Chapter Three
Luke was heading back to the store when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled over to the side off the road. The truck came to a screeching halt. It was an old truck, but it got him from point A to point B. He put the truck in park then answered his phone.
"Hello" Luke said.
"Hello is this Mr. Garroway" The female voice asked.
"Yes, this is he."
"Mr. Garroway, this nurse Katlin here at the hospital. I have your wife Jocelyn Fray here. I'm afraid she's been in a car accident." the nurse said.
"Oh god, I'm on my way there." Luke said.
"Very well sir we'll see you soon." she said then hung up.
I have to call Clary, Luke thought to himself. He dialed her number then put the truck in gear and headed for the hospital. When she answered the phone he told about her mother.
"Is she OK?" Clary asked.
"Clary, I don't know." Luke said.
"What? You don't know? How can you not know?" Clary said historically.
"Clary, I haven't even gotten to the hospital yet." Luke said irritated. "And don't use that tone of voice with me young lady."
"Yes sir, I'm sorry." Clary said as tears ran down her face.
"I'll meet at the hospital Clary OK." Luke said hanging up the phone.
Clary wiped the tears from her cheeks. She put her phone back in her messenger bag then immediately she thought of Simon. He was always there for her. Clary zipped up her jacket and brushed her hair back behind her ears. She folded her arms then turn to Jace who was still standing beside her with the bag of books he bought in his hand. Clary sniffed as she looked at him. His gold blonde hair was blowing in the wind. He looked like an angel that had just dropped from the sky. The tears were still rolling down her face when he spoke.
Jace looked at her, he wanted to wipe the tears from her face. He moved toward her and asked:
"Is everything all right, Clary?" Jace said in concerned voice.
"Um yea my mother has been hurt. I have to go I'm sorry." Clary said tearfully.
"I hope she is OK" Jace said sympathetically.
"Me, too" Clary turned on her heel and walked towards Simon's house.
Simon was sitting on his computer playing D&D online when a knock came at the door. He logged off his game then headed for the door. His mother had already answered the door. He saw her hugging someone. As he moved closer to see who it was a figure with with red hair was crying in his mother's chest. It was Clary. She looked up. Simon held out his arms. Clary let go of Simon's mother and ran into his arms. He stroked the back of her hair and rested his chin on her head. Simon was much taller then Clary was. When they finally broke apart. Simon wiped the tears from her face.
"Hey is everything OK?" Simon asked searching her face.
"My mom has been hurt." She said in a hoarse voice.
"Oh Clary, I'm sorry." He said tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I need to get to the hospital. Luke is waiting for me."
"Sure absolutely. Mom." Simon looked at his Mother.
"Of course, let me get my keys." His mother said walking into the kitchen. When she return the three of them went downstairs.
Luke arrived at the hospital, parking his truck before heading inside. He walked up to the nurse's station. They directed him upstairs to the fourth floor. When the elevators doors opened on the fourth floor Luke stepped out. The nurse's station was just to his left. He walked quickly towards the stations.
"Excuse me," He started, "my wife Jocelyn Fray is here."
"Yes sir, just one moment the doctor would like to speak with you first." The nurse said.
Luke sat down in the waiting area and waited for the doctor. It took only a few minutes before the doctor to address him. He looked very young for his age. The doctor walked over towards Luke.
"Mr. Fray, I'm Dr. Jeremiah" he said holding out his hand.
"It's Garroway actually. Jocelyn didn't change her name when we got married." Luke laughed.
"I see, well Mr. Garroway. Your wife was in a pretty severe accident. The other car hit her head on leaving her with multiple contusions, a few broken ribs, some small cuts on her face from the windshield and her left leg is broken." the doctor said.
"She's OK then right?" Luke asked.
"Yes, but I'm afraid she is in a coma." Dr. Jeremiah stated.
"How long will she be in a coma?" Luke asked concern.
"I can't really tell you, Mr. Garroway. Comas are unpredictable. It could be weeks, months even years there's no telling."
"May I see her?"
"Of course follow me." he said turning towards the hall.
Luke followed the doctor down the hallway. When they arrived at the room, Dr. Jeremiah opened the door. Luke stepped in. He saw Jocelyn lying on the bed. She looked like a sleeping angel. He walked up to the bed slowly. Oh Jocelyn. Luke thought as he looked upon her. He grasped her hand then sat in the chair next to the bed. Moments later Clary walked in with Simon right behind followed by his mother. The look on Clary's face was complete shock.
"Mom" Clary said tearfully. She walked slowly up to the bed her hands shook when she covered her mouth. Luke watched her cautiously. Clary cried in her hands. Simon stepped toward her. He placed his hand on her shoulder for reassurance. Clary turned into him. He wrapped his arm around her. Luke explain to Clary what the doctor told him. Clary looked at her mother then waled loudly. Luke also told Clary he was going to need her help at the bookstore. It was going to be tough for awhile.
"Clary, I also want you to stay with Mrs. Lewis until your mother wakes up." Luke nodded to .
"OK," Clary sobbed.
That night Clary sat on Simon's couch hugging a pillow. She couldn't stop thinking about her mother lying there in the bed motionless. She felt sick to her stomach. Her throat was dry from crying. Simon sat down next to her on the couch. He hated to see Clary upset. Simon moved closer to her, he put his arm around her. Clary curled up next to him.
Jace was in the library sitting at his desk getting some homework done. Their were no lessons on Monday for Hodge believed that Monday's were a good time for studying. Jace didn't mind the schedule it was just he wished it could be like other kids who went to school Monday through Friday instead of Tuesday through Saturday. Although he had lessons on Saturday he didn't do Saturday's homework until Monday anyway. He liked the library because it was quiet and Isabelle didn't bug him in here. Monday was usually the day Isabelle helped out their father in the restaurant with inventory.
When he finished his homework he went for a walk. Jace walked for miles until he reached the street where the bookstore was. He was not planning to come here but something told him he needed to be here. The place seemed packed. He walked into the bookstore, Jace had been here many times and never seen it this busy. He saw Luke running the cash register for the bookstore and Clary was frantically trying to run the cafe by herself. Jace walked up to Luke.
"Hey Luke, do you need any help?" He asked.
"Thank you Jace that would be very kind of you." Luke smiled. "Why don't you help Clary in the cafe, I can manage here."
"OK" Jace nodded then walked towards the cafe. He slipped behind the bar and grabbed an apron.
Clary saw him helping customers. "Jace, what are you doing here?"
"Helping what does it look like?" he said taking money from a customers and putting it in the register.
"I...don't know what to say?"
"Don't say anything just keep taking those orders I'll handle this." Jace said with out looking at her.
Clary smiled then went back to work. When the cafe and bookstore started to clear Luke, Clary, and Jace relaxed. They started clean up until closing time, Luke turned off the open sign. Clary smiled at Jace.
"Thank you, I never knew you were handy at the register." She said.
"Well, I help my dad out on occasions at his restaurant."
"Which one?" Luke asked as he counted the cash in the register.
"The Institute" Jace answered.
"I've heard of that place. Their chicken tortellini is suppose be really good." Luke said.
"It's one of our most popular dishes." Jace said.
The threesome continued to talk. Jace helped Clary clean up the cafe while Luke cleaned up the bookstore. When they were done Luke led them out of the store locking the door behind him. Clary started walking towards Simon's house as Luke pulled away to head to the hospital. Jace walked beside her.
"Hey if you don't mind me asking I was just wondering how your mom was." Jace said breaking the silence between them.
"She's OK, I mean she is in coma if you must know."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's fine, really. Look I didn't mean to snap at you." Clary apologizes.
"That's all right. I know your going through a lot right now." He said. "Hey if you need anyone to talk to I could give you my number and you could call me."
"Thanks but I have my friend Simon."
"Oh, so were not friends. That's fine. Perfect." Jace said frustrated.
"Jace I didn't mean it that way. It's just I don't know you."
"You could get to know me." He said.
"Well, maybe."
"Why don't I give my number anyway. If you want to talk or just hang out you can call me." Jace grabbed a pen out of Clary's messenger bag then took her hand and wrote his number.
"Ugh, thank you." She said with an awkward smile.
Jace smiled back placing the pen back into her bag then went his separate way. He saw Clary watch him walk down the street, she had a look of that is a very weird boy but he is cute she seemed to say. It had been only a matter of days since Jace laid eyes on Clary and yet no matter how hard he tried not to think about her. He couldn't get Clary out of his mind. For every time he closed his eyes there she was her emerald green eyes and her red flamed hair. She was intoxicating.