CHAPTER 37

Charlotte gives Andie a valium to calm her down. She's been hysterical for hours since the airline won't confirm Nicky switched to the direct flight. She's been alternating between sobbing, shaking and vomiting for the past two hours.

Cooper rushes into Hope's room. "How is she?" He asks, referring to his daughter.

"Not good. I had to give her a Valium."

"You gave her a Valium?" Cooper's surprised considering Charlotte's past drug addiction stemmed from a time in her life she couldn't cope.

Charlotte looks up at Cooper with a desperate look on her face. "I didn't know what else to do. She's been cryin' and vomitin' for the past two hours. I'm afraid she'll have another seizure if she's not able to hold down her Tegretol. I gave a her a Valium and a dose of Tegretol."

"That combo should knock her out." Cooper raises his eyebrows.

"At least we won't have to worry about her seizing on top of everything else that's goin' on. She's not doing Hope any good here. I'll stay here with the baby, Coop. You take her home. Hopefully, we'll hear some news about Nicky before she wakes up."

"Okay." Cooper helps a drugged up Andie out of the chair and puts her in a wheelchair he finds in the hall.

"Give her another valium later if you need to." Charlotte watches Cooper wheel a zoned out Andie away. Charlotte sighs and picks up baby Hope, careful of her bandages. "I hope you'll get the chance to know your daddy. He really loved you." Charlotte catches herself talking about Nicky in the past chance. She decides to hold out hope that he made it onto that direct flight. She tries calling his number but his phone is off.

Cody arrives at JFK, as he walks into the lobby near the US Jetaways gates his phone rings. His eyes light up when he recognizes Nicky's number. "Are you alive?" He answers the phone.

"Is that your new greeting?" Nicky chuckles.

"It is you? Thank God you're alive." Cody talks into the phone. "Where are you?"

"I'm at the gate waiting for you and what the fuck are you saying thank God I'm alive for? Hope had heart surgery, not me."

"There was a plane crash. US Jetaways flight 383 crashed in the air over O'Hare airport after it took off. We thought you were on that plane. I came to get some information but this place is so crowded and chaotic today."

"I'll pick up my luggage and meet you at the doors by the Jetaway airlines gate."

After about ten minutes Nicky appears in front of Cody. Cody hugs him this time. He's never been happier to see his best friend.

"Tell me what happened." Nicky and Cody walk out of the airport to the parking garage.

"Didn't you hear flight 383 crashed? It's all over the news."

"I was on a plane for the past few hours. I doubt they would announce a plane crash to passengers currently in flight." Nicky smirks.

"I guess that wouldn't be a good idea." Cody walks with Nicky to his car.

"Did you say flight 383?"

"Yeah."

"I was supposed to be on that flight. I switched at the last damn minute so I wouldn't have to change planes at O'Hare."

"That's what we were hoping but we didn't know if you were able to make the switch. Andie's hysterical. You better call her."

Nicky swallows. "I'll call her later. She's been a real bitch to me this week, makes me not look forward to going home again Sunday but I have to for the kids."

"What'd she do now?" Cody pulls his keys out of his pocket.

"She wanted me to stay. She was giving me an attitude and a guilt trip for flying back today for the concert. Meanwhile, the day of Hope's surgery she had a fuckin' seizure because she forgot to take her medication. She slept the whole day while I was scared to death the doctor would walk in any minute to tell me Hope didn't make it. I had to go through it alone while she was sleeping peacefully."

"Where was everyone else?" Cody asks.

"Her parents were home taking care of the other three kids. My sister and my parents are in Greece."

"What are they doing in Greece?"

"They're at my cousin's wedding. They planned this trip two years ago. Andie and I were supposed to go but we have the tour going on now and Hope's surgery."

"Your parents still went to Greece when Hope was having heart surgery?"

"I didn't tell my parents Hope's surgery was scheduled while they would be in Greece, I knew they would cancel. My grandparents are old. This may be the last time they get to see them."

"So, you had nobody to support you while Hope was having open heart surgery?"

"Nope. You guys were all in New York, Chase was in Aruba, Noah's away at school and my family's in Greece so I sat there alone. All day long I was scared shit the doctor was going to come in the room to tell me Hope didn't make it while Andie was sound asleep. Now, she has the nerve to be mad at me for leaving to do the tour. At least she has her parents around for support and besides Hope's out of the woods."

"Plus it helps that her parents are both doctors."

"Right." Nicky says as he gets in the car. "She has support but I had no one and she's all pissed at me." Nicky tosses his luggage in the trunk before climbing into the passenger seat.

Cody starts the car. "You're both just stressed. Now that the baby's okay you can chill."

Nicky lights a cigarette. "I could use a cold one."

"Ya wanna stop for a beer on the way home? We have some time before we have to get ready for the concert." Cody suggests.

Nicky nods. "I'm gonna need something to relax me before I get up on stage. I'm fuckin' shaking thinking how close I came to dying today. If I didn't switch to the direct flight I'd be dead right now."

"That's scary shit. I need a drink just thinking about it." Cody drives out of the parking garage. They pass the news media trucks and cameras as they leave the airport parking area.

Tess takes Brayden for a walk on the park trail this evening. A male voice calls out to her. "How come you're not jogging this time?" She turns around and recognizes the dark haired jogger with the blue eyes who she says hello to every morning on her jog.

"I already went for a jog this morning."

The guy stops to checks his pulse.

"My name's Tess. " She extends her hand to shake.

"Damien." The hot looking dude shakes her hand. "Where's your boyfriend today?"

"Oh, BJ's not my boyfriend, he's just a good friend."

"That's good." Damien smiles.

"Why's that good?" Tess find herself flirting. She flips her hair with her hand.

"It just is." Damien's still smiling. "Is that his kid?"

"No, I told you BJ and I are just friends. Brayden's not his son."

"Where's his father?"

"In LA, we're not together anymore."

"Bummer, for the kid."

"Yeah, it is a bummer for Brayden but it's his fathers choice, not mine."

"Well, that dude must me a loser to pass up a pretty woman like you and a cute kid like Brayden."

"Thank you." Tess feels flattered. Damien bares a striking resemblance to Chase. They're both over six foot tall with dark hair and blue eyes except Damien is muscular. Tess can tell he spends a lot of time working out by his sculpted arms and legs, not that Chase is in bad shape but he doesn't have the time to work out every day.

"Here's my number," Damien show her his phone. "Give me a call sometime if you wanna go out for a drink."

"Sure." Tess nods before typing his number into her phone. "See ya." She smiles as she continues on her walk, pushing Brayden in his stroller.

Nicky leaves the sports bar with Cody. "Feeling better?" Cody asks.

"I'm feeling fine now, a little food in my stomach and some beer is all I needed."

"Yeah, those sliders rocked. I hope you're not too buzzed. We have to get ready to go on stage soon."

"I'm not buzzed." Nicky shrugs. "I only had two beers, enough to relax me but not enough to buzz me but I plan on getting real buzzed tonight after the show. I deserve it after this week, dude."

"You should call Andie. She was really worried when I talked to her earlier." Cody advises.

"I'm not ready to talk to Andie yet. I'll call her momma." Nicky pushes Charlotte's button on his phone.

"Nicky?" Charlotte answers, her voice full of hope.

"The one and only." He answers.

"Thank God." Charlotte breathes a huge sigh of relief. "We thought you were dead."

"Almost, I switched flights at the last minute so you're stuck with me a little longer."

"Thank God." Charlotte says again. "Andie's in bad shape. I had to give her valium to calm her down."

"How's Hope?"

"She's doing well. I got a smile out of her earlier today."

"That's my girl. Give her a kiss from her daddy."

"You got it."

"How the rest of the kids?"

"They're fine. We didn't let on that we thought you were on the plane that crashed."

"Good. I'm going to call Harper when I hang up."

"Alright. I'll let you go then...-" Charlotte hesitates. "And Nicky?"

"Yes?"

"Cooper and think of you as a son, like your one of our own."

Nicky feels tears come to his eyes. Andie's momma doesn't hand compliments out like that too often.

"Thank you, momma." Nicky answers, feeling it would be appropriate

"Well, break a leg at your concert tonight and don't worry about the kids including Hope. I got it."

"Thanks, momma." Nicky says again before hanging up to call Harper.

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