Never Forgotten

Part 20

Part 20

It had been almost two hours since Abe and John arrived at the hospital, following the ambulance carrying Marlena. Nobody had been out to inform them about her condition yet and John was beginning to get impatient. Abe watched John pace the floor of the waiting area, his clothes were still wet and he looked both scared and exhausted. Abe had offended him some dry clothes but John had refused. 

Abe had been trying to get a hold of Roman but with no luck so instead he had called Sami, Eric and Carrie who were all now rushing down the hallway to the waiting area.

Sami quickly spotted Abe and ran to him, never noticing John. "Abe...what happened? Is she okay?"

It wasn't until now that Abe realized that the kids probably didn't know that John was in town, the man that they used to call their father and hadn't seen or heard from in 25 years.

With a nervous smile, Abe looked from Sami to John and then at Carrie and Eric.

"We...haven't heard anything yet....we..." Abe didn't finish because in that same moment he saw everybody's eyes turn towards John.

                                   ———-

Jack sat and watched Brady and Chloe dance the last dance of their wedding.
It had been a wonderful day until Dr. Evans had shown up at the church. Right after that something changed. Brady had seemed so happy after he had talked to her in front of the church, although Jack didn't know how he knew her, but he came back with an even bigger smile on face. His mother had a completely different reaction. She had seemed anxious and angry the whole day, constantly looking at her phone. Even before his dad left the reception, Jack had seen her texting several times. And then there was his dad. He suddenly ran out, looking like he had seen a ghost, and never returned. When he had asked his mother where dad was, she had told him that there was an emergency at work.
But Jack could tell that she was lying. Something was going on and he had a feeling that it was something bad.

For unexplainable reasons, he didn't know at the time, Jack took his phone and replied to the message he had received from the unknown person, who apparently was related to him.

                                  ————-

The scene that took place in the hospital waiting room was to the uncomprehending viewer a strange and emotional sight.

John had been so caught up in his own emotions and desperation that he never considered that the kids were bound to show up. Therefore he was completely unprepared for the unplanned reunion and the reactions that his presence might cause.
He looked at the now three young adults staring at him with open mouths and a look in their eyes that he couldn't quite interpret.
His own reaction to now standing in front of them again, left no doubt as to how he felt. Tears were streaming down his cheeks and all of the love he held in his heart for them radiated from not only his eyes but from his whole body. His lips quivered as he tried to speak but the lump in his throat made it impossible.

Carrie was the first to break the silence.
"Dad??" She whispered astonished, slowly stepping closer to him.

"Punkin.." John said with a sob.

Carrie threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. His warm and familiar embrace made her feel like no time had passed and made her feel like a little girl again.

"What are you doing here?" Carrie cried into his still wet shirt.

"It's a long story but....." John stopped and looked up at Sami and Eric who were standing a few feet away, watching them with uncertainty. He could tell that they weren't sure how to react and what to make of this.