by Debbie Civil
Chapter 53
Jake
I’m out of my element. At first, I don’t knock on the door. I just stand out in the hallway like an idiot. Then, a nurse rounds the corner, and I feel stupid, so I knock.
“Come in,” a female voice says and I do. I try not to look at Adriana, lying in the hospital bed. It’s just too weird to see. Instead, I study the array of flowers, balloons, and teddy bears that she has. Jill’s father made a statement last night. Instead of buying Jill flowers, he has requested for us to donate to an organization that helps kids with cancer. That was Jill’s request and so far, the foundation has gotten two million dollars. It’s too bad that Adriana’s sister Tory isn’t a philanthropist. But then again, I would be scared to death if the only person that I had almost died. Tory looks nothing like her sister. She has ash blonde hair and a curvier figure. There only feature is their dark eyes. She sits in a chair sewing. She looks up when she sees me. I’m holding a bouquet of daisies, Adriana’s favorite. Last night, I donated thirty thousand dollars to the charity of Jill’s choice in her honor.
“Jake?” Tory seems surprised.
“I heard about the accident and wanted to see how Adriana was,” I express softly, in case Adriana was asleep. Tory looks like she’s about to throw me out. But then, her sister speaks.
“Jake, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Adriana’s voice is small and fragile. It breaks my heart to hear it. I hate being around sick people. It brings out my sensitive side. Before Carmen, I wouldn’t have been able to admit it. I turn and face her. She has a cast on her left arm and left leg. Her forehead is covered in bandages, and there’s an IV in her arm. I frown down at her.
“It’s all right. I forgive you,” I tell her. Though, I don’t think that I have the right to forgive her. I think that it’s all up to Maggie. She’s the one that really suffered. But I don’t have the heart to tell her that.
“How’s Carmen?” she rasps out. “Jill told me that you love her.”
“Yes, I do,” I say, feeling awkward. Tory’s eyes are trained on me. She seems suspicious. Then again, she always is.
“Adriana, what’s going on? Tory demands.
“I did something really bad,” Adriana admits. Tory glares at me.
“You weren’t in love with Jake. You followed your heart, Adriana,” Tory defends. And I try not to get upset by the fact that Tory is spinning the truth. Adriana cheated on me. It doesn’t matter how she felt about Dillon, she shouldn’t have strung me along. It didn’t matter that I was beyond caring at that point. When it comes down to it, Adriana and I wasted a huge chunk of time. I sigh.
“Listen, Tory, I didn’t come here to upset Adriana. I came to say that I’m sorry for how I handled things at the wedding.” Adriana weakly smiles up at me.
“I forgive you, Jake,” she says and then she drifts off.