“Oh god, oh god,” I whisper over and over as the 5 news report ends. I can’t believe what I just saw. That was Jade’s car all tangled up and wrecked. The phone rings and I grab it quickly. “Yeah?”
“Didja see 5 news?” Nick asks.
“Yeah,” I whisper. I can’t believe he’s called me. It makes me so happy. I mean, we haven’t spoken for a while and then when I really need him… He calls me. Maybe he still loves me. Just a little?
“D’you think Brian knows?” he asks, sounding completely shocked.
“They would’ve called him. I really hope he didn’t just find out. Oh god, Jade,” I say.
“Which hospital will she be at?”
“Gotta be St Paul’s,” I say.
“I’ll come by and pick you up,” he says and hangs up.
I dial AJ’s number quickly and wait for him to pick up. I tell him the news and he just about dies on the other end. He agrees to meet us at the hospital and to drive real carefully. Then I call Jay’s cell.
“Hey,” he answers brightly.
“It’s Ali,” I tell him. How the hell do I tell him what just happened to his sister?
“Oh hey Al,” he responds. “I’m almost done here. You wanna go out for lunch with me?”
“Jay, I have some news about Jade. It’s not good.”
“What is it? Did Brian say stuff to her again?” he asks angrily.
“She had a car wreck. She’s at St Paul’s hospital,” I tell him. “It looked bad.”
“Oh my god…”
“It’ll be ok Jay. I’m goin’ straight there. You want me to come meet ya first?”
“Uh no, I’ll get a taxi there,” he hangs up and I head outside to wait for Nick. A few minutes later he arrives and I climb in before he speeds away.
“You didn’t have to do this,” I tell him.
“You’re on the way,” he shrugs. “And I didn’t want you drivin’ too.”
“Well, thanks Nick,” I say quietly and he reaches over to quickly squeeze my hand before changing gear.
“You’re ok Brian,” a voice soothes him as he opens his eyes. It takes him a few seconds to realise he’s lying on the floor.
“What happened?” he tries to sit up and two nurses help him gently.
“You passed out,” one tells him calmly. “You’ve had an awful shock.”
“Can you stand up?”
“Yeah,” he nods and they help him to his feet, walking him over to the nearest chair and sitting him down.
“Sit there a while. Somebody’s gone to get you a real sugary drink.”
“I’m ok.”
“Well, humour us,” she smiles and sits by him.
“I need to be with my wife,” he tries to stand up but she pulls him down again.
“Just have a drink and then you can go and see her,” she says as a man brings over a hot chocolate for Brian. He takes it, grateful for it’s warmth. “So that was your wife’s car on TV huh?” Brian just nods. “Don’t worry. Wrecks always look worse then they actually are. How long have you been married?”
“Almost eight months.”
“Children?”
“No,” he shakes his head slowly.
“You will get her through this Brian,” the nurse tells him quietly. “She has you as a reason to live.”
Brian bows his head as she leaves him alone. He’s not so sure about that. the last words Jade had heard him say were filled with scorn. She had walked away from him, thinking that he could never forgive her and that all he wanted was to forget her. He finishes his drink and stands up to hand the mug back to a nurse. She takes it.
“Do you feel better?”
“Yeah,” he nods. “Uh, can people in coma hear you?”
“Oh yes,” she smiles. “We’ve had a lot of people come round after somebody kept talking to them. Hearing is the last sense to go.”
“Thanks,” he says and walks back to Jade’s room. He sits by her bed and takes her hand in his. “Hey baby, I’m back. The nurse says you can probably hear me so I’m just gonna keep talking to you until you wake up and tell me to shut up. They showed your car wreck on TV. God Jady, it was awful. I never want to see that again. Kevin rang. He’s still in LA but he’s catching the next flight down to see you. So if you don’t wake up soon, you’ll have him boring you too. I guess the other guys and Ali will be here soon too. I forgot to call them but I guess Kevin will do that. I’m just gonna sit here and keep annoying you. I brought you your ring back baby. You’re never going to be without that on your finger again, I promise. I’m so sorry about all the things I said. I was just trying to hurt you cos you hurt me. I was dumb tryin’ to pretend I was ok right after the JC thing. I just was so scared of losing you. I should’ve told you how I felt then we could’ve really put it behind us. It’s behind us now honey, it really is. You did choose me. A little later than I wanted but you did. I love you so much baby and you have to come back to me. We have so many things to do together. Our life is goin’ to be just perfect…” he carries on talking softly.