Ch. 20 - Taking Action
“So….what did you want to talk about?” the slightly irritated Janie Parxton asked Mr. Chapman.
“Don’t play around with this. You KNOW what I want to talk to you about,” Mr. Chapman said seriously.
“Do I really?” she snapped.
“Okay, I realize I hurt you in the past, but this is serious. My wife could die because of you!”
“Because of me? How? I didn’t give her the disease!” Miss Parxton snapped again.
“I know…I know, but you could help and you’re not doing anything about it,” Mr. Chapman said, calming himself.
“I am doing exactly what I do for all the other patients,” she said.
“Oh, is that so?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Well, as the head nurse, do you always send all the other orderlies and nurses and sometimes even the doctor off to do something pleasurable when the patient is in jeopardy?” Mr. Chapman said, his voice rising.
“That was one time, and it was only because my boyfriend had just broken up with me! Jeez!” she replied with enthusiasm.
“Oh…my…goodness,” Mr. Chapman mumbled, overwhelmed.
“What? Finally feeling sorry for me?” she asked.
“NO! I’m realizing how unbelievably pathetic you are! I’ve had enough,” he said, standing up and heading out the door.
“Guess your wife is as good as gone then…” she said, slightly smirking. Mr. Chapman turned around in tears.
“Okay, I realize you are trying to hurt me as much as I hurt you all those years ago, but I didn’t play around with death,” he said.
“Really?” she asked, “Then, where’s my baby?”
“That was your choice! NOT MINE!” he said, quite frustrated. Suddenly Tessa poked out from the corner.
“Daddy?” she asked. Mr. Chapman was in so much disbelief by now. The thought that his youngest daughter had just heard this whole conversation was beyond frustration.
“Tessa! What are you doing here?” he asked, angered.
“What have you done?” Tessa asked.
“We will talk about this later, Tessa,” he said.
“I can’t believe you!” Tessa cried, running out the door.
“Nice family man you’re turning out to be,” Janie said walking outside and to her apartment a few blocks over. Mr. Chapman sat down once more in his chair, slinking as far as he could go without falling off. He was at a dead end…where do I go from here? Then, as if an angel was floating down from somewhere up above…Mr. Chapman glanced up from his sunken position; there, coming towards him, was his wife, Chelsea, in a brightly lit glow.
“Chelsea?” he asked. Is this a dream?
“Shhh,” she said, putting a finger to his lips. “I understand now, but you have to find her…she’s our baby.” Then, like magic, she was gone. No one else had seen her in the restaurant. In fact, some people thought he was delusional in talking to nothing for about 10 seconds. But Mr. Chapman knew what had happened. It was so clear. He knew what he had to do. He had to stop sulking around, and fix this mess…before it was too late.
“Sir?” the waiter asked to no response. “Sir?” he asked once more. This time, Mr. Chapman glanced up at him.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Are you alright?” the waiter asked.
“No, I’m not.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No…this is something I have to do,” Mr. Chapman replied.
“And what is that, sir?” the waiter questioned.
“I have to find my daughter.” With that, Gary Chapman was up once more out of his seat, and out the door to search for…Tessa, answers, and perhaps…a second chance.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“Sam, what are we stopping for?” Laura asked shivering in the carriage.
“I’m really sorry, but I have to use the facilities!” Sam screamed, running inside the tiny gift shop on the corner.
“Oh….kay. That works,” Laura said quietly to herself. Time passed, and Sam was still in that gift shop. Oh my goodness! What is he still doing in there? Laura thought to herself, but she contained herself and forcibly sat in the carriage for 10 more minutes.
“That’s it! I can’t take this!” Laura shouted.
“Is there a problem, miss?” The driver asked.
“Oh, I’m just cold,” Laura said, slightly embarrassed.
“Well, why don’t you run in and tell him to hurry it up. I’ll stay here, I promise. He’s paid for the night,” the man said smiling at Laura.
“Well…alright. I’ll be quick, I promise!” she said.
“Take your time. I’ll be here,” he said tipping his hat, as she jumped off the sleigh. Laura power walked down the side walk, trying hard not to slip. Then, she saw Sam inside the gift shop marveling at some odd trinket. Oh…my…goodness! That’s what’s taking him so long? Grr…she thought. And though it was his night to take Laura wherever he thought she would enjoy, Laura was frustrated. She started running, forgetting the new fallen snow and ice. Suddenly, she slipped and fell straight on her back, unable to move. I mean, she probably could’ve. She was just so unbelievably cold.
Then, out of no where a young girl approached Laura. She was about 7 or 8, with no hat or mittens, and a thin-knit sweater as her coat.
“Are you alright?” the young girl asked.
“Y…y…yes…..I think,” Laura chattered.
“Then, why are you still on the ground.”
“I’m kind of cold,” Laura said. The little girl giggled.
“But you’re two steps away from the giftshop.”
“True,” Laura said.
“Here, let me help you,” the little girl said, helping Laura to stand up.
“Thank-you,” Laura chattered.
“You’re welcome,” the little girl said, smiling. “Are you here alone?”
“No, my boyfriend is…is…” Laura stopped. She suddenly realized that Sam WAS indeed her boyfriend. This warm feeling came over her, and she could not stop smiling. She wasn’t even shaking anymore.
“Miss?” the girl asked.
“Yeah…um, sorry.”
“That’s alright,” she said, smiling.
“He’s in the gift shop, and I’ve just been waiting awhile in that carriage,” she said pointing.
“Oh,” the girl said.
“Hey, what is your name?” Laura asked.
“Beg my pardon, it’s Betsy. Betsy Humert,” she said, curtsying.
“Oh, that’s very pretty.”
“Thanks, now who are you?”
“I’m Laura. Laura Chapman.” Betsy giggled at Laura’s imitation of herself. “I’m one of the American refugees.”
“Oh! You must come to my house sometime, and have dinner too! We’d be delighted to have you!” Betsy said clapping.
“Maybe sometime. Where do you live?”
“Just down the corner…on Maple street…3416,” she said proudly.
“Well, I…” Laura started, when suddenly a gust of snow swept by them, and when finally it had cleared…Betsy was gone. There was no trace of her or her tattered clothes anywhere. Laura was startled to say the least, but could not think of it long, because it was then that Sam dashed out of the shop, nearly slipping on some ice on the front step.
“Sam! Be careful! I fell on that!” Laura said, trying to stop him.
“What? Why didn’t you get me!” Sam said.
“Well…I…uh,” Laura chattered.
“It’s okay. Never mind about it. I’m sorry I took so long, but look what I found!” Sam said pulling out a glass trinket that said Laura and Sam forever on it, with a big heart down the middle. Laura was touched, and even temporarily forgot about Betsy.
“Come on! Let’s go! Before we freeze our tails off out here!” Sam said whisking Laura up like a young child and hopping into the sleigh. “We’re ready, sir!” Sam said, and away they went.
“You know Sam, if I wasn’t so in love with you, that trinket would be absolutely the cheesiest thing I’ve ever seen. Ever,” she said caressing Sam’s right hand.
“Well, I guess I’m just lucky then,” Sam said giving Laura a quick kiss, and holding her tight. Laura embraced him just as much as he had her. She was so happy about the whole situation…
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Lucy had reached home in a good fifteen minutes, but could not particularly get her mind off of the Chapman date. They didn’t particularly look happy…so maybe they’re realizing their mistake. I mean, he’s married after all! It shouldn’t matter that his wife is in a coma and near death! And after that long story he told me….figures! But…maybe I’m jumping to conclusions. I should tell someone about this…a different opinion might help. Oh…I don’t know. Lucy thought, despairingly.
Then, the front door opened….it was Jack Hall.
“Hey, I’m home,” he said, shutting the door behind him, and slipping off his winter boots. “You will not believe what happened today…I mean, everything is just so crazy out there, and I’m not just talking about the weather…I,” Jack stopped. This is so weird! She usually interrupts me by now…Hmm. “Lucy? Luc?” he called into the seemingly empty house.
“I’m in here,” she called from the kitchen, where she had stopped pacing and was now seated at the table. Jack came in suspiciously, and sat down at the table.
“What is it?” He questioned.
“I have to tell you something,” Lucy said, motioning Jack to sit down. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into, so he simply sat down…otherwise he probably would not get supper that night. But more than that…when Lucy didn’t chatter constantly until all wanted her to stop…something important needed to be said. Jack prepared himself, as best he could…and opened his ears for a long story time.
“Don’t play around with this. You KNOW what I want to talk to you about,” Mr. Chapman said seriously.
“Do I really?” she snapped.
“Okay, I realize I hurt you in the past, but this is serious. My wife could die because of you!”
“Because of me? How? I didn’t give her the disease!” Miss Parxton snapped again.
“I know…I know, but you could help and you’re not doing anything about it,” Mr. Chapman said, calming himself.
“I am doing exactly what I do for all the other patients,” she said.
“Oh, is that so?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Well, as the head nurse, do you always send all the other orderlies and nurses and sometimes even the doctor off to do something pleasurable when the patient is in jeopardy?” Mr. Chapman said, his voice rising.
“That was one time, and it was only because my boyfriend had just broken up with me! Jeez!” she replied with enthusiasm.
“Oh…my…goodness,” Mr. Chapman mumbled, overwhelmed.
“What? Finally feeling sorry for me?” she asked.
“NO! I’m realizing how unbelievably pathetic you are! I’ve had enough,” he said, standing up and heading out the door.
“Guess your wife is as good as gone then…” she said, slightly smirking. Mr. Chapman turned around in tears.
“Okay, I realize you are trying to hurt me as much as I hurt you all those years ago, but I didn’t play around with death,” he said.
“Really?” she asked, “Then, where’s my baby?”
“That was your choice! NOT MINE!” he said, quite frustrated. Suddenly Tessa poked out from the corner.
“Daddy?” she asked. Mr. Chapman was in so much disbelief by now. The thought that his youngest daughter had just heard this whole conversation was beyond frustration.
“Tessa! What are you doing here?” he asked, angered.
“What have you done?” Tessa asked.
“We will talk about this later, Tessa,” he said.
“I can’t believe you!” Tessa cried, running out the door.
“Nice family man you’re turning out to be,” Janie said walking outside and to her apartment a few blocks over. Mr. Chapman sat down once more in his chair, slinking as far as he could go without falling off. He was at a dead end…where do I go from here? Then, as if an angel was floating down from somewhere up above…Mr. Chapman glanced up from his sunken position; there, coming towards him, was his wife, Chelsea, in a brightly lit glow.
“Chelsea?” he asked. Is this a dream?
“Shhh,” she said, putting a finger to his lips. “I understand now, but you have to find her…she’s our baby.” Then, like magic, she was gone. No one else had seen her in the restaurant. In fact, some people thought he was delusional in talking to nothing for about 10 seconds. But Mr. Chapman knew what had happened. It was so clear. He knew what he had to do. He had to stop sulking around, and fix this mess…before it was too late.
“Sir?” the waiter asked to no response. “Sir?” he asked once more. This time, Mr. Chapman glanced up at him.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Are you alright?” the waiter asked.
“No, I’m not.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No…this is something I have to do,” Mr. Chapman replied.
“And what is that, sir?” the waiter questioned.
“I have to find my daughter.” With that, Gary Chapman was up once more out of his seat, and out the door to search for…Tessa, answers, and perhaps…a second chance.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“Sam, what are we stopping for?” Laura asked shivering in the carriage.
“I’m really sorry, but I have to use the facilities!” Sam screamed, running inside the tiny gift shop on the corner.
“Oh….kay. That works,” Laura said quietly to herself. Time passed, and Sam was still in that gift shop. Oh my goodness! What is he still doing in there? Laura thought to herself, but she contained herself and forcibly sat in the carriage for 10 more minutes.
“That’s it! I can’t take this!” Laura shouted.
“Is there a problem, miss?” The driver asked.
“Oh, I’m just cold,” Laura said, slightly embarrassed.
“Well, why don’t you run in and tell him to hurry it up. I’ll stay here, I promise. He’s paid for the night,” the man said smiling at Laura.
“Well…alright. I’ll be quick, I promise!” she said.
“Take your time. I’ll be here,” he said tipping his hat, as she jumped off the sleigh. Laura power walked down the side walk, trying hard not to slip. Then, she saw Sam inside the gift shop marveling at some odd trinket. Oh…my…goodness! That’s what’s taking him so long? Grr…she thought. And though it was his night to take Laura wherever he thought she would enjoy, Laura was frustrated. She started running, forgetting the new fallen snow and ice. Suddenly, she slipped and fell straight on her back, unable to move. I mean, she probably could’ve. She was just so unbelievably cold.
Then, out of no where a young girl approached Laura. She was about 7 or 8, with no hat or mittens, and a thin-knit sweater as her coat.
“Are you alright?” the young girl asked.
“Y…y…yes…..I think,” Laura chattered.
“Then, why are you still on the ground.”
“I’m kind of cold,” Laura said. The little girl giggled.
“But you’re two steps away from the giftshop.”
“True,” Laura said.
“Here, let me help you,” the little girl said, helping Laura to stand up.
“Thank-you,” Laura chattered.
“You’re welcome,” the little girl said, smiling. “Are you here alone?”
“No, my boyfriend is…is…” Laura stopped. She suddenly realized that Sam WAS indeed her boyfriend. This warm feeling came over her, and she could not stop smiling. She wasn’t even shaking anymore.
“Miss?” the girl asked.
“Yeah…um, sorry.”
“That’s alright,” she said, smiling.
“He’s in the gift shop, and I’ve just been waiting awhile in that carriage,” she said pointing.
“Oh,” the girl said.
“Hey, what is your name?” Laura asked.
“Beg my pardon, it’s Betsy. Betsy Humert,” she said, curtsying.
“Oh, that’s very pretty.”
“Thanks, now who are you?”
“I’m Laura. Laura Chapman.” Betsy giggled at Laura’s imitation of herself. “I’m one of the American refugees.”
“Oh! You must come to my house sometime, and have dinner too! We’d be delighted to have you!” Betsy said clapping.
“Maybe sometime. Where do you live?”
“Just down the corner…on Maple street…3416,” she said proudly.
“Well, I…” Laura started, when suddenly a gust of snow swept by them, and when finally it had cleared…Betsy was gone. There was no trace of her or her tattered clothes anywhere. Laura was startled to say the least, but could not think of it long, because it was then that Sam dashed out of the shop, nearly slipping on some ice on the front step.
“Sam! Be careful! I fell on that!” Laura said, trying to stop him.
“What? Why didn’t you get me!” Sam said.
“Well…I…uh,” Laura chattered.
“It’s okay. Never mind about it. I’m sorry I took so long, but look what I found!” Sam said pulling out a glass trinket that said Laura and Sam forever on it, with a big heart down the middle. Laura was touched, and even temporarily forgot about Betsy.
“Come on! Let’s go! Before we freeze our tails off out here!” Sam said whisking Laura up like a young child and hopping into the sleigh. “We’re ready, sir!” Sam said, and away they went.
“You know Sam, if I wasn’t so in love with you, that trinket would be absolutely the cheesiest thing I’ve ever seen. Ever,” she said caressing Sam’s right hand.
“Well, I guess I’m just lucky then,” Sam said giving Laura a quick kiss, and holding her tight. Laura embraced him just as much as he had her. She was so happy about the whole situation…
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Lucy had reached home in a good fifteen minutes, but could not particularly get her mind off of the Chapman date. They didn’t particularly look happy…so maybe they’re realizing their mistake. I mean, he’s married after all! It shouldn’t matter that his wife is in a coma and near death! And after that long story he told me….figures! But…maybe I’m jumping to conclusions. I should tell someone about this…a different opinion might help. Oh…I don’t know. Lucy thought, despairingly.
Then, the front door opened….it was Jack Hall.
“Hey, I’m home,” he said, shutting the door behind him, and slipping off his winter boots. “You will not believe what happened today…I mean, everything is just so crazy out there, and I’m not just talking about the weather…I,” Jack stopped. This is so weird! She usually interrupts me by now…Hmm. “Lucy? Luc?” he called into the seemingly empty house.
“I’m in here,” she called from the kitchen, where she had stopped pacing and was now seated at the table. Jack came in suspiciously, and sat down at the table.
“What is it?” He questioned.
“I have to tell you something,” Lucy said, motioning Jack to sit down. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into, so he simply sat down…otherwise he probably would not get supper that night. But more than that…when Lucy didn’t chatter constantly until all wanted her to stop…something important needed to be said. Jack prepared himself, as best he could…and opened his ears for a long story time.
Back to Chapter 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
Back to True main page
Back to The Day After Tomorrow page
Back to True main page
Back to The Day After Tomorrow page