Chapter 16- The Return Home
Layla's POV:
Barbie and Randy came to the cabin and insisted we go home, so, we're in Oklahoma getting gas. "Why did we have to leave," whined John "we've barely even been through the great state Tennessee! There was so many more things I wanted to do! Can we go back, Barbie? PLEASE?!" "No, John. This is urgent. I must go home. We'll tell you why when we get back to California. Now, does anyone need to go in to the gas station for snacks?" "Yes," I reply "I'm starving! I'll just get a bag of fritos and a pop." "I'll go with ya! I need to pee and get some slim jims!" I heard John say from behind. "Okay, we'll go in when Randy goes in to pay," replies Barbie. Randy then goes into the gas station to pay. "Let's go," I say as I head out of the door. I got Frito's and a can of Pepsi Next. The lady that checked me out was some teenager with blond hair and pink streaks. Her name was "Jennifer" according to her name tag. "Is this all for you today?" She said with a blank expression on her face. Someone's not overly happy. "Um, yes." "Okay, that'll be 3 dollars and 50 cents." I gave her 4. "Change is 50 cents. 25 50. Have a great day. Would you like the receipt?" "No thanks." "Okay, good bye. Drive safely." Then John checked out with a full package of Slim Jim's and a 24 liter can of Monster. "Is this all for you?" "Yes Please!" "Okay, your total is $25.95. Cash, Credit, or check?" "Check. Did you say $25.95?" "Yes." "Okay... here you go mad'am." "Thank you have a wonderful evening sir. Drive safely." "Thanks." When we headed out, Barbie and Randy were outside the car talking about what they will do to our home to re-model it and expand it. "Well, how will we keep John and Layla's side of the home even if we add another room," I over heard Barbie ask Randy. "I don't know. But, lets not worry about it until we get professional's to look at your results. I mean, it could've been a glitch in the system or something." "I hope not! That would be depressing considering I told my mother! Speaking of which, how'd Elaine handle it?" "I haven't told her. I wont until we know for sure." "Hey guys," John interrupts "can we like leave now?" "Oh yeah, sure lets go. Hop on in!"
Kelly's POV:
I surely hope that Layla and John didn't overhear mine and Randy's conversation! I want our bundle of joy to be a surprise! I suddenly get a phone call. "Hello. Hey mom! I-I can't understand you. WHAT? I can't hear you? Well quit screaming! What about Layla?" I suddenly begin to shake. "WHAT? SHE'S LOSING BLOOD? OH MY... RANDY STEP ON IT! LAYLA'S DYING! We're on our way mom. We're in Oklahoma. Okay. Yes we'll even hitch a plane whatever it takes. Bye bye." I hang up and nearly throw up. "RANDY! STEP ON IT! I REALLY COULD CARE LESS IF WE GET A SPEEDING TICKET!" "What's happening to Layla?" asked John. "She's losing a ton of blood which is bad for a new born. My mother said that the doctors are estimating" I bit my lip trying to hide my tears "3 more days before she's gone." "Oh my gosh, Barbie! I'm so so sorry!" "Yea, me too." "We're out of Oklahoma. Only about 3 or 4 more states to pass. I hope Layla's alright!" I hear Randy say from beside of me. "I hope so too." We were now in Colorado. Only about two more days with my sweet "angel".
Randy's POV:
Layla's losing a ton of blood. My first baby will die before two. This is awful. Plus, its super dangerous to make a pregnant lady upset. It could have an affect on the egg. My phone starts to ring. "Barb, answer my phone will ya?" "Sure," Barbie said as she pulled my cell out of my front pocket. "Hello," Barbie said with a nervous sound in her voice. Still recovering from the bad news "Randy's driving Elaine. C-Can I leave a message? We know I just talked to Mom. I know, I know. We're startled, too. We do not know what's happening to her. I am so scared. We only have to pass through Utah and Nevada and then we're in California. Which urgent care is she at? Wilson Intensive Care. Okay. Buh Bye. You too. Are you with her? Thanks so much. You don't know how much company to her means to me. She's probably freaking out. Okay. Thanks so much Elaine. Is Bob there too? He is. I bet he is. Okay. Bye!" "Well, anything else happening?" "She said that Layla's still in very bad shape and Bob's there too. They;re waiting on us. Won't be long and my mother will be having a stroke." "Mine too." "How many more cities til we're out of Colorado?" "Only... um... 1...2...3... 3 more." "Great! Hurry."
3 CITIES LATER...
Kelly's POV:
We're out of Colorado. Now we're in Utah. "Hurry Randall! Now the doctors are estimating only today," I say as I begin to cry... wait no BAWL my eyes out. "Why must this happen to us?" I scream as I dump at least I ton of tears out. "It's okay, sweetie. It all works out in the end." "Yea, and the end for Layla Lee is today!" I scream as I cry harder. "Randy... pull over so Barbie can calm down," John suggests. "NO! WE ONLY HAVE TODAY TO STAY WITH MY BABY AND THIS WILL BE THE SADDEST DAY OF OUR LIVES!" I reply back. "We only have 5 more cities to pass and then we're out of Utah. We've already been in here for 2 hours. Layla's okay sweetie. Calm down!" Says Randy.
A FEW HOURS LATER...
Randy's POV:
We're now in California. We zoomed passed Nevada. We got two speeding fines of $50. We're now pulling in to Wilson Intensive Care. "Excuse me... what room is Layla Lee Orton in? She's 5 months old." "She's in 334 A with Elaine and Bob Orton." "Thanks," I say. We enter the elevator to the third floor. Barb's still not any better than she was in Utah. "334 A. Let's go," Layla says as she pushes the door open to see my mother and father both bawling. "Hi-Hi everyone." My mother says as she attempts to calm down. "H-Hi Elaine." then Barbie sits down and calmly says "Where's Layla?" They shake their heads. "She's gone?" They nod. She, Layla, John and I bawl with them. "WHY?!" We all chant. "The doctors tried to keep her until you arrived, but they could no longer hear her heart. She was gone a few minutes before you showed up. We tried to call but we couldn't speak. So sorry sweeties" "Mom! You do not understand! We tried REALLY hard for Layla! We interrupted our funeral for Layla! We LOVED Layla probably more than any parent on this planet loved their child! AND NOW WHAT? SHE'S GONE! SHE'S FLIPPING GONE!" I start to flip chairs over. The doctors come in. "Layla's..." "We KNOW SHE'S GONE! NOW GET OUT! NOW!" I am too angry to speak calmly. You know I have bad tempers. "We actually came to say Layla's..." "WE DON'T FLIPPING CARE! GET OUT!" "Layla's not dead..." "SHUT UP! Wait... what?" "She's okay. Someone was kind enough to donate blood and even offered a heart transplant." "Really? Who!?" "Come on in and I'll show you." They guide us to a room. It's Punk. "Phillip? Why? I thought you hated us?" Barbie says from behind. "I never really hated you. I actually thought of you all everyday. And when I heard on the internet that Layla was in critical condition... I thought 'Hey, why not show the Orton's I care.'" "THANK YOU!" Barbie said as she hugged him. I gave him a knuckle touch. "Thanks, bro. It means alot. To me and Barbie." "Welcome, bro. Anytime." "Here's Layla. She'll have to stay in Intensive Care for a few weeks but, you all can visit every other day." "Thanks." We were so happy. "Thank you Phillip! Literally... I would have never survived with out you. You wanna come over and watch a re run of Friday Night Smackdown at our place?" asked Barbie. "Sure, why not? After all, after a man donates 1 quart of blood, he needs a reward." "ONE QUART?" We gasp. "You'll get loopy." "Nah, they gave me the quart from someone else. Its a chain." "Oh. We'll let's go." Once a family... Always a family.