Chapter 8

________________________________________

One year later...

Alex groaned in his sleep. He was dreaming about Bernadette. She was touching him in the way he always hoped she would. Her mouth was warm and wet, as it sucked at him strongly.

Something is wrong... His conscience nudged him to awake.

Bernadette had been too traumatized as a girl to do what he was dreaming she was doing, what he felt being done to him. They had never done that. It felt good, but it also felt too real to be a dream. Alex jerked awake and rolled away from the woman in his bed.

"What. The. Heck!" He shouted, scrambling to get the light on. "Katrina? What are you doing?" The sister of his brother's girlfriend sat in the center of his bed.

The artificial ebony-haired beauty smiled as she pressed her augmented breasts together. "Isn't it obvious?" She pointedly looked at his arousal.

He snatched a towel from the back of a chair and wrapped it around his waist. "I am in a committed relationship; you need to leave."

"That Bernie fellow can't give you what I can. What you obviously like. I know you've always wanted me; Carla told me you thought I was exotic." Katrina insisted. "Just think, if you and I get married, she and I will be sisters and sister-in-law, and you and Antho..."

"Anorexic, not exotic... I think you're anorexic. And I would never marry someone like you," Alex interrupted, then ordered, "Now, get out!"

Katrina picked up her clothes and huffed out, slamming the door. He locked it behind her. A few minutes later, Alex leaned against the wall of the shower, willed his erection to go away, and shuddered under the cold water. He was pissed beyond belief as he scrubbed himself viciously.

He sat on the edge of his bed, cursing Katrina and Carla for their scheming. He didn't want to deal with them because the woman he loved would be there in seven hours, then his phone rang. It was Bernie.

________________________________________

Alex stared out at the waves and wished Bernie was there. But she hadn't come, she called him and told him she was headed home this morning instead of getting on the plane to Hawaii after working her shift at the hospital. Her sister was arrested for underaged public intoxication and public nudity, and Bernie went to sit with her grandmother at the arraignment on the charges. He tried to get a flight back to be with her, but he couldn't get a ticket home until after the return ticket he already had.

Anthony came out to stand beside him, offering their favorite micro-brew. "Talk to Bernie yet."

"Not since the call at 3AM," Alex laughed woefully and shook his head, "Bernie texted that Trixie had four charges against her, but the prostitution charge was changed to public indecency. Evidently, she got really drunk, had sex with three or four guys, and then walked out onto the stage where the DJ was and jumped off into the crowd almost naked."

"Almost naked?" Anthony asked.

Alex shrugged. "Well, she was topless except for silver star pasties... She was parading around in party beads, a kabuki mask, a silver thong and stilettos. She's trending on Insta and the Tok."

Anthony pulled out his phone and, in a moment, gawked at the screen. He laughed, then said, "Wow, and I thought my S.O.'s sister was crazy."

Alex nodded, gave the screen a glance and then rolled his eyes, "Bernie is better all the way around, so much more grounded and mature. I was going to ask Bernie to marry me, but now I guess I'll wait until Valentine's Day."

"Just ask when you get home," Anthony said absently as he watched it. "Holey Moley, she started making out with the cop who was chasing her... oh, she definitely has Katrina beat on the trouble meter."

"Yeah, well as long as I don't find her in my room again..." Alex left the threat hang.

"Carla apologized; she claims Katrina was drunk." Anthony put his phone back in his pocket.

"Katrina claimed Carla sent her, so they could be sisters and sisters-in-law. I am not into the whole brother/husband -sister/wives thing. We may share a lot, but we are not sharing spouses," Alex announced as he downed the first swallow of his Kona Longboard Island lager.

"Dude, I totally agree. Bernie is not my sushi roll. He is all yours."

Anthony tapped the long neck of his bottle against the one his brother just opened.

Alex tipped his head as he took a drink, then pointed out, "You know your lisp is getting a lot better, but I can still hear you trying not to have one."

Anthony shrugged. "Whatever... Mom has dinner ready. She loves the recipe book Bernie wrote."

"Why didn't you say so when you came out?" Alex fussed.

"She said lunch would be ready in five minutes, I'm telling you now 'cause it's been five minutes." Anthony rolled his shoulders. "Wanna surf later?"

"Is the sky blue?"

"Just like my eyes, or so every pretty girl tells me."

"You are so arrogant sometimes." Alex shoved his brother sideways as they walked inside.

"It's the truth, and, besides, we look more alike than we ever have, you should thank Bernie for getting some weight and muscle on you, so you could share in my god-like perfection," Anthony retorted smugly.

"How is there room in Mom's house for your head?" Alex taunted.

"Hey... I can't help it I'm gorgeous." Anthony huffed.

"Arrogant much? Seriously, how does your ego fit inside?"

"There isn't room, I make him leave it outside. But your brother is right, this Bernie has been a good change for you, and these recipes are amazing, I might even eat them when you aren't here." Their mother, Adelina, smiled at them, as she placed three plates on the table. "Please, tell Bernie thank you for feeding you and making you so happy."

Alex grinned broadly, "I will, Mom." He bit into a chicken-apple salad sandwich with quinoa-sesame flatbread.

"So, where's Dad?" Anthony asked before taking a bite, then he mumbled, "Omigawd, it tastes like a real chicken salad sandwich..." He chewed then added, "Even the bread tastes like bread and not that weird stuff from the organics place."

Alex and Adelina laughed at him and began eating. It was good to enjoy a meal together without Alex being limited to a few foods as they talked about their father's work.

________________________________________

Bernie and Emma sat in the courtroom waiting for Trixie's case to come up, she was thirtieth on the docket. The two judges heard most of the cases resulting from the police raid on the illegal warehouse rave and were grumpy about the full docket on New Year's Eve. They started hearing the cases at 6AM, when the night court closed.

A very hungover-looking Trixie came out with the family lawyer, Mr. Thornton, and stood as the charges were read. The prosecutor explained this was not Miss Austen's first intoxication charges and snarkily added they wouldn't be her last.

Objecting, Mr. Thornton was quick to point out the promoter and DJ who organized the rave set up a bar which offered only alcohol or fruit punch to drink, no water, and that the alleged virgin fruit punch his client consumed tested positive for narcotics, including ketamine, a well-known date rape drug.

He revealed his client went to the party with friends who were similarly attired but who had not been arrested. He stated the only reason she was arrested was because she kissed a police officer who was trying to help her after she was taken advantage of and then pushed off the stage into the crowd after consuming the tainted punch, events she did not remember.

The one judge asked Trixie, "Miss Austen, did you go to the party with the intention of getting inebriated and having sex in view of hundreds of people?"

"Your honor, my client was not intoxicated with alcohol as her blood tests will prove. She went to the party to celebrate a friend's birthday and was drugged," Mr. Thornton objected. He insisted, "My client needs to go to the hospital for medical care and a rape kit."

"I wasn't asking you, Mr. Thornton, your client will answer," the judge demanded.

Trixie wavered unsteadily as she stood up, and her pale skin seemed to turn a shade of puce. "Your honor, I... I... um..." Then she turned and vomited over the rail into the gallery.

Several people scrambled to get away from her, as Bernie pushed to get to her. The lead judge beat his gavel yelling at her to stop as several other people began getting sick. He ordered to courtroom cleared and that Trixie be taken into custody and serve thirty days for public intoxication and disrupting a court hearing over the protest of Mr. Thornton.

"Your honor, my client is ill because she should be in the hospital, not here. She is a victim."

"Save it for your motion to appeal, Mr. Thornton. We have a perfectly capable hospital ward at the jail to look after your client. Take Miss Austen away, Bailiff," The judge ordered. "Everyone else at that event will be held over on remand until the second. Clear the room."

Pandemonium broke out. Families, friends, and attorneys began yelling and complaining loudly as the retaining bench full of prisoners was cleared. Bernie was trying to wipe Trixie's face with a moist towelette when she was dragged away and handcuffed. Trixie vomited again before collapsing in an unresponsive heap, twitching like she was having some kind of seizure, while Bernie begged to be allowed to help her sister. Finally, a large officer of the court, just picked up Trixie by the waist and carried her out like a ragdoll as Mr. Thornton shouted about his client's rights. Their lawyer stormed after Trixie, demanding she get medical attention immediately.

"Bernie, I... love... you..." Emma murmured quietly, clutching her chest and gasping for breath. Bernie noticed how blue her grandmum's lips looked as Emma sagged sideways.

"Grandmum? Grandmum!" She cried out, looking at her phone. There wasn't a signal in the below ground level of the court and jail building. "Someone call 9-1-1."

A female officer rushed over then shouted into her radio that they needed paramedics because Emma was having a heart attack.

Bernie pulled over Emma's oxygen container and turned it up all the way because she remembered Alex telling her lack of oxygen could do as much harm as the heart attack itself. Her grandmother laid on her back breathing in a strange catching way while Bernie held her hand, begging.

"Don't die, Grandmum, don't leave me. Just breathe deep, the ambulance is coming."

________________________________________

Bernie sat in the waiting room of the hospital. Her grandmum was in the Cardiac Unit and her sister was in the ICU. She held a cooling cup of instant coffee in her hands. Her text message chimed.

Alex: Hey beautiful, how's Trix?"

Bernie covered her mouth and sobbed for a moment, then she hesitantly typed back.

Court was interesting : Bernadette

Trixie got sick, vomited on the bailiff: Bernadette

Alex: LOL OMG seriously?

A bunch of ppl got sick, : Bernadette

court was cleared (vomit face) : Bernadette

Bernie's hands shook, she didn't want to lie to him, but she also didn't want to ruin his vacation with his family. He had been working so hard and his brother had been gone for months on assignments.

Alex : Is she okay?

She's resting, she was roofied : Bernadette

and not drunk. : Bernadette

Lawyer says she will get off because of it. : Bernadette

Second hearing on the 22nd: Bernadette

Alex : I wish I could be there for you,

Alex : but I can't get back until the 4th.

Bernadette hesitated, she wanted him to come, wanted him to hold her, but she didn't want to be a burden. He lived so far away from his family.

You should stay a few extra days. : Bernadette

Grandmum isn't well : Bernadette

The hearing stressed her out : Bernadette

and made her heart act up: Bernadette

Alex : (frowning face) Has she stopped smoking yet?

No, that's why I am staying here : Bernadette

for an extra week or so. : Bernadette

Let's talk about something else. : Bernadette

How is your family? : Bernadette

Alex : Anthony and I went surfing after Brunch.

Alex : Mom loves the cookbook. They can't wait to meet you.

What have you been telling them? : Bernadette

Alex : Only the truth. You're amazing.

Alex : I miss you so much, it isn't the same without you.

Alex sent her a picture of a beautiful beach.

It's so pretty. : Bernadette

Alex : I wanted to kiss you here.

Alex : Kiss you like you've never been kissed.

Bernie felt her cheeks flush at his expression of affection, but her heart hurt for not telling him the truth. She wanted to beg him to come home and hold her. She loved him. She needed him, he gave her hope. She typed then deleted it because she thought it made her sound needy, sending her wish instead.

Maybe next time : Bernadette

Alex : Absolutely next time.

Alex : (kiss face) (kiss face) (kiss face)

Bernadette smiled. She noticed it was time to go see her grandmother for her fifteen minutes of visitation per hour the cardiac ward allowed.

Trixie and I are going to : Bernadette

Bernie hesitated, trying to think of another lie.

Watch an old movie with Grandmum. : Bernadette

Alex: Have fun, babe. I can't wait to see you again.

Alex : and hold you (hug emoji)

Alex : and kiss you (lip emoji)

Alex : and (heart emoji) (bed emoji) you (winking face)

Bernadette blushed again and laughed to herself. He made her feel so good.

You're so silly. I love you. : Bernadette

Alex : Yep, and you're stuck with me.

Alex : I love you more.

Bernadette walked back to the nurses' station of the Cardiac Ward to sign in. She could hear her grandmother complaining, demanding loudly to be allowed to go out for a cigarette.

"I am an eighty-six-year-old woman and if I want a cigarette and bourbon before bed like I have had every night since I was sixteen, then I will have them," Emma was snarling at a young doctor.

"Mike?" Bernadette blurted out. She was surprised to see Alex's former Frat brother was the Dr. Mike Mason who was her grandmother's cardiologist.

Alex's frat brother turned in surprise. "Bernie?"

"Bernadette, tell the fool to let me have my cigarette and nightcap," Emma snapped.

"Grandmum, you just suffered a heart attack, and they put a nicotine patch on you, you don't need one," Bernadette pled.

Emma huffed, "You youngins don't understand that quality of life is more important than quantity. Those wretched patches will never be as pleasant as my Carltons."

"Mrs. Austen, please..." Dr. Mason started but Emma's threat cut him off.

"It's Miss Austen, I have buried five husbands and I will outlive you if you don't let me have my nightcap. I want your supervisor, where is Dr. Kellen?"

Mike looked at Bernie, his eyes begged for her help, but she shrugged and jerked her head at the door. "Grandmum, uhm... I'll go ask and be back."

Outside the room, Mike stared at Bernie in surprise. "How is that woman your grandmother? You're the sweetest person on earth and she... she's..."

"Difficult when she doesn't get her way?" Bernie observed. As he nodded, she explained. "Grandmum really isn't a bad person. She is just set in her ways and likes her routine. She's

had a hard life, fought for everything she has, worked her butt off to build up and help others build up businesses in a generation where women were supposed to stay home and be meek."

"She needs to quit smoking, those shunts we put in her heart won't heal properly if she keeps it up," Mike scowled. "She could die."

Bernie sighed; she had this debate with Alex too. She knew her grandmother could die, but she also knew her grandmother was ready, but as doctors, they only wanted to extend life regardless of how happy and comfortable the patient was. "I'll talk to her, but I won't promise anything."

Suddenly, the alarms started going off and they ran back into Emma's room. The old gentlewoman was sitting in a chair by the window, with a plastic cup or something the color of apple juice and a cigarette.

"Grandmum, how could you?!" Bernie exclaimed as Dr. Mason shut the door and opened the window.

"Bernadette, darling, I knew you wouldn't get him to budge, and I was tired of waiting," Emma retorted smugly.

Bernie facepalmed as Mike sniffed the air. She reached into her grandmother's purse and handed him a silver flask etched with flowers, "Her nip -- she never leaves home without it."

He smelled it then took the half empty plastic cup from Emma. "Miss Austen, I cannot let you consume alcohol so soon after surgery. You're on blood thinners."

Emma gave him the stink eye. "This blood thinner tastes better than those nasty little pills you charge me for, and it's cheaper too. Well, maybe not, that is an Elijah Craig eighteen-year-old bourbon."

When he reached for her cigarette, she slapped his hand

hard. Mike groaned, "Please, Miss Austen, you need to follow your treatment regime until you recover. Please, give me the cigarette and get back in bed."

"Oh, pish posh. It was just a little stress attack. I didn't need you to put those little plastic tubes in me, it's a waste of money. Bernadette, get me a wheelchair, I want to go see Beatrix," Emma demanded.

"Miss Austen, you can't..." Mike started.

"Dr. Mason, I will walk out of this room under my own steam." She stood up and swayed dangerously. "I am going to the ICU to see my other granddaughter."

Mike clenched his fists then nodded and bartered, "Fine, but I will take you only if you will get back in bed after and stay there. You will follow your treatment regime until you are discharged."

Emma eyed him, then held out her hand. "You have a deal, Dr. Mason. I get to see Beatrix every day and I will be a good girl."

Bernie's jaw dropped open as she watched her grandmother negotiating with the young doctor. She stood silently as he walked out to get a wheelchair, then Bernie rushed to Emma's side as she collapsed back into the chair.

"Grandmum?"

"I'm fine, sweetie, just a little tired. I am glad that doctor caved in, I don't know how much longer I could have stood there," Emma confessed, then laughed weakly. "Men never could say no to me, I still got it."

Bernie giggled. "You're incorrigible, Grandmum."

Emma leaned forward and kissed Bernie's cheek. "I always have been."

A grumpy Dr. Mason came back in with a wheelchair. "Which room is your sister in?"

"ICU 12," Bernie answered.

"Why is she in the ICU?" Mike demanded as he helped Emma into the wheelchair.

"Everyone who got sick at that illegal rave is, a couple of them even died," Bernie explained quietly. "The police arrested a bunch of people and didn't get them medical help. When the raid happened, some people took off and went home, then a couple hours later they all started having seizures like Trixie."

"When we get there, I'll check her chart," Mike promised but he wasn't hopeful. The whole hospital was whispering about those poor souls who drank the toxic Pharm-Punch and how they were dying.