Chapter 73
"Where is he?" I demanded the nurses in the hospital but of course, they all looked at me like I was crazy. I looked around wildly, my hair whipping from left to right, trying to find the Jones. My nerves were going in a total frenzy and I could feel myself let go of every self-control I had left.
"Case, calm down; It's going to be alright," My mother's hand landed on my shoulder and my dad came to squeeze my arms to offer some support. Penelope looked terrified but rubbed my back. I closed my eyes and tried to get some kind of reassurance from my mother's words.
"Casey?" I heard a child's voice call me meekly and I turned around to face the 4 year old boy, a pinch of relief filling my bones but it was not enough to soothe my conscience. I tried getting a grip on some self-control to make sure I didn't pulverize the boy out of worry.
"Pio," my hands shot out to embrace the little boy while squatting before holding him at arm's length.
"Pio, where is your dad?" I ask him seriously, his eyes had tears in them and it broke me to see him like this. He pointed a trembling finger to a corner where I could see Jerry's hunched back with his head in his hands. I hauled Pio into my arms and stood up to my feet once more. I jogged to where Jerry and Cali was seating with my parents. Penelope trailed behind me.
"Jerry, how is he?" I didn't even want to beat around the bush right now. Jerry raised his head, peeling his hands of them and faced us with a hollow look.
"Casey," he greeted me and his chin trembled with how much force he was trying to keep his tears in. He stood up and brought me into a hug that the others soon joined in.
"The doctors said he was going to be alright but I'm not sure, Case. He's undergoing operation and I don't know what to do. I've lost my wife and now my boys are both holed up in a hospital. I've failed at being a father," he sobbed and I brought him into another hug.
Preston's case was my fault, not Jerry's. He's not supposed to feel bad because he wasn't a bad father. I got them into all of this mess. We all sat there, the silence enveloping us and even the kids understood that it was not the time to play.
"He was hit by a car," Jerry's voice suddenly cut through the silence, making me face him. "Adam, the police found him carrying a plastic bag that contained a carton of milk. He was already unconscious and the surveillance camera nearby showed that he was hit by a car."
I had to cover my mouth to prevent the sobs from escaping as tears leaked out of my eyes. Suddenly, we heard a male's voice call Jerry and we all rose to our feet simultaneously with Pio in my arms and Cali in Jerry's arms.
"The operation was a success and the patient's currently stable," We all breathed a relieved sigh.
"There is, however, a big possibility that he suffers amnesia. When the accident happened, his head got a couple of hits, one by the impact of the crash and the other when he fell unconscious." The doctor explained and my breath hitched in my throat.
The thought of Adam not recognizing me was too much and I couldn't bear it. It was too painful. This was too much. I felt overwhelmed and my body swayed slightly, causing me to hold onto my parents for stability. They looked at me worriedly and I forced a smile to not worry them although it was obvious that I wasn't alright.
"Can we see him, doc?" I turned the attention to the man in the white coat and he nodded.
"He's unconscious and is still resting but you can see him," he said his piece and turned away to tend to the other patients who needed his help.
Jerry and the kids were his family so they went first while the rest of us got back to our seats. I was fiddling with the hem of my shirt when I remembered a certain Jones was kept in that exact hospital. My hand flew to my forehead to face-palm myself and jumped to my feet only to be tugged back by my mother.
"Where are you going, Case?"
I gave at her with a pleading look. "I need to go talk to Preston, mom. Please call me if Jerry and the kids are back," I told her and she had a solemn look on her face but she lets my hand go.
Before I could stand, her voice stopped me.
"Case..." She trailed off and I knew what she was about to say before she said it aloud for me.
"I know, mom, and it hurts to know that he could possibly not remember me. My heart hurts whenever I remember what the doc said but all we could do now is pray that God would help us,"
I didn't know what else to say so I got to my feet and left my parents and Penny with worried looks on their faces. I walked to the administration to get some information on Preston's whereabouts. I need someone to talk to and he was probably the only one who could help me; no matter how much of a dick he was to me, I knew he cared for his brother as much as I did.
