Author's Note: I've lately been having trouble finding a point to jump back into the world of Everwood. I've always wanted to do a story that fit into the timeframe of a single day, and I knew my next story had to do just that. This story is set ten years in the future. Also remember to look for the right clues throughout this 24-part story and see if you can solve the mystery before the last chapter. Hope you like, and PLEASE leave feedback.
Chapter One: 12AM-1AM
12:01AM
Twenty-six year old Ephram Brown sighed and opened the door to his apartment. She's gonna kill me. The lights were dimly lit as he passed the piano. Ephram tripped over a football as he passed his son's room. Catching his feet, Ephram couldn't help but giggle until he slipped on the teddy bear by his daughter's room. Finally, he reached his bedroom. Quietly opening the door, Ephram peeked his head inside and saw Amy already asleep. Creeping into the room, he sat on the bed and lightly kissed her forehead.
"You're late," a drowsy Amy mumbled.
Ephram looked into her eyes, searching for forgiveness. "Sorry."
"How did the ticket sales go?" Amy sat up, giving her husband a hug.
"They were sold-out by the end of the day."
Amy smiled. "That's great! See? I told you your concert would be the biggest event of the season!"
"Who would've thought people in New York were thirsty for tickets to a piano concert?"
Amy playfully punched Ephram in the arm. "Not just any piano concert. A concert given by 'one of the best concert pianists in the world.'" Amy laughed, quoting the article about Ephram in 'Time' magazine.
"Oh don't bring that up again…" Ephram moaned.
"I got another four phone calls today, congratulating you about the article," Amy responded. "Still can't believe your tickets sold-out on opening day. By the way, the wedding rehearsal is tomorrow afternoon. I figure we'll go out for breakfast before then and celebrate your big ticket-sellout."
"Why wait until tomorrow to celebrate?" Ephram grinned devilishly at his wife. "Did you put Colin and Julia to bed?"
12:16 AM
Dr. Andy Brown turned the TV off and looked kissed the woman curled up next to him. "We should go to sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow."
"We can sleep after the rehearsal," Nina playfully replied.
Andy slowly got off the couch and yawned. "Nope. Harold's throwing me a bachelor party and Rose is throwing you bridal shower."
Nina rolled her eyes. "How could I forget?"
The two eventually reached the bedroom. Nina dove for the bathroom and started brushing her teeth. Andy stood by the dresser and looked at himself in the mirror. Maybe I should shave the beard for the wedding… Andy nearly hit himself, realizing that he had nearly forgotten why he'd grown the beard in the first place.
Andy opened the top drawer of the dresser, not quite sure what he was looking for. A glimmer of gold flickered in the corner of his eye: his old wedding ring. As he placed it in his palm, a flood of cherished memories tore through his mind. The ring itself was the immortal memory of his past life with Julia. In the end, would he be able to let it go for his new life with Nina?
A phone ring kicked Andy back into reality.
"Hello?"
12:28
Dr. Harold Abbott crumpled the sheet of paper and threw it in the fireplace. Rose lifted her eyes from the book she was reading.
"What's wrong with me, Rose? It's just a best man speech, not the State of the Union Address!"
Rose set the book down. "You're trying too hard, Harold."
Harold scanned over his checklist. "And I still have plan that godforsaken bachelor party too…maybe I should just change my name and flee to Canada until this whole wedding thing blows over. I'll come back when it's time for their first anniversary."
Rose rolled her eyes. "The sad thing is, I could actually see you going through with all that. Honestly, you should happy for Andy!"
"I am! But why the hell did 'King Arthur' ask me to be his 'Merlin'? I was perfectly content with just showing up, offering my congratulations and a new toaster, and gorging myself with cake. Why did he have to go and make it complica-"
"Oh put a sock in it, Harold. You two have been friends too long for you not to do this. You owe it to him," Rose cut in.
Harold sarcastically chuckled. "Owe it to him? Oh that's rich, Rose. It's bad enough that my own daughter had to marry that subway musician he calls a son…"
"Ephram's one of the greatest musicians in the-"
Harold held up his hand and smirked. "I read the article, Rose. That wasn't my point. Look, I of all people want to see Andy Brown happy, but for crying out loud, I'm sixty-seven years old! I'm too old to be giving best man speeches and planning bachelor parties. He should've just asked Reverend Keyes. Or even Ephram!"
"But he chose you Harold, and you said you'd do this for him. Now look, Bright said he's going to close the sporting goods store tomorrow and spend the day helping you plan the bachelor party. If you want, I'll call Amy and have her pull pre-written speech of the internet if you're that desperate. And 67's not that old, so quit acting like you're the old lady from 'Titanic' and come to bed."
Rose kissed Harold's forehead and walked out of the living room. Harold tossed his pen and pad on his desk and slowly climbed out of his comfy chair just as the phone rang.
12:46
Ephram kissed Amy's neck as she placed her hands on his bare shoulders. The phone suddenly began to ring.
Ephram cursed. "Just let it ring."
Amy picked the phone up and mumbled in a half-angry voice, "Hello? Oh hi! You know that concert that Ephram's doing in New York next week? The tickets already sold out…yeah, you could say he's on top of things right now," Amy smirked, rolling Ephram off of her. "Hey, you don't sound like you're at home. Where are you? The hospital?" Worry briefly flashed in Amy's eyes. "Yeah, he's right here..."
Ephram sighed and took the phone. "This better be good, dad. By the way, congratulations on opening the new community hospit– what? God…is she okay? Yeah, we're on our way." Ephram hung up.
"What happened?" Amy asked, getting up.
"Delia was in a car-accident," Ephram muttered back, putting his clothes on.
Amy covered her mouth. "Oh god…is she okay? Why didn't your dad tell me…"
Terrifying images of his mother's car-crash formed in Ephram's mind. "He wanted us to be calm. The doctors got her stabilized and my dad thinks she'll be fine. Your dad's going to meet us at the hospital, so we have to leave right now."
12:51
Irv Harper took a big swallow of lukewarm scotch. "It's late. We should go to bed soon."
Edna began to place the last photo into its plastic sleeve. "Hang on, big fella, I just have one more photo to stick in this album."
Irv chuckled and placed his arms on Edna's shoulders. "How is it that these great-grandkids of yours were just born last week but you've already got about a hundred pictures of them? Come on, honey, I'm sure they'll still be babies tomorrow. Why don't you keep working on this album in the morning?"
"Don't worry; I'll get some sleep soon. If I can amputate a wounded soldier while under enemy fire, I can sure as hell finish this album before that damn sun rises. You go on ahead," Edna offered, giving Irv a hug.
Irv sat down next to his wife and gazed at her for a couple seconds. "No, I think I'd much rather help you." Edna's replying smile was the reward for Irv's caring gesture.
Irv woke up alone in front of the dimly burning fire. The glass of scotch he had in his hand was empty, and Edna was no longer sitting next to him. The memory had passed, and he was now alone. Irv desperately gazed at the picture of Edna placed above the fireplace. How could you leave me, Edna? How could you go without taking me with you? And now it's been three years and you're wonderful memory still haunts me. Irv watched as the fire slowly began to die and as the embers lost their glow. I thought we agreed that I was supposed to die first, not you!
Irv threw the glass to the ground, shattering it instantly. Sagging deeper into his chair, Irv felt the tingling of tears rolling down his cheeks. "Not you…"
12:58 AM
Harold Abbott tossed his coat on the rack and burst into the 'critical care' area. "I got here as soon as I could. How is she?"
Andy greeted him. "She's been stabilized. The other doctors are still checking for other injuries, but they think she's fine."
Harold bit his lip. "Blood pressure?"
Andy rubbed his forehead. "Stable, but dangerously low. In a few minutes, they're going to hook her up for a…"Andy stopped as a sudden beeping filled the area.
A panicked emergency technician popped her head out of Delia's room. "Doctors! A lot of internal bleeding just started below her left lung!"
Andy and Harold joined Dr. Patterson in the room.
Patterson hastily ordered a nearby nurse to have the operating room prepped and turned to Andy and Harold. "She's going critical. We need to get her to the operating room. I promise, I'll do everything I can to stop the bleeding."
Andy rubbed his heart. "What are her chances?"
Patterson snapped a pair of latex gloves on. "Don't make me answer that, Andy."
1:00 AM
Author's note: I have the entire 24-chapter outline for this story already written out. I will continue writing based on the feedback I receive for this first chapter. Bare in mind that the real plot doesn't set it in until later, and the mystery won't actually take form until the forth or fifth chapter.