Branch One Hundred and Thirty Five
Xavier prayed to all the gods he could remember. He was not one to believe in religion or practice them but he felt the need for a power beyond his control.
His grandfather had been sick for a while and had now outlived the predicted time by the doctors. It was indeed a miracle so maybe out there somewhere there was a power who would help keep his grandfather until he was ready to let go.
“Can you be faster?” Xavier screamed at the driver.
Jessica who sat beside the driver glanced back at Xavier and Dawson. Dawson had his eyes closed and his hands crossed across his chest while Xavier looked tense it was impossible to miss it.
“Can you stop screaming?” Dawson mutters slowly. “You are giving me a headache”
Dawson had proved stubborn and had refused to go with them to the hospital. It took the begging and coaxing of everyone who was available to get him to go.
They promised to bring him back but Xavier swore to only bring him back if the doctor had cleared that he was well and perfect once again.
“Mr. Delgado?” the driver said. His voice was shaky and unsure. It felt like he was not going to be able to deliver a coherent sentence. Could anyone blame the man? Xavier was known to be a beast when he was in this state.
His emotions were all over the place and the people around him felt it. He had lashed out more than once on the driver and the driver was not having it easy.
“What is it?” Xavier asked back. His voice was low because of Dawson’s complaints of a headache but it was firm.
“The GPS says our shortest route to the hospital has a serious traffic jam because of an accident that occurred,” he said gently hoping that she would understand that the accident caused it and not him.
“I was wondering if I should take the longer route or if we should call for an ambulance.”
“Let’s do that, let us get the ambulance here. I think it will be faster if we don’t that way, ” Jessica said before Xavier could answer.
“Sure” Xavier nodded.
Jessica had her phone in hand ready to get the ambulance there immediately. She blamed herself for the situation. If she had left Dawson at the hospital and not insisted on him coming home then he would not be going through all this stress now.
The nurses would have noticed and treated him. They had been so wrapped up in their own activities that they did not notice that he was sick.
Shortly after an ambulance pulls up and takes Dawson to the hospital. Xavier goes with the ambulance while Jessica and the driver follow behind.
They could barely keep up with the rush of the ambulance and drove at the recommended speed.
Jessica prays as hard as she can. All she can think of is that he should be fine. She was not worried about his fever but she was worried how it would affect the cancer in his liver.
Her phone vibrated in her hand and it was Alicia. She sent a text wondering what was going on. Jessica replied to keep her updated on the situation. Alicia promised to make it there soon.
The doctor took Dawson in and assured both parties who looked frightened that it was a fever and it was sure to come down with fever reducers. Ross however said that they needed to keep him in and monitor his temperature all night.
Ross cleared them to go home and Dawson insisted on it. With so much hesitation both of them went home.
While they were in the car Jessica felt the need to apologize. “Xavier,” she said when she finally plucked up her courage. Her voice however sounded like a squeaking mouse.
Xavier opened his eyes and glanced her way. Her face looked tightened and not because she had undergone any procedure but because of the scare that Dawson had given her earlier.
“I really do not know how to say this,” she said clearing her throat and sitting up.
Xavier’s expression was clearing telling and assuring her to say it. His expression put her at ease but she did not know how he would react when she said it. She closed her eyes and tried to steady herself.
“If it’s that hard to say why don’t you just say it when it’s easier to say,” Xavier said.
“No no no,” she said waving her hand in the air. “I just wanted to say sorry. This wouldn’t have happened if I had not insisted on moving Dawson from the hospital. I am sorry that my stupid mistake almost…” she trailed off as she cut off the thoughts in her mind.
“Dawson was happy and comfortable at home,” Xavier said as he rested his head on the headrest. “I think you made a very good decision by bringing him home,” he said with his eyes closed.
“And moreover nothing happened to him” he added.
Jessica sighed in relief. She felt a big weight being lifted off her chest. She hated her earlier feelings and she was glad that it seemed like Xavier understood her initial intentions.
Hospitals could be very stuffy and being there all alone was the worst of it. “Thank you” she murmured also closing her eyes.
She wanted to say something more but the exhaustion from the previous weeks caught up to her and she felt herself being drawn into the dream land.
When the driver parked at the entrance of the car, Xavier turned to Jessica when he saw that she made no effort to unbuckle her seatbelt.
He saw that she was sleeping ever so soundly. “She must have been tired” Xavier whispered as he helped her to unbuckle the belt.
He opened his side of the door and then turned to her side. He opened the door and bent to the car level. He carried her out of the car bridal style.
If she had single handedly planned such a party and she was doing all the work for her restaurant by herself then there was no way she wouldn’t be so tired. He carried her inside and then up the stairs. He tucked her into bed and then prepared to go out.
He was going to clear his head.NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.