A Selfish Moment

21 - Jubilee - 12:00 PM

Did the doorbell just ring?

It's been only twenty minutes since I got home, took my boots off and jumped onto my bed for a greedy little nap. I couldn't sleep during the thirty-minute cab ride from Everett's apartment, and after bearing his long-overdue reprimand, I just wanted to go sleep. I stretch my arms past the side edge of my bed, trying to erase Everett's livid face from my mind. I'm going to need a lot more sleep to forget about this weekend. In fact, I sense a lot of time is going to pass before I forget the determined look on Everett's face when he asked me to leave. It depresses me to know Everett's current feelings towards me are of hatred.

Isaac mentioned Everett was stuck in rush hour traffic, and that he was in an awful mood. Maybe I should have called first, or waited until later to confront him. But Isaac and Sophie encouraged me, rooted for me, and so a quick train ride into the city and a cab uptown had me at Everett's apartment before I could think it through. I had a speech all planned out, but he didn't give me a breath. I really didn't deserve the chance to explain.

Maybe I'll let things simmer down and call him next week, or next month, or next year, or maybe never. Who am I kidding? Tomorrow I'm going to work and the usual routine kicks in full gear, leaving little time for romance. No, this was good. He kicked me out of his life...a just ending to our relationship considering I've been a total ass. There is no going back to him after that.

The doorbell rings again. I didn't imagine it. Who the hell could it be?

I run to the bathroom to wash my face. It rings again, pissing me off. I storm to my front door and squint through the peep hole. I gasp before opening the door.

"Jubilee!" Ana Maria shouts, spreading out her arms for a hug. "See, I told you this was her apartment."

"Yes, yes, you are always right." Don Ramon says in an exasperated tone. "Jubilee, please, the bathroom."

"Of course, come in," I say nervously as I watch Sophie's parent's drag in what looks like enough luggage for a weeklong vacation. Ramon dashes to the bathroom and Ana Maria starts rearranging my couch to settle her bags.

"I called the Queens hospital as soon as the plane landed, but they said they had no record of Sophie Ramirez. I could not remember the exact name of the hospital, but then I thought...there are only so many hospitals in Queens. I called Jamaica Hospital, Flushing Hospital, New York Hospital and she was in none of them." Ana Maria mutters something in Spanish about Jesus Christ having a reason for things, about testing her faith. My Spanish isn't so good since my parents didn't really speak it at home, but growing up in Queens and around Sophie's family has left me with enough of a vocabulary to get by.

"But then we called you but you didn't answer your phone. So we just came over hoping you would be home. And then Ramon kept telling me that if you didn't call his cell phone it was because Sophie was alright. You would have called us if something was wrong."

As Ana Maria wrings her hands together, gawking up at me as if I had all the answers to her questions, I start feeling that same mountain of guilt from last night. "Ana Maria, I'm so sorry. I've been so busy this morning that I completely forgot to call you. My phone died just before I got home, and I was so tired I just went to sleep. Sophie is fine. She's going to be just fine."

She curls her lips inward, as if she was about the burst into tears, "Jubilee, the police are still standing outside her building. The front door is taped off with that yellow police tape." Her bottom lip starts trembling. "Don't lie to me. Your mother will turn in her grave if you lie to me."

"I'm not lying. Let's call Sophie right now so you can talk to her. She's at St. John's Hospital."

She throws up her hands in the air, "of course, Saint John's."