Chapter 43: Quality time
The next day Hayley was sitting down to a late breakfast with Cara while she looked through a magazine for different costume ideas. She was letting Juliet sleep since they'd both gone to bed very late. A bowl of cheerios sat in front of her and as she took another bite, she turned the page on a fashion magazine. Cara made faces and poked at the picture on the page Hayley was looking at.
"Ew! She wears her sunglasses all wrong! Who wears sunglasses upside down?"
Hayley rolled her eyes at Cara and turned the page.
"It's called a fashion statement genius."
Juliet wiped the sleep from her eyes as she came into the kitchen. Reaching for a coffee mug in the cupboard, she poured some coffee in it. A little milk, two creams and one sugar and she was set.
"Hey you two, I don't want to hear you talking like that. Play nice."
Cara threw a piece of bacon at her dog Sparky and he caught it from the edge of the table.
"Good catch boy!"
Juliet frowned at Cara.
"Cara, we talked about that, no feeding the dog from the table honey."
Cara looked up at Juliet and then her eyes landed on her mid-section.
"Mama, are you having a baby yet?"
Juliet shook her head no and pulled Cara into her lap, kissing her forehead.
"No not yet Cara-bean. Hayley told me you wanted a little sister. So, that you wouldn't be the baby anymore."
Cara smiled as James came up next to them and started tickling her.
"Daddy! Stop it!"
The doorbell rang and Juliet placed Cara back in her spot so she could finish her breakfast.
"Finish your breakfast sweet girl."
Cara giggled and began again with her battle of getting the spoon into her mouth. A minute later, a smile spread across Hayley's face.
"Uncle Jack!"
Jack smiled at Hayley and ruffled her hair.
"How's it going Hayley?"
Hayley proudly held up the magazine to show Jack what she had planned for the day.
"Mama and I are going to make my dance costume for my dance competition next weekend."
Jack nodded and spoke.
"That sounds like fun."
He then turned his attention to Cara who had just made a little mess of cheerios on the kitchen table. Sitting down in a chair next to her, he helped her put the spoon of cheerios in her mouth. He watched her for a moment as she chewed and swallowed. Furrowing his eyebrows, he saw her posture and frowned some more. Taking Juliet by the crook of her elbow, led her out into the hallway.
"Juliet, how long has Cara been hunched over like that?"
Juliet sighed and her gaze wandered back to the kitchen.
"A couple of days. What's going on Jack?"
Jack putting a hand on Juliet's shoulder, gave it a quick squeeze.
"I'd like you to bring her in so I can get some more x-rays. Her condition seems to be deteriorating very fast and her motor skills aren't so great."
A crashing noise came from the kitchen and the sound of glass breaking. Then James voice carried out into the hallway.
"Juliet!?"
Juliet and Jack came scrambling into the kitchen. Juliet took in the situation but it was Jack who spoke up.
"What happened?"
James stood back and stock-still as a worried expression crossed his face.
"I dunno. I asked if she was choking on something and then she just fell. What's wrong with her doc?"
Jack moving the fallen chair aside, looked Cara over and put an ear up to her mouth.
"She's not breathing."
Hayley piped up from her spot at the table.
"She's faking it mama, just so she can get attention."
Juliet turned to Hayley quickly and shook her head.
"Not now Hay. Let Uncle Jack listen."
Jack shook his head and looked up at Juliet, who'd taken Cara's tiny hand in her own.
"Something's blocking her airway."
Juliet swallowed hard and tried to see if she could find whatever was blocking Cara's air passage.
"Jack, I see it! It looks like a piece of bacon. Can you get it?"
Jack did his best to try and reach for the piece of food, but only managed to make it go down further.
"Damn it. I can't get to it. Where's your emergency kit?"
Juliet's heart sank. She knew what Jack was asking of her. Quickly getting up, she went to the hall closet and opened it. Grabbing the kit, she went back into the kitchen. She tried turning her emotions off as she handed Jack the kit.
"Juliet, can I get your permission to open up her airway?"
Juliet nodded and grabbed for Cara's hand.
"Save the baby Jack."
A sharp knock at the door startled Juliet, but then James went out of the kitchen to open the front door. Hayley watched wide-eyed from the table as Jack inserted the tubing.
"Uncle Jack, what are you doing?"
Jack managed to answer as he looked for the piece of bacon.
"Saving your sister's life and protecting her airway."
James came back in the kitchen with an alarmed looking David trailing behind him.
"Jules what's going on? Jack, why are you Traching her?"
Jack turned his attention to David and motioned for him to come towards him.
"I had to open up her airway. Can you see if you can get that piece of bacon stuck in her throat? She should pink back up once we get it out."
David pulled on a pair of gloves and managed to get the rather large piece of bacon out. He watched as Cara coughed and sputtered at first, then she let out a cry. Juliet squeezed her hand and told her to keep her eyes on her.
"It's ok baby. Breathe. Keep your eyes on mommy. Everything's going to be ok."
"Mama, I'm sorry I thought Cara was faking it. Is she going to be ok?"
Hayley was sitting in a chair next to Cara's hospital bed. As the mother and daughter stayed by her side, they worked on Hayley's costume.
"Your sister just needs time to rest. Uncle Jack is working on making her all better."
The two turned towards the door and Jack entered the room.
"How's she doing?"
Juliet looked up at the monitors and a sleeping Cara.
"About the same as the last time you asked Jack. She opens her eyes for a couple of minutes and then goes back to sleep. I don't think she knows exactly where she is."
Looking worried, Juliet looked Jack in the eye and added to her thought.
"Jack, I'm worried, push back the blanket. I want to show you something."
Jack went to the foot of the bed and pushed back the blanket.
"Her left foot is dropping. She wasn't doing that this morning. What's going on here?"
Now it was Jack's turn to worry. But Juliet spoke up.
"Please tell me you found a cause for this in her x-rays Jack."
Jack nodded and sat down in another chair.
"Yes, I did find something. But maybe you should bring James in here. You both need to hear this."
To Be Continued…
