Unexpected Chapter 31A Chapter by Julie Beth Carson put the same Yorkie Terrier in her new cage and gave her food and water for the night. He knew that she would probably sell first, she was too cute. Dave, Carson's boss, walked in with two more puppies in his arms. Both were squirming trying to get out of his arms and run around. The phone to the pet shop started to ring; it was loud like an alarm. "Carson, can you get that." Dave asked while putting the puppies in another cage. Tomorrow morning they would set up a play pen and have the puppies run around in it. Carson walked over to the counter and picked up the phone. He didn't know who would be calling this late, they were about to close. "Dave's Pet Shop, this is Carson. How can I help you?" Carson said into the receiver, picking up a pen, and stiffening a yawn. Xavier and Maddy were going to pick him up. They need another car, because just one car isn't working out. "Carson?" Jasmine's voice ran through the phone, it was shaky and sad. "It's Jasmine." She was very hesitant. Carson still didn't like Jasmine, but he could tell something was seriously wrong if she was calling her. "Jasmine are you okay?" Carson questioned as he put the pen he was holding down. "Carson, Xavier and Maddy were in a car crash." Jasmine said sobbing. "Please come to the hospital, it's really bad."
Everything hurts...I’m fading in and out. I wake up when their pulling me out of the car. I get a glimpse at Xavier, he's covered in blood. My heart starts pounding, is he dead? I try to speak, but I can't make a sound. I try to move, but there was so much pain, I blacked out. The next time I was up, I think I’m in an ambulance. They're shining a flashlight in my eye, talking to me. I want to ask them if Xavier's okay, but I still can't talk. I can't move, I don't know what to do... I try to stay awake, they're telling me to stay awake, but I’m too weak. I'm being rushed into the hospital. I know this is bad, they're saying I have to go into an emergency c-section... The birth complications in my dream were nothing compared to this, I want Carson and Xavier... I need my mom.... Why can't this just be a dream.
Since Xavier had the car, Carson's boss offered to drive him to the hospital. The ride there felt like forever. Before the phone call, Carson was ready to fall asleep, now he's wide awake and alert. Carson jumped out of the car right as it pulled up to the main entrance. He said a quick thank you to his boss, then ran inside. He ran up the receptionist to ask where Maddy was, but Jasmine ran up to him before he had the chance. "What happened?" Carson demanded as Jasmine grabbed him by the wrist and led him down the hall. "I'll explain once we get to Xavier. He's hurt so bad." Jasmine was sobbing, but Carson didn't care. She kept talking about Xavier, but what about Maddy? Carson halted to a stop. "What happened Jasmine? Where's Maddy. I don't want to wait, I want an answer...now." He demanded. Jasmine shook her head and pulled him off to the side so they weren't in the way. "They were hit by a drunk driver on their way home. Maddy is in surgery. They have to get the baby out of her if they want to save both of them. They won't let us know anything else. I told the doctor that we'd be in Xavier's room." Jasmine explained, but Carson stopped listening when she said to save them. If Carson had to choose who was to live, he'd choose Maddy in a heartbeat, no question about it. The thought of Maddy dying brought tears to Carson's eyes. He didn't care if crying wasn't manly, he just wanted Maddy. "Can't we see her?" Carson asked trying to fight back the tears. Maddy was strong, but Carson knew if anything happened to the baby, she wouldn't be the same. "Carson, she's in surgery. I know you want to, but we can't see her. Look, I’m going to go and see Xavier, he just woke up when you got here. He's blaming himself for this whole thing." Jasmine looked down and shook her head. "Just, come in when you're ready." Then she ducked into the room in front of them. Carson couldn't believe that Xavier was blaming himself, he wasn't the person who lost control of the car, and it was the dumb-a*s drunk. Carson blinked away the tears from his eyes and took a deep breath. Xavier was here and Carson could actually see him. Carson needs him and Xavier needs Carson. On that note, Carson walked into Xavier room. The seconds Carson saw Xavier, the tears started coming back. "Oh, s**t Xavier." Carson shook his head in disbelief. Xavier had cuts all over his face, a neck brace on, and his left arm was broken. That was as far as Carson could see. "Carson, man, I’m so sorry. That guy just swerved and hit us, I tried, but it was too late. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen." Xavier rushed to explain himself as if I was blaming him. "Xavier, this isn't your fault. The guy was drunk, not you." Carson said as he caught a glimpse at Xavier’s shoulder. "Where else are you hurt other than what I can see." "Some of his ribs are broken," Jasmine chimed in. Carson almost forgot she was here, she was sitting in corner of the room just watching them. "He also has a gash on his shoulder, he had to get stitches." "I took the back road." Xavier said quietly. "I knew I should have just taken the highway, but I was tired and I just wanted to get home." Xavier stopped to take a breath. His voice was shaky and full of sadness. "If I just took the highway home..." Xavier trailed off. Carson sunk into a chair next to Xavier's bed, then looked him straight in the eye and repeated, "Xavier, this wasn't your fault." "Thanks Carson." Xavier said. The room was quiet, no one knew what to do or say. Carson couldn't stop thinking about Maddy. He just wanted her to be okay...her needed her to be okay. Xavier's snoring soon broke the silence. It must have been the medicine the nurse came in and gave him. He must be in so much pain. "Did someone call Maddy's mom?" Carson asked Jasmine breaking the silence. Jasmine was about to answer, when the doctor came into room with news about Maddy.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news." The doctor said slowly and calmly. Carson hands started to shake, he had a really bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. "What wrong? Are they okay?" Carson questioned. He just wish the doctor would stop being so suspenseful and tell him "The baby is fine, we were able to get him out in time, and he appears to be okay now. Maddy on the other hand, is having postpartum hemorrhaging. It's when you lose to more blood than you're suppose to after you give birth. I can assure you that we are doing everything in our power to make it stop." The doctor explain in a calm cool voice. Carson didn't know how to respond. He needed to get out of this room. "Excuse me please." Carson mumbled as he pushed past the doctor. Carson wandered around the hospital until he found what he was looking for. Carson looked through the glass window into the nursery. He never saw so many babies before. "Is one of them yours?' A nurse in a blue scrub asked as she walked up to him. Carson took a breath and looked around. Then he realized she was taking to him. "My girlfriends, it's really complicated. The father of the baby isn't around, I guess. My girlfriend wants the baby to mine more than anything." Carson explained without bringing in all of the drama of the situation. The nurse nodded as if she understood. "What's your girlfriends’ name?" The nurse asked. "Maddy Chase." Carson replied without looking away from the window. The nurse went through the door to the nursery and came back out with a small baby wrapped in a blue blanket. "Do you want to hold him?" The nurse asked. Carson nodded his head as she passed the baby over to him. He looked so much like Maddy. Carson wanted more than anything for this to be his son, but it wasn't. At this moment Carson didn't care, he just bounced the baby in his arms as the baby looked at him with the same grassy green eyes Maddy has.
© 2011 Julie BethAuthor's Note
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