"Options... I've ran out of Options..." (Book 3)

Chapter 86 - "Two very Different New Years..."

Chapter 86 - "Two very Different New Years..."

Clara's PoV

'Your being a lazy lump. Get off the sofa and join in the games with everyone else' David said to John giving him a kick.

'I can't. I can't think of anything but Poppy' he sighed.

'Then go and see her. Stop moping around here and go back to LA' David said rolling his eyes.

David felt sorry for John when he got a call to say that Poppy and Clara couldn't travel back to London. He was too far to just jump in a car and be with her. The drive took hours.

'I've booked you a plane ticket' David said out loud.

'What?' John sighed.

'I've also spoken to Richard' he said throwing things out there to see how John would react but David had done it in John's best interest.

'Why would you do that?' John scoffed.

'John, Richard is on his way here right now. He jumped on a flight this afternoon in London to Chicago and lands around 6 o clock this evening' David explained.

'Why?' John scoffed intrigued even still.

'So that you can get on a flight at 8 o clock back to LA to be with poppy and Clara. Poppy needs you and heck so does Clara. I can't imagine one of my three kids going through this and me not being there with them. No matter what the cost'

'Why did Richard agree to come here on New Year's Eve?'

'So that he can take Avia, Henry and Evie back to London on their booked flight on Friday afternoon. That way you can stay here in America until Poppy is completely well enough to travel without any guilt'

'It must have cost a fortune to do that? Why did you do it?'

'Call it a good New Years dead? A Christmas present or a late birthday thing. Just go and pack your things. I didn't book that flight for you to miss it' he growled.

- - -

'Come on you Fucking machine. I just want my damn coffeeI spat kicking the wall when I couldn't get what I wanted.

The stress was just building and building on me, and all I wanted was a fricken coffee.

'Here. Come with me. I'll get you a nice cup of coffee from the staff room' a nurse hummed in a strong American accent that didn't seem to ever get old around here as I followed her.

She seemed far too nice and I was far too rude but once I had the mug in my hands, I felt a tiny bit better.

'I'm sorry. I'm just so stressed that I guess I took it out on the machine. It wasn't your fault at all' I said honestly.

'Hey. Those machines are rubbish. Years old. They need to replace them' she smiled sitting down opposite me. 'She's a strong little girl. We'll get her back home'

'How? She can't move. She's not what she was. This illness is taking her down' I mumbled.

'There's things that can be done. It's just pneumonia. A couple of days treatment and she'll be fit enough to fly home' she assured me.

'For us to get home and the poor thing to move into a hospital for nearly two months? She's only 4. She shouldn't have to be dealing with all this' I grumbled.

'Neither should anyone - but she's got good chances'

'I know. I should be great full for that' I mumbled looking at my phone to no texts. I really thought on New Year's Eve of all days that John would want to call me.

It was already the new year in London. LA is 8 hours behind so it's been the new year for quite some hours at home.

I wanted to be there. But I knew that Poppy was the most important thing over a few fireworks and spending the night with my Dad.

'What next?'

'The Doctor will explain but they're putting her on a 24 hour nebuliser treatment to help her chest clear and the breathing be easier. They're also considering either a chest drain or drainage to make it easier for her to breathe. Simple illnesses in cancer patients just aren't the same' she explained.

Boy did I know that now.

If I'd have known that Henry had caught the winter vomiting bug then I never would have risked taking Poppy out of the country.

'You probably think I'm a terrible parent for dragging her on holiday when shes in the middle of chemo' I said feeling sorry for myself.

'No. I think you did what any mother would do and that's want your daughter to have any experience they can. And if it wasn't for the bug then she probably wouldn't have deteriorated so quickly and would have made it back to London happy and healthy' she said. 'The best thing you can do for little Poppy right now is be with her. See the new year in with her' she smiled as I stood up and went to do just that.

- - -

John couldn't bloody believe what he was doing.

One minute he was watching a shit film on tv and the next minute he had kissed all the kids goodbye and explained where he was going and what was happening then he was in a back of a taxi.

It seemed stupid but also a really good idea.

John was moving into the hospital practically in two weeks time with Poppy so he should be there with her now.

He felt bad for abandoning the others but they will understand - or at least they will one day.

He waited patiently hoping he would be able to cross paths with Richards landing and his boarding Atari g at the arrival board with all of Richards flight information in tow.

'Why have you come here?' John asked truly moved.

'To get the kids?' Richard hummed as if it was obvious.

'It's New Year's Eve? What about Lilly and Ollie?' John asked confused.

'She understands. In fact she was the one suggesting it when Clara phoned to say Poppy had been hospitalised. There's nothing I wouldn't do for these kids... or you' Richard said with a blush as John engulfed him in a huge hug. 'And I'm sure you'd do the same if it was us' he said and that was true.

John would do anything for Richard and Lilly and most importantly Ollie.

It was a relief to know that the kids would be safe with Richard and that he would get them back to London safely.