All Signs Point to You Part Two, Navaura Campbell [best novels for students .txt] 📗

went into the room and met Lasaire with a hug, wrapping the five foot ten girl into a hug. "Hey, Jordan. Where were you? I called like fifteen times last night to get you and there was no answer."

Jordan felt a blush crept up to his cheeks. "I'm sorry Lasaire, what's wrong with mom?"Lasaire, who'd been wearing the same bed clothes, flannel pajamas and a t-shirt over them, ran a frustrated hand through her hair. "That's what they're trying to figure out."

Jordan cleared his throat, and went to his mother, who was hooked up to an IV machine, and heart monitor/ blood pressure machine, and looked as if she'd went through a desert type dehydration. Swallowing, he reached out and touched her hair. She was burning up. Looking over at Lasaire, he said, "Why does she have a fever?"

"I don't know. It keeps coming and going and no matter how much ibuprofen they give her, she still have that temperature."

"Is that what's in the IV?"

"Yes." Lasaire stated, her mouth dry and eyes strained because of being up all night.

"What happened? How did she end up here?"

Lasaire sighed, "I don't know. Around eight thirty, she went to bed and an hour later I went into the kitchen for a snack, and when I went to check and see if she was alright, when I noticed the television was still running, and she was just lying there on top of the covers. I picked her feet up to place her under the covers. When I discovered they were burning, I asked her if she was alright. I must have said this for like five straight minutes, before I decided to call the ambulance. We've been here since ten o'clock last night."

Jordan nodded, "Thanks Lasaire. You can take my car and go home to get a shower and some sleep if you'd like."

Lasaire rubbed her eyes with a big yawn, "I'll wait till doctor Brooke arrives."

Jordan stared down at his mother, wondering if her eyes would open.

Just then, the door opened and the doctor came in, carrying a chart. "Mr. Williams, have you filled out the information papers yet?"

Jordan nodded, handing the doctor the clipboard. "Yes."

"Thank-you." Doctor Brooke glanced over the information. Looking back up, he said, "You're Patrick's little boy?"

Jordan raised a brow at Dr. Brooke. "Patrick?"

The doctor nodded. "Patrick Williams, that's your father's name, correct?"

Jordan cleared his throat, "Yeah."

"Wow, I knew him back when he was in the air force. My name's Dr. Albert Brooke, nice to officially meet you." Jordan put his hand out and shook the older man's outstretched hand.

Jordan stared at the doctor for a moment. "I don't recall ever meeting you."

"We never did meet. You look like him, just years younger."

Jordan nodded. "Oh, well, thanks." His gaze went back to his mother, who lay there unconscious with tubes in her veins.

The doctor turned his attention back to his charts, looked at them, and then back up at Jordan. "We're doing blood work right now, just to see what exactly is wrong."

Jordan licked his lips. "How long does that usually take?" The results will be in in about an hour or so. We took the vials about four thirty this morning."

Jordan swallowed, feeling guilty.

By the time the doctor came back with in the hour, Lasaire had long since left the hospital, and Jordan had settled back in his chair, watching television. Dr. Brooke cleared his throat and inhaled sharply. Jordan stood up. He could tell by his less than enthusiastic demeanor, that this would be bad news.

Jordan clenched his fist together. "What is it?"

Beads of perspiration began to gather at the doctor's forehead. "You're mother has cancer."

Jordan eyes widened in disbelief. "You're joking right?"

The doctor sighed, "I'd give her a good six months at the most."

Jordan felt as if he'd been bulldozed, punched in the gut and then stomped on all at one time. "Wh...what?"

"You're mother's in her second stage of hair leukemia, Jordan." Jordan stumbled backwards, hearing the doctor, but still in shock. His mother? The one who gave birth to him, who loved him and took care of him by herself for so many years was going to die? He sank down into his chair, still jumbled thoughts, not believing that his mother would be gone in less than six months. The doctor continued to speak, but Jordan's brain wasn't receiving any words. He had lost all the signals that transmitted information to his brain. He sat back, staring at the doctor, looking as if he was listening.

Denise stood in the doorway of her room getting dressed for bed. After talking to her about what had happened between them, her mother had told Denise that she was grounded and that she couldn't go out with Jordan for a whole week. No movies. No nothing. Sighing, she put on her pajamas, and then hopped into bed herself.

She'd been asleep a good fifteen minutes, when the phone rang. She hoped that someone down stairs would get it, but there was no answer. Finally, after three rings, she picked the phone up and answered in a sleepy tone. "Hello?"

"Denise?"

Denise sat up. Jordan sounded raspy. Tired.

"What's wrong?"

"I need to see you." He said, his tone tender. Too tender.

Denise laughed softly. "I want to see you too, but I'm grounded."

Jordan whispered, "Please?"

Denise heard the pain in his voice. Swallowing, she glanced at the clock. It was midnight. "Are you at your house?"

"Yes." Denise pushed the covers away from her, "Ok, I'll put on something warm and be right over."

You could hear the hard breathing as he spoke, "Ok, hurry, I need you right now."

Denise pulled on her clothes and grabbing her keys, shoved them in her pocket. She went down the stairs and sneaked past the living room where Vicki sat watching TV and out the front door. She ran down the street, heart pounding in fear. He'd sounded as if he desperately needed her to show up. The pain was etched in his voice. Taking a deep breath, she braved the cold as each step she took, brought her closer to Jordan's house.

When she finally reached the door, the car was in the driveway, one of the doors open. She pushed it closed. Going up to the door, she pulled it open and went inside. He was sitting at the kitchen table staring into space. Pulling the door closed behind her, she went to him and stood in front of him. "Jordan, are you ok?"

He blinked and inhaled sharply. Glancing at her, the tears that were in his eyes gleaned hard, making her heart catch. Touching his hair, she whispered, "What's wrong?"

He whispered, "I...I...My mom, she..."

She felt his arms go around her waist. "De-De, I don't know what I'll do without her. I mean she's been there since I was a baby. I mean...She's all I have. I don't know what I'll do without her...I need her, how will I live..."

Denise pulled his hands into hers. "Baby, what are you talking about?"

Jordan glanced up at her. Tears leaking from his eyes. "My mom, she's got cancer. The doctor says she's only got six more months at the most."

Denise stared at him in shock, "What?"

"The doctor said that he can try chemotherapy to help prolong her days, but that may not be enough to save her."

"What type of cancer does she have?"

"Leukemia."

Denise keeled down to him. "It's going to be ok, Jordan."

"She's..." His voice trailed off, his body becoming rigid. "She's dying, Denise."

Denise stared at him, shocked, unable to believe what she was hearing. His mother had always seemed healthy as an ox. Never had she imagined her sick. Taking a deep breath, she grasped his shoulders, wrapping him in a hug. "I love you, Jordan. I love you so much, you know that?" Her tone was gentle. Although saying that had nothing to do with the situation at hand, it caused him to look up at her, "Do you love me, Denise?" His eyes stared at her, inquiring.

She smiled, "With all my heart, Jordan."

"You'll never leave me, right?"

She said, "I'll be here for you, Jordan. No matter what, I'll be here."

Jordan stared down at her, contemplating. She stared up at him, her gaze sincere. "I'll be here when you need me, ok?"

He stared, not sure what to think. The only woman he'd ever depended on was his mother. He swallowed and ran his fingers through her hair. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling. The gentle touch of his hand on her cheek, made her heart flutter. He stared at her lashes, fanning her cheekbones. He ran a finger over them and then leaned down and kissed them. "Thank you." He whispered. Denise glanced up at him, her love plainly visible. "You're welcome, Baby." He stared into warm brown eyes and felt a warmth began in his body, pulling into the deepest recesses of his heart. Grasping her hand, he pulled it up to his mouth, his eyes still on hers.

Denise felt the thunderous pound in her heart as his mouth kissed her hand. She whispered, "Jordan." Her pulse was rapid as fire beating like drums against her neck. He pulled her up, embracing her, holding on tightly. She closed her eyes and relaxed into his arms, loving the strength that exuded from a single touch. His hold on her was snug, comfortable. She held just as tightly to him, not wanting to let go, wishing that he wasn't going through the pain and suffering he was going through now.

That night, Denise knew she should have told him no when he asked her to stay the night, but couldn't. Not when his mother lay in the hospital dying. Not when he needed her the most. Grounded or not, she wouldn't desert him again. She felt overwhelmed with gratitude, because he'd loved her even more after they'd broken up. She felt weird, because she didn't want to break his heart anymore. She didn't want to hurt him again, not the way she had before. When she was in his arms, she felt life. The blood that pounded through his heart seemed as if it flowed directly to hers, which made it unbearable when she thought of being without him again. Her love for him was stronger, more assured now. She laid there in his arms, staring down at long thick eyelashes as she caressed his cheeks. His mouth had long since gone slack, his full lips a beautiful red contrasting with his feathery light brown skin. Inhaling sharply, Denise felt a tear roll down her cheek. She didn't want to loose him, not now. Not ever. Exhaling, she closed her own eyes and thought she heard him whisper in the midst of sleep, "I love you.”

 

Chapter Forty Five: End of the year.

 

April, 1999

Denise grabbed her bag, threw her hoodie inside and then pulled the straps over her shoulders. She said goodbye to her mom and step dad before leaving the house. The outfit she wore was an ocean blue short body suit that was worn with a white belt around the waist. Her shoes were white keds. They were the only shoes she could wear without socks. It was a warm spring morning, beautiful outside. She sniffed in sweet scents of honey suckle and other frag ranted flowers native to Virginia. Inhaling softly, she whispered, "Wow, this sure is beautiful."

"It's like this every spring."

Denise jumped at the sound of a voice behind her. She turned around and put a hand up to her chest, "What the hell is it with all of you guys sneaking up on people?" She gasped.

Chuck gave a wry smile and said, "Sorry sweet thang, but I couldn't resist. I saw you coming out of your house and thought, hmm, I wonder how long it would take her to acknowledge that I was here?"

Denise laughed, "Ok, I failed miserably. I thought you would be at school by now."

He smiled, "I was hoping I could walk