That Baby: Part 3 – Chapter 75

Mrs. Mackenzie’s voice is ragged and stressed.

I catch certain key words.

I’m turning the car around to head to the hospital before I even hang up.

It’s like déjà vu.

always And I know it. I know I’m going to get to the hospital, and Phillip is going to say similar words about her and the baby.

I think about the funeral. How Jay asked me, without a tear, to be a pallbearer. How I nodded even though carrying a coffin was the last thing I wanted to do. I wanted to pull her into my arms and tell her it would be all right, that I’d take care of her.

But she clung to Phillip. He was always touching her. Holding her hand. She held his hand with such force; we were all convinced it was the only thing keeping her upright.

Then, the whole prom thing came up.

My parents thinking she needed to go. Phillip not wanting her to go with Jake.

His offer to ditch his date and take Jay instead.

I stepped up to the plate.

I would take her.

Shit, she’s changing her mind.

No glove, no love Shit. I don’t feel so good.

What happened? What did we do? Did we have sex? Did I puke in the middle of it? Oh God. That would probably scar her for life.

Some date I am.

What is she doing in bed with Phillip? And where the heck is Carrie?

I’m almost to the hospital when my phone buzzes again. I glance down and see Coach’s name.

“Danny, where are you?”

“I’m headed to the hospital. My friend Jadyn was in an accident.”

“That’s why I was calling you. Marcus told me about the accident, and I drove by the scene on my way home. Um, have you gotten an update on her, uh, condition?”

“No, I’m almost at the hospital. I don’t know much yet.”

“Do you know for sure they were taking her to the hospital?”

His tone is off. Coach is always so direct.

“What aren’t you saying?”

He sighs. “There was a coroner’s van there.”

My heart sinks into my stomach.

“But, but … they told me they were taking her to the hospital.”

“I’m saying a prayer she made it, son. Text me and let me know if things are okay.”

I don’t reply as the phone slides out of my hand.

I get to the hospital, find somewhere to park, and stagger into the emergency room.

A nurse recognizes me right away.

“You’re Danny Diamond, aren’t you?” she says in that flustered tone older women get when they meet me.

Jay says it’s because they’ve been picturing me naked. She always knows how to make me laugh. How to make me forget I’m nervous.

“My friend Jadyn Reynolds—er, Mackenzie was in a car accident. She’s pregnant. I’m looking for her husband.”

She looks motherly and less flustered when she hears Jadyn’s name. She takes my hand in hers and pats it.

“I’m sorry,” she says as she leads me down the hall.

I see Phillip.

He’s wearing scrubs and sitting on a folding chair outside of an operating room.

All by himself.

His head is down, and he’s sobbing uncontrollably.

I rush over, sliding onto my knees in front of him.

He looks at me through tear-drowned eyes, raises his chin, and almost imperceptibly shakes his head.

Just shakes his head.

Like he used to do on the football field.

Like he did that night at the party.

And I know my best friend is dead.

Jadyn is dead.

And I’ll never be the same.

We’re both crying like girls.

Sobbing.

Phillip is hysterical. “How am I going to make it without her?” he cries. He keeps asking me over and over, “How am I going to make it without her?”

I don’t have an answer.

The hole in my own heart feels big enough to kill me.

“I’m here for you,” I say, putting my arm around his shoulders.

It sounds lame, but it’s all I’ve got.