While Daniella spoke, Jett’s parents emerged from Owen’s room. As they did, the nurses went inside behind them, presumably to check on Owen’s condition. Jo and David walked out, they came towards Jett and hugged him.
Tricia nudged Daniella and asked, “Who is that?”
“Oh,” Daniella said as she looked at her mom and her best friend. “Those are Jett’s adoptive parents, Jo and David Conrad.”
They noticed Daniella and walked over towards her.
“Hello,” Jett’s mother said. “I’m Jo and this is my husband David. We’re Jett’s folks.” She looked at Marilyn and said, “And you must be Daniella’s mother. You must be so proud, she’s such a lovely young woman.”
“Oh, I…” Daniella’s mom replied with an awkward smile.
Daniella knew good and well that Jo’s sincerity caught her off guard. If there was one thing she and Tricia were certain of, it was that her mother wouldn’t reply with anything other than a similar compliment about Jett.
It was against her very nature.
“Well,” her mother began. “Jett is a very handsome man. I’m sure that you are both proud that he turned out to be so, um, adven… turous.” Marilyn quickly extended her hand in an effort to alleviate the awkwardness she’d single handedly created. “My name is Marilyn,” she said. “It’s lovely to meet you both.”
Daniella and Tricia looked at each other and giggled. Marilyn never failed to disappoint. But no sooner did the laughter subside than the door to Owen’s room flew open. At once, everyone’s attention turned toward it.
“Doctor!” Nurse Weems shouted in Dr. Alexander’s direction. “Please come quickly!”
Daniella left her position next to her mother and Tricia and walked over to Jett. At the same time, Jett’s parents turned and stood next to him as well.
“I wonder what happened.” Jo said. “He was awake and fine when we left. Maybe a little drowsy but otherwise alright.”
Jett shrugged. “I dunno. In that delicate state, anything is possible.”
Marilyn walked up behind Daniella and whispered, “Daniella, who is in there? What is this all about?”
“Mom,” Daniella said as she turned to face her. “I promised you I would tell you everything just not right this second, okay?”
To Daniella’s surprise, her mother seemed to get the message and backed down. For several minutes afterward, the group waited in relative silence when Dr. Alexander re-emerged.
“Doctor,” Jett said with a nervous tone. “What happened? Is he okay?”
The doctor shook his head. With a grim look on his face, he gestured for everyone assembled to move closer.
“Everyone,” he began as he cleared his throat. “It seems as if the swelling in Mr. Carmichael’s brain caused him to go into seizure. In order to prevent any further possibility for serious injury, we induced a coma.”
“A coma…” Daniella gasped. “Well, how long will he be like that?”
“Very difficult to say, I’m afraid.” He replied. “Much of it depends on how the next twenty four to forty eight hours goes. Now, I’ll answer any question that you have but it will be just a few minutes. Please excuse me.”
As the doctor rushed back into Owen’s room, silence hung in the air for several moments. At last Jett’s father walked towards him and placed his hand on Jett’s shoulder.
“Son,” he began. “Owen asked me to give this to you.” He reached in his shirt pocket and produced Owen’s turquoise amulet necklace.
Jett took it into the palm of his hand and looked at it. “His necklace?” He said. “I… I don’t understand. Why would he give this to me?”
“Jett,” his father replied as he shook his head. “That… is no mere necklace.”
“What?” Jett said. “What do you mean?”
“That is the Amulet of Meruvis,” Jo said.
David nodded. “Owen told me he made a promise to your father just before he died.” He looked at Jett with moist eyes. “By giving you this, he’s fulfilled that promise now.”
“Daniella,” Marilyn replied. “What in the world is going on?”
Daniella nodded and said, “Don’t worry about it, Mom. It’s a long story but I’ll explain it all to you. I swear.”
Daniella walked away from her mother to Jett’s side.
“What should we do now?” She said.
Jett looked at the necklace for a few moments and replied, “I don’t know right now.”
“Well…” Officer Holder interrupted. “I can tell you this much… You need to figure something out and quick. I only have authority to keep you out of jail for a couple of days. There’s no time.”
Jett’s father put his arm around him. “Son, Owen told me how far you’ve come.” He said. “He believes in you. You’re the only one that can face Kane.”
Jett remained silent as Daniella rushed closed to him.
“Face Kane? Alone?” Daniella said with panic in her voice. She gripped Jett’s upper arm.
“Look Jett, there’s really nothing I can do from a police standpoint.” Billy said. “I have a couple of buddies up in the Fesser’s Grove PD. I’m not sure even what the hell I’d say to them though to be honest.”
“Hey man,” Jett said. “I appreciate it but as you can probably guess, this isn’t a matter for the police. I have to figure something out, for all of us and soon.”
“That’s true,” Billy nodded. “All of the evidence points to you. As far as Pine Hill is concerned, the case is as good as closed. I’m risking a lot but I trust Daniella and I have to say that it’s becoming harder to not believe you as well. But what I or anyone else here believes doesn’t matter. Unless you can come up with evidence or a confession to the contrary, I will have no choice but to put all of you back in jail.”
David stepped towards Jett and said, “Son, you know your mother and I support you as well. With any luck, Owen will get better soon but even if he doesn’t, we’ll figure something out.”
As Daniella hugged Jett close, he clutched the amulet and said, “I know we will.”
Daniella’s mother began to weep.
***
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Broken Bear 3…
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Broken Bear 2
Reclaiming
Copyright 2014 by Gabrielle R. Demonico
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All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.
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