Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change? novel Chapter 1157

Rebecca White bolted out of the hospital building and into the pouring rain, her heart pounding in her chest. Ahead, through the downpour, she spotted her mother—Jacquetta—standing by a car with the passenger door wide open. Inside, Rebecca could just make out someone cradling James in their arms.

“Mom!” Rebecca shouted, her voice cracking as she dashed toward them.

Jacquetta turned sharply at the sound, her brows knitting in worry. Without hesitation, she slammed the car door shut and barked at the driver, “Go! Go now!”

“On it,” came the reply, muffled by the rain.

Rebecca was already almost upon them, desperation pushing her forward. “James!” she cried out.

“Rebecca!” her mother snapped back.

But Rebecca couldn’t get any closer—Jacquetta blocked her way, arms outstretched. “What are you doing out here? It’s pouring! You just got out of the hospital—are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Rain streamed down Rebecca’s face, soaking her blond hair and plastering it to her cheeks, but she didn’t care. “James!” she gasped, her voice raw.

The car engine revved to life, taillights glowing red through the sheets of rain. James was being taken away—her baby was being taken from her.

“Mom, let me go!” Rebecca pleaded, struggling against her mother’s grip.

“Let you go? For what? So you can make things worse?” Jacquetta’s voice was hard, her hands gripping Rebecca’s shoulders tightly. “You need to get ahold of yourself! This isn’t the time for motherly instincts—this child wasn’t born because you wanted him!”

The car rolled through the hospital gates and out of sight.

“Mom!” Rebecca screamed, her voice breaking as tears mingled with the rain. “He didn’t ask to be born, either!”

Jacquetta froze, just for a second. Rebecca seized the chance, wrenching herself free and stumbling after the car.

“James! James!” she screamed, running down the slick sidewalk, rain lashing her face.

“Rebecca!” Jacquetta shouted behind her.

But no one can outrun a moving car. Rebecca’s lungs burned as she chased after the disappearing vehicle, her cries swallowed by the storm. All she could do was watch as James was driven away, her vision blurring with tears and rain.

Jacquetta pulled her close, trying to comfort her. “Shh, sweetheart. I know it hurts, but you’ll get through this. I promise, it’ll get better.”

“No…no, it won’t…” Rebecca sobbed, shaking her head. “I can’t, Mom. I can’t… James…”

***

“James!” Rebecca screamed, jolting upright in bed, her chest heaving.

Out in the hall, Francis was just seeing his younger siblings off. He was about to check in on Rebecca when he heard her desperate cry.

He burst through the door, flicking on the light. On the bed, Rebecca sat bolt upright, her eyes wide and wild with panic.

The nurse at her bedside turned, startled. “Mr. Johnson,” she said quickly.

Francis rushed to Rebecca’s side, worry etched across his face.