Thank you for your visits.
Disclaimer: PJO is not mine.
4 - The Hard Truth
We exited the apartment and hailed at cab to get to the hospital. It didn't take us long to get there. Pearl took us to the 3rd floor. Once the elevator doors opened, I saw the sign that said "Floor 3 Oncology". We walked a couple of feet to find a nurse gasping and running at us. She kneeled in front of Pearl.
"Pearl, you got me so worried. You mom has been asking for you" said the nurse hugging Pearl. She stood up and we shook hands.
"Hello, I am Nurse Rose. I didn't know that Pearl had such a cute uncle" said Rose flirting a bit at me. Annabeth was annoyed at her.
"Hi, Nurse Rose. I am Annabeth and this is Percy, my boyfriend" said Annabeth marking her territory. Rose blushed in embarrassment and nodded at her.
"How is my sister?" I asked politely. Joanna wasn't my sister, but she called me Pearl's uncle. I wasn't going to deny it. I wanted to talk to Joanna and cleared up the situation.
"Well, I think you should wait for Doctor Hamilton and talk to him. I will page him. Meanwhile, you should see her. She is awake right now" said Nurse Rose. Pearl ran to the room and I heard her talking to her mom. I took a big breath before entering the room. Annabeth was behind me taking my hand.
I saw tubes and needles around this blonde petite woman. She was in her late 20's at most. She could be Annabeth's sister. She was pretty but sickness had her in very bad shape. Joanna was hugging Pearl and looked at us. I could see in her eyes surprise and a bit of fear.
"Pearl, honey. Who are they?" said Joanna. Her voice was weak but firm.
"This is my brother Percy, mom. I found daddy. He had to go to a business meeting. Daddy will make everything right. Right, Percy?" said Pearl very happy.
"Yes, Pearl. Hello, I am Percy and this is my girlfriend Annabeth. Yesterday, we found Pearl alone and we took her with us so she could rest and take a shower" I said. That was the best way to put it.
"Thank you, Percy and Annabeth. I am constantly worried of Pearl spending all day and night here. I am grateful that you took her somewhere else" said Joanna.
"You are welcome" said Annabeth sitting in a visitors' chair. I stood there watching mother and daughter hugging each other. I could Joanna was in pain but she hide it from Pearl.
"Pearl. Why don't you take Annabeth in a tour on the hospital? She would love to see the architectural details" I said and Annabeth took the cue.
"Right, Pearl. Show me everything around here. Come on. Let's go" said Annabeth taking Pearl hand. Pearl nodded at her and they left us alone.
"Can I sit down?" I asked Percy
"Sure, are you really son of her father?" asked Joanna.
"I guess so. Do you know that Pearl is special?" I said.
"Well, she is very intelligent, but I don't think that she is that different than other kids. Though she has intuition about earthquakes and loves going to the beach" said Joanna. She took my hand.
"How did you meet my dad?" I asked.
"I really wouldn't like to tell you, but I guess I have to. A couple of years ago, I was on summer vacations in California. I was at the beach with my friends when this man in his mid-thirties approached at us clearly confused saying weird things about a palace, forges and other weird things. My girlfriends ran to call the police but I approached at him and asked him if he needed help. He shrugged and smiled at me. I must say: that smile captivated my heart. He had the most beautiful eyes that I have ever seen. I can see you have his eyes too. He left running when the police came" said Joanna and took a big and hurt breath. She was in pain.
"The next day, he was there again, more composed and less crazy. You could say that. He greeted me and told me he was Poseidon. That's a bizarre name even for a Greek as me. He apologized for his behavior previous day by saying that he was so worried about his missing son. I guess he meant you. Right? Where were you? You father was so concerned and sad" continued talking Joanna and smiled at me. I could see why dad liked her. She was beautiful when she smiled.
"I had an accident overseas and was in comma for a month" I lied. She didn't know about demigods. Why scared her?
"Well, we sat down on the beach and talked for hours. He told me weird stories about sea creatures and a dolphin king. He made laugh so hard. The following day he was there waiting for me. I remember running at him and I kissed him" said Joanna blushing. I felt a bit uncomfortable hearing that about my dad.
"I will spare you of the details. I returned here after my week with your father. Later, I found out that I was pregnant. I tried to find him but I wasn't lucky. I was scared of having Pearl but yet I was so happy. As you can see, I am alone. I lost my parents and sisters in a car accident in Greece ten years ago" said Joanna. She massaged my hand with her thumb looking at me expecting me to say something.
"I see. I guess it's really lucky that we found her yesterday. She was outside the hospital with Nurse Rose. She told us about her and you and we took her with us to my mom who is divorced from my dad" I lied a bit more.
"That's really lucky. I guess it was meant to be. You had to find her before she was completely alone" said Joanna looking away.
"Are you..?" I asked scared of the answer.
"Yes" said Joanna and tears appeared in her eyes. I really didn't know what to say. I just stood there taking her hand listening to her sobbing and crying.
Minutes passes and she wasn't crying anymore. A Doctor appeared in the door greeting us.
"Miss Nikolaidis. How are we today?" said the doctor.
"Fine. Doctor Hamilton. This is my brother Percy. He came here for Pearl" said Joanna smiling at me.
"Perfect. Pearl has suffered the whole summer with us. She should be at camp having fun. Nice to meet you, Mr.?" said the doctor shaking my hand.
"Jackson, we are half-brothers. Nice to meet you" I lied.
"That doesn't matter. The important thing is that Pearl will have someone to look after her. This is no place for her. Don't get me wrong Mister Jackson. We all loved Pearl here with us but she is a little girl who should be in a happier environment. For example, last week was her birthday and she spent with us doctors and nurses" said the doctor looking a Joanna medical chart.
"Yes. I guess. Doctor, can I talk to you in private about my sister?" I asked.
"There is no need, Percy. You can talk in front of me. I don't want Pearl to eavesdropping" said Joanna.
"Ok. How much time does my sister have?" I asked staring at Joanna. She started crying again.
"It's hard to tell exactly but less than two weeks. Sadly, we found out of the cancer too late to do something about it. We are here only making her as comfortable as possible. The funeral has been arranged it. Our only concern is Pearl right now. Once Joanna is gone, she would be placed in foster care. Unless, you take care of her" said the doctor looking directly at me.
"I don't know what to say. I haven't seen my sister in years. I didn't even know about Pearl until yesterday" I lied and yet I was saying the truth. Me taking care of a little girl like my own. It was heavy stuff.
"Percy, maybe your dad could take care of her?" asked Joanna.
"I don't know really he can. I just need to think about it, sis" I said to Joanna keeping the lie about us.
"Ok, think about it. Doctor, how is your wife doing?" said Joanna changing the conversation about happier topics. They engaged small talk about the doctor's pregnant wife and I sat there deep in thought. Was I ready to raise my sister? I was already ready to get married to Annabeth. But having family that soon? I didn't know how Annabeth would take the news.
The doctor left and Joanna fell asleep and a while later Annabeth and Pearl came to the room. Pearl saw her mom sleeping and took a nap at her side. Annabeth sat in my lap. We didn't say a thing for a while. We listened the sounds of the machines around Joanna and the even breathing of the sleeping girls.
"Is she really your sister?" asked Annabeth making small circles with her thumb in my arm.
I took a big breath and said "Yes, Joanna told me about how she met my dad. You were right. It was the time I was missing and the split personalities. Annabeth, I must tell you something, but I don't know how"
"What's wrong? You can't tell me" said Annabeth kissing my lips tenderly. I stared at her beautiful grey eyes gathering strength to say it.
"Joanna is dying. She has a couple of days. Once she is gone, Pearl will have no one. She probably will end up in foster care" I said. I felt Annabeth tensed and her eyes were watering.
"Oh Gods, poor Pearl. What are we going to do?" said Annabeth wiping her tears.
"I don't know yet Annabeth. I think we need to talk to my dad first. She could stay with us or my mom's meanwhile. She shouldn't be here all day and night" I said and Annabeth nodded.
"We'll see that later. Are we going back to you mom for lunch?" said Annabeth staring at Pearl.
"I think so. We should take Pearl with us. She should eat with all of us" I said. Annabeth stood up and shook Pearl to wake her up. She looked at us with a sleepy face.
"Pearl, we are going for lunch with my mom. I think you should come to" I said. She nodded but turned to her sleepy mom.
"I don't want to leave my mom, Percy" said Pearl.
In that moment, Joanna woke up and Pearl kissed her.
"Mom, Percy is going for lunch. Can I stay with you?" asked Pearl snuggling in her chest. Joanna stroked and kissed her hair.
"Baby, you should go with your brother. Don't worry I will see you later. I love you so much" said Joanna. Pearl nodded at her and walked out of the room waiting for us.
"See you later, Joanna" said Annabeth and walked out too.
"Don't worry. She is in good hands" I said staring at her.
"Take care of my little girl, Percy" said Joanna and closed her eyes. I left the room. Annabeth was giving a piece of paper to Nurse Rose and saying goodbye.
We took a taxi cab to my mom's. We were already there when I remembered to buy the pie. I left the girls in the apartment building and ran to the supermarket to buy a cherry pie.