report was wrapping up. A bus had been sideswiped by a moving van, then crashed into a telephone pole. No fatalities, thank God, but several people had been taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Jessica turned the television off, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes. Mr. Louie jumped up on her lap and made himself comfortable.
As she stroked his back she couldn't help wondering what her life would be like if she was, in fact, pregnant with Garrett's child. Would he marry her? Did she even want to get married again? He could be a crabby SOB ... but hey, so could she. They barely knew each other, yet sometimes when he looked at her, she felt like they'd known each forever. And they were certainly a perfect fit, as ridiculous as that seemed considering he was over a foot taller than her and outweighed her by at least a hundred and fifty pounds.
But, wow ... she'd never felt more safe than when Garrett held her in his arms. He was such an incredible lover, too, although she'd keep that bit of news to herself since his head was big enough already. And he'd certainly come a long way with Mr. Louie, she thought as she scratched behind the lazy fur ball's ears.
For the first time in a very long time she felt like maybe a husband and children were in the cards for her after all. Maybe God planned on giving her a second chance.
Remembering she had a couple of loads of laundry to get done before her shift started, Jessica set a disgruntled Mr. Louie on the floor and headed for the basement. She'd just finished folding the second load when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hi, may I please speak to Jessica?"
"This is Jessica. Can I help you?"
"Jessica, this is Pam Harty, I'm a triage nurse at St. Mary's Hospital. I'm calling to inform you that your husband was in a bus accident today."
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Chapter 8
"You wanna run that by me again?” Assaulted by warring emotions, Jessica stumbled back until her heel collided with the sofa and plopped down before her knees could give out.
"I realize this is a shock, but let me assure you your husband is going to be fine. He's suffered several contusions, mostly on his face and chest, and he broke both his left leg and left arm. He's pretty crabby, but considering all he's been through—"
"Are you talking about Wade? Wade Hastings? He was in that bus accident?"
"Yes. Mrs. Hastings, are you all right? Your husband can't be released from the hospital unless someone is here to drive him home, but frankly, it doesn't sound like you're in any condition—"
"Here, let me talk to her,” said the one voice she'd hoped to never hear again. Jessica squeezed her eyes shut and prayed it was just some horrific joke. “Hey, baby, you there?"
Nope, no joke, she thought, fighting to hold on to her composure. She'd never have believed God could be this cruel.
"Come on, Jessie, talk to me."
"How did you get my number?” she demanded, relieved to hear the confidence in her voice. “And what the hell are you doing in Green Bay?"
"Hey, darlin', can I get a little privacy here?” Jessica heard him ask in that slithery voice she used to find so attractive. “Jessie, can we talk about all that later? I really need you to come pick me up. They won't let me leave without a ride."
Jessica couldn't believe her ears. After everything that'd happened, he actually expected her to come pick him up? She felt a hysterical urge to laugh only there wasn't a damn thing funny about any of this. “You must be out of your mind. I told you I never wanted to see you again, and I meant it!"
"Calm down.” He lowered his voice. “Look, I know you don't owe me a damn thing, but I'm begging you, please, come pick me up. I've got a cast on my arm and on my leg, my head is bandaged up. Hell, I can't even take a piss on my own. Baby, I'm begging you. I'd get down on my hands and knees if I could."
Jessica closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. Why the hell was this happening?
As she stroked his back she couldn't help wondering what her life would be like if she was, in fact, pregnant with Garrett's child. Would he marry her? Did she even want to get married again? He could be a crabby SOB ... but hey, so could she. They barely knew each other, yet sometimes when he looked at her, she felt like they'd known each forever. And they were certainly a perfect fit, as ridiculous as that seemed considering he was over a foot taller than her and outweighed her by at least a hundred and fifty pounds.
But, wow ... she'd never felt more safe than when Garrett held her in his arms. He was such an incredible lover, too, although she'd keep that bit of news to herself since his head was big enough already. And he'd certainly come a long way with Mr. Louie, she thought as she scratched behind the lazy fur ball's ears.
For the first time in a very long time she felt like maybe a husband and children were in the cards for her after all. Maybe God planned on giving her a second chance.
Remembering she had a couple of loads of laundry to get done before her shift started, Jessica set a disgruntled Mr. Louie on the floor and headed for the basement. She'd just finished folding the second load when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hi, may I please speak to Jessica?"
"This is Jessica. Can I help you?"
"Jessica, this is Pam Harty, I'm a triage nurse at St. Mary's Hospital. I'm calling to inform you that your husband was in a bus accident today."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 8
"You wanna run that by me again?” Assaulted by warring emotions, Jessica stumbled back until her heel collided with the sofa and plopped down before her knees could give out.
"I realize this is a shock, but let me assure you your husband is going to be fine. He's suffered several contusions, mostly on his face and chest, and he broke both his left leg and left arm. He's pretty crabby, but considering all he's been through—"
"Are you talking about Wade? Wade Hastings? He was in that bus accident?"
"Yes. Mrs. Hastings, are you all right? Your husband can't be released from the hospital unless someone is here to drive him home, but frankly, it doesn't sound like you're in any condition—"
"Here, let me talk to her,” said the one voice she'd hoped to never hear again. Jessica squeezed her eyes shut and prayed it was just some horrific joke. “Hey, baby, you there?"
Nope, no joke, she thought, fighting to hold on to her composure. She'd never have believed God could be this cruel.
"Come on, Jessie, talk to me."
"How did you get my number?” she demanded, relieved to hear the confidence in her voice. “And what the hell are you doing in Green Bay?"
"Hey, darlin', can I get a little privacy here?” Jessica heard him ask in that slithery voice she used to find so attractive. “Jessie, can we talk about all that later? I really need you to come pick me up. They won't let me leave without a ride."
Jessica couldn't believe her ears. After everything that'd happened, he actually expected her to come pick him up? She felt a hysterical urge to laugh only there wasn't a damn thing funny about any of this. “You must be out of your mind. I told you I never wanted to see you again, and I meant it!"
"Calm down.” He lowered his voice. “Look, I know you don't owe me a damn thing, but I'm begging you, please, come pick me up. I've got a cast on my arm and on my leg, my head is bandaged up. Hell, I can't even take a piss on my own. Baby, I'm begging you. I'd get down on my hands and knees if I could."
Jessica closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. Why the hell was this happening?
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