by Megan Smith
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
I was pulling up to the doctor’s office a few minutes late because it was fucking pouring out. People were hydroplaning everywhere and the roads were pretty terrifying. I’d expected to see CC’s Mazda in the parking lot; she was early for everything, but the fact it was missing actually made me smile. I didn’t want her rushing to be on time and getting in to an accident.
I sent Mason a text to see if he’d seen or heard from Dominic recently. That stupid asshole had cheated on CC with Brittany and now he couldn’t ditch her to save his life. Mason told me he’d run into her one night at a bar and she was practically throwing herself at Dominic. It was pitiful.
Apparently, Mason was sitting at the bar waiting on Hailey, when Dominic sauntered over and sat down next to him with Brittany on the other side. Mason couldn’t stand the sleaze after what he’d done to his sister. He said he was trying to ignore them by watching the Phillies on the big ass flat screen, when the mention of Kenzie’s name sparked his interest.
“I don’t know why you don’t just tell him that Kenzie’s baby is yours. The sooner you admit it to yourself, and her, the better.” Brittany was saying to Dominic. This is when Mason started listening, still not outwardly acknowledging them.
“How many god damn times do I have to tell you? That baby is not mine! You do this shit every fucking time you start drinking.” Dominic yelled back at her.
“I know it is Dom, I saw how you used to look at her.” Brittany told him.
“It doesn’t matter how I looked at her, I fucked all that up by fucking you. Not one of my best moments, that’s for damn sure. Now either sit there and shut the fuck up, or leave. Better yet, go back to Virginia.” Dominic spat at her.
Mason couldn’t bite his tongue any longer. “The both of you need to leave my fucking sister alone. She doesn’t need this shit right now,” he seethed. Then he settled his tab and texted Hailey, telling her he would meet her back at the house. He couldn’t stand being around those two a moment longer.
After that, Dominic ran into CC a few times at the grocery store; only once with Brittany though. She always told me after she’d seen them so I’d never think she was hiding things from me. I trusted her, but it did make me feel better knowing she told me these things. She also said that the one time she did run into Brittany, she’d started up again; claiming that she knew the baby was Dominic’s. CC just brushed it off and ignored her which apparently pissed Brittany off even more, because she started to threaten to tell me the ‘truth’. CC said she’d just laughed and walked away. I loved her for that. She was always being the better person; she didn’t let the damn drama get to her.
Me 12:12pm: Yo! You heard from Dom lately? Is that crazy bitch still here?
Mason 12:14pm: No and yeah she’s still here
Me 12:16pm: Damn where is your sister? She’s 15 mins late
Mason: 12:20pm: Hailey said she talked to her an hour ago
I waited a few more minutes before I tried to call her again but it still went straight to her voicemail. Thinking maybe her phone had died and she had parked on the other side of the building, I ran into the doctor’s office to check if she was there.
The lady sitting behind the glass — Tina, Tammy, something like that — greeted me, “Hunter, nice to see you again.” Since we were coming twice a week now, they’d started recognizing and greeting us before we even signed in.
“Nice to see you too. Is MacKenzie back there already? I was waiting for her out in the parking lot but didn’t see her. I thought I’d check in here.”
“No, I haven’t seen her. That’s strange; she’s always right on time.”
“I figured she might be running a few minutes late with the rain, but I can’t get hold of her - her cell phone is going straight to voicemail.”
The receptionist looked at the time and said, “Wow, yeah it’s past twelve-thirty. I hope everything’s ok.”
I pulled out my cell phone and tried to call again, but I was still getting her voicemail. “Look, I’m going to backtrack her way here, maybe she got a flat tire or something. If she happens to come in, can you please call my cell?”
“Yes sure, of course.” I jotted my number on a Post-It and handed it to her, thanking her before heading toward the door.
“I hope everything is ok, Hunter!” she yelled out to me.
I ran back to my truck with an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something was really wrong. I called Cooper because I knew he was already out with Jaylinn.
“Yo, you heard from Kenz?”
I heard the fading voice of a much too cheerful DJ as Cooper turned down the radio, “No, I thought you guys had a doctor’s appointment today.”
“Yeah we do, but she never showed. Are you by our house?”
“Yeah, we’re right around the corner actually. We’ll swing by and see if she’s there. I’ll call you in a few.”
“Thanks.”
Fuck! Where is she?
I tore out of the lot, leaving a cloud of smoke behind me. What the hell could’ve happened?
I got on the ramp to Route 295 and was stopped dead in traffic. Shit! I slammed my fist on the steering wheel. This can’t happen today, I need to get home. I need to find CC!
After a few minutes at a standstill, my cell phone rang. I reached over and snatched it from the cup holder. “Coop?”
“Yeah, she isn’t here. She didn’t have to stop anywhere else before she went there?”
This traffic hasn’t moved in the last five minutes. I can’t even back up because there are cars up my ass. “Last time I talked to her was when I left and she didn’t mention anything.”
Jaylinn got on the phone, “Have you talked to Hailey? Maybe she’s talked to her.”
I should’ve called her, damn it. I can’t think straight. “Hailey talked to her an hour before the appointment but I haven’t talked to her since.”
Cooper again, “Jay’s calling Hailey now. Where are you at?”
In a few more feet I could probably bust a U-turn and go down the ramp. “I’m stuck in fucking traffic on 295; there must be an accident or something.”
I heard Jaylinn say something to Cooper, but the phone was breaking up. “I can’t hear what she’s saying, Coop.”
“Hailey talked to her an over an hour ago. Kenzie is supposed to go over there after the appointment.”
My phone beeped, Mrs. Cahill was calling. “Coop your mom is calling, I’ll call you back.”
I took the phone away from my ear to slide the answer button across the screen. It took me a few tries - I was shaking like a bitch. “Hello?”
“Hunter! Oh thank God. Is my baby girl with you?” Mrs. Cahill asked, sounding worried.
“No. She never showed up for the appointment. I’m out looking for her now.”
&n
bsp; I heard her gasp and then there was a loud thump in my ear. She’d dropped the phone and I could make out that she was wailing uncontrollably.
I heard Mr. Cahill in the background shushing her, followed by a bunch of shuffling noises. “Hunter. Hey son, where are you?”
“What’s going on?” I couldn’t even answer him. I just needed answers and I needed them now.
“Are you by a TV?”
“No. I’m sitting in traffic, trying to get onto 295 so I can go look for CC.”
Sighing into the phone he said, “There seems to have been some kind of accident and from what we can see, it looks like MacKenzie’s car.”
I rested my head on the steering wheel and took a few deep breaths. This can’t be true, CC was too careful. “Where’s the accident at?”
Please don’t say 295.
“On the south bound side of 295, right near exit 32.” he answered.
As soon as I heard the words, I dropped the phone, threw open the truck door and took off down the ramp on foot. If it was her I would be able to see from where I was.
There were fire trucks, cop cars and ambulances everywhere. I saw two cars, one was smashed into the guard rail and the other was facing the wrong direction on the highway. Neither car was CC’s. There was an EMT walking back to the ambulance so I jogged over to him.
“Excuse me sir, are these the only two cars that were involved?” I asked slightly out of breath.
He kept walking, so I followed him. “Please sir, my fiancé never showed for her doctor’s appointment.”
That finally got his attention. He grabbed a bag from the back and slung it over his shoulder before finally acknowledged me. “Does she drive a White Mazda 3?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and swallowed down the lump in my throat. Then I nodded. “Her car rolled down the embankment. She’s still alive, but we need to get her to the hospital as soon as possible. They’re landing a helicopter on the golf course and taking her to Cooper Hospital. That’s all I can tell you.” He hustled back towards the embankment.
I was frozen. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. I stood there until the sound of a helicopter taking flight brought me back to the horrifying situation. I looked around; there was no way I could get out of here with all this traffic. I ran back to my truck. I was getting to CC one way or another. I would push a car out of my way if I had to.
Thankfully, there was just enough room for me to turn the truck without hitting the car in front of me. I hopped the curb and turned the vehicle around, then drove passed all the cars trying to get on the ramp. I fumbled around on the floor for my phone. I needed to call Mason and Cooper and tell them to meet me at the hospital.
Finally finding it by my right foot, I grabbed it and dialed Mason’s number. He answered on the first ring, “Was it her car?”
I took a shuddering breath, “Yeah. She’s alive but they’re air lifting her to Cooper University Hospital. Can you meet me there?”
“I’m on my way.”
I dialed Cooper and he picked up before it even had a chance to ring, “Dude, please tell me that’s not her car.”
“I’m sorry Coop. They’re air lifting her to Cooper University. I need you to call your mom and dad and have everyone meet over there.” I couldn’t call her parents, not unless I had some useful information.
“Do you think she’ll be ok?” I heard Jaylinn crying in the background.
“She has to be.”
“Alright, we’ll meet you there in a few minutes. I’ll have Jay call your mom.”
“Thanks.”
Cooper took a deep breath, “Hunter?”
“Yeah?”
“Be safe. Everything’s going to be ok.”
“It has to be Coop, I’ll see you soon.” I hung up and for the first time that I can remember, I cried.
Everything has to be ok. CC and the baby will make it through this. They have to. As I drove I did something that I didn’t do nearly enough, I prayed. I prayed all the way to the hospital. Things were finally perfect, almost too perfect for us, and now this had to happen.
I was the first to arrive at the hospital so I rushed over to the admissions desk to see if CC had made it there yet.
“Excuse me, can you please tell me if my fiancé, MacKenzie Cahill, has arrived yet?”
“Sure, let me take a look.” She began typing away on her computer. “It looks like she just came in. If you’ll have a seat, I’ll see what I can find out for you.”
“Please, as soon as you know anything, let me know. She’s nine months pregnant and was involved in a car accident a little while ago.”
With sympathy in her eyes she nodded and began typing again. I walked away from the counter so that the next people in line could be helped. I reached in my pocket and took out my phone to check the time; two hours had gone by since I left the scene of the accident - that was two too many for me. I was pacing nervously back and forth in front of the vending machines when Cooper and Jaylinn appeared. As soon as she set eyes on me Jaylinn’s sobs came fast and heavy, and she threw her arms around me in a tight, heaving embrace. I squeezed her waist for almost a second, then let go and raised my eyes to Cooper. I couldn’t comfort my sister right now; I was barely holding on myself.
“Any word?” Cooper asked, giving me a slap on the shoulder.
“No, nothing yet. They’re going to call me as soon as they find something out.” I said, returning the uncomfortable but friendly slap.
“Everyone’s on their way here. Maybe Dad can get them to give us more information if we haven’t heard anything by then.” Cooper said as he and Jaylinn went to sit down.
“Hunter? Come sit down, you’re making me more anxious.” Jaylinn asked. I took a seat next to her and hung my head in my hands, resting my elbows on my legs. Things had only really ever got this intense for me once before; but I couldn’t let the memories of my father surface. I’d spoken about him to Mason and Cooper, and CC knew of him but that was it.
A few minutes, maybe longer, had passed; I wasn’t even sure at that point; before the rest of CC’s family showed up.
I stood and hugged my mom when she rushed over to us, and she immediately started crying. In between the sobs she asked, “Have you heard anything yet?”
I kissed the top of her head and looked over at Mr. Cahill before I answered, “No, nothing yet.”
CC’s father cleared his throat in an attempt to keep his composure. “I’ll go see if there’s any update. They should be able to tell us something by now.” he said, wandering in the direction of the front desk.
I looked over towards Jaylinn, Hailey, Mrs. Cahill and Chloe, who were all seated in the corner of the waiting room. “Mom, why don’t you go sit with the girls? I’m going to go get some air for a few minutes.”
Tears still pouring from her eyes, she nodded. I kissed her cheek and she joined the girls with her head down. I strode out of the waiting room and down the hallway, there was no way I could be far if Mr. Cahill came back with news. Mason, Cooper and Jackson followed me out but I really just needed a little time to myself.
“Did you find anything out?” Jackson asked.
“No, they aren’t saying anything. I guess that’s a good sign in a way but I still think this is bullshit. I just want to know what’s going on.” I told them as I leaned back against the wall. “I told her I would always fucking protect her, and now look what the fuck happened. She’s never going to forgive me if something happens to our baby. Shit! I’m never going to forgive myself.”
“Dude it’s not your fault. It was an accident.” Cooper said.
Mason leaned back against the wall right next to me and said, “She may be heartbroken when she wakes up but there was nothing either of you could have done to prevent the accident.”
“I should have taken the time off work and just picked her up, that way none of this would be happening right now.” I was so pissed at myself. Just the other night, while CC and I were lying in the bed, we were laugh
ing because she said she could barely reach the pedals with her belly in the way. Thinking about it now, it really wasn’t that funny.
Chloe came out of the waiting room with Alex and the diaper bag in her hand. “Sorry, I’m just going to change Alex.”
“It’s alright babe.” Jackson pulled Chloe in and kissed Alex’s cheek.
I kicked off the wall and went back into the waiting room. It was probably a dickhead move but whatever; I didn’t give a shit right now. “What the fuck is happening in there?” I yelled as I paced back and forth in the waiting room. I was really trying to keep calm but my whole life was behind those damn doors.
“We don’t know yet.” Mr. Cahill said when he came back in and wrapped his arms around his crying wife.
I kept trying to look in through the doors every time someone would go in or leave, but all I could see were a bunch of doctors and nurses scrambling around. I stopped moving, even stopped breathing, when I saw CC’s limp arm hanging off the edge of the table; recognizable only from the ring I had given her just a few months ago and the bracelet I had given her for her birthday.
Cooper came up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder, “I have to do something; I can’t just wait here and do nothing.” I walked over to the trash can and kicked it; everyone jumped. I need to do something to take the edge off; I’m going fucking insane not knowing anything except that she’s alive.
It was nearly 9 p.m. when a doctor calmly strolled out. He called for us and led us into a private room; I took a seat between my mom and Mrs. Cahill, who both reached over and grabbed my hands. Everyone else was standing behind us, except for Chloe who stayed in the waiting room with an oblivious, sleeping Alex on her lap.
The doctor cleared his throat, “I’m Dr. Clearly, I’ve been working on MacKenzie since she arrived. She is alive, but has suffered a great deal.” I felt lighter already. Thank God for that! Whatever lies ahead for us, we can deal with that together. Now for one more miracle and I could finally start to relax a little bit. “After we assessed all of her injuries, we hooked MacKenzie up to the ultrasound monitor to check on the baby. The on call OB-GYN made the decision to perform an emergency Cesarean section - MacKenzie was having contractions and, since she was nearly full term, it was safer to deliver the baby than it would have been to wait. She delivered at 4:38 p.m. and the baby is being monitored in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, but appears to be doing well.” I hung my head as a sob escaped me, I couldn’t hold it back. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room. The doctor continued, “MacKenzie appears to have protected the baby during the crash and has taken most of the injuries to her wrist and leg. She has a dislocated thumb on her left hand, which we have reset. Her right wrist is broken which will have to be in a cast. The right ankle was severely crushed and we will need to operate on that as soon as we can. When she arrived she was unconscious and we’ve kept her in a medically induced coma right now for her safety. Sometimes when the body has gone through a trauma, it can go into shock if it regains consciousness too quickly; we just want to make sure that doesn’t happen. She is getting a CT-Scan now, so depending on the results we may be able to slowly wake her up.” Dr. Clearly sat back in his chair. “One of the nurses will come and get you when MacKenzie is back in her room and settled.” He stood up to leave but looked at me before turning away and said, “She is extremely lucky, not many people would walk away from something like this.”
