Celine
Two knocks on her door pull Celine from her thoughts and she zips her back quickly. "I know, I'm always running late. I'm sorry, R-"She stops when the door opens and it's her mother. Her mother walks in and pulls Celine back to the bed, sitting her down as she takes Celine's hand. She looks from the door where her father now stands to her mother. "What is all this?" "My dear, I believe your plans with Rene are cancelled." Therese starts "What? Did he call? Did he say something? I thought he was already here, what ... what changed?" She asks, tears threatening her. "Did he just come to say he isn't interested or doesn't want-""Shhh." Therese hugs her daughter. "It is not you, honey. It is not you at all. He wanted to be here. His son was in a car accident and is at the hospital. He had to go be there, just in case." That works through Celine's head a little bit at a time. Jean-Pierre? Hurt? No wonder he left without a word to her. She sniffs and shakes her head, jumping up. "Is he alright? Both of them? I mean, as long as Jean-Pierre is hurt, Rene is going to be worried!" "I know." Therese tries to catch her daughter to hold her in one place, but Celine is already wrestling with her party dress, trying to get it off as her father walks away. She struggles against the material until Therese gently catches her shoulders and helps her take it off. Her hair goes frizzy and Therese smooths that out as well. "Rushing will only lead to more potential problems, Celine. Take a breath." "I have to go to the hospital. I need to be there for him, Mom!" Celine insists, dancing into jeans and pulling a t-shirt over her head. "Did he say which hospital? I have to go. I can't just let him be there alone." "My dear, I am certain that Ann-Renee and her daughter are there too. He won't be alone." Celine pauses. "Should I ... Should I not go then? Is that what you're saying? Is it a family thing and I should just stay on the sidelines so they can do what they need to do without worrying about me?"Celine forces herself to wait for her mother's answer. Dating a divorced man – or trying to – isn't like anything she's ever done anymore. After all, his children are right around her age and maybe his ex-wife wouldn't want her there. She barely knows them. She may just be anotherbody clogging up the waiting room. It's not like she's missing out on anything romantic, but her heart breaks for Rene. He should know she cares, that she wants to be there to support him. She shakes her head. "I need to be there. I can at least get them food, make sure they have everything they need. Whatever it is, I can do that at least, right? I don't have to put myself into the room or make it about me. I just ... I want to make sure Rene is okay and that his son will be too." Therese strokes her face lovingly. "You're so compassionate." "Momma, I have to go. You understand that right?" She asks, catching her mother's hand. "You won't stop me, will you?" "I don't think anyone can stop you when you're so determined to do something, honey. Just remember that he may want space. This is a family issue and grief is hard to predict. If he pushes you away ... it is not because he doesn't love you." Celine nods, then kisses her mother's cheek, getting on the road. Considering Rene is already dealing with one problem involving an accident, she pays extra attention to the road and yells at someone who cuts her off when it's so icy. When she finally gets to the hospital, she finds out it's the wrong one. Luckily, it's easy enough to get the right information and get to where she needs to be. After that little detour, her stomach growls, but it will wait.
