his nurse left.
"Jae will you talk to them?" He quietly asked while using his thumbnail to idly pick at the label attached to the chilled can. Evan glanced up at the musician. "At least try?" He obediently took another sip as he waited for her to respond.
Jaden felt akin to a tourist in a foreign place without a map. She wasn't sure what to say or do. However, she eventually nodded with an invisible question mark hanging above her head. "Okay Evan. I'll see what I can do."
##########
"Jaden tells me that you and Kat have been best friends since you were twelve. That's incredible," Georgie stated with a smile. Seated on the comfy sofa inside of Joey and Kat's office, she munched on the best tasting oatmeal cookie to ever pass her lips. She had complimented the baker who happened to be sitting next to her three times already. So thrilled was Georgie with the treat that she found herself spilling how she and Jaden took their relationship to the next level. The older woman seemed quite pleased to hear that Jaden finally had a significant other.
"My friend Vanessa and I met in the 7th grade and we were both twelve too. I have her on the 80-year best friend plan. Thirteen down, so 67 more to go." Georgie grinned as she reached into the plate for another cookie. She made a promise to herself that it would be the last.
Joey laughed, the curls of her mostly dark locks bouncing. Although she and Kat each had a touch of gray in their hair, it was difficult to believe that they were forty-seven. Evidently caring for forty children hadn't unfavorably impacted their aging process. In fact, perhaps the job that they so obviously loved had proven to be a fountain of youth.
"The 80-year best friend plan," Joey repeated, a smile on her face and flowing through her words. "I like that. According to the plan Kat and I have 45 more years left. Now what happens if we reach our goal?"
"Then if you choose to, you may extend the plan." Georgie winked at the nurse as she chewed the remainder of her cookie. She kept her eyes away from the plate lest her willpower to not eat another be tested.
"I should have guessed." Joey giggled, which the blonde thought adorable. "Did you and Vanessa meet in school?"
"Yes, we did. Biology class. We hit it off immediately. From what I heard so did you and Kat."
"Almost." Although she had every intention of continuing, Joey took a sip of her coffee first. There was a bit of torture for Georgie every time she drank from that mug. Caffeine not a part of her diet in preparation for the big bike ride, Georgie could only imagine how wonderful the rich steamy beverage tasted. "I had been living at the foster home of Dale and Anita Clarkson for two months when they took Kat in. At first she had this big chip on her shoulder and as a result would barely talk to me whenever I attempted to make conversation. Since we shared a room her resistance to being friendly caused the atmosphere to be very tense.
"Five days after she moved in I couldn't take her grumpy silence anymore so I confronted her and straight up asked her what her problem was. She had no problem telling me to go straight to hell so I yelled back that by being her roommate I was already there." Since Joey sported a cat that ate the canary grin, Georgie thought it was okay to laugh. "The way she stared at me, I was sure that I was about to be hit, but Kat didn't advance toward me. Instead, she actually told me what her problem was.
"She was the oldest of four children and since her parents' combined income wasn't enough to support all of them, they made a decision to temporarily place twelve year old Kat in foster care. Just until they could get better employment. However, their oldest daughter was peeved about this arrangement and as she briefly relayed the events that led up to her being in the Clarkson home I could hear the anger in her voice. So then I told her how I ended up in the foster system.
"My parents--I never knew my parents. I didn't learn details surrounding my conception and birth until four years later when Kat helped me to search for them. At that point I only knew that my mother left me when I was a newborn inside a church after speaking with a priest within a confession box. They doubted that I was even two days old. The priest discovered me wrapped in a blanket inside a wooden crate moments after my mother took off. He then took me to a hospital. Because confession was supposed to be confidential, he only told them that my mother was unable to care for me before he left.
"The nurses had their suspicions as to why she couldn't care for me. One look at the baby in the crate and it was obvious that my parents didn't share the same ethnicity. In 1956 interracial relationships were not acceptable and that was possibly the reason I was given away. According to my skin tone, hair etc. either my mother was white and my father black or vice versa.
"My intention wasn't to gain sympathy, just simply to make my new roommate realize how blessed she was to know her parents and to have them in her life. And it worked, which I was partially surprised about. Before either of us were aware of it, we were best friends."
"Wow." Georgie shook her head as she thought over what Joey had just shared. "Did you ever find your parents? And what happened to Kat's family? They never returned for her?" Realizing that she was asking too many questions at once, the blonde shut her mouth, her expression sheepish. "Sorry Joey."
The nurse warmly smiled. "It's fine Georgie. No, even though Kat and I searched for answers, we never located my parents. We did track down the priest who took me to the hospital. We discovered his name from a nurse who still happened to work at that hospital sixteen years after I was brought there." She chuckled. "For a while after that I was very afraid that I had earned myself a one way ticket to hell because I practically harassed that innocent man into telling me anything that he knew about my mother."
The moment that the maroon Buick Skylark pulled up to the curb, its passenger jumped out. As the driver turned off the ignition, the frazzled passenger began to slowly circle the car checking for any damages. One dent or scratch and they could be grounded for a month. Aw, who was she trying to fool? If the owner discovered that they had borrowed the Buick, they would be grounded for eternity.
Getting out, Katherine watched her friend crouched low to the ground running her fingers along one of the rear hubcaps. Her face was so close that she could have puckered up and kissed the tire. "Joey what are you doing?"
"Looking for damages." The teen glanced up at her. "They have speed limits for a reason you know. I don't know why I let you drive."
"'Cause you don't have your license yet. And there's nothing wrong with my driving." Loudly smacking her gum, Kat folded her arms over her bosom. "You're too uptight sometimes Jo."
Jo glared as she stood. "You could have killed us!"
"Dramatic too."
Rolling her eyes, Joey pointed toward the church. "Let's just go talk to Father O'Malley so we can get the Buick home and hopefully Dale won't know that it was ever missing."
Pocketing Dale's car keys, Kat nodded. "Right on." Just before they walked inside the huge double doors leading into the church, she took possession of her friend's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Jo, I can tell that you're nervous. Whatever happens in here, whatever Father O'Malley tells us, I want you to know that I love you and I'm always gonna be by your side. You're righteous Jo."
Her eyes watering, Joey pulled her best friend into her arms. "Thanks. I think you're righteous too Katie." She took great pleasure in referring to the other girl as Katie from time to time because she was the only one allowed to.
Entering the church, it didn't take them very long to find Father O'Malley. A kind looking man in his mid forties, the priest led them to his office when they said that they needed to talk with him. Luckily, they had arrived almost two hours before Mass was supposed to begin, so Father O'Malley had a sufficient amount of time to help them. That was until they revealed exactly why they were there.
The older man shook his head in a regretful manner. "Ms. Whitfield, Ms. Vidal though I understand what you're seeking, I'm unable to give you answers. Ms. Whitfield, whatever that young woman who left you with me sixteen years ago revealed, I'm obligated not to divulge."
"We thought you might say that, but Father O'Malley please could you tell me anything about her? All I know is that she couldn't care for me. I don't even know what her and my father's race are, which means that I'm not sure what I am."
The priest sighed, his chair creaking as he sat back in it. "I never saw your mother's face except for several glimpses of her side profile through the screen of the confessional, but I'm certain that she was Caucasian." He didn't mention that he was certain because Joey's birth mother had told him so.
"And my father? Was he black? Did she say?"
"Ms. Whitfield I can't--"
"Respectfully I ask you Father O'Malley, were you raised by your biological parents?" Kat inquired in a polite tone. Unbeknownst to her, she had Joey holding her breath because she was aware that her Kat could become quite heated when she wanted something badly enough. The last thing they needed was for her feistiness to be directed toward a man of God.
The priest nodded, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Yes, and I know where you're going with this Ms. Vidal, but I still cannot reveal what the young lady said to me. I sympathize, but I can be of little help."
"So she was young. How young?" Joey asked this.
"I don't remember if she mentioned her age."
"How young did she sound?" As though they were taking turns on purpose, Kat was again the inquirer.
As he glanced between the teenage girls, Father O'Malley concluded that they weren't about to vacate his office without answers--answers that he wasn't supposed to provide. He tried to think of a way to help as best as he could without betraying Ms. Whitfield's mother's confessions.
"I would say around your age. Ms. Whitfield I understand that you want to find your parents, but what your mother said to me shall remain private. However--and I'm not sure how much solace this will give you--I could tell by the way she spoke that she loved you and only wanted the best for you. She was young and unable to give you all that you needed. I will tell you this--her last words to me were 'please find someone to take care of my Josephine'.
"You introduced yourself as Joey Whitfield, so I assume that the nurses saw to it that your first name would be Josephine. She left you in front of the confessional wrapped up snuggly in a crate and hurried out. When I exited the confession box she was already gone. I went outside but there was no sign of anyone. It was early in the morning and the streets were quiet." Noticing the tears shining in her light brown eyes, the priest handed Joey a tissue.
Pulling her friend toward her, Kat kissed her on the cheek, getting a little smile in return. Looking at Father O'Malley she quietly asked, "Don't suppose that you can slip us a name, right?"
"She never told me her name." It pained him to see their crestfallen faces. Though he might regret it later, the priest supplied them with one more piece of information. "The only name that she gave me was Abigail. Her friend Abigail delivered you and then drove you and your mother to this church." When both girls simultaneously opened their mouths to speak, he held up a hand. Their mouths concurrently shut. Father O'Malley would have chuckled if he hadn't been so torn over what he was disclosing. "Really Ms. Whitfield, Ms. Vidal that is all I can and will tell you."
"Kat and I spent the next few weeks searching for women in Southern California named Abigail, but we didn't come up with any leads. Finally I surrendered to the fact that I would never find my mother." Joey softly smiled as she pulled out her wallet and found a current picture of she and her best friend. "This woman right here and our children," she showed Georgie a picture of their three adopted and now grown children, "are my family. And I'm so fortunate to have them." Closing the wallet, she slipped it back into her pocket. "As for Kat's parents, they did return about three months after her arrival at Dale and Anita's. Her uncle and his wife had opened a restaurant. Wanting to keep it up and running mostly by family, he asked his brother and sister-in-law if they wanted to be involved.
"Of course they said yes and a couple of months later found the restaurant's business steadily improving. The Vidal's were ready to bring their oldest child back home, except home was now in Sacramento--over three hundred miles away. I only spoke with them for a few minutes when they arrived, so I wasn't privy to the rest of their conversation with Kat. When they left without her I assumed that it was just a visit--I remember feeling guilty that I was a bit relieved that my friend would be staying at least a little longer.
"I didn't discover the truth until many weeks after that 'visit'. It actually wasn't a visit. They had come to get Kat, but she insistently told them that she didn't want to leave--she didn't want to leave me. And though I was somewhat relieved when she didn't go with them that day, if I had known the only reason she stayed behind was because of me I would have hounded her to go to Sacramento with her parents. When I found out the truth I did beg and argue with her to go. I even packed her belongings but she was stubborn.
"She refused to live with her parents, but she did go visit them and they came back to L.A. as regularly as they could." Pausing, Joey checked her watch, clucking her tongue as she noticed the length of time that she had been talking. "I'm sorry Georgie. I've been chattering nonstop for two days!" She grinned. "I've equipped you with enough information to write my biography now."
Disagreeing, Georgie shook her head. "No need for an apology. I thank you for sharing with me and though I am sorry that you never found your mother you're right--Kat is your family and I can tell how much she loves you and you her. You two remind me of Vanessa and myself. I had a permanent fallout with my parents when I was sixteen and not long after I realized that she was my true family."
"Speaking of family, are you planning on making an honest woman out of Jaden?" Joey pointed toward her left index finger and then Georgie's. She had a modest gold band on whereas the younger woman's finger was bare.
Both women chuckled. "Joey I'm working on it."
##########
Georgie was helping to gather teams for a game of Pictionary when she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Looking up, she watched as the see through elevator carrying Jaden headed toward the first floor. From where she stood she didn't have a precise view of her friend's face, but it appeared that Jaden was frowning.
Instead of coming to the first like Georgie figured it would, the elevator stopped at the second level. Jaden exited and Georgie watched as she walked to a door, went inside and shut it. What was behind the door?
Choosing to use the stairs instead of the elevator, Georgie walked up to the closed door and softly knocked. When she heard a muffled 'I'll be out in a minute', she announced herself. Seconds passed before a faint click could be heard as Jaden unlocked the door and opened it. Once Georgie passed through, she closed it again, pressing her vest covered back against the door. Having removed them, her hat and jacket lay across the countertop.
"Jae is something wrong?" The frown wasn't in place yet Jaden did look upset. As she chewed on her bottom lip her eyes began to well. "Sweetie is it your friend Evan?" If she had blinked, Georgie would have missed the response of a vague nod. Taking the few steps toward her, she brushed her fingers against Jaden's cheek. "Please speak to me sweetie. What happened?" When spotting a tear sliding down a smooth cheek, Georgie used her thumb to remove the drop of moisture.
Though it took her a moment to get started, Jaden managed to recount her conversation with Evan. More tears escaped as she slid to the floor bringing her knees up to rest her arms on them. Dropping to the floor and kneeling between Jaden's bent legs, Georgie drew her friend to her, holding her as she wept on her shoulder.
"It's not fair," Jaden mumbled into the smaller woman's shoulder. She turned her head so that her words were clearer. "He's only twelve--one year older than Nate and he doesn't deserve this. He should be out hanging with his friends having fun and developing an interest in girls. Instead he's been in that bed fighting for his life." Rubbing her shirtsleeve over her face, Jaden rested her head against the door. Her eyes settled on the ceiling as she continued.
"Evan's mother was just like me in that over years she abused her body with an array of drugs. Even when she was pregnant she used drugs and because of her carelessness her son has to suffer. As much as I depended on drugs if I were straight and had wound up pregnant I would have run as fast as I could to a rehab program. I was obtuse and selfish, but I would have never sunk so low as to knowingly put my unborn child in danger so that I could get high.
"Just when I think I couldn't possibly have any more respect for them, I discover that I'm wrong. I don't know how Joey and Kat can do this job twenty-four hours a day. My face would resemble a prune 'cause I'd cry so much. It takes strength." As though her ducts wanted to prove her statement true, fresh tears stained Jaden's cheeks. Sighing she looked at Georgie, noticing that she had begun to cry. Raising her dry sleeve, she wiped at her face. She received a kiss as thanks.
"You should sit down and get to know yourself better because you're one of the strongest women that I know," Georgie softly stated. "Could I meet Evan? Would that be alright?"
Jaden tenderly smiled at her. "That would be perfect." Standing first she helped Georgie to her feet.
"Do you like Pictionary?" The blonde asked while handing her friend her fedora and jacket.
Putting on her jacket, Jaden nodded. "Haven't played in a long time though. Why?" Walking up to the mirror mounted above the sink, she positioned the purple fedora to her liking.
"I was thinking if it was alright with you could we skip the Jungle Gem party and stay here for a rousing game of Pictionary with a great group of lil' angels. There's pizza and candy left over so I think a couple of slices have our names on them." When she wiggled her eyebrows the musician laughed.
"Tsk tsk Gigi. I know that you know that pizza and candy should not be a part of our training diet. Should we eat carbs? Definitely, but not that kind."
"Granted you brought fruit plates too, but do you think that pizza and candy are beneficial and nutritional for children?"
"Touché." Jaden shrugged. "It's Halloween though."
"Does that mean we can splurge too?"
Grinning, she wrapped her arms around Georgie's waist and leaned down to greet her lips with a tingle worthy kiss. "Yes, we may splurge."
Her fingers hooked around Jaden's neck, the blonde smiled while her lips wished for another one of those kisses. "We could skip the pizza and proceed right to dessert if you know what I mean."
"Yeah we could, but fruit isn't balanced enough to substitute for a main meal." A kiss to Georgie's cheek and she was headed out of the bathroom murmuring something about cute yet corrupt little blondes. Despite the little reference Georgie softly laughed as she followed.
Continued…