Disclaimer : I don't own anything so there!
MOSHIMORO6785 : I know, I think this might have to be the saddest story I've written lol. Glad you like it though. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
XSARAH : If you though that was a sad chappy, you won't want to read the rest lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
A : Glad you're enjoying the story. I tell ya, you think you might cry, I think writing one of the chapters I did lol – but I'm a pathetically sappy person when it comes to sad film and books lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
KATIE : Bloody hell, if you're feeing sorry for Julie I must be really good lol – only kidding. I don't know who to feel more sorry for, Julie, Charlie, the ducks or Jonah lol. Anyways thanks again so much for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
SWEEN : Glad you like it. Thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
Chapter 6
After sitting on the bed for a few minutes, I slowly got up and crept across the hall into Holly's room. There was only the small lamp on, that sat on the end table. My husband of 2 years, was sat fast asleep, with 3 month old Holly in his arms. She too was fast asleep. It brought back memories of Charlie doing the same thing with Jonah a number of years ago, as I watched silently from the doorway.
FLASHBACK
Adam dropped me off at home, so I could get changed out of my dress, and get some things gathered, then he was coming back as soon as he'd changed, before heading around to Charlie and Julie's to grab some things for both Jonah and Julie. Then we were going to drop Jonah off at my moms for a few hours.
I knew Miles was still up, as all the downstairs lights were on, and his parents, Aunt and Uncles cars were parked in the driveway. On finding they were still here, I was very tempted in turning around and going straight to Charlie and Julie's as I didn't really want to face Miles' families questions. I took a deep breath, before opening the front door, and stepping inside. Miles was stood by the phone, obviously trying to get hold of me, as, as soon as he saw me, he put the phone back in it's cradle, and looked me up and down, as if trying to come up with his own conclusion.
"Well I think it's disgusting how she just took off like that, leaving poor Miles to apologize for her". I suddenly heard his Aunt declare.
"I should imagine Joyce, she had her reasons". Miles' mother argued.
"Yes but there was no need for her to take off like that, and the least she could have done was called Miles to let him know what was happening". His Aunt countered.
Miles who had obviously heard too, stepped toward me, but I was far ahead of him, already headed straight into the living room, with Jonah sat on my hip.
"You conceited old cow". I suddenly snapped.
"Now Connie". Miles mother turned to try to calm me.
"No, no. For your information I 'took off' tonight, because if it had escaped your notice, my best friend collapsed and had to be rushed to hospital. I have spent the last 5 hours sat waiting on a hospital corridor, waiting to be told how she is, only to be informed that she has a fatal heart condition and is dying, not only leaving behind a hell of a lot of people that love her, but also a 20 month old son. Now I'm sorry, but with all that going on, the meal, wasn't exactly at the top of my priority list". I snapped, tears pouring down my cheeks, before I took off upstairs.
A few seconds later, Miles entered our bedroom, and stood watching me as I pulled my already short hair into a pony tail, and changing from my dress into a pair of jeans and sweater. Jonah was sat in the middle of our bed, watching me amused at the eraticness of my movements.
"I'm sor"… Miles began.
"Don't, Don't apologize Miles". I butted in, grabbing my old hockey bag from the bottom of my closet, thankfully the bag wasn't too big. "It's not me people need to feel sorry for". I wept.
I put the bag on my shoulder and grabbed Jonah, before dashing down the stairs, into the kitchen, where I put the bag down on the sideboard then began packing it with cans of soda, chips and anything edible that I thought we might possibly need.
"How, um, how long has she got"? He asked gently.
"I don't know Miles, I haven't asked, and I don't particularly want to know". I replied, as I searched for the few tins of baby food that I kept for whenever Julie had brought Jonah around.
Though he was now eating normal foods, he still ate baby food every so often, and it was more than convenient at a time like this. Just holding the tins of baby food, brought me to tears, in the realization, I wouldn't need them for when Julie brought Jonah round, because she wouldn't be doing that ever again. At this Miles stepped even closer and embraced me. I fell into his arms, though only for a few seconds, before I realized, I still had things to do. He took Jonah from my arms, allowing me to pick the bag up and head into the living room, where there were a few of Jonah's toys, that might keep him occupied whilst he was at my moms. Next I searched around for a few magazines for Julie, I don't really know why, but I suppose it just seemed like the right thing to do.
"Connie dear, I didn't mean"… Joyce began saying.
"Too late, you already did". I stopped her short, then realized, I hadn't got my camera, and made a bee line for the stairs.
Whilst I was upstairs, I heard the front door open and Miles and Adam's voices talking quietly. I grabbed my camera, and shot back down the stairs, and picked the other bag up, before heading to the front door. Adam took Jonah from Miles and headed back to his car. I stood looking after him for a few seconds before turning my full attention to Miles.
"I'll try and call if anything changes". I told him.
"I love you". He told me, his voice soft and gentle.
I leant up and brushed my lips quickly yet softly against his, then took off after Adam. I plonked both bags in the backseat, then took Jonah from his arms, and sat in the front seat with him on my lap. I know it wasn't the safest way to travel, but we only had a short distance to go, before we would be at Charlie and Julies.
Nothing much was said between us on the way to Charlie's. I suppose it was because neither of us, really knew what to say, and silence was better than talking about it, at the moment anyway. I knew we'd have to talk about it sooner or later.
We arrived at Charlie's a few minutes later, and I slowly climbed out. Even looking at it, nearly brought me to tears. This was Julie's home, and everything about it reminded me of her. There was no getting away from it.
"C'mon, lets get this over and done with". Adam wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and guided the way up the steps.
He pulled the key Charlie had given him out of his pocket and unlocked the door, before stepping inside and flicking the lights on. I followed him in, and headed into the living room where I put Jonah in his play pen. I gathered a few more of his favorite toys, before going upstairs and getting some of Julie's things like her pj's and dressing gown. Next I collected a few of Jonah's clothes. It took only 10 minutes to get everything I thought we'd need. Adam helped by getting some clothes for Charlie and collecting the address book so we could contact Julie's family, well what was left of them. Her mom had died when she was only young, and her dad had traveled a lot since Julie had started college. She was an only child and both her parents came from relatively small families.
"Um, the seat from the car". I thought aloud just as I was about to pick the bags up.
"I'll get it. What about a pram? At least when he comes to the hospital, it'll be comfier to sleep in that than in someone's arms". Adam suggested as he searched for Julie's car keys.
"Yeah". I headed into the closet and retrieved the pram, then picked a few other things before heading to Adam's car and packing them in.
15 minutes later, Jonah was in my arms, dozing slightly, as Adam locked the door behind us. We headed straight to my parents, which was about a half an hour drive. At now midnight, I was unsure whether or not they'd still be up, but knew my mom would understand, especially since she'd been there when Julie had collapsed.
"Look's like they're in bed". Adam said, as he pulled up at the curb. "C'mon, we'll come back later". He suggested.
"No it's ok, they'll understand". I got out of the car and headed to the backseat and pulled the sleeping Jonah out.
"Are you sure"? Adam asked, getting out and grabbing the pram and the rest of Jonah's things.
"Yeah". I replied, making my way up to the front door.
As predicted my parents didn't mind, but didn't really ask for much of an explanation, from me, but I surmised Adam had filled them in, whilst I had been settling Jonah in his pram, as when I came back into the hall, tears where falling from my mom's eyes. She looked at me sympathetically before pulling me into a hug. My dad just stood there looking as awkward as ever.
"Call us if there's any news". My mom called after us, as we left, headed back to the hospital.
In a way, I felt as though a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders, once we'd left Jonah at my parents, rather than having him at the hospital. Though I knew at some point later on, we'd have to pick him up, as no doubt Julie would want to spend some time with him.
"How you holding up anyway"? Adam asked suddenly, his eyes remaining fixed on the road ahead.
"Honestly, I just want to wake up and find out this was all a nightmare". I replied. "What about you"?
"Pretty much the same. I just can't help thinking about what it's gonna be like without her". He answered.
The rest of the journey was silent. Adam's words were running through my head, and I too soon began to imagine what life was going to be like without her. Not seeing her every other day, not being able to have girlie chats with her, not being able to listen to her tell me with excitement what Jonah had started doing or saying.
"How is she"? Adam asked, once we got back on the ward.
"Um the doctors upped the pain relief a little, but other than that, it's just like talking to the same old Julie, yet it's not the same old Julie". Guy informed us.
END FLASHBACK
Finding out that day, had changed everything. We all saw Julie in a slightly different light, yet I remember agreeing with everyone that we still had to treat her the same as always. She was still and always would be 'our' Julie 'the cat' Gaffney Conway.
I remember about a year after that day, going with Charlie and Jonah to the Doctors to have some tests done on Jonah to check to make sure the heart condition that had taken Julie wasn't hereditary. We both sat scared stiff that day as we awaited the results, hoping and praying that it wasn't.
So what do you think? PLEASE R&R!!!!
