Chapter Thirty Six.
"I don't think you understand, Mr Oliver."
"No, I don't think you understand! You can't just walk in here and tell me she might die."
The doctor looked at his hands. "I know it's hard to accept, Mr Oliver, but she collapsed on the way into the hospital. Really, she's lucky to have collapsed here rather than a home or in the street, perhaps lucky to have collapsed at all."
"So you're telling me she's lucky to have collapsed?" Beck said, anger building in his voice.
"Mr Oliver, please calm down. I was not…"
"You're pretty much telling me she was fortunate to collapse. How can I take that in a good way?"
The doctor straightened himself. "If Mrs Oliver hadn't of collapsed, we wouldn't have found the tumour."
"So what happens now?" Beck asked his voice quietening.
"We consider a course of action in order to remove the tumour."
"How can you be so calm about this?"
The doctor gave a half smile, picking up his clipboard. "I've been in the job too long to lose my nerve, Mr Oliver, I'm good at my job so I have every faith of her recovery. That was all your parents wanted me to tell you."
He left the room, leaving Beck with his thoughts.
Robbie wasn't far behind the doctor, appearing at the door.
"Shouldn't you be at home? With Cat? You know, she's about this high, dark red hair…"
"Don't start Beck; I haven't had the best day ever."
He walked in and took a seat by Beck's bed.
Beck looked at him. "My mom is in hospital and I'm stuck here despite the fact I could go home."
"If we're comparing stories, my crazy ex has followed me to LA to convince me we're a match made in heaven."
"I think mine wins," Beck said, leaning his head on the wall.
Robbie nodded. "Probably does, so how is your mom?"
"She collapsed; they did some tests and found a tumour. That's all my dad sent the doctor to tell me."
"I'm sorry, Beck."
Beck sighed deeply. "You didn't make this happen so don't be. Anyway, you probably came here for a reason; I'm guessing it's to escape the wrath of my lovely wife and Kitten?"
"How did you guess?" Robbie rubbed his forehead. "You don't want my problems."
"Humour me with them. Otherwise we'll be sat here talking about how my mom could die and that's not something I really want right now."
Robbie moved further back into his chair. "Ally kept me out all night at this back street café trying to convince me I was marrying the wrong girl. She remembers you guys; surprisingly she considers Cat to be a whore and reckons she's bedded all of us."
"That's nice of her," Beck replied sarcastically. "Have you tried telling her you're becoming a monk or something?"
"Trust me, she'd become a nun or something to show she supports my life choices."
He laughed, he suddenly found it hilarious. "Robbie, my good friend, you're screwed and I'm going to find this hysterical. Thanks for sharing it with me; it makes me feel slightly better about my current situation."
"You've picked up a twisted streak from Jade over the last decade or so."
"I know. I can see why she enjoyed high school so much."
Robbie looked at him. "I did go home for about ten minutes."
"Did you speak to Cat?"
"Evie warned me not to because Jade was going to turn me into a cushion. But I got to the bedroom door and heard them talking."
Beck made a gesture for him to continue.
"They were talking about how they'd imagined their lives; I stood and listened for a while. They were talking about their childhood games and how Cat had always waited for a dashing prince to rescue her."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Look at me Beck, I'm not exactly the prince she always wanted and dreamt of."
…
"What would you change, if you could change anything about what you've done so far in life?"
Cat rubbed her forehead. "I wouldn't have let Robbie leave without knowing about the baby and I'd have stopped my brother going out the day of the crash."
"Is that everything?"
"Maybe I would have asked Robbie to stay as selfish as that is."
Jade shook her head. "I don't think it's selfish if it's for love."
"He's the love of my life, Jade, as pathetic as it sounds."
"The love of my life was a cup of coffee this morning and I drank that without mercy. Your point is, Cat?" Jade frowned at her best friend.
"I'm being serious; he is the guy I want to spend the rest of my life with. Even if he isn't the prince I always dreamt about. He's mine and that's good enough for me," Cat admitted, her cheeks reddened in the process. "But what if I'm wrong and I shouldn't marry him?"
Jade, at first, remained expressionless but then a small smile dawned on her lips.
"What are you smiling about?" Cat said in confusion.
"You sound like I did on the day of my wedding. I sat there on the floor and cried my eyes out to my mother. She told me if I had so many doubts, I shouldn't marry him. So, of course, I told her I loved him and asked why it would never be enough for her to accept him. She simply turned to me and told me marriages are a matter of convenience not love. No wonder she's on husband number five whilst I'm still with Beck. My parents were always on the same page about marriage until my dad found airhead number one." Jade crossed her arms as she recalled the rest of that exchange. "My father came to pick me up off of the floor; he kissed my cheek and told me he wasn't going to lie to me. He hated the idea of me marrying at 19 but it was my choice. Then he threw in he had the family lawyer on standby with divorce documents if I wanted to back out afterwards. My parents were so unsupportive so I'm going to be different with my kids. I'm going to support their choices and I'm supporting yours. But I'll have a stash of chocolate and ice-cream in case it all goes wrong."
"Do you regret it?"
"Never. I could never regret spending my life with the only boy brave enough to argue with me." She dropped her gaze to the floor. "He's the boy who stole my heart and refused to let it go all those years ago. Though if you tell Beck I told you that, I'll hunt you down."
Cat grinned. "I wouldn't dream of it though I'm sure you've told him before. I really hope we can be as strong as you two are."
"You have to be when you've literally watched the life you had burn in front of you." Jade nodded slightly. "You just have to have confidence that he'll be stood at your side, holding your hand and telling you it'll be okay."
"You're a wise woman, Jadelyn Oliver."
She stood up. "I know, Caterina. We probably should go tell the twins that Evie is yet to start looking for them."
"Maybe, carry me downstairs?" Cat pleaded, holding her arms out.
Jade pulled the girl up. "I'm pregnant. It's not going to happen, Cat."
She groaned, her hair spreading across her face. "Fine."
…
Tori rubbed her eyes. "I think I can hear Jacob crying."
"I promise you, he isn't crying," André replied from the bed. "The monitor isn't doing anything so he's not."
She stood up; staring at the clock which read it was time to get up anyway. "Someone's crying then, André, and it's not us."
"Maybe it's the TV in Zach's room or something. He wakes up really early sometimes."
"Are you sure?" Tori questioned.
André gave her an unsure look. "I don't know. Maybe he's homesick?"
André slowly stood up, stretching. "You didn't have a good night."
"How would you know? You were asleep."
"Give me some credit, Tori. I do take notice of the small things." He smiled, pulling the outfit he'd chosen for the day.
Tori nodded, she glanced at their bedroom door. "I think Zach's having trouble at school."
"What makes you say that?"
She shrugged, folding her arms around herself. "Maternal senses kicking in at long last."
"They sound like superhero powers but more acceptable in society."
"You should talk to him on the drive to school," she suggested.
He sighed. "I will, not that I have any idea what to say to him."
He kissed her forehead and left her to get ready for the day.
I've been considering what I'll write after this is done today. I have a few ideas to play with.
Good luck ;)
Love always,
Chasing Midnight.