that. Did mum leave Jake only to return because I was still living with him? I’m thinking if the baby isn’t Jake’s, then she’s using him for his money, but what if knowing we were together, or suspected we were together, is what triggered all these events? I could go over this until my head hurts, but it’s still conjecture. It won’t solve anything by speculating.
“It’s a possibility, I guess, but the two cases are a little different. In a sense, you could say my mum’s right. She had Jake first. It was me who stole him from her.”
She puffs out some air. “Oh, please. She never had him to begin with, and she knows it. She wasn’t even bothered about Jake until she found out you two got together.”
“I think her being pregnant had something to do with it too,” I tease back.
She frowns a little. “Why did she turn up so late then? Why didn’t she come back the moment she found out she was pregnant?”
I shake my head. “I have no idea. I only wish I knew what was going on in that woman’s head. Why she does the things she does.”
As I’m mulling over this, we pull into the hospital parking lot. At the entrance, I spot Jake helping my mother out of the car before they take her in. We park, and so does Jake. As we’re walking towards his car, he gets out.
“This is fucked up,” Jake grates out, still gripping onto the article.
“Have you even had time to read it?” Jessie asks as we start walking.
“No, but I brought it with me to read later.”
“I don’t think you should read that when you’re in the same room as that vile snake,” Jessie continues. “Believe me, if you don’t like her now, you’ll hate her once you see some of the shit she said.”
“I don’t think now’s the time to discuss this,” I pipe in.
“You really think she’s in pain? Convenient timing, don’t you think?”
I glance a peek at Jake, and by the look he’s giving me, I can tell he’s thinking the exact same thing as Jessie.
“I suppose we’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?” I reply, as we make our way inside the hospital.
Jake asks a nurse where she is, and she points him in the right direction. We follow after him, and I nod my head in encouragement once he reaches the room she’s in.
“Let’s take a seat for now,” Jessie says, motioning towards some. “We may be waiting a while.”
Once we’ve sat down, I squeeze her hand. “Thanks for doing this. If you want, go home. I can wait and maybe get an Uber back.”
She raises an eyebrow at me. “Do you really think Jake is going to let you get an Uber by yourself?” I bite my lip, knowing she’s right. “I thought as much. I mean, if you want Jake to give you a lift later, then by all means, I—”
“No, no, that’s fine,” I interrupt. “Once we get word about her condition, we can go home.” The last thing I need right now is to get a lift from Jake. It’ll mean being alone with him… Again.
She smirks back. “I thought so.”
Hours later, Jake emerges looking seriously stressed. Both Jessie and I get up from our seats and close the distance to him.
“They’re running some tests, but at first glance her blood pressure is a little high. They’re going to keep her for observation.” I let out a sigh as a small pang of guilt eats away at me. Jake must notice because he then says, “You aren’t to blame for this, Ana. Don’t you dare blame yourself. She caused all this mess for you, not the other way around.”
“Here, here,” Jessie replies in complete agreement.
Not wanting to stay any longer than we have to, I simply nod my head. “We’re going to go, but please message me with updates.”
Jake fixes me with the saddest expression I have ever seen. “Okay.”
“I seriously hate what that bitch is doing to the two of you.”
“Jessie,” I warn, but Jake suddenly smiles.
Smiling back, I shake my head. “Come on, Jessie. Let’s get home before you open your big, fat mouth again.” I tug at her arm. “Speak to you later, Jake.”
I turn around, still tugging at Jessie. “You both know what I say is true,” she whines.
I hear Jake saying goodbye to us as we walk away. “Jessie, I love you, but hush now, girl!” I command, a smile on