“The Wards are public figures and wouldn’t dare harm you, but I cannot speak for Fadele and Nij. They aren’t the people we once knew.” There was an ache in her voice at the end there.
Before things could get too awkward, I said, “Thanks for the heads up. I’ll be careful.”
Chapter 40
Jasmine
“How are you doing with all of this? I can’t imagine the strain you must feel being caught between your old friends. And Jerald! He must be losing his mind,” I said as I walked into the ICU.
“This whole thing is painful, yes, but we have suffered far worse,” Angela said with a smile in her voice. “We survived before; I believe we will survive again. And this time we have you, Charlie, and Vanessa on our side. I can’t tell you how comforting it is to have you around.”
“Right back at you,” I said.
“Promise me you won’t stay locked up. I don’t want you alone with your thoughts on this stressful day.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I won’t. I’m paying Uncle Vic a visit.”
“Good.”
“Thank you, Angela. I appreciate your concern.” And I meant it. It was comforting to know someone else cared, someone other than the three men who’d cared for me my whole life.
“I’m glad to hear it. Soon we’ll sit together and chat like normal people,” Angela promised.
“I can’t wait. Take care. Tell Jerald I said hi.”
“Godspeed to us all. Goodbye for now.”
“Bye.” I hung up with a sigh. It would be nice when this was all over. Maybe Angela, Jerald, and I could have tea on the rooftop of the precinct and talk more about their travels.
Once inside Uncle Vic’s room, I replaced the dying flowers on his bedside table with the fresh ones I’d bought on the way here. Then I took up my usual vigil at my uncle’s side. I spent the next hour or so telling him everything, ending with my most recent conversation with Angela.
“She’s a wonderful lady,” I concluded by saying. “I’m glad they want to stick around.”
Pushing aside my growing sense of dread, I told myself nothing bad would happen to the Smiths. There was a heaven and hell; it was proof enough that no good deed went unrewarded. There was a sense of justice in this strange, ridiculous existence of ours. Even if I didn’t completely understand it.
While mulling everything over and waiting for Anthony to be done running his errands, I was zapped anew with the urge to help. I took out my restless energy on my poor nails as I watched Uncle Victor’s IV drip. Everyone was doing everything in their power to end this. What could I do? How could I help?
I was only of use to Charlie and Uncle Vic so long as I was happy and healthy, but those were fleeting states of being in my accursed existence. Even if I had been allowed to go with Vanessa and Charlie, even if I could’ve noticed something they didn’t, thought of something they didn’t, or remembered something that turned out to be vital to bringing the Velazquezes down or contributed in any other way, a single death would’ve rendered me completely useless. Uncle Vic was in a coma, which he may never wake up from, and even if he did, he would have serious handicaps. There was nothing I could do to speed up his healing process.
It was this damned curse! It made me powerless! If only Death was brave enough to break the curses despite what may become of her in the process. Angela said I was valuable to Death, but no amount of guilt-tripping, begging, or appealing to her better nature had persuaded her to try to free us. So just how valuable was I really?
The realization came slowly. Just like during Anthony’s lecture about the matters of Congress, snippets of recent conversations wove themselves together in my mind, creating an epiphany tapestry.
Because, of course, that’s what I had to do. It was the only way to end our curses, solve this issue between the immortals for good, and save Uncle Vic. The only way to free Anthony of his duty to our family so he could finally win back his real family.
“I could be brave enough,” I told Uncle Vic. I needed to hear the words, feel the strength in them. “If I had the power, burdens and all, I could be brave enough to do what has never been done before, whatever the consequences…”
After the truth sank in, I succumbed to fear and doubt and grief. I cried and held my uncle’s hand for a long time. When Anthony returned, I gave him a bear hug.
“Are you all right?” he asked. “Is Charlie—?”
“Everything’s fine.” I wiped my face and shut the door on my emotions. For his sake. “Sorry. I was just thinking about Uncle Vic and Vanessa, and then I started thinking about you and Georgina, and it just made me really, really sad.”
My doctor slumped as if burdened by his own sadness, but he managed a smile. “It’s going to be okay, Jazz. I was naive to think one conversation would change everything between me and Georgina. She listened. She admitted she would always love me, even if it didn’t make sense, even if we couldn’t be together. She’s willing to reconsider the custody terms. There’s still hope.”
I bobbed my head in a nod, eager to believe.
“And your uncle is going to make a full recovery. It’ll take time, but he’s strong.” Anthony nodded at Victor, oblivious in his hospital bed. “He’ll overcome whatever disability he has as a result of this tragedy and come back swinging, as is his way. Ms. Burkley isn’t going anywhere. There’s still hope for them too.”
“You’re right,” I said with an innocent smile. “I shouldn’t have let myself get so down.”
“It’s been an extremely taxing couple of days for you. You’re right to be exhausted and emotional.” He placed a hand on my shoulder.
