Together

33.

33.

"Shall we play with the Barbies?" Jane looked at her sister questioningly. Maeve looked at the box of Barbies on the floor. 'No. Shall we jump on the bed?' Maeve looked mischievously at her bed. "But mom and dad don't allow that." Jane replied in shock. Maeve looked around the room and then turned to Jane. "Mom and dad aren't here."

'But it's not allowed. If mom finds out she will be angry.' Jane said. Maeve shrugged and she climbed onto her bed. "Eve, don't do that." Jane watched her sister jump on the bed. "Look how high I can jump." Maeve jumped higher and higher into the air.

Jane watched. Secretly she thought it would be quite fun too. "Come on Jane." Maeve continued to urge her sister. Finally, Jane couldn't resist and climbed onto the bed. She jumped as high as she could and together with Maeve she had the most fun.

The girls laughed. 'Go aside. I can't jump like that.' Maeve pushed Jane and Jane lost her balance. "Gee, watch out!" Maeve shouted but it was already too late. Jane fell off the bed and landed on the floor with a loud thud. Immediately she started crying very loudly. Maeve sat on her bottom and she slid off the bed.

'Gee, are you okay? You shouldn't tell mom that I pushed you because then she will get angry.' Maeve knelt next to her sister but Jane continued to cry.

The bedroom door opened and Lizzie walked in. 'What is going on here?' Worried, she walked over to the two girls. "Jane fell off the bed." Maeve said. Lizzie took the crying Jane onto her lap. "Were you guys jumping?" Lizzie gave Maeve that typical mother look. "Yes, we were jumping on the bed." Maeve replied softly.

'Didn't I tell you not to jump on the bed? Jane, what hurts?' Lizzie asked. 'My arm.' Jane cried. Lizzie looked at Jane's arm and she was shocked. That didn't look good. 'Maeve, grab my phone. He's downstairs on the couch. Fast.'

Maeve ran downstairs and Lizzie was left alone with Jane. Lizzie tried to remain calm, but she was closer to crying than laughing. Jane's arm didn't look good. It seemed broken. She had to take her to the hospital as soon as possible.

Maeve walked back into the room with Lizzie's phone. Maeve gave it to her mother. 'Thanks honey.' Lizzie immediately dialed Scarlett's number.

"Hey L.."

"Scarlett, you need to come now. Jane fell off the bed and I think she broke her arm. I have to take her to the hospital.' Lizzie said. Startled, Maeve listened along. She felt guilty. If she hadn't pushed her sister, this would never have happened.

"I'll be there as soon as I can." Scarlett replied. Lizzie hung up. 'Come on, let's get in the car. Then we can leave as soon as Scarlett arrives.' Lizzie helped Jane get up.

'What should I do?' Maeve looked at her mother questioningly. 'You stay here. Scarlett is coming to babysit." Lizzie said. "But I want to come too." Maeve said. Lizzie shook her head. 'A hospital is no place for children.'

Lizzie walked out of the bedroom with Jane and Maeve followed from a distance. Meanwhile, Lizzie called Chris but he didn't answer. Lizzie sighed and texted Chris to call her when he had time.

Chris had told the girls two days ago that he wasn't home for Christmas and Maeve and Jane had been very sad about it. It had taken Lizzie a lot of effort to explain it to them, but it seemed they had come to terms with it now.

"Go ahead and get in the car." Lizzie opened the car door and Jane sat down. She clumsily tried to put on her seat belt but couldn't. Lizzie put her seat belt on Jane.

It took a long time before Scarlett arrived, but after more than fifteen minutes Scarlett pulled her car into the driveway. She parked her car next to Lizzie's. Scarlett quickly turned off the engine and got out of her car.

"Scarlett, finally!" Lizzie breathed with relief. 'Sorry it took so long. There was a traffic jam.' Scarlett apologized. 'Does not matter. I have to go now. Jane is already in the car. Maeve is standing there and Dodger is somewhere in the house." Lizzie pointed towards Maeve and Scarlett saw the girl standing in the doorway. She looked scared.

"Lizzie, are you being careful on the road?" Scarlett looked worriedly at Lizzie. She looked stressed. "Yes, don't worry." Lizzie got into the car. Scarlett waved her goodbye and then she walked over to Maeve. "Will Jane be okay?" The girl asked anxiously.

'Of course it will be fine. Mom and Jane are now going to the hospital and there are very nice doctors working there who will help Jane.' Scarlett explained. Maeve said nothing. "It's going to be okay, honey. Should we go inside? I just think it's cold outside.' Scarlett said. Maeve nodded and she grabbed Scarlett's hand. They walked inside together.

Scarlett's phone went off. She looked at her home screen and saw Chris calling her. Scarlett answered. "Hey." Scarlett greeted him. 'Hey, do you know why Lizzie called me? I've tried calling her three times now but she's not answering.'

'Lizzie is at the hospital with Jane, but don't worry, it's probably not very serious. Jane fell off the bed and Lizzie thinks her arm is broken.' Scarlett told. 'Oh no. And Maeve? Is Eve okay?'

"Maeve is okay. I'll be with her and Dodger until Lizzie gets back. Scarlett heard Chris mumble something. "Chris? Is everything all right there?' Scarlett asked. 'Yes, but I have to come home. Everything has been going wrong since I left. I could have prevented this.'

'Chris, no one could have prevented this. Not even you. Misfortune is just around the corner.' Helped Scarlett remember him. Chris sighed. 'You're right. Can I speak to Maeve for a moment?'

'Naturally. Maeve, daddy on the phone.' She handed the girl her phone and smiled as she watched Maeve talk to her father. You could tell they had a good bond. It was a shame that Chris couldn't be home for Christmas. A family was supposed to be together for Christmas and suddenly Scarlett got a really good idea...