Eve was  livid. She’d had yet another conversation with Liz, who was threatening to reveal her past. She was sick of it. It made her ill to watch that bitch shimmy up to HER husband, trying to score points.

She was about to confront Liz when the phone rang.

” Dr. Russell.”

” Dr. Russell, it’s Beth Wallace. From the Book Café.”

” Hi Beth. Something wrong with your mother?”

” No. I wanted to tell you that Simone is hurt, and she’s on her way to the Hospital.”

” MY Simone?”

” Yes.”

“ Oh my God. Thank you, Beth.”

Eve slammed down the phone and ran into the kitchen. “ TC! Something’s wrong with Simone. We have to go to the hospital!”

“ Sugarbear? What? Let’s go.”

” I can go to.”, Liz offered.

” We don’t need you there. Only FAMILY, Liz.”, Eve spat before leaving the house and slamming the door in her face.

“ What the hell do you think I am, my slut of a sister?”, Liz said, remembering where she spied TC leaving the spare car keys, helping herself to a Russell vehicle.
 

Fox came into his bedroom. He was quite chilled now. He took off his clothes and stepped into a piping hot shower. As the water warmed his chilled bones, he thought about the events of tonight.

He’d had a couple of friends who had tried suicide, both bungled it. Though he had told the EMT’s that it was an accident, he knew that the young woman had jumped into the freezing water with no intention of anyone ever finding her until it was too late. It was too desolate a place…she knew what she was doing.

Fox had been to intent on saving her life, that he didn’t get a good look at her. Yet, the look on her face, like she was sleeping…she looked like an angel. How could someone who looked so beautiful want to end it all? She had opened her eyes for just a bit, and in that brief second that their eyes connected, Fox couldn’t describe the feeling he’d gotten.

His body sufficiently warmed up, he put on his pajama bottoms, and got snug under the covers. He would go see the young woman tomorrow. See if she’s improved.

” Simone Russell.”, he murmured, before drifting off to sleep.
 

Eve and TC rushed into the Emergency Room. Eve went up to the Head Nurse.

” Betty, I was told my daughter was here?”

She nodded, and took Eve to the room with the most critical cases. They had Simone under an electric blanket, and tubes everywhere.

“ What happened?”, Eve asked.

” From what the EMT’s said, she fell into the water at the docks. You know what time of year it is, Dr. Russell.”

” How long was she in?”

” 10 – 15 minutes.”

Eve shuddered. “ Hypothermia?”

” Yes. She hasn’t regained consciousness.”

” Eve, what’s going on? What’s wrong with Simone?”, TC asked frantically.

” She has hypothermia. They’re using the blanket to warm Simone up. To try and raise her body temperature. “ Eve turned to Betty. “ Did they have to perform CPR?”

” EMT’s didn’t, but the Good Samaritan who got her out of the water, did.”

Eve shook her head. “ That’s what I was afraid of.”

TC looked at Eve. “ What? What are you afraid of?”

” Her being unconscious. CPR. Means oxygen was cut off to her brain. Means that there could be permanent brain damage.”

” Dr. Russell, don’t go there. I’ll get her doctor. Think positive thoughts.”

Eve looked at TC, who pulled her into a hug. They were trying to comfort one another, when Eve caught something out of the corner of her eye.

” Liz?”

” I..I just wanted to be of help.”

 “ I told you this was JUST FAMILY. Get the HELL OUT OF HERE!”

“ Eve, come on. Liz just came to help.”

” I don’t want nor need her help. This is about OUR family. She wants to help. She can get the hell out of here. I don’t need this. This is OUR daughter. SHE has nothing to do with it.”

Eve walked away towards Simone’s room.

“ Liz, pardon Eve. She just is frantic.”

” It’s ok, TC. I didn’t mean to be a hindrance.”

” Maybe it would be best  if you left.”

” I…I could maybe stay out of the way. Be discreet.”

” No, you should leave. Eve’s right. Simone should be our only focus, and if you upset her somehow, it can’t be good for anything to disrupt our vigil over Simone. You understand, don’t you?”

Liz pasted on her most fake smile. “ Of course, TC. I’ll go.”

“ Thanks.”

TC walked away towards Simone’s room.

“ Who the hell does that bitch think she is? Yelling at me like that? Dismissing me like that? Oh, she’s going to pay for this!”, Liz said, steam rising with every step out of the hospital.
 

“ Mom? Dad?”, Whitney asked, entering her house, as Chad followed her.

“ I don’t get it. I was sure Simone was going to tell my parents about us.”

” Doesn’t look like anyone’s here. Maybe Simone thought about it, and realized that it’s not that bad.”

” Chad, get real. My sister burned you with that soup. I doubt she’s calmed down. Are you ok?”

” Yeah. The lady at the Clinic gave me some ointment. I’ll be fine. Just have to change the bandages.”

” I can’t believe Simone would resort to something like that? Can’t she see we didn’t mean to hurt her?”

” She’ll understand, Whitney. She’ll come around.”