THE INTENSIVE CARE unit of MCV hospital was no stranger to Tracy. She had been there as a patient and as a loved one waiting, for JD to recover. It was not a place she wanted to be, but she could not bring herself to leave. The friends gathered in the waiting area for any word on Cynthia’s condition. The only thing they knew thus far was she had suffered hypothermia, a concussion, and a sprained ankle. The concussion was the concern at this point. The doctor could not explain why she was not regaining consciousness, and that worried all of them.
JD, Brian, LaVere’ and Joshua stood on one side of the room, while Rosaline and Tracy paced back and forth. Neither could sit down with their friend hurt. Ashley walked into the room accompanied by James. “Ashley where are the babies?” JD questioned.
“The twins and JC are with Mommy and Gwen. Any word on Cynthia?” she asked looking to Tracy.
“Nothing yet,” Tracy sadly replied.
“I don’t understand what happened. I just spoke with her. There was nothing wrong with the car and the snow had not gotten that bad,” Rosaline angrily stated. “Something doesn’t feel right with this.”
“I know what you mean,” Ashley added. “When James told me Cynthia was missing, I immediately thought Jamal had done something to her.”
LaVere’ turned at the statement, “Why did you think Jamal had anything to do with this?”
“It was no secret he does not care very much for Cynthia. While you were away they had words that rattled her somewhat. You know that’s not an easy thing to do.” Ashley stated.
James shook his head, “That didn’t stop her from threatening to do bodily harm to Jamal if he was involved with what happened to your family.”
LaVere’ smiled, “She is fiercely loyal, to say the least.”
“Tell me about it,” Tracy smiled. “She threatened bodily harm to some woman that refused to take her hands of Jeffrey at the club one night.”
“All she did was threaten? Huh, I watched her give a girl a serious beat down when she thought the girl had said something about me. Poor thing never knew what hit her.” Rosaline said as she took a seat.
“She certainly gave me hell when it came to Tracy,” JD added as he wrapped his arms around his wife. “At one time I thought I was going to have to fight her just to get to see you.”
“I did have to fight her,” Brian laughed. “When Caitlyn disappeared and her best friend wouldn’t tell me where she was, Cynthia drove up to campus, knocked on the girl's door, and proceeded to give her the beatdown of a lifetime. I had to fight her to get her off the girl.”
“Who’s Caitlyn?” Tracy asked.
JD, Ashley, and Rosaline all turned to Brian. They knew that was an untouchable topic. In fact, JD was surprised to hear Brian mention Caitlyn’s name. However, before he could reply, a commotion in the hallway captured their attention. At the sound of a crash they all, except Ashley and Joshua, ran to the hallway.
“What do you mean I can’t see my daughter? I’m her mother and I demand to see her now.”
Rosaline angrily went to Sofia and picked up the clipboard she had knocked out of the nurse's hand. “For all that’s holy, could you please think about your daughter and not yourself? You are in an intensive care unit at a hospital. Act like the sophisticated woman you claim to be.”
Sofia turned on Rosaline with furious eyes, “Don’t you speak to me in that manner Rosaline Taylor.”
“Marable, Rosaline Taylor-Marable.” Roz sneered back.
“Mrs. Thornton,” JD interjected, before the scene escalated, “what’s the problem? Maybe I can help.”
“Hello, JD,” Sofia calmed a bit. “You can help. Tell this woman to let me in to see Cynthia.”
JD looked to the nurse as the others watched the commotion. “Would you advise Mr. Lassiter that Cynthia’s mother is here and would like to see her?’
“Yes Mr. Attorney General,” the nurse replied as she gave Sofia a snide look and walked away.
“I’m sure Samuel will step out to allow you a visit with Cynthia.” JD turned to step away but she stopped him.
“Who is Samuel Lassiter to be controlling who can and cannot see my daughter?”
From the doorway Joshua replied, “Her fiancée.”
A frown marked her otherwise perfect appearance as she turned to LaVere’, “What is he talking about?” she asked.
LaVere’ looked to the small crowd that gathered in the hallway. “Perhaps we should step into the waiting room to discuss this.” He said as he took Sofia’s arm and guided her to the waiting room.
Sofia walked into the room with the regalness she possessed if only in her mind. “Ashley,” she spoke as she turned back to LaVere’. “Someone want to tell me what’s going on?”
“I’ll be happy to, Mrs. Thornton,” Samuel stated as he stepped into the room. “Cynthia and I planned to announce this to everyone together, but circumstances seem to have changed.”
“What circumstances?” Sofia asked with sarcasm streaming from each word.
“I’m in love with your daughter and she is in love with me. I intend to marry her as soon as she recovers.”
Sofia looked from Samuel to LaVere’ and smiled sardonically, “The Lassisters from the north side of town?” Laughing sarcastically, she looked at the people in the room, then back to LaVere’ who had a somber look on his face. She stopped laughing, “You can’t be serious. LaVere’ tell me this is some type of joke.”
Before anyone could stop him, Joshua stood in front of Sofia, so close she had to take a step back to look up at him. “What’s the joke?” he asked angrily.
Not intimidated by his presence, “The fact that you believe I would allow my daughter to marry a Lassiter.”
Samuel pulled Joshua back at her words and stood between the two. Angered by her holier than thou attitude, Ashley spoke from her seat. “Mrs. Thornton, you have not been privy to Cynthia’s feelings for a while. I’m here to tell you, she is indeed in love with Samuel. Her plan is to be with him.”
“Sofia,” LaVere’,” added, “I spoke with Cynthia and she informed me she does love Samuel and I released her from our commitment.”
“Why in the hell would you do that, LaVere’? This man is not worthy of my daughter.”
Knowing he would have to deal with this woman for the rest of his life as his mother-in-law, Samuel tried to hold his words. The attempt failed. “I believe it is you who is not worthy of your daughter. I don’t know you very well Mrs. Thornton and I hoped your views on my family were vicious rumors from the past. I see now, they are not.” He took a step closer, “Nevertheless, your grandchildren will be Lassisters and make no mistake, we plan to have quite a few. If your intent for coming here was to see your daughter, you may do so now. If not, I am going back to her room because I don’t ever want her to feel alone again.”
“Sofia,” her husband, Jackson spoke from the doorway. “We are here to see about Cynthia. Let’s do that.” Not satisfied with the command from her husband, she stomped past Samuel and the rest of the group. Jackson stepped over to Samuel and extended his hand, “I know your father. If you are half the man he is my daughter is in good hands.”
The chill was still running down his back from the words spoken by Sofia, but the warmth of Jackson's words began to seep through. “Thank you, Sir.” Jackson turned and walked out of the room.
Everyone seemed to exhale a sigh of relief. LaVere’ walked over to Samuel and patted him on the back. “Good luck with that woman and thank you. You are a better man than I.” He laughed as others joined in.
“I fail to see the humor in any of this,” Joshua said as he picked up his computer and began reviewing satellite images again.
“You either have to laugh at Sofia or kill her.” Brian stated, “If you kill her, which I have considered from time to time, there is the chance that she may resurrect and multiply. Therefore, I decided to leave well enough alone. Besides, Cynthia loves her mother, always has, and therein lies the problem. If you want to be a part of Cynthia’s life, Sofia comes with the deal.”
Shaking his head Joshua laughed, “Ain’t no woman alive that would make me want to put up with a mother-in-law like that.”
“That’s what you say now, but a woman will come into your life that will have you putting up with anything just to be with her,” JD offered.
“Is that so?” Tracy smiled at her husband.
“Damn right,” he replied smiling.
James turned to LaVere’, “Do you have any idea what happened yesterday?”
“Yeah, Samuel is there anything you can tell us to help us understand?” Rosaline asked, dismissing the whole scene that she had become accustomed to with Sofia.
Exhaling, Samuel stood next to Joshua. “From what we could uncover at the scene, it appears she simply ran off the road. She was wandering through the woods; I’m sure trying to find her way out.”
“I don’t believe in accidents without a cause,” Joshua spoke without looking from the computer. “I’m with the one who asked what caused her to go off the road.”
“I can’t shake the feeling that Jamal was involved, But that may be just me.” Ashley looked up at James. “I’m ready to go back to my babies now.”
Tracy looked to JD, “Me too Babe. I need to hold JC and tell him how much I love him. Brian, please call us if there is any change with Cynthia. Rosaline, you have not slept all night. Why don’t you go home and get some rest.”
“Cynthia will never forgive me if I leave her here alone with that woman.”
“You will be no good to Cynthia without rest. Come, I’m taking you home,” Macro commanded. “I will bring you back first thing in the morning.”
The women left the room leaving LaVere’, Brian, Joshua, and Samuel to talk. “Could there be anything to what Ashley said about Jamal?” Brian asked.
“With what I gathered from home, it would not surprise me.” LaVere’ replied.
“Explain,” Samuel stated.
“It seems Jamal was connected with the rebels that attempted to take over the palace in my homeland. He was to be sent back to Emure to answer to those charges.”
“What would that have to do with Cynthia?” Samuel questioned further.
“Jamal believed my proposal would have a negative impact on the citizens of Emure, which unfortunately I found to be correct. He was rather vigorous in his attempt to keep that from happening.”
“Was it to the extent to want to cause her harm?” Brian asked.
“Patriots have no sense of limitations to accomplish their goal,” Joshua stated as he stood and looked at Samuel. He placed his laptop on the table. “Is that Jamal?” he asked LaVere’. The man came to where he stood and looked at the monitor.
“Yes, it is,” LaVere’ replied with a confused look. “What is he doing?”
Joshua pushed the reverse button and then hit the play button, “Watch.”
Using the satellite, Joshua found the feed beginning around noon and set the co-ordinance for the location of LaVere’s property. Zooming in on the road the screen showed Jamal as he stepped out from the trees on the side of the road, looked over the embankment, and smiled. He picked up the simple garden tool that he used to wreak havoc, turned it over, and pushed the snow around to cover the vehicle tracks. Turned back in the direction from which he came he walked back across the road covering his tracks. Once he crossed the road he picked up the garden rake, put it over his shoulder, and climbed into his vehicle.
Before the motions on the monitor completed Samuel was out the door. Brian and LaVere’ ran out the door behind him, but he was nowhere to be found. The two returned to the room and found Joshua gone.