Free The Brass Ring by Mavis Applewater Page A

you grab it for me?" Jamie asked.
    Stevie returned quickly with the black bag in hand. "How long has she been like this?" Jamie inquired as she began a careful exam.
    "She woke up early and was a little fussy," Stevie explained as Jamie continued her exam.
    "What’s her name?" Jamie asked as she took the baby’s temperature. "I know. No one likes that part of the exam," she reassured the infant.
    "Emma," Stevie informed her. "And you’re still a jerk."
    "Hey Emma." Jamie tickled the child. "She has a slight fever. Is CC telling me the truth?"
    Jamie peeked into Emma’s ear and her suspicions were confirmed. "How long have you been waiting for her doctor to call?" Jamie inquired.
    "All morning," Stevie offered. "And yes, CC told you the truth. She was shot by a guy who was about to rat out a bunch of cops, FBI agents and a certain Southie mob boss. You know the one - elderly gentleman, likes to where a Red Sox’s baseball cap, and no one knows where the hell he is."
    Jamie continued a careful exam of Emma’s tired little body. She checked her bag to see if she had her prescription pad and then wrote out a prescription before redressing Emma and handing her back to her mother. "Emma has an ear infection. It’s very common at her age."
    "Really?" Stevie relaxed as she cradled her daughter.
    "Here this should help." Jamie handed the prescription to Stevie. "I think you should see a pediatrician, I know someone. I could call her if you’d like?"
    "Thank you," Stevie said sincerely.
    Jamie felt the tears building as she dialed her friend’s number. "She was all alone?" Jamie asked. "At the hospital?" Jamie choked at the thought of CC lying helpless with no one there for her.
    "Yes," Stevie responded coldly.
    "Sandy, Jamie Jameson . . ." she spoke into the telephone. She explained about Emma and Sandy agreed to see the infant immediately. Jamie then relayed the information to Stevie.
    "Thank you for Emma," Stevie said.
    "But I’m still a total jackass." Jamie sniffed as her heart shattered. "I didn’t know. Why didn’t someone tell me?"
    "No one knew about you," Stevie explained softly. "By the time she found you, it was too late. The day she did find you, you were sucking face with some girl."
    "The things I said to her." Jamie whimpered as she brushed the tears out of her eyes. "Do you have a car?"
    "Yes, and I know where to go," Stevie confirmed. "What are you going to do?"
    "I need to talk to CC," Jamie confessed as she grabbed up her sneakers.
    "No kidding." Stevie laughed.
    "One question, Stevie," Jamie started carefully. "Who’s little Emma’s Daddy?"
    "Long story." Stevie smirked as they started out the front door. "If the two of you haven’t killed one another by the time I get back, I’ll tell you."
    "Fair enough."

   

    CHAPTER THIRTEEN
      
    C C LAY ON HER bed staring up at the ceiling. The last twenty-four hours had been hell on earth. A young girl had died, something that despite her sense of reasoning she felt responsible for. Then she slept with Jamie. Not a bad thing. In fact it was very nice - too nice. She was kicking herself for that as well. She should have been stronger and not let that happen. But there was something about the way Jamie kissed. One touch of her lips and CC was lost, thinking with the wrong part of her anatomy.
    The harshness of Jamie’s words hurt her deeply. She knew that the whole thing sounded unbelievable; still she had hoped that the feelings they had once shared would have made a difference. Apparently she was mistaken. CC was just lying there, fighting with the knowledge that Jamie had never cared for her the way she had cared for Jamie. "A part of me still does," CC admitted to the empty room.
    A shy knock on the door disrupted her agony. "Come in, Stevie," she called out softly, hoping that the doctor had finally called. The door creaked as it opened slowly. CC sat up to watch it. "What the hell?" she muttered, wondering what her little sister was up to. She felt