She picked up one, and closely inspected its leaves for brown spots and bugs that might be dwelling inside. She didn't trust the produce sections of any small grocery. Especially ones that weren't in some huge chain that spanned across the US, and probably hadn't been inspected by the FDA since the late 50s.
But it was close to the apartment, cheaper than most larger chains, and she got a discount because Conna worked there part time.
A pain ricocheted through her spine, and she dropped the lettuce. She leaned over the bin holding the lettuce, trying to make the pain subside. "EXCUSE ME!" she shouted as loudly as she could manage. "CAN SOMEBODY CALL AN AMBULANCE?!"
Isaac glared moodily at his beeper that was sitting on top of the table. His mother came over and pat his hand. "Ike, get to work," she chided softly. "The beeper's not gonna sprout legs and run."
"I'm worried about Jerry," he said. "She didn't call back last night."
Lia, who was supposed to be busy reading, peered up at them over the edge of her World History book. Ike was chewing his lip, and staring at his mother uncomfortably. She nodded. "I'm sure Jerry's fine. Remember she works nights, and she probably was so tired she fell asleep the moment she walked in. Pregnancy will do that to you."
Isaac nodded numbly, but his face still was shadowed by troublement. Isaac's mother just sighed and walked away. Lia's brows were raised in interest. In a whisper she blurted, "Who's Jerry?"
Isaac looked up at her, startled. "Hasn't anyone over told you not to eavesdrop?"
"I couldn't help it," she said. "Who is Jerry?"
"A friend from Tulsa," he clipped, boring his eyes into hers. She glowered right back.
"She's pregnant?"
"Don't worry," he snapped. "It's not mine, if that's what you're wondering."
She nodded boredly. "I thought I was going to have something for the tabloids."
Isaac snorted. "No, Taylor and Skye are tabloid material. Jerry and I are just friends."
Lia gave him a cocky look. "Sure. That's what they all say."
Jocelyn heard the news from Cindy Stone the next day that the girl who had been picking Jocelyn and Zac the past few days had supposedly gone into labor early this morning at the grocery store.
"How do you know?" Jocelyn asked icily.
"Because," Cindy said in her flutey voice. "My dad runs the grocery store she was in when her water broke."
Jocelyn quickly gotten the pertinent information out of Cindy, like which hospital, what room, and if she'd had the baby yet. Cindy said that the last she'd heard, the girl hadn't even been close to delivery. Of course, that had been at 8 o'clock in the morning.
When Josh rolled up to the sidewalked at 10 after 3, Jocelyn jumped into the back, excited. She practically ignored that her brother's girlfriend, Racheal, was sitting up front. "We have to go to County Hospital," Jocelyn said giddily.
"Why?" Josh asked. "Are you sick?"
"Nope!" Jocelyn squealed. "Jerry's having her baby!!"
"Jerry?" Racheal asked, her wide cornflower blue eyes looking back at Jocelyn. Her straw-colored bangs were so long that they got caught on her long, sooty eyelashes.
"My friend," Jocelyn said. "You remember Isaac's girl friend right, Josh?"
Josh had begun to drive, his brow puckered. "I...I think so. Was she at his birthday party?"
"The pregnant girl," Jocelyn nodded in confirmation.
"Then I've seen her," he said, shrugging. "Don't really know her."
"Oh. Can we go to the hospital?" Jocelyn pleaded.
Josh heaved a sigh. "We have to go check with Mom first."
"And drive me home," Racheal said, distastefully. "Hospitals give me the creeps..."
