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A/N- Capricorn75 has bullied me into posting the rest of it. Thanks.
After the trip to Jacksonville, I spent the rest of the summer in anticipation of Angela's baby shower. She had the horrible luck of being due in August. She was miserable, being pregnant during her third trimester during the height of summer. I'd go over to her house to help out with Will when her mom was busy with the church or her younger twin brothers. Charlie was allowed to drive again, so I had fewer responsibilities around the house, now. Jeannie was trying to roll over, now.
While Angela and I were folding laundry, we watched Days of Our Lives. "So, have you heard anything else from Rebecca?" I asked.
"No, not really," she said. "Isaac was my eyes and ears."
At that moment, Jeannie rolled over onto her tummy. "Oh my God! She just did it!" I cried. I jumped up to pick her up and kiss her and congratulate my baby. We set her on her back over and over to see if she'd do it again, which she did. She eventually figured out how to do it on both sides. We'd scream and cheer every time.
"What's all the commotion?" Jacob asked, coming into the house.
"Come on, Jeannie," I said, setting her on her back. "Show Uncle Jake your moves."
"Come on, Figgy!" That was Jacob's nickname for her- Fig, as in Fig Newton. He thought it was original. I'm sure no one in Mike's family had ever heard that one before. She rolled over.
"Did she just start doing this?" he asked, picking her up and setting her back down on her back.
"Just now, yes," I said.
"Let's have a beer to celebrate," he said. "Angie, you want one?"
"You're so funny, Jake," she replied.
"I know, that's why you married me," Jacob replied.
"No, I didn't, I married you for your giant… hands," she said. She wiggled her eyebrows at me. I had to laugh. They were so cute together.
"There are children present, Angie," Jacob said. My phone rang- a restricted number. I pressed the "ignore" button- it was a telemarketer, most likely, they always restricted their numbers.
"Are we including you in that number of children?" she asked.
"Oooh, snaps," I said, high-fiving her. I knew they were just showing off for me.
"Stopple thy mouth, dame," Jake replied. It was an old joke from when Angela had done King Lear at the La Push Little Theatre.
My voicemail indicator went off. That was weird- telemarketers didn't leave messages.
I took my phone and checked the messages. It was from Mark Hetsler. Rebecca was in the hospital, and he had to notify the next of kin. And I was that next of kin here in town, so naturally they had to call me.
"Guys, Jeannie and I have to go," I said.
"What's wrong?" Jacob asked.
"Rebecca's in the hospital," I said, gathering toys and baby stuff.
"What happened?" Jacob asked.
"I don't know, he didn't say," I said.
"We'll take you," Angela said.
"No, I… yeah, I'd rather one of you be with me," I said.
"Jake, I'll go with her, you watch Will," Angela said. She rubbed her bulging baby bump in a circle. "If anything happens, I'll already be in the hospital."
"Alright," he said. He helped her up and kissed her. "I love you."
"I love you, too," she said. I put Jeannie in the car seat and we strapped her into the backseat of my car and took off for the hospital.
In the hospital, we found Marge the Triage nurse. "Rebecca's in the ER, C-4," she said, seeing me. "You'll have to leave the baby in the waiting room."
I went through the automatic doors, leaving Jeannie with Angela.
Rebecca was laying, almost catatonic in the bed. I saw a purple bruise mark around her neck. "What's going on here?" I asked. "Rebecca, can you hear me?"
"She attempted suicide," a familiar said behind me. It was Edward. He was standing there, in his ER scrubs. "She cut a rope, it wasn't right for her body weight, and it broke. It caused a lot of damage, though. She tried to hang herself in her office."
I felt a gasp escape my mouth. "No!" I cried. She hadn't even seen her grandbaby, yet. I couldn't bear to look at her. I turned to Edward, tears streaming down my face. He pulled me into his chest. I sobbed onto his sea green ER scrubs. Yes, she was difficult with me, but she was the last remaining link to Mike. Jeannie would never know her father's family if Rebecca didn't come around. I didn't want Jeannie never knowing her father's family.
Edward guided me out into the hallway, away from Rebecca. "I know," he muttered. "It's a lot to take in. You'll have to talk to the police." I raised my eyes to look up into his. They were emerald green, jewel-like, filled with compassion. I felt my heart melt. I had never looked into his eyes before, nor had I ever noticed how beautiful they were. Renée was right; he was very attractive. "Come on," he said, taking my hand.
He took me out to the waiting room, where Angela was waiting with Jeannie. She attempted to stand up from where she had been sitting when she saw us.
"She attempted suicide," I whispered. "I don't know why."
"Oh, Bella!" Angela cried. Edward and I helped her up. She hugged me. "I'm so sorry!"
"If she's brain dead and I have to put her in a nursing home, Jeannie will never know her father's family," I said, softly.
Angela held her stomach for a moment.
"Angela, are you alright?" Edward asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," Angela said.
"Can I check you out? Just to make sure?" Edward asked.
"It couldn't hurt," I said.
"Alright," she said.
We went into a spare ER room, where Angela changed into a hospital robe and Edward went to check on other patients. I let Marge hold Jeannie. "Jessica's right. He does look at you."
"He does?" I asked.
"Yes," she said. "I noticed it just now. The way he held your hand when you came out of the ER. Doctors don't do that."
"I know, but…"
"He held your hand, Bella," she said.
I held onto Angela's hand while Edward examined her. "You're already starting to dilate," he said.
"I'm not due for another two weeks!" Angela cried. "I was going to give birth at home on the reservation!"
"I'm calling the resident OB GYN," he said. "Bella, can you call her husband?"
"Sure," I said. My day had just spiraled out of control.
A/N- By now, you should know reviews are like cookies to writers! Leave me some!
