“We need to know her father’s name,” the irritated nurse replied.
“How many times do I have to tell you? We don’t have a father!” Jessica replied, narrowing her eyes in disgust, not at the robotic nurse sitting before her, but at the alcoholic that, with a little help from three others, destroyed her sister’s life.
“We can only give information to her parents, unless they’re both dead or unavailable.”
Jessica stubbornly refused to say the name of the man who had simply helped to conceive her and Lauren. “I told you, we’ve got no father.”
“Listen, you little brat. I’m not going to give in because you and your daddy got into a little argument and you’re mad at him,” the nurse snapped, tired of dealing with Jessica. “It isn’t my problem if he isn’t giving you allowance or won’t buy you a new car.”
“Her father, Dan Miller, left when Lauren was five. He was killed a year later in a drunk driving accident caused by himself,” someone explained.
Jessica’s jaw dropped, wondering who in the world knew such information. She turned to see Nick’s ocean blue eyes mirroring her own. “Nick?” she said softly, her tone a mix of surprise and confusion. “What are you doing here?”
“Hey! Excuse me! Do you want to know how your sister is?” the nurse exclaimed impatiently.
“Yeah, yes, I do!” Jessica replied quickly, spinning around.
“The doctor will be out in a moment. He can tell you.”
Jessica nodded and looked back at Nick. How different he was! His once silky, well-kept blonde hair was greasy and hanging in his bloodshot eyes, he was slouching, and there was no mistaking the stench of alcohol on his breath. “What are you doing here?” she repeated.
“I heard about Lauren on the news,” he answered. “I came as soon as I could.”
“Why? You don’t care about her,” Jessica spat.
Nick sank into a chair and held back his tears. “When she left, she took me with her,” he whispered. “I lost everything when I lost her. That’s why the Backstreet Boys fell apart. That’s why I started drinking. That’s why I started sleeping around. That’s why I almost overdosed on aspirin before I came here.” When Jessica turned away, unconvinced, he knew he had to continue. “Jess, sleeping with Rachel destroyed my life. It wasn’t something I had planned. I didn’t even care about her. It just…happened. When Lauren found out and left, it completely ripped me apart.”
The doctor stepped out and called Jessica’s name. “Lauren will be just fine. She’s bruised and scratched, but nothing serious. Will you be her only visitor?”
Jessica looked back and forth from the doctor to Nick. Nick shot her a pleading glance. “At least let me see her, Jess. Let her decide if I deserve to be forgiven.”
Jessica sighed, knowing she was making a mistake. “Go home and get yourself cleaned up. She’d never forgive you looking like that. Then come back and see her.” As he turned and ran for the elevator, she stopped him. “Nick! Don’t make me regret this!”
“I won’t!” he called over his shoulder.