Chapter 4

When I got home after work there was a message from Jeff saying he would meet me at our special place for dinner. It was a little Italian restaurant which stood where we had our first date. I ran upstairs to clean up and change into something more comfortable for the evening. My head was buzzing with every thing I had learned today, and I couldn't wait to tell Jeff all about it over dinner. I knew he would be so happy for me.

It was about 7:00pm when I got to the restaurant, but Jeff wasn't there yet. The hostess told me that he had called earlier, he was running late, so I should go ahead and get us a table. I grabbed the one we always sat at in the back corner, out of the way of everyone else. Checking my watch again, I was beginning to get a little worried. It had been one hour since Jeff had called and said he was on his way to the restaurant. This wasn't like him, he was never late!

Then an old friend of ours walked in, I waved and smiled at him as he started walking across the room to me. As he got closer to me, the look on his face scared me to death, it was the look of pure fear. You see, his wife was in really bad shape and in the hospital. At first I thought he was coming to tell me that she didn't make it. When he reached the table, he asks if he could sit down and talk. I told him, "of course you can you know that".

"Angel", he said to me, "you need to listen to me. It's about Jeff." I told him, "yeah, he was supposed to be here now for dinner an hour ago. I just don't know what could be keeping him." He grabbed my hands, holding them between his, and I knew right at that moment that this couldn't be good news. As I stared into his eyes, I could see everything as it had happened.

Jeff had left work and was on his way here to meet me when it happened. He was stopped at a red light when a drunk driver came up behind him. The guy never even tried to stop. "They've taken him to the hospital, and they need you there right away!" he said to me. All I could do was sit there as the tears began running down my face. "No! It's not true! You're just trying to pull a prank on me again!" I cried. He squeezed my hands and said, "No, Angel this is for real. You need to come with me to the hospital. They need your permission to do surgery on him. He is messed up pretty bad." I just went numb, I couldn't move, I couldn't think! Josh helped me out of the restaurant and to his truck.

When we got to the hospital, the doctor told me that he could do the surgery, but that he wasn't sure it would work. Jeff's brain had swollen so much, and they needed to relieve the pressure soon to prevent any further damage to his brain. "Do whatever you have to do," I told him, "I can't lose him too! Not now, not ever!"

When he came out of surgery about 4 hours later, the doctor told me that all we could do now was wait and see. If Jeff hadn't recovered within a week's time though, I would need to decide whether or not to keep him on life support. That was the one thing I didn't even want to think about. He was going to be fine, no matter what the doctor said.

I don't remember how I got home that night, or who even drove me for that matter. My whole life had just been ripped apart…again! I kept thinking to myself, What is God trying to tell me? I am not worthy of a family of any kind ever? First He takes my mom, dad, and sisters from me, and now Jeff?!

The first few days following Jeff's accident are still just a blur. The accident was on Monday, and it was now Wednesday night, I think. As I sat curled up in Jeff's favorite chair, I thought about calling Holly and asking her to come sit with me. I just couldn't stand one more moment alone in this house. Just then the phone rang, I nearly jumped out of my skin it startled me so much. Quickly I answered the phone, hoping and praying that it was the hospital calling to say that Jeff was awake. It was Holly, we always seemed to know when one was thinking of the other.

We had talked for a little while when she reminded me about my trip to Forks. With everything that had happened in the past few days, it completely slipped my mind. I asked Holly what she would do if it were her, would she still go or cancel her flight? She sat quite for a minute or two, "You know, it just might be what you need! I think you should go. See if you can find some small amount closure for that part of your life. Besides…the doctors know how to get a hold of you if Jeff wakes up, and you would only be a couple hours away." It was settled then, I was still going.

After tossing and turning for what seemed like hours, I decided to check my emails. I turned on my laptop and got myself comfy on my bed. There was so much I needed to get caught up on from work, and it had been days since I last checked my emails. When everything was finally loaded up, I opened up my email and started reading. I didn't really look to see who had sent what, I just opened the first one in the long line of emails, I was shocked as I started reading it….

IT WAS FROM SHERRI!

Dear Angel,


OMG! I can't believe it! Are you for real?! Are you really my little sister Angel?! After all these years?! How did you find me? Have you found any of the others? I have been searching for you and the other girls for years now and have ran into dead ends at every turn! OMG!! I just can't believe!! Where are you? Just tell me...and I'm on the next plane!!! OMG I'm so excited!! I have missed you so much!!
Love your big sister
Sherri

Oh My God! I can't believe it, this week has been so horrible and exciting all at the same time! All I could do was sit and look at the screen, reading the email over and over again.

I stood up from my laptop, crying uncontrollable, it was midnight, but I knew Holly would still be up. My hands were shaking so much that it took me four tries to dial her number. When she picked up all she said was, "are you ok?" I couldn't say a word, all I could do was cry. "I'm on my way," I heard her say, "I'll be there in ten minutes!"

Those next ten minutes where the longest minutes in my life. As I heard her car pull into the drive, I ran to the door to meet her. "I FOUND HER!!!! Oh My God I FOUND HER!!!", I shouted over and over again as I jumped up and down, hugging Holly tightly around the neck. Holly pulled me away to look me in the eyes, "What are you talking about? Who did you find?" All I could say was, " ONE OF MY SISTERS!!!" Holly threw her arms around me and just let me cry it all out. "I have to write her back! Can you help me please Holly?", I pleaded.


My Dearest Sister Sherri,

OMG I can not believe this is happening, I have looked for you for so long. I am thinking this is just a bad dream and I will wake up soon. I have so many questions for you and I don't know where to start. But a good friend of mine is with me right now and gave me an idea. You see, I am going to Forks this weekend to see our house that we lived in when we were with mom and dad. I was wondering if you would like to meet me there. If so please let me know ASAP. I will be there on Friday. I hope to hear from you very soon.
WITH ALL MY LOVE,
YOU'RE SISTER (GOD it feels so good to say that)
Angel

Dear Angel,

Yes! Absolutely!! Of course I'll meet you there this weekend! When does your flight come in? Do you want me to pick you at the airport; I just live over in Port Angeles?! Where do you want to meet? How about the little restaurant at the end of town?
I'm so excited!!! I still can't believe this is really truly happening!!! Finally after all these years!! WOW!!!
Love your BIG Sister,
Sherri