After hours

Chapter 18

Today is Angela's funeral. I really can't miss work so I took a half day.

I go to grab my patient charts for the day and notice ones missing firm the usual pile.

"Hey, do you know where room 2245 chart is?" I ask the nurse at the front desk.

"Oh, while you were out yesterday she had a heart attack and died." She coldly remarks.

"Are you kidding me?! This is such bullshit. Just because I was out nobody was there to check on her?"

"I can't answer that."

"Of course you can't." I say and turn to start rounds.

~

Even through we weren't very close I was so emotional.

Damn pregnancy hormones.

I curl my hair, not bothering to put on very much makeup and go into the living room.

Jacob is sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. I sit down and place my hand on his back.

"Help me," he says weakly throwing a pad of paper. "I still don't know what to say."

"Just say goodbye."

He sighs.

"I'm going to get the twins dressed. You need to come up with something, and fast we have to leave soon."

I dress the twins and get the diaper bag ready. We had the funeral service and then the wake afterward.

"Jacob, we need to go."

"Okay," he takes a long deep breath.

The ride to the church was silent. There were tons of people at the service.

We sit down and watch a slideshow of her life. There was even pictures of me and Jacob in high school studying or working on something.

The pastor called Jacob up to the podium and he began the eulogy.

"For those of you that knew my mom, she was not only the life of the party but often the reason for the party. She use to always say to us "Don't be so serious, life is too short, just have fun". She was my inspiration for becoming a doctor, and the man I am today. I was forced to be the leader of the house at a young age. A child shouldn't have to do that. I love my mother very much despite the things I may have said to her in her last days. She died too soon. I know that she will be watching over me and my family as my children grow up. Goodbye mom. You'll be forever missed."

I am crying by the end even though I was trying not to.

We gl home to change and then head to the Wake. We were having it at the elks lodge so it was going to be casual.

Some Wakes are really boring and sad, but Jacob didn't want Angela's to be like that. We wanted to celebrate her life not make everybody sad about her death.

"Thank you for being here for me Evi. I know I have been pretty distant lately." He says messing with my hand.

"That's okay, I know this has been hard. And I'm sure your chemo hasn't been much help either."

"What about you? I haven't even asked you how you are feeling with the pregnancy and all. How is your hyperemesis gravidarum?"

"It's better this time around. Maybe it was just because I was having twins." He kisses me softly on the lips. "We better get to the elks lodge."

As soon as we got there we were bombarded with people wanting to hold the twins. I could so use a glass of wine right now.

Too bad I'm pregnant.

Jacob wonders off somewhere probably talking to family. Meanwhile some of his aunts and cousins are talking to me and playing with the twins. Jacob keeps looking at this unfamiliar man.

"Jacob, who is that?" i ask.

"I-I don't know but I feel like I have seen him before. Oh, here he comes."

"Hello Jacob."

"Who the hell are you?"

"Jacob," I hiss.

"What, I'm curious." he defends.

"That's okay, I was just leaving."

"No wait, how did you know my mom?"

"Uh, um... she was my mom too."

What? Jacob has a brother?

Jacob's POV

What the fuck?

"I have a brother?"

"You know what I should just go." He says spinning in his heel.

"Oh fuck no, you are not leaving. Especially not now." I start to follow him.

Evi has a confused look on her face. "I'll be right back." She nods her head and I chase after the guy who was apparently my brother.

"Wait!"

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have told you."

"No wait, you have to tell me who you are."

He finally stops walking and turns around.

"I'm Justin."

"Okay, Justin. How in the hell are you my brother? And why should I believe you?"

"Your mother was married to my father. She cheated and got pregnant with you. When my father found out that you weren't his he left and took me with him. She married your father and cut off all connections with me and my father. I can still remember the day he took me. I was five, he kidnapped me, put me in a bag and told me to shut up. It was so long ago but I remember it so vividly."

What the hell?

"How can I know you're not lying?"

"Do you have the sliver necklace?"

"Yes, how did you know-?"

"Our mom gave them to us before I was kidnapped."

I pull the necklace out of my pocket. Sure enough they were exactly the same.

Oh my god I have a brother.

"I have to go. Here's my number, maybe we can have lunch. I would like to get to know you."

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

I am still trying to process all of this information.

I wander my way back to the elks lodge grabbing a bottle of bourbon from the table. I go to the back and sit outside because everybody else was inside.

I have almost finished an entire bottle of bourbon when I saw Evi walking towards me.

"Hey, there you are."

"Heyyyy babe."

"Are you drunk?"

"Nooo," maybe.

"Yes you are!" She grabs the bottle from my hand.

"No I am nott," I am straining to keep my eyes open.

"Come on let's go home."