Since the actress who played Zoe was Italian American, I decided to make her family Italian Americans. That will make a good excuse for Jarod, Miss Parker, and company to go to Italy later on in the story..
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Jarod spent most of the time descending to the parking section, talking on the cell phone, the conversation being mostly about the examination he had to go through to get his Investigative License which was harder than most not only did he have to pass the Delaware license but of the other States in the United States of America. Luckily, there were fax machines and American embassies and consulates in the places they would have to visit. It also seemed that the money to support Rachel's children was calculated from Miss Parker's expense account, not the pay Jarod got to investigate various bails bonder jumpers, and small-time crooks, and after taking that out, Jarod got nothing other than just enough.
As soon as he got off, he spotted the Medicals putting the sleeping Gem into the cryogenic unit in Lambourni's van with one of the Packrats helping. Margaret was in the passenger seat while Debbie sat in the back with Constance, her husband, and four of their kids..It would not look right for Antonio to take all his family. That would arouse suspicion. They did look like a small army. They would meet them at the hospital. One of his sons stayed at home, and another was staying at the house in New Jersey. No Dominants or Pretenders traveled in packs.
Nicholas, who had a sabbatical, went in Sam's car along with Sydney and Broots. He had hurriedly put together a bag, but that would not be enough. Most if not all of them would have to purchase more clothes and provisions when they got off at Heathrow Airport.
Jarod drove by Miss Parker's house that certainly was going through an extensive renovation and by accounts of the construction crew, would never get finished. They were all leaning against various trees, the rockery, the stone steps either having coffee, breakfast, lunch, or dinner, depending on what shifts they were taking. All of them had been 'employed' by The Centre and Jarod was thinking that perhaps back in the Roman Empire, the slaves probably had a union and lolled around drinking sour wine and mush.
Antonio steered his van towards the meeting hall where his church met every Sunday. He stopped there and got out to talk to one of the men pruning a tree.
"So that's where you go," said Miss Parker, rolling down her window, noticing the sign on the lawn that the Blue Cove Orthodox Presbyterian Church held services every Sunday.
"Right," said Antonio returning to his van. "There's not that many of us, but I'm optimistic."
"But what about the other one?"
"Oh the Dutch Reformed Church took that one over. We already had a disagreement with it and besides I don't think I've that much Dutch in me," Antonio said with a smile.
"Oh please! You're as tight with your money as they are!" Miss Parker rolled up her window and they started to the commercial section.
Jarod smiled and looked at the clock on the dashboard. The brief spat he and Miss Parker had previously was largely forgotten. Besides, he was getting hungry. "MacDonalds?"
"I don't think the one here's open, yet," said Miss Parker as she slipped some money into his wallet while he wasn't looking.
"We could always try. Besides, I can't talk on the cell while driving."
She cursed about stupid cell phone rules and asked, "Who were you trying to reach?"
"Frederick, so he'll meet us at the hospital instead. By the way, some movie studio writer's been snooping around and bugging Fred, about using him as a model for making a movie about a teenage CIA agent. Do you believe such crap?"
"Really Jarod. I thought you were better than that?" She hid her laughter in the handkerchief she took out of her purse. "So who else's going to be there? I gather Rachel and the kids."
"Yes. When I told them of going to Europe, she made sure to get passports and visas in their name. And there's a case she's working on, something about a serial killer who probably doubles as a pilot. By the way, I already contacted little Margaret. The Opera Company she's in is having a hiatus in London and she'll meet us there after —" He didn't want to say anything more.
It had been hectic, planning the trip to Europe, which would happen after seeing Zoe at the hospital and probably arguing with her parents about custody of the kids.
Jarod hoped that Zoe's parents would relent. After all, he missed seeing Rachel's three on a regular basis and since neither he nor Rachel wanted to go to court — it being difficult for someone who officially didn't exist — it was mainly an understanding, he'd take them for summer, and she'd during the school term. Unfortunately, it didn't work that way. She'd drop the kids off unexpectedly or he'd not see them for months.
As for Zoe, they had no idea whether the doctors were being pessimistic or whether the orderlies would be pulling the sheets over her body. If that were the case, they only had enough time for a burger and fries and probably would have to eat in the car.
Miss Parker notified Sam of their decision and so both cars started towards the main highway. The new MacDonald's was supposed to be already open and as she suspected, it still was not. A mob of well manicured, blue haired, blonde coifed, overly busted, sauna and trainer slimmed women stood blocking the way of the delivery trucks and some had signs saying, "No hamburgers, and fries at Blue Cove!"
"It's been that for weeks," said one of the truck drivers to Jarod.
"So I guess eating here is out."
"Yeah, you'll have to try farther down. These women are nuts!"
And so they did.
By the time, they reached the open MacDonalds outside of Blue Cove, everyone, that is, of Pretender gene or to be technically correct, Homo Dominant variety were looking rather hungrily at the Sapiens. The kids were crying, Lambourni's voice, they could hear asking, "When are we going to stop?" and Jarod imagined that a hungry bear was in his stomach trying to escape. For some small moment, he wished they had saved more of that Nutritional Supplement instead of throwing it away.
As it was, Jarod sped the car into the nearest parking lot, not wanting to wait at the pick up window, and went into the restaurant, and ordered "Ten Big Mac Combos with fries, and extra onion rings," and revised the order to include five Chicken salads to accommodate Miss Parker who strode in at that moment. For the sake of the children and himself, he ordered several apple pies, chocolate chip cookies, Sprite, and Coke. The adults drank coffee, and tea of both the regular and herbal varieties.
They could not stay at the restaurant, besides most of the tables were filled — obviously by others from Blue Cove who could not eat at its picketed MacDonald — so they drove off towards the hospital. However for some reason, Jarod could not eat. Remembrances of the weight he gained before being on the Island and the thought of Zoe wasting away from the cancer had killed his appetite.
An hour or so later, they reached the hospital and parked near the entrance. After giving his children
"I'll find out if she's got any worse," said Jarod, going over to Zoe's grandmother and noticing someone there.
"My son and his wife," said the grandmother.
Jarod never knew that Zoe's parents were alive.
They looked like hard working people. Zoe's father had wavy brown hair and brown eyes. His wife's eyes were blue and Zoe got her looks from her. They were looking after Zoe's three and Mrs. Fabrizio held the children protectively as she glared at their father.
"You got to excuse Viola," said Grandmother Fabrizio, "she's hurt. You see Zoe never told her nor about the children."
"Why?" asked Jarod.
"Zoe had a falling out. The court gave me guardianship. This was the first time they had gotten together."
"But families."
"Yes,"said Mr. Fabrizio, "families should be together."
So this is why I never saw the kids often, thought Jarod. He wanted to apologize but he he knew that wouldn't work.
"They say she's got an hour or less," said Grandmother Fabrizio, "If you want to see her —"
"Look mama," said Mr. Fabrizio, "I doubt it's wise."
"I think it is." The old lady was insistent.
"Mama, you know how you had to struggle after Papa passed. Zoe's got nothing to say to him and besides her children can stay with us."
"They're names are Francesco, Gabriella, and Luigi," said the grandmother and turned to Jarod. "She's in Room 214."
"Thank you," said Jarod who motioned to Miss Parker who was coming in the waiting room, "I think I'll want to see her alone."
"I'll wait down here." She shifted her pouch, and picked up a magazine. Johann was squealing, Lisa had just let out a large burp, Colin was kicking off his sheets, and Catherina — well she was sleeping.
"I'll take them for you," said Debbie who was smart enough to carry in a large car seat that her husband had improvised to fit her four.
Lambourni followed, went over to the administration desk, and whispered, in lawyer fashion, to the receptionist.
"Thank you," said Miss Parker to Debbie as she watched Jarod walk away.
Jarod stepped into the elevator, his heart heavy. He had been in love with Zoe, but it was not what he felt for Miss Parker, that feeling of affection. He pressed the button for the second floor and thought of how he could gain custody of his children..
. For anyone's information, there are several Orthodox Presbyterian Churches in Delaware and I figured that there had to be one in the fictitious (or not) town of Blue Cove. As for MacDonald's and other places like Burger King, etc. they'd have a hard being established, since Blue Cove is an exclusive, and ritzy community, and occupied mostly by Centre employees, most of whom would be snobs..