Rollercoaster (The Circle Series - Part 3)

Chapter 19

After breakfast was cleared and a container of hot food was packaged for Julie, the first group of visitors was getting ready to leave. Ari showed no signs of her distress from earlier however she was still looking quite anxious, holding tight to her husband's hand. Sammy was carefully holding her card and drawings for her parents as she finished slipping into her jacket and shoes.

"Alright, let's hit the road," Richie said to the small group. He opened the front door and ushered them all outside to his car.

Becca was trying to locate her glasses that she'd put down somewhere, yelling "I'll be there in a moment, honey," before retracing her path.

Leesha followed Richie out after David grabbed her silk robe. She left it untied and let the soft material drape around her. David stayed in the doorway and hugging Janelle. "Here's a bag for Julie, Rich. It has a change of clothes, panties, shampoo, a brush, scrunchie, towel, and a face wash if she wants to shower at the hospital," Leesha said, "They're my clothes, but Julie's just a tad smaller than me so they should fit."

"I'll let you know how they both are when I get there. Thanks for the breakfast, darlin'," Richie pulled Leesha into a warm embrace, "I'm happy for you all about the baby, by the way. Any new life is a miracle regardless of how it's created."

Leesha walked out to the car with Richie's arm around her, her head resting against his arm. "That's the best thing we've heard yet, Mook," she said quietly, opening the door for Sammy to jump into the back seat. She leaned in and kissed Ethan on the cheek and slam the door.

"I found them!" Becca said as she hurried toward the car, "You'll never guess where they were?"

"Surprise me, babe," Richie grinned, his hands rubbing Leesha's bump.

"On top of my head all along!" Becca scoffed at herself, "Jake took great delight in point it out to me. Such a brat!" She shook her head and frowned as she got in the car, slamming the door. Richie kissed Leesha on the cheek and hugged her tight.

"Give Julie a big hug for me?" Leesha sighed and Richie nodded, climbing into the driver seat. Leesha waved to them as the car backed down the driveway and turned to her husband and daughter in the doorway.

Janelle leaned against her Dad and frowned, pointing upwards. "Mom...what is that?"

Leesha and David followed their daughter's gaze and David swore. "Fuck...hun...get in the house...NOW!"

"What is it?" Janelle asked again. David gently pushed her inside and hurried Leesha in before slamming the front door. Across the property, photographers were crouched behind the tall hedges high fiving each other at their good fortune for having captured some explosive pictures.

"David we can't let the kids leave here," Leesha cried, her emotions going crazy as she grabbed a handful of bacon.

David, however, was already on the phone with Mike and they listened to his side of the conversation. "Mike...DB...paps outside sent a drone in over my property...probably photos of the kids, Leesha...alright, see you then..."

Leesha rejoined everyone in the kitchen and living room. "No one else is to leave here until Mike secures the property. Understood?"

Meanwhile, in the car heading toward the hospital, Richie turns down the radio when the news broadcasts started in on Jon's accident with the lead in line of 'Lead singer, Jon Bon Jovi, in a life or death struggle after a horrific motor vehicle accident.'

"Fucking media!" he muttered before looking at his charges in the rear vision mirror, "I'm sorry you had to hear that kids. Your dad's a fighter, don't forget that." He felt Becca take his hand and he looked over to her. She gave him a small comforting smile that soon turned to horror as they approached the hospital car park.