by Paula Kay
“So, young lady. How’s your head feeling?” He bent close to her face, the fingers of one hand gently opening first one eye and then the other as he shone a bright light into each.
“Uhm. I’ve felt better.” Among other things she was feeling, Jemma suddenly felt shy and embarrassed as the doctor helped her to a sitting position and proceeded to check her heart and her other vitals.
“Well, I bet you have.” He winked at her and instantly Jemma felt more at ease. “I need to ask you some questions, Jemma.” He turned to her mother and Chase. “Since she’s under eighteen, I can’t ask you to leave but I think it’s to the benefit of Jemma that she feel unhindered in answering my questions honestly. My experience with minors is that she’s more likely to do so with some privacy. But that is your decision.”
He had a warm smile and Jemma decided that she did like him. Blu got up from her chair and leaned over to give Jemma a kiss on the forehead before taking Chase’s hand.
“We’ll just be out in the hall—if you need to talk to us after.”
“Very good. Yes, I’ll call you in when we’re finished talking. Thank you.” He pulled the chair over that Blu had been sitting in and stuck his hand out towards Jemma in one motion. “I’m Dr. Sanders, by the way. I was on call last night when they brought you in by ambulance.”
“Nice to meet you, Doc.” Jemma shook his hand, recognizing that her own handshake was less than firm. “So I came in by ambulance, huh? How strange.”
“What’s strange, Jemma?”
“It’s strange that I don’t really remember any of it.”
“Well, you had a high degree of alcohol in your system—an amount that could have very well been fatal if your friends hadn’t called for help.”
“Really?” She didn’t know if the slight disbelief she was feeling was the fact that she’d drunk enough alcohol to have her stomach pumped or the fact that any of those people at the party had had the sense to recognize that something was wrong with her.
“Yes, really.” Dr. Sanders seemed to be studying her carefully and Jemma wondered if he had teenagers himself. He seemed to have a fatherly way about him. “Jemma, this is very serious. Do you understand that?”
She nodded her head slowly, wondering where he was going with the conversation. “How did my mom find out?” She didn’t know yet how much the doctor knew about her situation—the fact that she was basically a runaway at this point.
“I guess one of your friends had the sense to give the paramedic your purse last night as they were loading you onto the ambulance. They got your mom’s number from your phone inside.” He was watching her face. “So really this conversation is about our discussing the alcohol poisoning—the seriousness of it. There’ll be a social worker in later to discuss options for your treatment with your parents. The fact that you’d run away from home adds another layer to this puzzle that we’re going to have to solve to be sure that you get the right help when you leave here.”
Jemma had a knot in her stomach and a sense of foreboding like she’d not had before. “I’m almost eighteen.” It was a whisper but Dr. Sanders heard her.
“Right. And until then, you’re parents really do get to make the decisions about what is the best thing for you.” He looked at her intently. “I’ve talked to your mom and I’m aware that you’ve been having some problems at home. Do you feel like this has had a big impact on your drinking?”
Jemma shook her head and then met the doctor’s eyes. She was desperately trying to keep the tears from coming, but she knew she was failing as she felt the wetness on her face. “I dunno. I mean, I don’t know if I drink more than other kids my age. And yeah, it’s true that there’s been a lot of stuff going on lately—bad stuff—that leaves me just wanting to forget everything, but I really don’t think that I have a problem or anything like that.”
Was he suggesting that she might be an alcoholic?
He was looking at her carefully again. “Jemma.”
She nodded for him to continue, knowing it wasn’t an argument that she’d be winning any time soon.
“Almost dying from alcohol poisoning is a problem.”
She met his eyes, noticing again that they were kind, not judgmental. She nodded her head.
“It’s a problem that we need to address. You’re too young and you have too much ahead of you to be making mistakes that could cost you your life.”
Jemma’s tears were falling freely now. She didn’t know if her crying was so much about the words he was saying to her or more because her time away with Dex in LA was sure to be over now.
“I’m going to recommend to your mom that you go into a treatment center.”
“Rehab?”
“Well, if you want to call it that, yes. But it’s a different sort of program than what you are probably thinking about—one aimed at young people, like yourself.”
“For how long?” Jemma could feel her guard—her defenses—going back up now. She was not going to a rehab program.
“Well. It’s always a case-by-case basis, but typically you’d start with a minimum of thirty days—”
“I’ll be eighteen in three weeks.” Jemma interrupted him.
“Okay. It’s true that when you turn eighteen, you’ll be able to check yourself out—assuming that you aren’t a threat to yourself any longer—but how about if we cross that bridge when we come to it?”
“Have you already discussed this with my mother?” A thought suddenly occurred to her. “She’s not my mother, you know?” She watched his face for a sign of surprise. “Did you know that? I mean surely it’s questionable what kind of decisions she is able to make for me at all.”
“Linda is here too. I’ve met them both and they did fill me in on the larger points of the issues you’ve been having.” He reached out to place his hand on Jemma’s arm and she didn’t move it away. “It’s obvious to me that you have a family here that loves you and wants what’s best for you. I’d like for you to remain in the hospital tonight—we need to get some more fluids in you. A social worker will be in later to discuss what needs to be decided before you leave, but for now, I want you to have a good long think about everything, okay?”
Jemma nodded and Dr. Sanders got up to leave, turning before he walked out the door. “I’ll send your mother in now.”
Chapter 16
Jemma felt stunned. How had she let things get so out-of-hand? She was still reeling from the fact that she was lying in a hospital bed. She thought about everything the doctor had just told her. She would not be going to rehab. She was pretty sure that she could talk her mom out of that idea—but Chase? That was another story. He’d have something to say about it, and he could be very persuasive with Blu when it came to Jemma.
Jemma’s attention turned towards the door as it flung open.
She barely had a moment of recognition before Gigi was in the room and by her side, leaning down to give her a big hug and kiss.
“Oh, I’m so mad at you, darling girl. You gave us such a scare.”
Jemma could see the tears in Gigi’s eyes and her heart plummeted because of it.
“Gigi, what are you doing here?” In order for Gigi to have arrived from Guatemala, she would have had to have jumped on a flight late last night or early this morning. “Honestly, I’m going to be fine.” She couldn’t believe that her mom would have told Gigi to come all this way, but if she was being honest with herself, it felt wonderful that she was there—like somehow Gigi was going to help them all make sense of everything. She’d always been that for Jemma—a life raft of sorts during the stormiest of times with her mother and Chase.
“Yes, you are going to be fine, my lovely girl, and I’ve been thinking of coming anyway—ever since you seemed to have lost your mind just a little bit.”
Gigi was teasing her, and Jemma laughed lightly as the older woman stroked her hair. Blu had slipped in and was quietly standing behind Gigi’s chair.
“I think we’ve all lost our minds just a
little bit,” Blu said, also laughing lightly. She looked at Jemma. “Chase and Mom—Grandma—are down the hall—with Kylie.”
“Kylie’s here too?” For some reason Jemma hadn’t stopped to think that her sister probably would be there. She was desperate to see her but she also didn’t want to scare her. “Is she okay? About everything here, I mean?” Jemma asked Blu.
“Yeah, well, she was as scared as we all were when we arrived last night, but we’ve told her that you’re going to be alright—that she can see you soon.”
“Can I see her now?”
“Sure. You spend a little time with Gigi and I’ll go get her.”
Jemma reached for the necklace that no longer seemed to be around her neck. She motioned to the nurse who was placing fresh water next to the other side of her bed.
“Excuse me. I was wearing a necklace last night. Do you know where it is?”
The nurse nodded her head and opened a drawer in the table next to Jemma’s bed. “All of your personal items are here.”
Jemma reached over to grab the necklace, noticing that the delicate band had been cut, rather than released with the clasp.
“I know. Sorry about that. It’s just protocol. They get a little scissors-happy in the emergency room sometimes—getting clothes and whatnot off the patients.”
Jemma frowned but at least she still had the necklace. She noticed Gigi watching her, a question on her face.
“It’s just something Kylie made for me right before—right before I left.”
Gigi was staring at her intently. “You and your sister really do have a very special bond. Kylie looks up to you, you know, Jemma. And that’s a responsibility.”
“I know. And I know that she probably shouldn’t—look up to me, I mean. I’m not the world’s best role model as a big sister.”
“Well, ya know what?”
“What?”
“You’re all she’s got.”
Jemma looked at her, wondering what exactly Gigi was getting at.
“As a big sister, I mean. It’s not like she’s gonna get another one.”
“I know.” Jemma did feel bad when it came to Kylie.
“But let’s talk about something else before she gets here.”
Jemma looked Gigi in the eyes.
“What’s your plan, Jemma? You’re obviously not a child any longer, and you’re getting close to having to make some pretty big decisions in your life.”
Jemma looked down at her hands, too nervous to look Gigi in the eye. “About the money, ya mean?”
“Well, yes. But not just the money, honey. You have your whole future ahead of you and enough money to fund whatever education goals—or other positive endeavors—that you see in your future. I mean, have you even been thinking about any of that?”
“Kinda. I mean, I guess if I’m being honest, I probably got a little sidetracked this year.”
Gigi had a funny look on her face as she leaned over and lightly pulled a strand of Jemma’s hair. “Ya think, kiddo?”
Jemma laughed despite the sudden discomfort about the serious topic. Gigi had a way of doing that with her—getting her to think about serious things but in a way that wasn’t quite so serious. Jemma loved that about her.
“Okay, I guess you have a point.”
“Well, listen. Kylie’s gonna be here soon and I’m sure Linda wants to see you. Afterwards, your mom and I are going to have some serious things to discuss with you, okay?”
“Like?” Jemma thought about what Dr. Sanders had said to her with his rehab recommendation, and she knew it would be a conversation to dread.
“Like, we’ll talk about it in a little while.”
They both looked up as Kylie came running into the room full-speed for Jemma’s bed. The little girl climbed up and, after staring at Jemma for what seemed longer than the mere seconds it probably was, wrapped her skinny arms around her sister and squeezed her tight.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, Jemma.” Kylie’s voice was muffled by the blanket that her face was nuzzled into. “I was so scared.”
Jemma put her fingers under the little girl’s chin, lifting her face so that they were looking at each other in the eye. “I’m really sorry, Kylie. And I’m okay. You know that, right?”
Kylie nodded her head and just hugged Jemma tight again.
Jemma looked over at her grandma, mom and Chase, not missing the tears coming down Linda’s face. Jemma still could only think of her as her grandmother, but it did suddenly hit her again that Linda was her mother. She couldn’t think about all that right now, though.
Her grandmother reached over Kylie to give her a kiss and hug, and Gigi stood up from the chair where she was sitting to give them all some more room. Jemma thought she saw a look pass between all of the adults in the room—for sure between her mom and Gigi—but she tried not to think about what was up with them as she focused her attention back on her sister lying in the hospital bed next to her.
“Are you going to come home with us?”
Jemma held her breath—not at all sure how to answer Kylie as she looked over at her mom and Chase. No, she was pretty sure that she would not be going home with them when she left the hospital.
“Kylie, we still need to figure all of that out.” Blu had jumped in, saving Jemma from wondering what to say to her sister.
“Well, I don’t want you to be gone any more.” Kylie started to cry, and Jemma was quick to hug her close.
“Kylie, don’t cry. Everything’s going to be fine.”
But in Jemma’s head, everything was far from fine and she didn’t know how to make sense of any of it.
Linda crossed the room then to gently pry Kylie away from Jemma’s bed. “Come on, Kylie, let’s go down to get that ice cream you’ve been wanting.”
Kylie looked at Jemma as if for permission.
“Go on. That sounds good. Maybe bring me back an ice cream sandwich.”
“Okay.” Kylie gave her a last squeeze and then followed her grandmother out of the room.
Gigi sat next to Jemma’s bed with Blu and Chase right beside her. Jemma got the distinct impression that they were the united front and she should prepare herself for battle. But she had a feeling, even as she had the thought, that it was a battle she’d not be winning. She took a deep breath.
“Okay, so what is it? Why are you all looking at me like that? If it matters, I’m really sorry that I’m here—that we’re all here—and that I’ve put you all through this. I really didn’t mean for it to happen.”
Chase reached over to put his hand on her arm. “We know that you didn’t intentionally hurt yourself, Jemma.”
Jemma nodded her head as Chase continued.
“But we’re not willing to just sweep everything under the rug either. There’s too much at stake.” Chase’s arm was around Blu, who’d started to cry.
“Jemma, I couldn’t bear to lose you. I won’t lose you.” Blu reached down to hug her.
“I think you guys are being just a little bit dramatic here.” Jemma bit her lip, judging it better to just listen first. “So what are we talking about then? Going back to San Diego, I assume?”
Her mom and Chase looked at each other before Blu spoke.
“No. We’re prepared to follow Dr. Sanders’ advice, getting you into a treatment center nearby—”
“No! I won’t go to rehab!” Jemma could feel the tears falling as she sat up straighter in bed.
“Or—” Gigi had reached out to grab her hand now. “You can come back to the orphanage with me.”
Jemma looked from Gigi to her mom and Chase, not sure what to make of the conversation, but pretty sure that they were giving her an ultimatum.
“We think that staying with Gigi and Douglas might be good for you—being away from your friends and the other influences in your life right now. Maybe that’s enough to stop this pattern of drinking and partying. If it’s not—and you really do have a problem with alcohol—then we can find you a treatment center�
�”
“—But I’ll be eighteen then. You can’t make me go once I’m eighteen.” Jemma interrupted her mom.
“Yes, that’s true.” Gigi was squeezing her hand as she spoke to her. “I guess we’re counting on you to really do some soul-searching to figure out what it is that you want for your life, honey. Sometimes it’s easier to do that when you’re able to get away from normal routine—from your normal life—which we all know hasn’t been easy for you lately.”
“So basically, the choice is up to you.” Chase said. “You can either leave here to go straight into a treatment center or you can be on the plane to Guatemala with Gigi the day after tomorrow.”
Jemma was crying. She didn’t want to do either of those things. What she wanted was to see Dex—to just pretend that none of this was happening.
“Can I see Dex before I leave?” She was asking her mom.
Blu looked at Chase, who was nodding. “Can we trust you not to run away? Maybe we could all meet with him together.”
Jemma cringed at Chase’s suggestion. She didn’t have a lot of options, though. She realized that. Only three weeks. She’d manage, and hopefully Dex would wait for her while she was gone.
“Okay.” She leaned over to hug Gigi. “I’ll go with you back to the orphanage.”
Gigi reached out to push the hair back from Jemma’s forehead. “Good. We’ll have a great time. You’ll see. And things will be better before you know it.”
Chapter 17
As soon as the flight attendant made the announcement that they were free to move about the cabin, Jemma leaned her chair all the way back as she stared out the window. She angled her face and body even more, hoping that Gigi would think she was going to sleep. She wasn’t ready to talk yet—not even to Gigi.
She closed her eyes as a few tears made their way down her cheeks, not bothering to wipe them away. She was remembering the conversation that she’d had with Dex the day before, after she’d gotten released from the hospital and they’d all checked into a hotel nearby.