Jennifer held Jagger till he started rubbing his eyes and then gave him a bottle and put him down for the night.
She went and took a shower and changed clothes and packed a few more outfits for her and Jessalynn.
"Ok, so if my dad and my aunt come here first in the morning, tell her she can have the guestroom next to yours. And Max should be home tomorrow and he will make a market run. And if Jonathan calls, or comes home-"
Her voice broke and she wiped the tears away.
"I'll send him to the hospital first thing, I promise".
"Thank you".
They shared a long hug.
"He loves you so much Squishy. He really and truly does. Holden was the one who ran away. Not Jonathan".
Jennifer nodded.
"I keep thinking maybe I pushed Holden away, pushed him to Tara. And what if I'm doing the same thing with Jonathan?"
"You didn't push Holden away. Holden was and is a damn idiot. And he's right where he belongs-in prison. You didn't push him away and you haven't pushed Jonathan away. There are about 8 million explanations for why he hasn't called you back."
"I know that. I just wish I knew what the reason is".
She wiped her eyes and then they headed downstairs.
She started to make some bottles, but Rachel stopped her.
"Squishy, I got this. Go be with Jessalynn."
"Ok. Thank you".
They shared another hug and then Jennifer headed back up to the hospital.
She stopped and picked up Chinese food, and her favorite watermelon sweet tea and then went back to the hospital.
***Jonathan***
Jonathan and Jack were handcuffed and led off the plane and straight into a waiting van.
They were shoved into the backseat, and then after the kidnappers were in the van, the van started to move.
Jonathan was trying to figure out where they were, but he was also trying to not make it obvious.
His only hope was that Jack had figured out where they were going, and they would be kept in the same place and would have a chance to talk.
The kidnapper that the others were calling "Buck" sat in the front. He had Jonathan's phone and Jonathan saw him texting Jennifer.
If his hands weren't handcuffed behind him, he would have lunged forward and grabbed the phone.
He wouldn't let himself think of anything other than getting him and Jack out of this. He couldn't afford to let anything detract from his focus.
They pulled up to a run-down shack, and parked, and then got them out.
A few minutes later, they were locked in a room at the back of the shack, with only a cot for each of them, a blanket and pillow for each of them and a couple of bottles of water and a bucket.
"Nighty night, boys. And if either of you get any ideas about escaping, Buck here is going to be sitting up all night with a couple of rifles handy. He's almost a perfect shot, it'd be a shame to not make it interesting for him."
The door shut, and then locked.
"Buck, you still have his phone. What if they trace it?"
"Well, we will just throw them off the trail."
"How?"
He sent a quick text back to the number that had texted Jonathan last, and then once it went through, he dropped the phone and smashed it to pieces.
"Problem solved".
Meanwhile, in the room, Jack was looking at the windows, and realized they cracked, but didn't open. He cracked them as far as he could.
"What in the hell are we going to do now?"
"I have no idea. None at all".
***Los Angeles General Hospital***
Jennifer came into Jessalynn's room, and found Susan.
"Hi".
"Hi, feel better?"
"A little. I just wish my husband would call".
"He will, he will. Listen, I put an oxygen tent on her crib. I'm hoping this will keep us from having to hook her up to oxygen as often. And if she tolerates the oxygen well and her pulse ox doesn't drop in the night, I'm planning on taking out the breathing tube and just giving her cannula".
"You're the professional. I trust you, 1000%".
"Also, I attached a sensor to her alarms, and I'm going to feed it through to your bed. This way if you are asleep, it will vibrate and wake you up".
"Great idea".
Just then, Jennifer heard her phone ding.
She grabbed it and saw a text from Jonathan.
I need some time away. I need to figure out how I feel about you and me, and whether or not I want to be a father. I'm going off the grid for a bit to figure things out. Jonathan.
Jennifer was dumbfounded.
"Well, I guess I got my answer".
She showed the text to Susan.
"Ok, wait a minute. I've known Jonathan Hart a very long time. He was one of the first people I met when Drew and I moved here to LA. And I watched him date Nikki, I watched him date that witch Tara, and I watched him date many people a couple of times, and hundreds of people only once. I watched him go from one shallow girl to another, until he found someone with substance. And that person he found was you. And as God as my witness, he has never ever in his life looked at another woman like he looks at you. He loves you more than life itself, Jennifer. It's evident in everything he does. I'm not buying this message. Something else is going on here".
"I wish I knew what it was. I mean, yes, we did have an argument today. But it was nowhere near as bad as the other ones we've had, and honestly, I can't remember the last time we did argue. And yes, I did apologize for this one over text, and I fully intend to apologize again whenever I see him. But let's say he and I are through. He's still her father and she still needs him. And I need him to be here with her and for her too, and at home for Jagger. Going off the grid isn't a thing when you have responsibilities unless your responsibilities are with you off the grid".
"I agree completely. That's why I think there's something else going on here. What if I called and left a message for him, telling him how serious her condition is? I mean, he might be ignoring you-and I'm not saying he is- but he respects me and my medical opinion".
"Please".
"I'll do just that in a few moments".
Jennifer ate her Chinese food and tried to calm down, but she just had this sinking feeling that everything bad was happening.
She pulled out her wallet and dug out the number that she had tucked away for safekeeping. She hardly ever used this number, but it was reassuring to know that she could if she needed to.
She dialed it and selected the right number combinations from the menu.
"Hello, Cape Honeywell Correctional Facility. How may I help you?"
"Hi. I was wondering if you could tell me whether or not an inmate is still in your facility?"
"Certainly. What's the inmate's name?"
"Holden McAlister".
"Last count was 30 minutes ago, and he was listed as in his cell. I am looking at the cameras now, and he's in his bunk, sleeping".
"Ok, thank you. It just makes me feel better to know that he's there".
"I understand, ma'am. Have a good day".
"Thank you, you too".
She hung up and called the prison that Tara was in, and was told that she was in fact, present and accounted for.
"Ok, thank you".
She hung up and breathed a sigh of relief, before changing into her pajamas and falling asleep.
***The Next Day***
Jennifer woke up when the nurses came in to check on Jessalynn. They took her temperature, which was down to 101.8 and then administered her feed.
"Can I hold her this morning?"
"As soon as the medicines wear off, yes."
After they left, she took a shower and changed clothes and then got back in the bed. She opened the blinds some, to let some light in. She turned on the tv, and ordered some breakfast from the cafeteria.
She grabbed her phone and checked it. No messages from Jonathan. No missed calls.
She decided to put him out of her mind and focus on Jessalynn.
Susan came and checked on her, and ordered a chest x-ray.
"As soon as that comes back, we'll know more".
The nurses took her for the x-ray, and Jennifer wanted to walk with her, but they said no.
"This will only take about 10 minutes".
"Ok, I'll be here when she gets back".
Susan came in when they brought Jessalynn back.
She sat on the end of Jennifer's bed.
"Have you ever taken an anatomy class?"
"Not really".
"Ok, so when we are talking about the lungs, sometimes it's easier to understand if you think of an accordion. In, out, in, out. That's how the lungs are supposed to work, in a sense. It's more like in, switch it for another gas, out. In, trade, out".
"Ok".
"Now, when you have something blocking the production of that other gas, it makes things difficult. And that's what we are dealing with. Jessalynn has a spot on her lungs. It's a bit early to tell, so we are going to keep watching it. However, my gut tells me it's pneumonia. Flu and pneumonia sometimes go hand in hand, in people with disabilities, or the elderly. Please understand, Jessalynn is only considered disabled in the sense that she's so young and her body hasn't figured out how to work itself out of these situations yet. Now, having said that, the medicines that I gave her yesterday, should help with this. She has a couple more doses of flu meds, and then she should be over that. I want to up the dosage on one of her breathing meds, and I want to take her for a chest x-ray each day so that we can catch the spot before it gets bigger. My gut tells me it's pneumonia. But it's early, and that's a good thing. Now here's the thing-she absolutely cannot be around germs. So, anyone who comes in here has to wash their hands every time. We have to insist on it".
"Got it".
"If they want to hold her, when she's ready, and she's not ready yet, they have to gown up and glove up and wear a mask".
"Can I hold her today?"
"Let's let her get some more rest and then I'll let you hold her tonight, I promise".
Jennifer nodded.
"I called Jonathan and left a message. It went straight to voicemail".
"Thank you for trying".
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Susan went and opened it.
"Hi, I'm looking for Jennifer Hart".
"Pa! I'm so glad you're here. Now, you have to wash your hands, and then you can come in".
"Very well".
He stepped to the sink and washed his hands very well, and so did Jennifer's aunt.
After they came in the room, he gave Jennifer a long hug.
"I'm here now, sweetheart. How is she?"
"About the same. Pa, this is Susan, she's a friend of mine and Jonathan's and she's also the twin's doctor, and my doctor. She's keeping me sane at this point".
"Hello. Nice to meet you. Thank you for your expertise".
"My pleasure. And it's nice to meet you too".
"And this is my Aunt Marnie. She was my mom's sister".
They shared a lovely hug.
"It's been about 10 years since I saw Jennifer. And if you ever wanted to know what her mother looked like, she's right here in the flesh".
"You're too sweet, Aunt Marnie."
Susan explained to Stephen and Marnie about Jessalynn's condition.
"In an effort to keep germs down, if you want to hold her, which can't take place till this afternoon at the earliest, you will have to put on a gown and wear a mask".
"Understood".
"I am going to head out on rounds. I'll be back to check on her soon".
"I'm going to take my dad and my aunt to the house. I'll be back in a little bit, but call me if something happens".
"You got it".
Jennifer took her aunt's hand and walked her over to the side of the crib.
"Aunt Marnie, this is Miss Jessalynn Suzanne Olivia Hart".
"She's simply stunning. Looks like her grandmother and her mother, to me".
"Yeah, I think she has Jonathan's eyes, and Momma's everything else".
"I agree".
"Ok Aunt Marnie. Let's go introduce you to Jagger".
***Willow Pond***
Jennifer and her dad and aunt pulled up to the house and parked.
They took their bags in, and found Rachel and Jagger in the living room.
He smiled really big as soon as he saw his Mama.
"Hi Mr. Edwards".
"Hey there, Speedy".
"Aunt Marnie, this is my best friend, Rachel. Rachel, this is my Aunt Marnie".
She walked over and took Jagger from Rachel and they sat down.
"And this is Mr. Jagger Harrison Maxwell Hart".
"He's so handsome".
"I agree. I think he looks like his daddy".
"Squishy, how is Jessalynn?"
"About the same. Susan said she thinks she has pneumonia too, but that we caught it early".
"Poor girl can't catch a break".
"I agree. And neither can her mama".
She dug her phone out of her purse and handed it to Rachel.
"Look at my texts".
Jagger was reaching for his Poppy, so Jennifer gladly handed him over.
"Ok Aunt Marnie, how about a house tour?"
"Sure".
"Mushy, is Max home?"
"No, he called and said he was going to Canada for a couple of weeks to see his nephew".
"Oh yes, that's right. I forgot".
"Why do you two call each other Squishy and Mushy?"
"In boarding school, when we were roommates, there was a centipede like bug thing in our room one night. We were trying to get it and we were screaming our heads off. I wanted to catch it and put it outside, but she wanted to kill it. We got in trouble for screaming and they wrote us up and had to ask us why we were screaming. I said the bug was Squishy, and she said it was Mushy and the names just stuck".
"How cute".
Jennifer gave her a tour of the house.
"You have such a lovely home".
"Thank you. We love it, and it's the perfect size for us and the babies".
They came back downstairs to the living room.
"Ok, so his basic schedule is he eats as soon as he gets up in the morning, and then he takes a good two-hour nap. He will get up and play for a bit, and then eat around 1, take another nap, and then I keep them up for a bit, and then we eat and play with Daddy and Mommy, before we have a final bottle and then go down for the night. He loves to be outside in the stroller, and he loves his jumperoo, also".
"He's such a happy boy".
"Yes, he usually is".
He started to get fussy again, so Jennifer and Aunt Marnie headed to make him a bottle.
"Ok, so the bottle thing goes like this. You get one from the fridge, take the top off, microwave it for 22 seconds, put the top on and shake it up. And at night, after I get him down for the night, I usually wash all the bottles from that day and make up a bunch more."
"Good plan".
"He likes to be rocked as you give him a bottle, and when he wakes up in the middle of the night, he loves to be rocked then too, on your chest".
"I think I can handle that".
They went back into the living room and Jennifer handed the bottle to Rachel.
She took Jagger from Stephen and began to feed him.
"Ok, so Rachel has been helping out. So, you and she can work out who's going to be here and when. I trust both of you, so it doesn't matter to me who stays with him and who doesn't".
"I told Jack I would meet him at the airport this afternoon, so I'll probably leave around 3 and I won't be back till in the morning".
"That works for me".
"Help yourself to anything in the fridge or the freezer in the garage".
"We'll be fine, I promise".
"Oh, and sometimes, Jonathan's office calls. If they do, just call me and I'll call them back".
"Sweetheart, we need to get back to the hospital".
"Yes, we do".
She kissed Jagger goodbye and then gave her aunt a kiss as well.
"Thank you so much".
"My pleasure".
"Thank you, Mushy".
"Happy to do it, Squishy. And as soon as I see Jack this afternoon, he and I are going to head your way, hopefully with your husband in tow".
"Drag him kicking and screaming, please".
"Will do". She handed the phone back to Jennifer.
"It will all work out, Squishy. You just have to believe".
***Los Angeles General Hospital***
Stephen and Jennifer got back to Jessalynn's room.
"Hi princess. Mommy's back. And Poppy's here, he came to see you and help mommy. You think you could open your eyes for him?"
Jessalynn just kept sleeping.
"Come on princess…open your eyes".
"Sweetheart, it's ok. She'll open them when she's ready".
Jennifer nodded.
Susan came in and checked on her again.
"Holding steady, fever has dropped to 99.8, which is definitely headed in the right direction, and she's tolerating her feeds well. Her output is good also. I really think this is all contained in her lungs, which is the best option we could hope for".
"I just want her to open her eyes. Pa hasn't seen her with her eyes open since Christmas".
"She will, when the meds wear off. Let's give her some time".
"Ok".
"I'll be back in a little bit to check on her".
"Thank you".
Stephen and Jennifer watched tv for a bit and lounged around.
Just after dinner, Rachel showed up, and was crying.
"Mushy, what is it?"
"I went to the airport, to get Jack. He had told me they would be back in town by 3. I waited and waited and waited and they didn't show up. So, I went inside and spoke with the air traffic controller. And they said that they never received a flight plan for Jonathan's plane, nor did they have any records of Jonathan and Jack flying home commercial, nor did Jack call in and register that he was flying a different plane. So, I called the company where they rented the cabin from. Jonathan and Jack checked out yesterday around lunch time, but nobody knows where they went. And the local airport there said they registered a flight plan, and then called back in and said never mind."
"So they're missing?"
Rachel nodded.
"And planes just don't go missing, Squishy. Unless…."
"No, don't you dare say that. I would feel it in my bones if that had happened and I don't".
Rachel crawled up in the bed with Jennifer and they tried to console each other, like they always did.
"I can't believe my husband would just fly off like that. Something had to have happened".
"Well he did say he wanted to go off the grid. But I can't imagine him forcing Jack to go with him, nor can I imagine him convincing Jack to go with him, because Jack wouldn't just leave me like this".
"Ok you two, calm down. I'm going to make some phone calls, we will get to the bottom of this".