Playing With Fire & Ice

35

Feeling my phone ring in my pocket, I take it out of my pocket sewing it's Jazzy.

"Hey Jazzy what do you need?" I ask her as I enter inside my building. "D-dad! H-hos-hospital. Sa-saint J-jo-joseph" She sobbed into my ear. "I'm on the way." I say firmly as I feel a uneasiness settle in my stomach.

Rushing to my car, I drive to the hospital tapping my hands in anxiety against the steering wheel. I barely parked my car before I was making my way to the front desk. "Eddie Young." I say and I noticed how she gave me a look of pity.

"Room 0067. Down the hall." She said and I ran down the hall looking for his room. Hoping against hope that everything was alright with dad.

Stopping at the room, I go inside the room my eyes widening when I see Jazzy sitting in the chair holding his hand. Dad was laying in the hospital bed his oxygen tube in his nose.

"Jazzy what happened?" I asked her. "I c-came to ch-check on dad. H-h-he w-was hav-having a-a he-heart at-at-attack." She sniffled. "Will the old man be alright?" I asked shortly P2 smoothing out his hair.

"I don't know. Doctors said that his extremely weak as of right now. They don't know if he'll make it through the night." Jazzy whispered softly but I heard it.

I remained quiet, knowing their was nothing I could say or do to make Jazzy feel better. Taking a seat on the opposite side of the bed, I sigh lightly as I take dad's hand.

***

F

eeling a tap on my hand, I sit up seeing dad looking at me tiredly. "Dad how are you feeling?" I asked him quietly careful not to wake Jazzy up. "I'm tired baby. Just tired." Dad rasped out.

"I know." I say lightly. "Take care of Jazzy for me. No more of this bickering. She is going to need you now more than ever." Dad rasped out and I could see he was fighting closing his eyes.

"Go to sleep dad. We love you." I whisper kissing his cheek as he closes his eyes. It was quiet as I watched him before I noticed Jazzy looking him with a look of adoration.

"I love you dad. Say hi to mom for me." Jazzy whispered softly. I saw his lips quirk upwards before he flatlined. Neither Jazzy or I cried as we knew it was just his time. Breathing deeply I feel the teasr startle to well up but I hold them back.

Dad was suffering here, now he can be free of any burdens that weigh on his heart. He can be with mom.

"C'mon Jazzy lets go. He's okay now." I say with a sad smile. Jazzy nodded as she stoof up and I watched a single tear leave her eye. "We'll be alright sis. I got you." I whisper as I hug her from the side walking us out the room.

Walking to the small café that the hospital had built in, Jazzy takes a seat by the window as I go to the counter. "Hello can I get a large black decaf coffee and a caramel latte a shot of expresso with 2 strawberry muffins?" I say to the cashier. Paying for the order, I go over to Jazzy who was staring out the window.

"How are you feeling other than the obvious grieving?" I asked her softly. "I'm scared Effie." She said and I noticed her hands were trembling.

"Why?" I ask. "You're all I have now Effie. You recently had a stroke. I don't want you to leave me here alone. I just don't want nothing to happen that could take you away from me." Jazzy says softly as I grab her trembling hands calming her down.

"Well when my time is up just know I had a great life. Okay? Your a strong woman as mom raised you to be. Even if we are not as close in the future, I'm only a phone call away. God will only give you what you can handle." I say to her.

"Yeah but I just can't believe he's gone, you know. I think I just need some alone time, right now." Jazzy said softly. Nodding I go and grab our order before bringing it back to the table.

"Its a caramel latte just the way you like it." I say softly as I hand her a muffin. Quietly we eat the muffins and drink our beverages. No more words were exchanged between us.

"So how are you and Sean doing? I know ya'll are going to try again." Jazzy says giving me a soft smirk.  "It's okay. We're still figuring out stuff but it's alright." I shrug.

"Nope your more happy than I've seen you in a long time. It has to be more than alright." Jazzy said to me.

"I don't know Jazzy. It's like we picked up right where we left off. We've kind of sorted through our problems but we haven't. Its complicated but for now I just want to take it slow even though I want to kiss him, I want to be held but no labels. I don't know." I say shrugging.

"We'll from what I seen when he visited dad, Sean really cares for you. I understand wanting to take it slow. Lay everything on the table. Then take it from there." Jazzy said as she drunk the last of her latte. "Ok. Well enough about me what about you? How's life? Do you have anyone?" I asked her.

"Well as you know I'm working at Dr. Quincy's clinic and work is going well I'll be able to buy a house soon. As far as dating it's nothing solid yet but we're talking. You know I'll let you meet them if we last long enough." Jazzy says to me shrugging.

"Thats nice. I'm glad you have someone that makes you happy." I say. "Thanks. I'll be going to my apartment now. Call me when you want to talk about the burial or memorial." Jazzy says as her eyes glaze over.