Chapter 7 FRIENDS

CHAPTER 6

"Hey Zoe." Evangeline said when picked her friend's call. She had just retired to her room for the night. Since dinner had ended up being messed up, she had driven around town aimlessly until she was finally ready to go home. Adriana who was worried, kept calling incessantly. When she got in, the twins had slept but her sister sat down waiting for her return. When she did, Adriana hugged her and went to her room. She did the same too.

Zoe listened then asked when she heard nothing, "Are you there?"

"I'm here, just tired" Evangeline replied, "Audrey said you stopped by."

"You've been avoiding me." She accused.

"I'm in Miami, Zoe. I am not avoiding you."

"You won't pick my calls."

"That's because when I did pick, you wanted me to hear Mary out. The bitch didn't even call me. What has she got to say anyway?" she gnawed at a snack, "Let it be Zoe."

"She knows you enough that you won't pick up." Zoe tried to excuse their friend's behaviour.

"Whatever she has to say wouldn't change a thing. I'm done with Logan. I wish them both good life," she replied stubbornly. It was pointless. She knew Mary wasn't about to plead or anything.

She had wanted to do this and she had. Better to just watch things unravel itself. It was obvious from her dead silence she wasn't feeling remorseful. Only Logan had been calling and texting ever since. "We should see next week." She informed her friend.

"Can I come with her?"

"Don't you dare! Whatever she has to say, let her tell you. I might listen to you."

"Can't I convince you otherwise?"

"No." She replied matter of fact.

Zoe sighed, "I cannot accept that you know, right? Do have a good night then."

Evangeline sat in front of the dressing mirror and stared at herself. She cut some cotton wool, dipped it in her face cleanser and began to wipe her face. As she did, she recalled her meeting earlier with the Valdez.

The woman was looking bad. Something about the woman called to her. Perhaps her free spirit. The woman had been so warm and hospitable, a contrast to her hostile husband. He had completely ignored her at the hospital. At first, it had made her angry. But when she almost cried as the woman started to fall asleep with her pale face and cold hands, she was happy Jason was typing on his phone. He would have had something nasty to say to her again.

******

Later that night, when most residents of Miami had retired for the night, Ellen Valdez's cough worsened. The cough came in short lapses. Her breathe was coming in short gasp and even Jason who had been in the room all day knew it was time to let her go. His wife was in pain. Another surgery would only cause more pain. She had also pleaded that he let her go. Holding her hands, he sat down stoically beside her. "I'll miss you. I don't know how to live without you."

"Promise me you'll be fine. I can only rest knowing you are okay."

"Please." He pleaded unwillingly to make the promise.

As she struggles to breath, she smiled at him.

"What now?"

"Doesn't this remind you of something?" She asked still smiling but gazing at the scenery, "The view." She said, giving him a clue. Her finger was pointed at the opened blind. The view of the City.

"Oh..... When we first met." He chuckled. He had been sick barely two weeks after meeting her and was confined to his room. For a guy who had chased her fiercely for two weeks, it was strange when all through two days he hadn't called. So, she had decided to visit. He wouldn't eat anything made by the Chef, so she made him soup. Done, they had sat down afterwards looking out the terrain. He had told her then that he loved her.

"It was the closest I've ever being to being sick." He muttered. He had never fallen sick.

Ellen laughed and coughed in between, "You were a pretty sore sight to look at. Never seen a fine sick adult." She teased.

"Ever the complimenting one." He said, grinning from ear to ear.

Suddenly, everywhere was calm. Too calm. Ellen broke the silence. "You have to get our child, Jase. That child will need you, as you will need her."

Earlier that day, Ellen had called the doctor and then send him out. Worried about what she was going to make the Doctor do, he stood by the door listening to her. Her pleading that the Doctor get Evangeline to be the surrogate mother tightened his chest. His pain was real. What was more, she was planning her departure so easily he wept? "That will be my husband's saving grace. Please?" The doctor had promised to get in touch with the young lady. He didn't know what to think about that.

"Our child?" Jason asked his wife.

"Please, pro..." She began to cough.

"I promise. I promise." Jason said, as he gently patted her chest.

The cough subsided, "Thank you." She mouthed and turned to her husband again. "And always remember that I love you." That said, she heaved and went into a rigorous spasm. The life support machine started beeping loudly. The doctor was by her side immediately. Jason moved away and watched as the nurses trooped in. A tear drops as his wife struggled to stay alive. Then the machine's tone changed. The nurses looked at each other sadly.

"Nooooooo. NOOO!" He yelled and went to hold his wife. Her eyes were closed in pain. She was gone. His beloved wife was gone.