Haley's Adventure, Part Seven
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Carl's heart began to beat rapidly, "Bad news? What is it, Doctor?"
Dr. Chase paused, then continued, "Carl....I'm afraid the baby didn't make it."
Carl stood there in silence and felt his stomach turn. He finally spoke. "How is Haley?"
"Haley is in a coma, Carl. But she is in stable condition," Dr. Chase replied immediately, "I'm sorry."
Carl dropped the phone to his side as he thought about everything that had happened recently. His whole life was falling apart. One moment, absolutely everything was perfect. 'Now....' Carl thought to himself, 'We've lost the baby. And.......I'm going to lose Haley.'
Carl walked to the bedroom and cried himself to sleep.
Later that night, Rayanne decided to drop by to check on Carl. After waking him from a deeply depressed sleep, she cooked him up some grub :) He had filled her in on the recent news of the loss of the baby.
"I'm sorry, Carl," Rayanne said, holding back the tears in her eyes, "I wish there was something I could do."
Carl said nothing, but continued to eat very slowly.
Rayanne knew it was difficult for him to talk about it, so she changed the subject, "Bobbi and Billy are back. In case you were wondering where Sadie was."
Carl said nothing.
Rayanne sighed, "Carl, please talk to me."
"I can't do this. I can't live without her. I....I don't....I just can't" Carl said desperately.
Rayanne rose to her feet and pulled Carl into her arms. She held him tight trying desperately to let him know he had someone. Someone who would be there for him through it all. Someone who wouldn't give up on him. Someone who would just be his best friend.
Carl began to cry, "Oh Rayanne."
Rayanne held him tighter when Carl suddenly backed away.
"What do I do?" Carl asked abruptly.
"What do you mean sweetie?" Rayanne asked.
"What do I do.....when.....Haley....is gone?" Carl began to cry again.
Rayanne swallowed hard forcing the tears to stay in their place. She wanted so badly to tell him everything was going to be ok. That Haley was going to survive this, and that one day the two of them will be living their lives again. But even she didn't believe it.
The next few days were rough for Carl. From the sound of Doctor Chase's voice each time he talked to him on the phone or in person, Carl was feeling very scared that Haley could go any day. Carl sulked around the house feeling like he had absolutely no meaning left in his life. If he lost Haley, he had lost everything.
The next morning, surprisingly, Carl decided to go to work.
"Good morning, Mr. Maroulis," Sally greeted him, immediately noticing something was wrong, "Are you ok?" she asked.
Carl sat there in silence. He knew he couldn't go to work. He wouldn't be able to concentrate. He had to be with Haley. He needed to be with his wife.
"Sally, take me to Sim City Medical Center," Carl demanded.
"Right away," Sally agreed knowing not to confront him about his issues at that time.
As he stood there staring hopelessly at his wife, he began to reminisce.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He thought of the first time he had met her. In a Biology class he had walked in on by mistake. Professer Gingerbread demanded he stay in her classroom. "If you don't know where you belong, then you stay here with me!"
He chose a seat in the back. Carl was always shy and he *hated* being the center of attention. Of course, all the students in Professer Gingerbread's classroom were gawking at him which made him extremely uncomfortable, but when he saw her, two rows ahead to the right, the most beautiful woman alive, he fell in love instantly.
She smiled sweetly at him as he took his seat. The entire time, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Carl was never one to approach the ladies, but he felt something with this girl, and he knew that if he didn't at least introduce himself when class was over, he would regret it for the rest of his life. He just needed to know her name.
Two hours later, class was dismissed. Carl slowly walked towards her seat watching every move she made, when suddenly he tripped over someone's biology book and fell flat on his face directly beside Haley's seat. Everyone gasped, especially when they saw a ton of blood gushing out onto the floor.
Haley was the one to help him to the nurse's office, and she stayed with him until she knew he was alright. She joked with him quite often from that day on, "I've never had a guy fall for me that hard before!"
Carl left that day with, not only a fractured cheekbone, but the most beautiful, sensitive, caring girlfriend he could ever ask for. It was meant to be. They both knew it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carl held back his tears as he looked down at his wife. He loved her so much, but he knew.....soon, it would be time....to say goodbye.
Carl took the next day off from work as well. He was in no shape to face anyone. Luckily for him, they understood and saw no reason in demoting him.
That morning, a phonecall interrupted his bubblebath.
"Hello?" Carl answered sounding more depressed than he had meant to.
"Carl, it's Doctor Chase."
Carl's heart stopped for a few seconds until the doctor spoke, "No bad news. Don't worry."
Carl sighed of relief, "Oh thank God."
Dr. Chase began, "I'm just calling to speak with you on insurance matters."
"Insurance matters? I thought the medical receptionist handles all that?" Carl asked confused.
"Yes, yes, usually. But I thought I might handle this one myself since....we're old friends."
Carl agreed uncertainly, "Um, ok. What would you like, Doctor?"
"Well I just wanted to go over one matter in particular. I see here that you have $80,000 in life insurance for any child conceived between your wife and yourself. Although this child was an unborn fetus, the terms still apply here for you."
Carl was confused, "I don't remember signing up for life insurance for any children. Haley and I weren't expecting. I wouldn't have signed up for this," Carl corrected him.
"On your date of hire, your company automatically enrolled you for this insurance. I assure you, it's here. In writing."
Carl agreed, "Ok, so what do you need from me?"
"Well," Dr. Chase paused, "On a touchier subject, I wanted to confirm with you that you are indeed the beneficiary for Haley's life insurance."
Carl didn't say anything, but wondered why he was talking to him as if his wife was already dead.
Dr. Chase continued, "Your wife's life insurance policy is for $250,000, Carl."
"If I may ask, why are you speaking with me about this now?" Carl asked feeling insulted.
"Just a few things we needed to clear up here at the hospital, that's all. I just have one more question."
Carl sighed impatiently.
"Who is your beneficiary, Carl?" Dr. Chase asked.
"I don't have a beneficiary. I don't have any family," Carl answered, "Dr. Chase, why would you need to know that?"
"Paperwork, that's all. I thank you for your time," Dr. Chase said quickly and hung up the phone.
After a very awkward conversation with Dr. Chase, Carl decided to visit Haley. As usual, she was sleeping peacefully. He looked at her beautiful face and slowly walked up to the bed. He went to brush her hair back when he heard some familiar voices.
"Hey!" Carl said, finding that his words carried the first sound of excitment in days. Bobbi, Billy, and Sadie joined him in the hospital room.
"Carl, how are you?" Bobbi asked politely not able to keep her eyes off of Haley. It was the first time she had seen her sister since they found out about her illness. She didn't know how well she would take it. So far. So good.
"I'm ok, thanks," Carl replied sweetly.
"Uncle Carl!" Sadie yelled.
"What is it, Sadie?" Carl answered her trying not to giggle at her silliness.
"Mommy had the baby!" Sadie said excitedly, "It's a girl! I have a baby sister!"
"That's wonderful!" Carl congratulated them.
"Sixteen hours in labor, she better be wonderful!" Bobbi joked.
There was silence.
"So," Bobbi spoke, "How is she doing?"
Carl looked down at his wife, "As good as she can be, I guess......Have you heard all of the details?"
"Yes," Bobbi replied feeling herself choke up, "I spoke with Doctor Chase this morning. I'm.....so sorry."
"Me too," Carl said.
"Carl, you want to grab something to eat in the cafeteria? I can just imagine you haven't had much to eat recently and Bobbi ate everything in the house. We have nothing left!" Billy asked giggling.
"Sure, that sounds good," Carl agreed.
"I'll catch up with you guys in a little bit," Bobbi said.
Bobbi slowly walked up to her ill sister and started to feel incredibly sick to her stomach. Her eyes shifted down as she spoke softly, "Haley?.....I don't know if you can hear me or not, but......I need you to do something for me. This is really important"
Bobbi began to cry, "I need you to fight this, Haley. You've always been the fighter in the family. You've helped me accomplish so much. I wouldn't be where I am now if it weren't for you. Please.......," Bobbi calmed herself down as she walked away.
She turned around slowly and said, "I can't live without you, Haley. I need you."
Billy and Bobbi chose to spend the rest of their day with Carl, desperate to make him feel at least a little better.
"So, Doctor Chase seems nice," Bobbi said, "You should be happy that Haley is in good hands."
"Yes, he's nice," Carl said questionably.
"You don't seem so sure," Billy pointed out as he took a bite of his spaghetti.
"Well, everything was fine, until...." Carl said then stopped.
"Until what?" Bobbi asked curiously.
"This morning. He called me and asked me all these questions about our life insurance policies. Mine, being one of them. When he told me the amount I would be inheriting, he sounded.....almost excited. I just thought it was a little awkward," Carl explained.
"That is a little weird," Bobbi agreed.
"Well maybe he was just being helpful. He wanted you to know what was in store for you," Billy said seeking a point in Dr. Chase's strange phonecall.
"Maybe. Who knows. Who cares right now." Carl continued to eat his dinner as Bobbi and Billy began to argue about numerous things, like they usually did.
A few hours later, Billy and Bobbi decided to head out.
"Anything at all, Carl. Ask me, ok?" Billy offered.
"Thank you," Carl said as he shook his hand goodbye, "That means a lot."
"Sure, bud."
The next morning, Carl sat at the dinner table with a knot in his stomach. He was afraid to admit it, but he knew something horrible was going to happen at some point that day.
Part Eight coming soon!
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Carl's heart began to beat rapidly, "Bad news? What is it, Doctor?"
Dr. Chase paused, then continued, "Carl....I'm afraid the baby didn't make it."
Carl stood there in silence and felt his stomach turn. He finally spoke. "How is Haley?"
"Haley is in a coma, Carl. But she is in stable condition," Dr. Chase replied immediately, "I'm sorry."
Carl dropped the phone to his side as he thought about everything that had happened recently. His whole life was falling apart. One moment, absolutely everything was perfect. 'Now....' Carl thought to himself, 'We've lost the baby. And.......I'm going to lose Haley.'
Carl walked to the bedroom and cried himself to sleep.
Later that night, Rayanne decided to drop by to check on Carl. After waking him from a deeply depressed sleep, she cooked him up some grub :) He had filled her in on the recent news of the loss of the baby.
"I'm sorry, Carl," Rayanne said, holding back the tears in her eyes, "I wish there was something I could do."
Carl said nothing, but continued to eat very slowly.
Rayanne knew it was difficult for him to talk about it, so she changed the subject, "Bobbi and Billy are back. In case you were wondering where Sadie was."
Carl said nothing.
Rayanne sighed, "Carl, please talk to me."
"I can't do this. I can't live without her. I....I don't....I just can't" Carl said desperately.
Rayanne rose to her feet and pulled Carl into her arms. She held him tight trying desperately to let him know he had someone. Someone who would be there for him through it all. Someone who wouldn't give up on him. Someone who would just be his best friend.
Carl began to cry, "Oh Rayanne."
Rayanne held him tighter when Carl suddenly backed away.
"What do I do?" Carl asked abruptly.
"What do you mean sweetie?" Rayanne asked.
"What do I do.....when.....Haley....is gone?" Carl began to cry again.
Rayanne swallowed hard forcing the tears to stay in their place. She wanted so badly to tell him everything was going to be ok. That Haley was going to survive this, and that one day the two of them will be living their lives again. But even she didn't believe it.
The next few days were rough for Carl. From the sound of Doctor Chase's voice each time he talked to him on the phone or in person, Carl was feeling very scared that Haley could go any day. Carl sulked around the house feeling like he had absolutely no meaning left in his life. If he lost Haley, he had lost everything.
The next morning, surprisingly, Carl decided to go to work.
"Good morning, Mr. Maroulis," Sally greeted him, immediately noticing something was wrong, "Are you ok?" she asked.
Carl sat there in silence. He knew he couldn't go to work. He wouldn't be able to concentrate. He had to be with Haley. He needed to be with his wife.
"Sally, take me to Sim City Medical Center," Carl demanded.
"Right away," Sally agreed knowing not to confront him about his issues at that time.
As he stood there staring hopelessly at his wife, he began to reminisce.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He thought of the first time he had met her. In a Biology class he had walked in on by mistake. Professer Gingerbread demanded he stay in her classroom. "If you don't know where you belong, then you stay here with me!"
He chose a seat in the back. Carl was always shy and he *hated* being the center of attention. Of course, all the students in Professer Gingerbread's classroom were gawking at him which made him extremely uncomfortable, but when he saw her, two rows ahead to the right, the most beautiful woman alive, he fell in love instantly.
She smiled sweetly at him as he took his seat. The entire time, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Carl was never one to approach the ladies, but he felt something with this girl, and he knew that if he didn't at least introduce himself when class was over, he would regret it for the rest of his life. He just needed to know her name.
Two hours later, class was dismissed. Carl slowly walked towards her seat watching every move she made, when suddenly he tripped over someone's biology book and fell flat on his face directly beside Haley's seat. Everyone gasped, especially when they saw a ton of blood gushing out onto the floor.
Haley was the one to help him to the nurse's office, and she stayed with him until she knew he was alright. She joked with him quite often from that day on, "I've never had a guy fall for me that hard before!"
Carl left that day with, not only a fractured cheekbone, but the most beautiful, sensitive, caring girlfriend he could ever ask for. It was meant to be. They both knew it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carl held back his tears as he looked down at his wife. He loved her so much, but he knew.....soon, it would be time....to say goodbye.
Carl took the next day off from work as well. He was in no shape to face anyone. Luckily for him, they understood and saw no reason in demoting him.
That morning, a phonecall interrupted his bubblebath.
"Hello?" Carl answered sounding more depressed than he had meant to.
"Carl, it's Doctor Chase."
Carl's heart stopped for a few seconds until the doctor spoke, "No bad news. Don't worry."
Carl sighed of relief, "Oh thank God."
Dr. Chase began, "I'm just calling to speak with you on insurance matters."
"Insurance matters? I thought the medical receptionist handles all that?" Carl asked confused.
"Yes, yes, usually. But I thought I might handle this one myself since....we're old friends."
Carl agreed uncertainly, "Um, ok. What would you like, Doctor?"
"Well I just wanted to go over one matter in particular. I see here that you have $80,000 in life insurance for any child conceived between your wife and yourself. Although this child was an unborn fetus, the terms still apply here for you."
Carl was confused, "I don't remember signing up for life insurance for any children. Haley and I weren't expecting. I wouldn't have signed up for this," Carl corrected him.
"On your date of hire, your company automatically enrolled you for this insurance. I assure you, it's here. In writing."
Carl agreed, "Ok, so what do you need from me?"
"Well," Dr. Chase paused, "On a touchier subject, I wanted to confirm with you that you are indeed the beneficiary for Haley's life insurance."
Carl didn't say anything, but wondered why he was talking to him as if his wife was already dead.
Dr. Chase continued, "Your wife's life insurance policy is for $250,000, Carl."
"If I may ask, why are you speaking with me about this now?" Carl asked feeling insulted.
"Just a few things we needed to clear up here at the hospital, that's all. I just have one more question."
Carl sighed impatiently.
"Who is your beneficiary, Carl?" Dr. Chase asked.
"I don't have a beneficiary. I don't have any family," Carl answered, "Dr. Chase, why would you need to know that?"
"Paperwork, that's all. I thank you for your time," Dr. Chase said quickly and hung up the phone.
After a very awkward conversation with Dr. Chase, Carl decided to visit Haley. As usual, she was sleeping peacefully. He looked at her beautiful face and slowly walked up to the bed. He went to brush her hair back when he heard some familiar voices.
"Hey!" Carl said, finding that his words carried the first sound of excitment in days. Bobbi, Billy, and Sadie joined him in the hospital room.
"Carl, how are you?" Bobbi asked politely not able to keep her eyes off of Haley. It was the first time she had seen her sister since they found out about her illness. She didn't know how well she would take it. So far. So good.
"I'm ok, thanks," Carl replied sweetly.
"Uncle Carl!" Sadie yelled.
"What is it, Sadie?" Carl answered her trying not to giggle at her silliness.
"Mommy had the baby!" Sadie said excitedly, "It's a girl! I have a baby sister!"
"That's wonderful!" Carl congratulated them.
"Sixteen hours in labor, she better be wonderful!" Bobbi joked.
There was silence.
"So," Bobbi spoke, "How is she doing?"
Carl looked down at his wife, "As good as she can be, I guess......Have you heard all of the details?"
"Yes," Bobbi replied feeling herself choke up, "I spoke with Doctor Chase this morning. I'm.....so sorry."
"Me too," Carl said.
"Carl, you want to grab something to eat in the cafeteria? I can just imagine you haven't had much to eat recently and Bobbi ate everything in the house. We have nothing left!" Billy asked giggling.
"Sure, that sounds good," Carl agreed.
"I'll catch up with you guys in a little bit," Bobbi said.
Bobbi slowly walked up to her ill sister and started to feel incredibly sick to her stomach. Her eyes shifted down as she spoke softly, "Haley?.....I don't know if you can hear me or not, but......I need you to do something for me. This is really important"
Bobbi began to cry, "I need you to fight this, Haley. You've always been the fighter in the family. You've helped me accomplish so much. I wouldn't be where I am now if it weren't for you. Please.......," Bobbi calmed herself down as she walked away.
She turned around slowly and said, "I can't live without you, Haley. I need you."
Billy and Bobbi chose to spend the rest of their day with Carl, desperate to make him feel at least a little better.
"So, Doctor Chase seems nice," Bobbi said, "You should be happy that Haley is in good hands."
"Yes, he's nice," Carl said questionably.
"You don't seem so sure," Billy pointed out as he took a bite of his spaghetti.
"Well, everything was fine, until...." Carl said then stopped.
"Until what?" Bobbi asked curiously.
"This morning. He called me and asked me all these questions about our life insurance policies. Mine, being one of them. When he told me the amount I would be inheriting, he sounded.....almost excited. I just thought it was a little awkward," Carl explained.
"That is a little weird," Bobbi agreed.
"Well maybe he was just being helpful. He wanted you to know what was in store for you," Billy said seeking a point in Dr. Chase's strange phonecall.
"Maybe. Who knows. Who cares right now." Carl continued to eat his dinner as Bobbi and Billy began to argue about numerous things, like they usually did.
A few hours later, Billy and Bobbi decided to head out.
"Anything at all, Carl. Ask me, ok?" Billy offered.
"Thank you," Carl said as he shook his hand goodbye, "That means a lot."
"Sure, bud."
The next morning, Carl sat at the dinner table with a knot in his stomach. He was afraid to admit it, but he knew something horrible was going to happen at some point that day.
Part Eight coming soon!