Chapter 36
"What's going on Jamie?" I asked when we pulled into the hospital parking lot.
I spent the remainder of the drive trying to figure out if Jamie was kidding or if he fell on Nessie, or some other reason than what he said. He meant what he said.
"I don't know what happened." He replied in a panic.
"Okay. Where are you?" I asked getting a little worried.
"I'm at the school doing some research. Bella just came and picked Nessie up."
"Okay. So explain what's going on, please."
"Promise not to tell anyone?" He asked.
"Okay. It's kind of hard not to tell Alice considering she already knows something's up." I replied.
"Dang, psychic." He muttered.
She gave me a look like she heard him.
"Um. She can hear you." I told him.
"Fine. The fortune teller can know…and your girl since she's probably there listening to this as well. But, no one else, swear." He ordered.
"Alright. Fine. I swear. But, just keep in mind Edward can hear your thoughts." I reminded him.
"Damn it." He swore. "Does anyone in that family know the meaning of privacy?" he asked irritated.
"Probably not." I replied simply.
I looked at Tanya and Alice to get their reaction. They only shrugged their shoulders agreeing with me.
"So, how did this happen?" I asked. Now, I want to know what he's been up to the last few weeks.
"It started when I was up at the school over spring break." He said.
He went on and told me that Nessie asked if she could go with him. She had never seen that many college campuses and wanted to see if this one was the same as the others she's seen. It was when Bella and Alice brought me up to their house in the mountains a few weeks back. Jamie wasn't home when I woke from my trip to Titanic.
Then she went with him to his volunteer job at the hospital where he helps out in the pediatric unit with the kids. He keeps them entertained while they deal with their issues, whatever they may be. Nessie loved what he was doing. I'm assuming they got along great together during those times. I had to stop him there because we entered the hospital and I was getting ready for my head CT. I wanted him to continue and put off the test but the looks Tanya and Alice were giving me told me otherwise.
There was one thing that did get my attention and Alice's as well and that was how Jacob wasn't spending as much time with Nessie and I wondered why that was. They seemed inseparable when I first met them.
"You know Abby, you really don't need any more drama in your life right now. You have enough to deal with." Alice said.
"I know, but I can't leave him hanging. He's always been there for me and not complain about it." I admitted.
We made it to the CT scan room and had to wait a little because someone else was getting their head examined. I couldn't help but wonder what got Jacob so worked up that he hasn't been spending time with Ness or any of us.
I couldn't help but think that it has something to do with me. I know I'm being self-centered but I can't help it. Everything the last few weeks has rocked my foundation and I'm still trying to recover from all the info coming at me. Something tells me that I need to keep an eye on him and I hope my gut feelings are just messing with me. I couldn't take any more surprises at the moment, even if they are the good ones.
Tanya pulled on my hand, bringing me out of my thoughts, and indicated that it was my turn. Oh goody!
Several hours later we were back the house. I was laying on the couch letting Tanya stroke my hair. I had a small hairline fracture by my eye and my hand had two breaks in it. Carlisle wanted to put a full cast on my hand and wrist but I begged him to keep it the way it is. He made me promise not to do anything extraneous with it. I did.
He also gave me a prescription for the pain. That's why I am on the couch. I hate how the medication is making me feel. The room is spinning and I feel a little nauseous. Alice made me eat a sub sandwich to help calm the stomach. I don't know if that was the best thing to do but I obeyed her anyway. She's a force to reckon with when she wants her way.
Dozing off, I started thinking about what Jamie was telling me earlier and how he became infatuated with Nessie. I wonder what Jacob or Edward would do if they found out and thought better of it. They would probably take turns beating him. I didn't want to step in and stop it, probably because it wouldn't help much.
Once I was getting to the part of the conversation about how he and Nessie were talking during one of his breaks, I felt two cold hands grab me forcing me to wake up with a start. Alice was leaning over me with Tanya there, stopping mid stroke.
"You were about to go back somewhere and I thought it wouldn't be a good idea with how you're feeling." Alice said in earnest.
My heart was pounding from being jerked awake.
"What were you thinking, Love?" Tanya whispered going back to her stroking.
"Earlier." I replied.
"You need to stop that." Alice said.
"I know but something he said is bothering me for some reason and I can't put my finger on why." I said.
"Like what?"
I looked around and saw that no one was around. That didn't mean they could still hear me though.
"Jasper's here and Alice has already filled him in."
"So much for keeping a tight lid on it." I said.
"Well, he would have found out eventually." Tanya replied.
I shrugged agreeing with her. Jamie is not going to like it.
"It's just makes me wonder what Jake is up to if he's not with Nessie. I thought they were inseparable." I wondered.
"It does seem strange." Tanya admitted.
I lay there thinking and started dozing off again when I felt a sudden spurt of adrenaline and jerked awake again. What the hell!
"Good. Your awake." Jasper said walking in and sitting on the coffee table next to me.
"Was that you?" I asked, my heart pounding.
"Yes. Sorry, but I need to talk to you." He replied giving me a sheepish look.
"Can it wait? I doubt I will remember what you said." I replied.
"No. It's about the note Josiah gave you. I went through the journal you got from the man on Titanic and I believe the next journal is where Josiah said it would be." He announced.
Okay. I was wondering if it was there. Guess I don't have to wonder anymore.
"Okay. What makes you think it is?" I asked feeling groggy again.
"Hey, Abby. Stay with me." Jasper said tapping my knee.
"I am." I replied.
"Well, Johan, the man who wrote the journal, says something about a man's thoughts written down and the place to find them is on a battlefield. Edward and I thought it could have been the Battle of Antietam, the D-Day invasion and it was on Omaha Beach or the Battle of the Somme."
I laid there, Tanya still stroking my head and at times scratching it making me feel more relaxed than I wanted to. I stared at Jasper trying to take in what he just said.
"Are you telling me that this man, Johan, is a psychic like Alice?" I asked.
"I'm not sure. The only thing that eludes him to that is that he does talk about a war and the only ones that we can think of was the Russo-Japanese War. And, the Boer War. Those happened during his time, we're assuming." Jasper continued.
"What about Antietam?" I asked.
"At first, we thought about it but decided it wasn't. We don't think he knew about the American Civil War."
"Why is that?"
"He was a simple man. Not much by way of money and I don't think he was very well educated."
"Hmm." I answered.
"Abby. You still with us?" Jasper asked, tapping my leg again.
"Yep." I replied. These drugs are something else.
"I think Josiah is right about her and medication." I heard Alice's amused voice from far away.
"Is that what is? I'm having a hard time keeping her awake." Jasper replied.
I didn't hear anymore after that.
XXXXXXXXXXXXTwo weeks later and I am sitting before my three professors taking my oral exams. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. I wish I had brought Jasper with me to keep me calm, but I doubt it help any.
Any thought about the journal and the Battle of the Somme were put on the back burner until I get passed my exams, much to my own disagreement. I wanted to just quit school and concentrate on the journals and gather as much info on the Battle as I can. Everyone, and I mean everyone, gave me their two cents worth. It wasn't a pleasant evening when I made that announcement.
Tanya was true to her word. She came with me to all my classes and sat through them with me. I was surprised that she was able to hold her tongue at some of the discussions we had. I can tell by her reactions or the way she would move in her seat that she didn't agree with something. Afterwards, she would go on a tangent about what was wrong with the book or where the discussions or arguments were heading and I would have another lesson as she told me what actually happened. I liked her lessons best.
Then, I had to try not to think about what Jamie had told me about him and Nessie. He has toned down his time with her and I can tell it's taking a toll on him. He looks around looking for someone only to not find them. I'm not sure if Edward and Bella know anything yet, or if Nessie knows his feelings towards her.
I'm fairly sure Jacob doesn't know or Jamie would be dead right now. Speaking of whom, I still haven't seen him or any of his "pack" as he calls them, around in a while. Alice said that they are taking in the sights around the state. Why didn't he take Nessie with him then?
I finally gave my notice at work and told them I got a good job that dealt with history. It wasn't too far from the truth.
So, all that's left is my orals and graduation and then I can concentrate on the journals and finding my mother.
The oral exams consisted of defending your three research papers in front of your professors, mainly the ones you had the classes with. I had Jasper and Tanya read them and give me tips on what to improve before I turned them in a week or so ago. They thought the papers were fine as they were. I still feel like I'm missing something in them but reluctantly turned them in.
The next hour was spent in a small conference room having questions thrown at me about my papers. I answered them all to the best of my ability. When they were done with their interrogation, as I wanted to call it, they said I did pretty good and gave me an A for the exam and made my overall grade a solid A for grad school. The first time that has happened and I couldn't be happier.
Even though the last month was a challenge, I'm happy that it didn't mess up my grade point average and I can honestly say I'm a grad school graduate. Well, almost. Have one more class to attend to and then I can kick back and relax, sort of.
Walking down the hall and out into the atrium I see Tanya and Alice sitting on the window seats talking. They stopped when they saw, or heard, me coming. Alice was so happy that she almost jumped into my arms hugging me.
"Congratulations, Abby!" Alice shouted with joy.
"Thanks." I replied relieved.
"Congratulations, Love!" Tanya whispered as she kissed my lips.
I only smiled back at her. Her smile kills me, or at the least, renders me speechless.
"All right, lovebirds. Let's get the celebration started." Alice announced as she grabbed my hand and led me out the door.