76: Emotional Cocktail

Pamela

     My phone rings in my pocket, and when I pull it out to check who it is, I see it's long distance.

     Curious, I answer it anyway.

     "Is this Pamela Burch, I mean, Drake?" asks a woman's voice on the other end of the line.

     "Yes. Who is this?"

     "Pammie? Is that really you?" she asks.

     Pammie? The only one who's ever called me Pammie was -

     "Hold on a sec," I say quickly and separate myself from the rest of the party by walking in the direction of Jesse's house.

      "Ashley?" I ask, stunned and feeling bottled-up anger starting to boil back up to the surface.

      "Yes. It's me," she answers with only the tiniest trace of guilt in her voice.

      I take a deep breath so that I don't go off on her.

      Forget that. She deserves this and more.

      "You bitch! You awful, skanky-ass ho! What the fuck could you possibly want to talk to me for unless you happen to feel like having someone chew your ass out?!"

     "I know!" she gets in quickly while I take a breath.

     "No. You don't. You have no idea what you did to my brother! To my niece! You know. Your daughter?! Just in case you forgot, you have one of those." I am seething and having a very difficult time hiding it in any other way other than my voice, and I hope my voice isn't carrying over to the party. The wind is headed off shore, so I hope not. I do not want Ashley to ruin Adele's birthday in any way, and knowing her "mother" is on the other end of this phone call would.

     "I need your help," she says in a desperate tone.

     "I see. The only reason you'd contact anyone from here would be because you need something," I say, growling.

      "Pammie, please!" Don't call me 'Pammie,' you bitch! "He's dying, and I can't heal him. I've never known a better healer than you. I'll do anything! I'll pay your airfare! Please, I'm desperate," she pleads and starts crying.

      "I haven't used my powers like that in years. I don't know how effective I could be," I say with a shrug.

      "You'll be fine. It never leaves. You're a natural. I'm begging you!"

      "Is this a number where you can be reached?" I ask.

      "Y-yes," she stammers. I've never known her to stammer. She was always Ms. Overconfident.

       Someone is dying, and I might be able to help.

      "What's wrong with him?" I can't believe I'm considering this.

      "He has a large tumor attached to his brain stem with fingers leading up over the top part of the rest of his brain. The doctors say it's terminal."

       Whoa. "I don't think I can cure that."

       "I've got to have you at least try. I know it might not work, but I don't want it to be because we didn't try."

       "I'll have to talk to Simon, and right now isn't a good time. I hope you understand why." My heart rate increases again from my renewed anger.

       "Yes. She's eleven. I can hardly believe it. Um... how is she?"

       Oh. Now you ask?!

      "She's doing just great with all the loving support she gets from everyone. She's bright and confident, and she does her father proud," I throw in her face.

      "That's... great," she responds, finally showing a little remorse.

      Simon walks up to me, and he can tell something's wrong. I don't want to tell him that I'm talking to Ashley. I've had more than enough of talking to her anyway. "I'll call you later," I say dryly and hang up.

      Selfish bitch! Of all the awful girls to ensnare my brother like that!

      "Baby, what's wrong?" Simon asks me as he holds Jeremy on his hip.

      I suddenly throw my arms around his neck and thank my lucky stars that I have someone like him in my life. I start crying. I'm an emotional disaster with this pregnant, hormonal cocktail in my system.

      "Who were you yelling at?" he asks as he holds me with his free arm. Jeremy wiggles and starts playing with my hair.

       "Can I tell you later?" I ask. I guess my furious voice reached someone after all.

       "Sure. Everyone's going home now anyway," he says, and I see he's right as Jesse and Marie walk to Jesse's house.

       Simon and I go and gather most of Jeremy's toys that we brought. I'm sure we'll forget a few, but that's okay. I also decide to clean up my brother's house a little with this sudden burst of angry energy I have. Besides, I'd feel bad leaving all this mess for Erin to clean up. As I make my way around, Adele comes running up to me with a panic-stricken look on her face.

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Sorry for the short chapter and for the horrible pics!