“See you tomorrow,” he murmurs, then reaches behind me and opens my door.
Not wanting to leave him, but knowing I have to, I step back and get behind the wheel. As soon as the door is closed and I start the truck, I roll down my window. He bends and gives me another kiss before stepping back.
I drive away with a big smile on my face, feeling happier and more hopeful than I have in a long time.
Chapter 20
Gwendolyn
Me: We’re leaving. Be there in twenty.
I hit Send, then call for the kids, letting them know it’s time to go.
To say they are excited to meet Alexander’s parents was a big understatement. Well, Daniel shows his excitement, but I can tell the idea is pleasing to Kelsey as well from the look in her eyes. I don’t have any family left and it’s not often they get to see Will’s parents because they travel a lot. Besides me, Emma, Will’s parents, and now the few people in town we’ve grown close with, they have no one else.
And now Alexander and his parents. I smile at the thought.
Daniel comes running out of his room, several of the figurines Alexander gave him clutched in his hand. He informed me earlier that he wanted to take some with him to show Alexander that he was taking good care of them like he promised.
Kelsey comes out at a more sedate pace, and I’m pleased to see she’s using the homemade crossword puzzle books again. She has been since Alexander talked to her. That talk has done a world of good for my little girl. She’s still hasn’t spoken to me, but I do catch glimpses of her looking happier than she’s been since Will died. It’s been a month since I heard her talking to Alexander, but I’m hoping, given time, she’ll talk to me. Every night since I heard her asking God to help Alexander, she’s prayed the same thing. I don’t believe she’s forgotten about her father; it’s more she’s finally accepting he’s not coming home. I think she’s found peace with that.
“Are you both ready?” I ask.
Daniel shouts his yes, while Kelsey nods, a ghost of a smile playing on her face. It’s so hard for me to look at her when I see a happier emotion on her face, because I want to gather her in my arms and hug her so tightly.
We decided not to bring Pepper on this trip since we recently had her spayed and she needs the rest, so Daniel says goodbye as I grab the casserole dish with cheesy baked shells and broccoli. Jitters form in my belly as I pull out of the driveway. Even though I’ve already met his parents, I’m both anxious and nervous. I know it’s stupid, because they seemed like really nice people, but what if they don’t like me? What if they don’t understand Kelsey’s mutism and think awful things about her? What if Daniel’s spirited disposition is too much for them?
If that’s the case, obviously I wouldn’t want my kids or me to have anything do with them, but I know it’ll hurt Alexander if we couldn’t be around his parents. My kids come first and always will, no matter what, but I hate to think about anything negative between Alexander and me.
I pull to a stop at the stop sign and flip on my blinker to turn down the long road that leads to Alexander’s house. Making sure there’s no one coming either way, I press the gas pedal and pull forward.
It happens before I know it. There’s a loud blaring sound seconds before the hard hit comes from behind us. Something crunches, and the impact of the hit flings my head to the side, where it smashes against the window. Pain instantly bursts in my head, but I don’t have time to really feel it before I’m flung to the other side as the car rolls to its side. The only thing keeping me in place is the seat belt digging into my shoulder and stomach.
I hear Daniel screaming from the back seat and Kelsey wailing my name as the car comes to a stop on its roof.
My head pounds an erratic beat and my vision starts to cloud. I try blinking the fuzziness away, but each time I close my eyes, it’s harder for me to open them again.
“Mama!” Kelsey yells again, and the only thing I can think as my visions fills with black spots is how long I’ve waited to hear Kelsey call me mama again. Before the darkness consumes me, I send up a silent prayer begging God to let my kids be okay.
Alexander
I glance down at my phone for what seems like the hundredth time, and the screen still shows no missed notifications. I get up from the couch and start pacing the floor. My dad, who’s been watching an old football game, mutes the TV.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks.
My feet carry me back and forth over the brown carpet, and I barely spare him a glance when I answer him.
“Gwen. She messaged me thirty minutes ago saying she was on her way.” I look down at my phone again, only for it to look the same as it did ten seconds ago. “She should have been here by now.”
“Sit down, son. I’m sure she just had to stop somewhere or there was a bit of traffic.”
I shoot him a look that says his suggestions are ridiculous. “Have you forgotten you used to live here? We don’t have traffic in Cat’s Valley.”
“True, but she probably stopped by the store and grabbed something to go with dinner.”
A loud banging coming from the kitchen has my body jerking. My mom yells out “Sorry!” before going back to cooking the dinner she insisted on making.
Dread forms in my stomach for no apparent reason. It’s just a gut feeling that something isn’t right. Something’s not fucking right.