Ice and Fire novel Chapter 363

While standing outside his son's door, Jackson listened to what Joe said. When he looked at the two people inside, he knew Cherry and Joe loathed him for what happened at the cafe earlier that afternoon.

Lily didn't see Jackson, and was still respectfully reminding Joe, "Mr. Joe, you can't go out. The family has too much happening, what with Mr. Andrew being taken to the hospital. You shouldn't cause any trouble right now, or your parents will blame me for not looking after you properly."

Lily was afraid Joe would run away from home. She knew how clever he was, and if it came down to a battle of the wits, she would definitely be defeated. He was a genius even at the tender age of five.

Joe didn't say anything else.

But Jackson, standing at the entrance asked, "What happened?"

Hearing his voice, Lily and Joe turned their heads and looked to the doorway and saw him.

Joe was very angry seeing his Daddy there, and he didn't want to talk to him.

Lily however, saw Jackson as a savior, and rushed to him.

"Mr. Jackson, you are still here?" asked Lily.

"What's going on?" Jackson asked. He had already guessed what had happened, more or less, but he didn't know the details. He added, "Where is Cherry?"

"Mr. Andrew fainted, so, Bill and Mrs. Cherry brought him to the hospital." Lily watched Jackson's face as she explained.

Jackson faltered back a step, completely stunned at Lily's revelation. His expression became more frightening as he wondered, 'Grandpa fainted? How? How is that possible? He was fine this morning!'

Jackson turned, desperate to get down the stairs and find out what had happened before reacting, all the while reminding himself silently, 'Grandpa will be okay! He's going to be fine!'

Cherry and Bill were waiting anxiously in the waiting room at the hospital's emergency room for an update on Andrew's condition. Cherry couldn't sit quietly, so she paced back and forth.

When Bill saw how anxious Cherry was, he approached her and tried to comfort her with soothing words, "Mrs. Cherry, please, don't worry so much, Mr. Andrew is in good health. He'll be fine."

"I hope Grandpa will be fine." said Cherry, resting her chin in her hands, and a worried look still etched on her face.

When they heard the sound of footsteps approaching, they turned toward the sound. Cherry and Bill saw Jackson rushing toward them.

Cherry felt a little relieved when she saw Jackson, but then she remembered what the occurrence was at the cafe. The anxiety she had felt was replaced by calmness, but, she stood motionless, in one spot.

Seeing Jackson approaching, Bill hurriedly called out, "Mr. Jackson, finally! You're here at last!"

Jackson looked through the emergency room door, but couldn't see anything. He turned and looked at Cherry as she stood there, silently refusing to talk or make eye contact with him. Finally, he looked at Bill asking, "What happened?"

Bill said, "Mr. Andrew fainted at home, so, Mrs. Cherry and I brought him to the hospital."

"Where is the butler?" demanded Jackson all of a sudden. He hadn't seen the butler at home, and he wasn't with them at the hospital. The butler always stayed with Grandpa and took care of him, so where was he now?

Bill shook his head, "I don't know."

Jackson thought a moment, and then, he took his phone out and called to Derek.

The call was connected within seconds.

"Hey, Jackson!" Derek's voice greeted him from the other end.

"Find the butler! Search the entire city if you have to!" Jackson ordered, and then hung up.

Jackson approached Cherry, and there was hatred in his eyes as he screamed at her, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Cherry didn't respond to Jackson's question. She stood perfectly still, looking to the side, because she didn't want to look at Jackson.

When he saw Cherry had no intention of answering Jackson, Bill quickly jumped in, "Mr. Jackson, don't be angry. Mrs. Cherry tried, but the call didn't go through."

"I asked her!" Jackson said angrily, still staring at Cherry.

Cherry knew Jackson's temper very well, so she didn't want to explain anything. She took out her phone, and turned to call log page, showing him the mobile phone's screen.

Jackson looked at the phone in front of him and discovered Cherry had dialed his number so many times that it took up the whole page. "My Husband" was listed, but not one of the calls had gone through.

Jackson calmed down as he looked at the phone, but he was still unsatisfied that Cherry hadn't spoken a word to him since he got here.

The door of the emergency room swung open just then and a doctor came out.

Jackson, Cherry and Bill all rushed to the doctor.

"How is he doing?" Jackson asked.

The doctor looked at Jackson and said politely, "Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Cherry, Mr. Andrew is awake and no longer in danger. You don't need to worry too much now, but his ordeal has left him weakened and he can't have any excitement or become overstimulated. I hope you'll pay closer attention to him when you are caring for him from now on, and keep him away from stimulation."

Cherry nodded without speaking.