GoodReadWas it really so crazy busy that there wasn't even a second to check a text message? Karen's gut reaction was that Jeffrey must've lent his car out to someone else.
Truth be told, she had a lot of trust in this guy.
Sure, they'd had their share of squabbles, and before they got together, even their bickering could get as sharp as needles, but Jeffrey was always upfront about his messes—never one to hide his tracks. So the last thing she wanted was to be the paranoid type.
Thinking her cousin might have some news by now, she quickly pocketed her phone and turned back to the ER.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSerena had shown up too. Since she was getting on in years, hospitals gave her the creeps.
"Karen, your cousin still got a thing for your friend or what?" "Umm." "He's beating himself up over her, isn't he?" Serena had a knack for reading between the lines, and the situation was as clear as day to her.
Dorothy had just returned from abroad and then left again, taking both her kids with her. It was only natural for Kenneth to be acting this way.
"Mom, Dorothy never gave Kenneth an inch. It's always been Everett for her. It's Kenneth who couldn't let go." Karen still can't help but put in a good word for her bestie, lest when Aunt and Uncle come by later and see their son like this, they might blame it all on Dorothy.
"Ah, Kenneth's always been head over heels. His folks have been on his case, but to no avail. Blind dates? He'd bail. Work? He'd just hover around your friend. And now? She's off living the dream, and Kenneth's left in the dust.” "Mom." "Alright, alright, I'm not blaming anyone. Just stating the facts." Karen bit her lip; she was in quite the awkward spot.
When she'd introduced Kenneth to Dorothy, how could she have known Dorothy was already with Everett? And that Everett had been biding his time.
Seeing Kenneth like this cut her deep too.
Soon enough, a doctor emerged from the ER. "Family of Kenneth?" "Here, doctor, over here." Karen, quick on her feet, dashed over. "How's Kenneth?" "Just weak from not eating and staying cooped up; low blood sugar and blood pressure. He can't go on like this; it's taking a toll on his body. We'll move him to a regular room. Give him a talking to, will you? Starvation is no solution to problems." After giving details on the room, the doctor left.
Before long, Kenneth was wheeled out.
"Bro, thank god you're okay." Kenneth, looking a tad embarrassed, just tugged at his chapped lips. "Sorry for worrying you." "Don’t say that. We are family." As two nurses began to wheel Kenneth to his room for observation, Karen reached out to help, but her phone rang.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIt was Jeffrey.
Talk about timing.
After a moment's hesitation, she didn't reach out to push the gurney but instead took a step back and answered the call.
"Hello?" "How could you see my car? Are you at the hospital?" Jeffrey sounded frantic.
Karen frowned. "You're here too?" His immediate question made it clear: he hadn't lent his car out; he'd driven it himself.
"Yeah, a friend's sick. Just stopped by to check.” "Jeffrey, | thought you said you were swamped at the office?" Karen's tone was less than pleased.
Here she was, not even wanting to bother him, and there he was, at the hospital for someone else.
"Don't get mad. I'm heading back soon." "Just tell me, this friend of yours — a guy or a girl?" Karen paused, then huffed, "It's a girl, isn't it?"
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