I shake my head no and grab my shot. “What I want to do is get drunk and dance.”
***
MY EYES SLOWLY OPEN. MY head is killing me, and I’m about to double over in pain. “Jodi,” I squeak, but she doesn’t come. I push my feet out of the bed but they give out and I end up on the floor. “Jodi,” I try again. Apparently, I should have skipped the dancing part of the evening.
My eyes water as pain takes over. I open my mouth again but I can’t get my voice to work. I just need to find some damn pain pills because it feels like someone is inside my body stabbing me with a knife. I push up on my hands and knees and start crawling towards the door, but I don’t make it far before the pain takes over and the room goes dark.
I STOPPED DRINKING AFTER LENNIE left, but that did little to ease the mood I was in. I know I was acting like a dick. Deep down, I don’t think Lennie was out with another guy yesterday, but it still pisses me off that she wasn’t being honest. I want her to open up and tell me everything. I want her to want me as much as I want her, and that doesn’t seem to be the case. Figuring out what Lennie is going to say or do is like predicting the Powerball numbers. However, since our trip to Galveston, she’s calmed down a great deal, and I thought I was working my way into her heart. Only now I have no freaking clue what to think, but I know I’m not about to let her off this easy.
After my morning coffee, I walk across the hall and knock on Jodi’s door. Worry starts to set in when minutes pass, but finally Jodi answers.
“Hey, Tyler. Lennie is still in bed.” Tension starts to melt with the knowledge that Lennie is here and not out doing God only knows what. “Would you like some coffee? I just started a pot.”
“No thank you. I’ve already had some.” I rock back on my feet, hoping like hell she’s okay with me sneaking into her sister’s room.
“Who knows when Lennie is going to wake up. The two of us went out last night and had a few drinks.”
“Ah.” That explains why Jodi isn’t dressed and ready to head out the door on a Thursday morning.
“Do you care if I pop in and check on her? Yesterday we kind of had a...”
“A fight?” My eyes narrow, unsure of what Lennie has told her. “I got that impression last night, but you need to know that Lennie doesn’t deal well with pressure.”
I remain silent, unsure of what to say. Jodi knows Lennie better than anyone else, and if she’s willing to give me pointers, then I’m willing to listen.
“There’s a huge gap in Lennie’s childhood that was spent trying to cure her cancer that everyone overlooked, everything she missed out on, and that includes the part where she learned how to handle stress. When something happens and she doesn’t know how to react, she leaves.”
My stomach instantly starts turning as the fear of Lennie running once again takes over. “She’ll either always be that way, or someone...” She pauses and locks eyes with me. “...or someone will finally break through and reach her on a level I never could.”
“I want to be that someone.” The words are out of my mouth before I realize I said them.
“Good. I’m happy to hear that because, Tyler, in my opinion, she’s let you in more than anyone else.”
I hang my head in defeat. Jodi’s words might be true, but I’m nowhere near the level I want to be with Lennie, and the fact that Jodi thinks I’ve made it further than anyone else leaves me wondering how long it’s going to take to break through all of her walls.
“Go and check on her. I need to start cleaning up for court.” Jodi walks down the hall towards her room, and I make my way to Lennie’s door. I softly knock a few times, but she doesn’t respond. I take a deep breath and slowly push the door open. I glance at the bed only to find it empty before my eyes lock on Lennie passed out on the floor.
“Geez, how much did you drink last night?” I huff to myself on my way to her. I squat down next her and instantly I can tell something’s not right. “Lennie?” I rock her arm back and forth, but she’s not responding. I grab her wrist, looking for a pulse.
“Jodi!” I shout as loud as possible seconds before I find a faint pulse.
“Oh my God. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. How much did she have to drink?”
“Not that much. She didn’t even act drunk.” Tears start pouring down Jodi’s face. “Oh. My. God,” she says, acting like a light bulb went off. “She’s sick.”
My heart starts pounding in my chest. “What?”
“We need to call 911.”
Jodi starts to take off as I scoop Lennie up in my arms. “Screw that. An ambulance will take forever. I’ll drive her to the hospital.” I start making my way to her door with Jodi following behind me.
Between the two of us, we get Lennie in my vehicle. Jodi sits in the back with her as I drive as fast as possible to the nearest hospital.
I somehow make it there within minutes. I pull straight up to the ER and jump out.
“Sir, you can’t park here.”
“I need a doctor, please.” A security officer see’s Jodi with Lennie and thankfully calls for help. Moments later, Lennie is on a bed and being taken from me.
“Sir, you’ll need to move your vehicle.”
“Go. I’ll stay with her.” Jodi waves me off before disappearing with Lennie. I jump in and park my SUV in the first spot I see then run inside. Jodi is rattling off things to a nurse, but her last comment causes me to stop in my tracks.
“She’s a leukemia survivor and she thinks her leukemia is back.”
My mouth drops open as my breathing becomes labored. “She what?” I whisper. Somehow, Jodi hears me and turns to face me.
“The doctor will order a full screen. We’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as we know something,” the nurse says before taking off down a hallway.
“She’s sick?”
Tears continue to fall down her cheeks as she silently nods her head. “At least she thinks she is. She put off her yearly checkup so it hasn’t been confirmed.”
“I thought she had an appointment set up for next week?”
“She does, but she should have been seen weeks ago.”
I drop into a chair in the waiting room as my world continues to spin out of control.
The woman I’m in love with is once again fighting for her life, a fight I already know in my heart she’s not willing to take on.
***
WHEN LENNIE’S PARENTS SHOW UP, I officially feel out of place. I have no desire to call anyone in my family, so I dial Chad, the only person who has had my back over the years.
When he arrives, I watch him fight with himself on how he should act around Jodi. I’ve been so wrapped up in Lennie and our relationship that I have no idea where things stand between the two of them.
“So you don’t know what’s going on?”
I groan, “Nope.”
Chad looks over at Jodi, who’s talking to her parents. “She’s been preparing for this for a long time. I only wish you could have been as well.”
My eyes snap towards Chad. “What the hell are you talking about?”
The only thing I told Chad was that Lennie was in the hospital. I’m not ready to believe she’s sick, let alone say the words aloud.
Chad breathes out a long sigh while keeping his eyes lock on Jodi. “The night I first noticed Jodi she wasn’t just drunk, she was crying.” My eyes narrow. I’ve heard this story before. “She was crying about how someone she loved didn’t care if they lived or died, and that she couldn’t stand by and watch the person she loves the most die.” Chad’s eyes move towards mine. “Until then, she was always so put together that I never saw the woman behind the uptight clothing. At the time, I had no idea who she was talking about, but I felt the love she has for whoever this person is and it hit me on a level I wasn’t expecting.”
Chad’s never spoken in detail about the night he decided Jodi Jacobs was the woman he wanted, and until now, I never thought to ask.
“Jod
i told you she was sick?” That would explain Chad’s sudden attitude towards Lennie.
“I saw her after you two took off. She was upset and let it slip.”
“That’s why you’ve been different towards Lennie,” I mumble more to myself than anyone else.
“I didn’t mean to be, and if it matters at all, I do like Lennie. She’s definitely not Amber, but that doesn’t mean I’m okay watching you end up hurt.”
I shake my head. “It’s not the same thing. Yes, she should have told me, but it wouldn’t have mattered if she did. I can’t walk away from her.”
I hop up and walk towards Lennie’s family. I hate that I’m meeting her parents like this, but I need to know what the hell is going on.
“Dad, Mom, this is Tyler Brooker...Lennie’s friend.”
“Boyfriend,” I correct.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs.” I extend my hand, but Lennie’s father makes no attempt to greet me. I sigh and turn towards Jodi. “Have you heard anything?”
“No. Her oncologist doesn’t work at this hospital. Dad has already informed the staff here that he wants her transferred.”
Chad steps up next to Jodi with a grim smile. “Hey.” Jodi breaks out into tears as she steps into Chad’s arms.
“I’m Connie,” Lennie’s mother sadly says as she grabs my hand. “Nice to meet you.”
I take a glance at Lennie’s father only to find him shooting daggers at me. “Ignore him. He never thinks clearly when our baby is sick.”
To my surprise, she laughs. “Actually, neither of us have used our heads when dealing with Lennie.” Connie takes a seat and pats the chair next to her. She can see the questions in my eyes. “I wasn’t able to reach my little girl, and I’m hoping like hell if the doctors can extend her time on earth that you’re finally the one who can.”
I nervously take the seat next to her. “I don’t think there’s a person on earth that can make Lennie do something she doesn’t want to do.”
Connie nods her head and places her hand on top of mine. “I think you’re correct. The difference between you and me is you haven’t been cut out yet. There’s still hope for you.”
My mind races back to last night and how I acted like a jerk. “I think my time is nearing.”
“Oh, nonsense. I could tell by the way she didn’t want to talk about you the other day that you mean something to her. The old Lennie loved to rub every loser she was with in our faces. She made getting a reaction out of her father a life goal for a few years.”
“The Jacobs family?”
Everyone stops talking and looks at a doctor.
“Yes. I’m James Jacobs, Lennie’s father.”
“Let’s go somewhere more private to talk.” Without thinking, I start to follow only to have Mr. Jacobs glare at me.
“Oh, Daddy, stop it. Lennie wants him here,” Jodi says.
Mr. Jacobs slowly relents as I follow them to another waiting room.
“Ms. Jacobs was running a fever over a 105 when she was admitted. We started her on a high dose of antibiotics. I did an ultrasound. It appears that Ms. Jacobs is suffering from Cholecystitis.”
“What’s that?” Jodi questions.
“Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. It can be common with leukemia patients depending on the type of treatment Ms. Jacobs previously received. Either way, most people make it to the doctor long before they’re in this condition. I’m prepping her for surgery to remove her gallbladder. At this point, I’m hoping the infection hasn’t spread. If that’s the case, then she should be good as new in a couple of days.”
My racing heart finally starts to slow.
“Thank God,” Jodi says through a long breath.
“I’ll make sure she’s transferred from here to the treatment center,” Mr. Jacobs says.
“I ordered a full round of blood tests and had a rush order put on them. Once we get those back, we’ll see where we’re at and go from there.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Jodi speaks up before her father can say anything else.
“She needs Dr. Ross. She needs the proper treatment.” Mr. Jacob appears to be rambling to no one in particular.
“One thing at a time, Dad.”
“I knew she couldn’t be trusted. She was asked to do one damn thing and she couldn’t even do that.”
“James,” Mrs. Jacobs scolds, but the man either doesn’t care or didn’t hear her.
“All she had to do was book her yearly checkups and even that was too much for her to handle.”
“Dad, it wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it like?” he snaps. “She has done nothing but go out of her way to punish your mother and me for years. I guess this was her way of finally sticking it to us.”
My blood pressure rises listening to this man. He makes it sound like Lennie planned to be sick.
“Just stop!” Mrs. Jacobs yells, startling both James and Jodi. “Our daughter and your sister is having surgery. She might be sick. Hell, she might be dying, but until the day comes that God takes her from this earth, I’m not going to give up on her. And regardless of how she got here...she’s still here, and right now that’s all that matters.”
Jodi instantly nods her head, but James doesn’t say anything. I take a seat in the corner by myself while Chad sits down next to Jodi as a silence blankets the room.
***
THE FIVE OF US AWKWARDLY sit around the waiting room for a couple of hours before the doctor returns.
“Everything looks good. We removed her gallbladder and the infection hadn’t spread. I just looked over her blood test and her white blood cell count is normal under the circumstances.”
“Normal?” Lennie’s father’s eyes narrow.
“Yes. That was the first thing I checked. We’ll run it again, but right now everything looks good. Lennie is getting set up in a room. A nurse will come down and let you know the room number once she’s settled.”
“I want her transferred. Dr. Ross is waiting on you to contact him.”
The doctor’s forehead scrunches. “Mr. Jacobs, as of right now, there’s no reason to believe that Lennie’s leukemia has returned. Transferring her could do more harm than good. Let Lennie recover while we run more test, and if she wants to be transferred, I’ll make sure it happens.”
Mr. Jacobs’ face turns beat red. “This isn’t Lennie’s call. I’m stepping in and taking over, and I’m telling you I want her transferred.”
The doctor doesn’t act the least bit intimated when he replies, “You might be her father, but this isn’t your call. Lennie will be awake in a few hours, and she’ll get to make this decision. I’ll have a nurse come get you when she’s settled in a room.” Mr. Jacobs starts to argue again, but the doctor turns and walks out of the room.
Mr. Jacobs runs his hand through his hair. “This isn’t her call!” he shouts to no one in particular.
“James,” Connie softly says as she reaches out for her husband. “Don’t.”
He pulls away. “I’ve stood by and watched her throw her life down the drain for ten years but enough is enough.”
“Dad, you’re not being fair,” Jodi adds, causing him to point his harsh stare at her. “Lennie just wants to be accepted and none of us have stopped to see how difficult life has been for her.”
“Do you think this was easy on me? Because it wasn’t. None of this has been easy.” Before Jodi can reply, he storms out of the waiting room, leaving another awkward silence in his wake.
MY EYES SLOWLY OPEN. I glance around the room but nothing looks familiar. I start to sit up as a sharp pain shoots through my core. “Oh,” I groan, and within seconds, both Jodi and Tyler are standing next to the bed I’m lying in.
“Hey, baby, how are you feeling?”
I blink a few times, trying to process where I’m at and why I’m in pain.
“Lennie, are you all right?” Jodi questions.
I clear my scratchy throat. “I don’t know. Wh
ere am I?”
“You’re in the hospital. Tyler found you passed out on my guest room floor.”
My eyes move towards Tyler. “Oh.”
I don’t remember being on Jodi’s floor, but I do remember Tyler being mad at me, Jodi and I going out, then nothing.
“When will Dr. Ross be in?”
Jodi’s eyes narrow. “We didn’t take you to the cancer center. Tyler brought you here to Mercy health.”
“I’m at Mercy?”
“I didn’t know it mattered what hospital you needed. I drove to the closest one,” Tyler quickly adds.
“Lennie, your gallbladder was in the process of rupturing. That’s why you’ve been in pain.”
My eyes narrow. “It’s back.”
“No, you’re fine,” Jodi says with a smile on her face.
My heart starts to race along with my brain. Something has felt off for months, but the pain in my side only started a week or so ago. The look on my face must give away what I’m thinking.
“The doctor is still running tests, but, Lennie, your white blood cell count was normal.”
“It’s normal?”
Tyler squeezes my hand as Jodi happily answers. “Yes. You’re going to be fine.”
I want to believe Jodi, but I know my body. Something hasn’t been right and it’s been that way for a while now, but I force a smile, hoping to at least appease my sister, even if it’s short-lived.
“Good morning.” A man wearing a doctor’s jacket steps inside the room. “How are you feeling today, Ms. Jacobs?”
I nod my head. “Okay.”
The man smiles. “That’s good to hear. I’m Dr. Knott. I’ve been the one overseeing you since you’ve been admitted.”
I give him a small smile, but I remain silent.
“Your family was concerned that your leukemia has returned, but the tests I’ve run are showing that’s not the case. I’ve also been informed that you’re behind on your yearly checkup with your oncologist.”
I nod my head, but again I don’t say anything. “Okay. I’m still waiting to hear back on a few tests I’ve run, but if those come back clear, then I’m going to release you once I know you’re healing okay. But I do think you should make an appointment with your oncologist.”
Meeting The Unpredictable Page 20