June said, "We need to talk."
Tina knew that what she had been feeling was right and that she should not have dismissed it as easily as she did, but there was nothing that she could do about it now but listen to what her mom had to say. No matter how much she was afraid and how much she didn't want to hear it.
June started off by saying, "I think you need to come to the hospital your father is not looking very good right now."
Tina asked, "What happened?"
June replied, "I don't know how much time we have you better come right away."
Tina knew that her dad had not been well for a long time, but she didn't think it was this bad. She asked, "Do you need me to bring anything?"
June said hastily, "There is no time we will get whatever we need here."
A wave of fear hit Tina from what she heard, and she started crying so hard that she couldn't see well. She said, "I'm on my way."
There was silence on the line then a disconnect. Tina found herself wishing that Ken had waited there for her to change and that he could have driven her to the hospital. Good thing that her friend lived next door and never minded taking the places that she wanted to go.
Tina dialed her number and Becky answered the phone. "Hello."
"Hay Becky, I need you to take me to the hospital right away if you can," Tina said franticly.
Becky asked, "Are you okay? What's wrong? I'll be right over."
Tina thought that she was not even giving her any time to say what was happening, but it was better that way she could explain everything on the way to the hospital.
It was only a minute before Becky was knocking on the door Tina didn't even have time to get downstairs before she was there. Tina grabbed the rest of her makeup that she thought she might need and headed downstairs. She knew from the way that her mom sounded that she needed to hurry and get there. She started to wonder why she had not contacted her before it was getting this bad unless something suddenly happened.
Tina caught sight of Becky, and she looked like she was still trying to get all her clothes on and fastened when she had left her place half-dressed since she was in such a hurry to get there so fast.
Becky rang the bell the second time trying to let her know that she was there, and she looked panicked nervously looking in the windows trying to see if she could see her or if she needed help. Tina had started down the stairs when Becky poked her head in the door and started calling out for her.
"On my way. I'll be right there." Tina said and she took some big steps down the stairs.
Becky looked up at her and she could not help but smile she was so relieved that nothing seemed to be wrong with her and she was not gushing blood from anywhere. Becky watched her every move to see if she could tell what was wrong after all it's not every day that a friend asks you to take them to the hospital and sounds so desperate while doing it.
Tina almost tripped coming down the stairs so fast, but she was in too big of a hurry, but she just kept going and was able to get everything back under control before she reached the bottom of the steps.
Becky gasped as she watched Tina stumble but was relieved when she saw Tina recover and moved out of the way since it didn't look like Tina was going to stop or even slow down.
Tina did stop to slip on her shoes that were sitting by the door and then she said, "Okay I'm ready. Let's go."
Becky nodded as she held out her hand that still had the car keys in it.
On the way to the hospital, Tina explained about the call that she got from her mom and Becky said, "I hope everything turns out okay."
Tina nodded but had no words to say she really doubted that everything was okay, but she had hope that things could change once she gets there.
Becky looked over at Tina and knew that there was nothing that she could say that was going to ease her mind, so she reached over and took her hand, and just went back to driving to get her where she needed to be.
Tina was glad that she was there, she didn't know how she could get through this without the support of her friends.
As they pulled up to the hospital Tina saw that her mom was standing outside the emergency room door so she said, "If you want you could just drop me off by my mom."
Becky looked hurt as if Tina was just sending her away without letting her know even what was going on. So, she said, "It's okay I'm here for you I don't have any place that I have to be right now we still have a few hours before we have to be at graduation."
Tina looked up at her and gave her half of a smile. She had been hoping that she was going to stay with her. Becky saw that she really did want her to be there and that made both of them feel better.
Becky said, "I can drop you off next to your mom. I'll just park the car and then I'll be right in."
Tina nodded and said, "Thanks a lot I'm so glad you are with me now."
She really wanted Ken to be there instead, but she knows how much her mom and dad don't like him. So, it was just better that she put off seeing him till later.
Tina hopped out of the car as soon as she came to a stop and she went over to her mom who was crying and asked, "What's going on?"
June turned to her and said in the meanest tone that she had, "I told you to hurry." Making it sound like she was already too late to see him.
Tina said, "I got her as fast as I could. Tell me what is going on."
June pointed at the emergency room door and said, "The doctor will tell you everything." Then she turned so that she was not able to even see her face.
Tina just looked at her amazed she couldn't believe the way that she was acting toward her, especially now. She knew that they both were worried and upset but there was no reason that she should be acting so cold to her. She turned to walk in to find out what was going on but not without a final look at her mom. Tina was seeing her mom in a different light it was like she was a different person she was looking so mean and cold. Standing there in her long coat that covered her down to her shoes she knew that she had to have known that she was going to be there or they were doing something outside it had been a warm day and there was no reason that she would have had a coat like that by accident.
She was standing there crying and not even looking at the hospital, she had never known her to smoke before and that was the only reason that most people went outside and stand around. It seemed to Tina that she didn't even know her at this time she was acting so differently and all she could think of was that the grief of the situation was getting to her that bad.
Tina didn't understand why if she was that upset why was she not with her dad instead of being outside? She thought that maybe it was that they had him in testing or something she knew that if it was her that there was no way that she would leave him alone to go outside.
Then she thought that she would find out what was going on and then come back to find out just what was wrong with her mom.
Tina waited for Becky to catch up she really didn't want to go in alone and at this point, she knew her mom was not going to do it. Becky came running up to her and apologized for taking so long saying that there was just no close place to park.
Tina nodded at her and said, "I have to go talk to the doctor that is in charge to find out what's going on."
Becky looked at her and Tina could tell that she was questioning why her mom hadn't just told her, but she didn't want to try and explain that her mom was acting weirder than normal.
Tina went to the nurse that was sitting behind the desk and asked if she could go see her dad or talk to the doctor that was in charge of his care.
The nurse said, "Go take a seat over there and we will have someone come out to talk to you as soon as we can."
Tina got more worried and asked, "Can't I just go back and see him?"
The nurse said, "No one is allowed to see him right now. Just take a seat and the doctor will be with you shortly to fill you in."
Tina strained to try and look in the back to see if there was anything that she could see but there was nothing. Becky reached out and took Tina's hand and led her to an empty row of chairs so that they could wait for the doctor and allow the next person to talk to the nurse.
Tina thought at least that explains why mom was not with him they must have sent her out. But that still didn't answer why she was acting so mean toward her, especially now when she really needed her. Tina had wanted to talk to her serval times but after this was all over there was not going to be any way around it, they were going to have to talk and work it all out.
Becky could see how stressed-out Tina was, and it was not just worry there was a lot of sadness that she was trying her best to control, and hide. She knew it was just going to take just a little bit more to push her over the edge and she would not be able to hold it back any longer.
So, Becky gave her hand a squeeze to let her know that she was there with her, and she was there for her no matter what. Tina came out of the daze that she was in and gave Becky a nod and squeezed her hand back. She wanted to give her a smile to thank her for being there, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.
As they sat there it seemed like hours passed before the doctor came out and called them into a private little conference room. He was just going to have Tina come in, but he could that she was desperately holding onto the other girl's hand and knew that it was better if she had some support, he looked around for June but since she was not around, he just let the two girls in to talk.