4.

CARTER

We sat at the dinner table with my brother to my side and Ramsay to my right. 

What were the odds that he would end up being my brother's girlfriend's brother? Why was he everywhere that I turned? 

“So Collins, thank you for inviting us to your house once again. You have a beautiful home. I trust your mother is doing okay?”

My head was buried in my food as I didn't want to join in the conversation. 

“ My mother is doing very well, thank you for asking. I am a Chef. And I work in construction, just like my father.”

The mention of my dad spoilt my appetite even more. The food did smell good and maybe if they weren't here, I'd be on my second plate. 

I was trying so hard not to look at Ramsay because he was just as quiet as me. I wasn't sure he was even moving. 

I guess I wasn't the only one who wanted to be out of here. 

We finally started dinner and the conversation revolved around Collins and Ashley's relationship. I was truly happy for my brother that he had found someone who would love him. He deserves it for all that he has done. 

“Collins, I hear you and our Ramsay are in the same class again?”

Was his mother trying to get me killed? Why was she bringing that up now? No one of us were happy about it. 

All I could do was no though because I didn't feel like talking. 

“Oh dear, please get along this time around. I would really hate for you to end up in trouble again.” 

I didn't end up in trouble. What happened the last time wasn't my fault and they knew it. I gave Collins a look and he understood what I meant already. 

He just gave me an understanding look and urged me to keep eating. 

The watch on my hand started beeping and I stood up immediately, looking at the alarm and then rushing up the stairs. 

I had a monitor installed that told me when my mother was having difficulty breathing. 

I burst into the room and saw her gasping for air and trying to get the oxygen mask. 

Collins ran in after me as I placed the mask on her face and turned on the oxygen tank. 

Even after placing it on her, the monitor won't stop beeping. 

“I’ll go call the ambulance.” 

Call the ambulance? There was no time. 

“Get the car! We'll take her ourselves.” 

I removed the IV from her hand and carried her downstairs. Due to her illness, she had lost a lot of weight so carrying her wasn't a stress at all. 

I got outside and saw my brother trying to start the car but it wouldn't budge. 

“Let’s use my car.”

I looked at Ramsay to check if he was joking but he had already gone to start the car. I put my mother in the backseat while my brother closed his car. 

The drive to the hospital was fast as I held my mother's hand and hoped that nothing would happen to her. 

Collins asked that I wait in the car while he went in to get the nurses. 

“Mum,it's going to be okay.”

Her eyes were barely open but I knew she was looking at me. She gripped my hand tightly and held onto it. Eventually, the nurses came and wheeled her inside. 

And we had to stay in the waiting area while they attended to her. 

There were tears in my eyes and I didn't know until Collins came to speak to me and cleaned them away from my face. 

“It’s going to be okay.” He whispered. 

“No, it's not. That thing…the cancer is killing her. You've seen her, you know what she's been through. The chemotherapy, the radiation, the drugs, but she's not getting any better. We've spent everything we have. My college tuition, the house mortgage, everything!”

My mother has stage four Lung cancer. And, we've been trying to manage it for the past few years. At least, with the little hope that we have, the doctor won't say that she was terminal. 

The doctor came out and Collins and I went to speak to him. 

“Collins, listen. I've been doing you a huge favor because your father was a good friend of mine but you're thousands of dollars in debt and you're the one owing the hospital. I've been giving excuses for you but I don't think I can do it anymore. You need to pay up.”

This was exactly my point. There was no money anywhere and I knew that Collins was trying his best to get the money. 

“I understand. If you would just give me some time-”

“I’m sorry, I can't. I've already given her some medication to help her breathing but if you don't pay up, we won't do more than that. Also, we won't release her to you.” 

They had to be joking. 

He nodded. 

“It’s okay, I'll take care of it.”

As the doctor left, I turned to Collins. 

“Where do you want to get that kind of money from? We have nothing.” 

He placed his hand on my shoulder. 

“Don’t worry, I'll take care of it. Go sit, I'll make a few calls.”

I went to sit and realized Ramsay was still here. I would have told him to leave but I didn't want to speak to him so I sat a few seats away from him and just waited for my brother. 

I must have been very tired from all the beatings I received earlier that day because I didn't know when I fell asleep. 

It was my brother who woke me up later at night and I jumped up. 

“Carter, go home. I'll take care of her. You have school tomorrow.” 

Why was he being ridiculous? 

“You don't expect me to go when my mother is in the hospital.” 

“I know you want to stay either but I'll be here with her. Just go back home and I'll call you to give you updates okay?”

Just then, Ramsay got up from his seat too. 

“Let’s go, I'll drive you home.”