Can't Change the Past

~21~

Shawn POV

"Detective Carter."
"Hello, Mr. Carter?"
"This is he. May I ask who's calling?"
"This is Nurse Sarah, calling from Children's Hospital in Los Angeles."
"Los Angeles?"
"Yes. Sir we have your son, King Carter, here. He had an allergic reaction at school today. He was given some yogurt that contained cherries-"
"He's allergic to cherries!"
"We are aware sir. We need you to come down here and fill out some forms since you are listed as his father. You are his father, correct?"
"Yes. But how how did you find my number?"
"Your work number is listed here under emergency contacts. And since we can't get in contact with the mother, you were our next option."
"Is she alright?"
"She probably is but she didn't answer the phone. We need one of you here in case-"
"In case what?" I said panicking. "Don't let him die!"
"Please calm down sir. We are doing everything we can to help him."
"Okay, I- I'm on my way."
"How soon can you get here?"
"Couple hours. I'm in Florida."
"Okay, well please hurry sir."
"Thank you. I'm on my way." I hung up rushing to get my things together.
"Where you going?" TyTy asked.
"Man, King is in the hospital."
"King? Hospital?"
"Yeah, you mind telling captain. I'll be back in a few days."
"Few days? Look, I'm coming with you."
"Appreciate it man. I'll explain on the way to the airport."

"So you telling me they all the way in California?"
"Thank you." I said to the flight attendant that handed me my water. "Apparently so man. The hospital called and said that I needed to be there because they can't get in touch with Beyoncé."
"That's a good sign right?"
"How is my kid being in the hospital a good sign?"
"He's alive man. Yeah he had an allergic reaction but I'm sure he ain't dead. And Beyoncé has to be alive too if they called her."
"I guess but I'm just trying to figure out how and why they all the way on the other side of the fucking country."
"Look just focus on being there for King. You can worry about all that other stuff later."
"I guess you're right."

We caught an Uber to the hospital and I ran inside straight to the front desk. "I'm Shawn Carter. My son King Carter is here." I rushed out.
She started typing on the computer, "Please have a seat in the lobby and the doctor will be out to speak with you shortly."
"Can you just tell me what room he's in? Or what his condition is? It's important ma'am."
"I'm sorry. Please have a seat with the rest of the family in the waiting room."
"Rest of the family?"
"Please go have a seat sir."
"Come on man." I walked away frustrated. I looked around and didn't see Beyoncé anywhere. What family she talking about?
"Man, I just found him. I'm not trying to burry him."
"Come on now. King is not going to die. Don't talk like that."
"He ain't never been in a hospital, as far as I know, for nothing like this. I'm just worried."
"That's understood but we got to stay positive."
"Excuse me?" I looked up and saw this lady in front of me. "Did you say you were here to see King?"
"Yeah."
"Why you want to see him?" she looked like she had been crying.
"Who are you to question me?"
"Because that's my nephew. Now why the fuck you trying to see him?"
"Nephew?"
"Yeah nigga! Now why you looking for him? Y'all work for that fool Julius?"
"Who?"
"Y'all need to leave."
"The hell I do! I'm not leaving here until I see that my son is okay!" I said getting up.
"Man chill, that's a female." TyTy said pulling me back.
"Your son?"
"Yeah, my son."
Her face seemed to change, "Shawn?"
"I know you?" I said looking her up and down.
"You're alive? What you doing here?"
"My son is here in a hospital, like I said. Why the hell wouldn't I be here?"
"Ain't like you been here for the past few years." she mumbled.
"What?"
"She thought you were dead." she said a little above a whisper.
"Who thought I was dead?" I asked confused.
"Beyoncé! All this time you never found her and didn't answer her calls for help. She just assumed you didn't make it."
I stared at this woman for a while, "Where is Beyoncé?"

Beyoncé POV

I was spending the day with Marquis. I dropped the kids off at school earlier that morning. Rasheeda encouraged me to enjoy my off day with him and she would keep the kids since they all went to the same school. My phone was on silent in the car. Marquis and I walked through the park eating ice cream and enjoying our time together.
"Stop it." I laughed. "You're going to get it on my dress."
"Nobody told you to wear a white dress. Ain't it some rule that says you can't wear white after Memorial Day or something?"