FINDING MR WRONG (B1)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

A few weeks pass, and the morning I was due to cover a shift for Dannie, my baby had taken ill. He was up all night crying with a temperature. Sadly, with no doctors being open, I had to take him to the hospital when I noticed a rash on his stomach. Instantly, my mind rushed to the worst-case scenario of meningitis.
The doctors ran lots of tests, prodded, and poked him with so many needles. Seeing it made my heart hurt every time they did it. I'm a mess, I'm a total wreck, and I can't do anything to help my baby. I had nobody to call, except Karah. She's the only one I can count on. Well, aside from my uncle and Dannie. But she's sick too, and he has far too much to worry about with the hotel. However, I wasn't expecting Cade to show up with her. Why the hell is he here? He wanted no part in his life, so why is he here now?
"Sorry, my car's been playing up, so I've had to drag my dad outta bed to bring me."
She shrugged her shoulders like it's no big deal to her. It might not be to her, but to me. Christ, it's a disaster. I can't say anything about it either, because as you know, she doesn't know. Plus, I'm too worried about my baby to even care about him right now either. While we hug, she asked how Jamison was.
"I've no idea. They're still running tests, so I'm kinda going crazy here. I'm sorry for waking you at this hour. I just had nobody else to call."
She shook her head, telling me not to be silly.
"I love that kid to bits. How could I not be here?"
Oh God, don't say that, Karah. If only you knew the truth, you wouldn't say that. My eyes flicker to Cade, and I see he's staring at me, making my heart pound in my chest. Christ, he's still beautiful, and still very much not mine.
"H-have you seen him? Are they allowing you to see him?" He finally stuttered, I can hear the worry in his voice. I'm not sure if it's for his son or his presence, but this could be a bad thing for him.
"Yeah, I've been with him. The doctors are still running tests, so I've come down to meet Karah. I had no idea you'd be here, so-"
Karah cuts in, asking if they can see him. Only, I'm not sure about the "we" part. Once again my eyes flicker to his, and he shocks me when he asked if it would be okay. I don't want this. Not like this, but I nodded, telling them they can. Oh God, this is not a good idea, but there's no way I can stop it from happening. Whether I like it, he's still his father. Hell, there's a good chance that our son may need his blood one day. I just hope today is not the day or any other day for that matter.
As we enter his room, Karah rushed over to his crib. I'm standing on the other side of him, once again looking at Cade. He's not moved from the doorway. He's just standing there, staring at his tiny bed. Jamison has wires all over him with an oxygen tube up his tiny nose. He's sleeping, but I'd hate to think about what pain he's actually in.
"You can come in, you know," was all I said.
What else can I say? If he stands there any longer, Karah will no doubt ask questions. He snaps his eyes to mine, and after nodding his head, he moved in. Only, he stands at the bottom of his bed. He's still reluctant to move any closer, but when I see his eyes land on our son's face, his eyes go a little wide. Then I watch as tears fill them. I guess seeing his son for the first time and wired up. Well, it must be a big shock to the system.
"Dad, are you crying?" Karah asked, and as if he's just now remembering, she's here, he quickly wipes his eyes, telling her he was just feeling for the little guy.
"He-he's so tiny. Seeing all of this, seeing him like this."
My chest pulls tight, especially when a wreaking-ball sob breaks from his chest. Karah moves to wrap her arm around him. Obviously not knowing why he's reacting this way, it all becomes too much for me. I have to excuse myself from the room. I can't be here watching him fall apart like that. Hell, not when Karah's there. So, I excuse myself by telling them I need to speak with the doctors. But really, I run to the ladies where I finally break down. After a while, I pull myself together. I've cried too many tears for that man. I won't do it again...
"Hi, I'm wondering if there's any news on my son. It's been over an hour now, and I still haven't heard a thing."
I also ask the nurse when they'll know more, but all she did was ask for his name. It's like my being here has gone unnoticed. It's like we don't matter, he's just a name. Even so, she types away on her keyboard, only to tell me she'll have the doctor come and speak with me.
"What? Wait, if you know something then just tell me now!"
I'm still crying, and tired while my baby's suffering, and no one is telling me shit.
"I'm sorry. I can't tell you anything. Unfortunately, it's up to the doctors to speak with you."
As she attempts to say more, I lose my cool and smack my hands down on the counter. She jumps slightly, fearing for her safety. Hell, so she should be because I'm furious. I just want answers.
"Hey, calm down. Jo, it's not her fault. She's just doing her job," Cade said while taking hold of my arm, trying to pull me away. Instantly, I snap my arm out of his grasp, feeling the burn from his touch. Trust me, it burns, but only from his betrayal. As much as my heart belongs to him, he'll never get to touch me again.
"Keep your hands off me, Cade! Fuck sake, why are you even here? You shouldn't be here!"
Tears are still falling from my eyes, and they turn into angry tears when he says, he needed to make sure he was okay.
"He's my son Jo. I had to come. I have a right."
Before he finished that sentence, I slap him. It's so hard that my hand's pulsing with the sting of it. I also get right up in his face, looking him square in his green eyes, ones that used to make me melt into him.
"You, you lost the right of that title the moment you said abort! The moment you left me in that hotel room, was the moment you lost, not only me, but any right to MY son! He's my son. I'm the one who's been there for him. I'm the one who'd felt everything, every kick, every moment while he grew inside of me. I was there, for every visit to the hospital, scans and check-ups. I was there, on my own the day I went through three days of labour.
Every day, I was in that ward. I had to sit and watch so many families come and go, all gushing over the new arrivals. I've been here, on my own all this time! Without any help from anyone but me! Trust me, you lost all rights the moment you walked away! Don't stand there and tell me you have the right to be here because you don't! I've managed this far, just fine without you! So, I don't need you now. Just leave, go now, and leave us alone."
I'm just about to walk away when I hear her. Oh god, no!
"Dad, what, what's going on? Why would she-"
Her eyes go wide, and my jaw drops to the hospital floor. She knows, I'm not sure how much she heard, but I can see it now. She knows exactly why he's here.
"Karah, I-"
Before I can tell her I'm sorry, instant karma comes at me when she lifts her hand, slapping my face. While I hold my already stinging hand to my now stinging cheek, she screams in our face, screaming she hates us. Eventually, she ran outside, and as expected he followed her. Once again, I'm left on my own. It's kinda becoming a thing in my life, one I'm becoming very used to. Once I make it back to my baby's room, I sit by his side and hold his tiny hand while being mindful of the tiny drip connected to it.
"Come on, little man, you're stronger than this. Fight baby, fight for Mummy. I need to get you back home, you don't belong here."
I'm jumping when I hear the door open, thinking they've returned. Only, it's the doctor, and what he has to tell me, I crumble.
"Miss Harper, we've received the test results back. Unfortunately, Jamison has what we call, viral meningitis."
My body jumps again, while my heart stops beating. I'm thinking the worst, but he carried on. While I stand listening, I break in two.
"Now it gets better on its own, roughly within seven to ten days. You can also treat at home. Of course, he'll need plenty of rest. We'll also supply him with medication. It'll help relieve the symptoms in the meantime. Although it's a serious condition, it's treatable. In the meantime, we'll keep him in for a few days. We'll make sure he's coping with the meds. With him being so young, it's wise we do this. Of course, you're welcome to stay with him. We'll have a bed set up for you once we've cleared a private room for you both."
He then moved towards me and after placing his hand on my shoulder in comfort, he tells me I can rest easy now. No! no, I won't rest easy. Not until my baby is awake and at home with me safe and well. I tell him this too, and he just smiled and nodded.
"I understand, Miss Harper. I truly do."
With that, he walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my baby. Not only that, but with my thoughts. Oh god, Karah knows, and now she's bound to tell her mother.
What have I done? I've probably... no, more than likely brought down fresh mess on our heads. Jesus, this just gets better. However, right now, I've no time to worry about any of them. Jamison is all I need to worry about right now. My baby is all I need to think about.
The rest, I'll deal with later.