[Addison]

Everything hurts, especially my head which aches as I open my eyes and turn my head.

Michael is sitting next to me, his eyes bright with excitement as he reaches forward and pulls my hand towards his, kissing it gently. “Oh good, you’re awake,” he grins brightly, “You had me worried.”

“Michael, what happened?” the strange lights burn my eyes as I blink awake. “How did I end up in the hospital? I…”

“You’re pregnant, Addy!” The smile on his face widens as he scoots closer to the bed. “After all this time! Can you believe it!”

Pregnant? I can’t be pregnant. I was going to leave Michael, but if I’m pregnant, that changes everything.

“The doctors say you are entering your third month,” his joy shines brightly, as he babbles about all of the things he wants to do for our new little one–designing a nursery and getting all the best things. “We need to set up your prenatal appointments and get a baby monitor and find a nanny and….”

He wants to be a father again so badly. I was so ready to leave him, but now…maybe I misjudged him. He says he isn’t involved with Evelyn. If I love him, I would trust him.

But those messages on Jayson’s tablet…Evelyn is acting like she’s Jayson’s mother.

“Michael, I need to ask you something.” I interrupt and he pauses, taking a breath. “Is Evelyn Jayson’s biological mother?”

“Why would you ask such a thing?” Michael scoffs, offended. “She can’t possibly be his mother. I found him in a dumpster, remember? And Evelyn can’t have kids. She’s always wanted them, but she’s never been able to conceive.” My husband frowns. “She loves children–that’s why she became a teacher. Don’t think about it too hard.”

Hearing about Evelyn’s struggles with infertility melts the ice around my heart towards her. I too know what it’s like to wish to have a child of my own. I love Jayson as much as if I had birthed him, but I’ve always wanted to feel the wonder of having a little life growing inside of me.

Could it be that Evelyn has that same wish?

Maybe I’ve misjudged them both.

Michael wouldn’t budge from that chair except to bring me water, food, or entertainment. He insisted he stay next to me, even after I told him he could go home. “If I leave you, something else might happen,” he joked.

“You can’t stay here all day,” I smile at him, my heart willing to give him another chance. “Don’t you need to work?”

“I told the office not to call,” he promises, kissing my brow. “I’m all yours until the doctors send you home.”

Michael’s pocket buzzes as he bends to retake his seat. “I told them not to…” he looks at his phone and stops mid-word. “I…I’m sorry, I wouldn’t normally answer but this is important.”

He rushes from the room without a backward glance, his mind already somewhere else. I am used to this, it is often the way he is with work, and I don’t resent him for it. I know how important it is to build a company from scratch–I helped him build it.

Although it does make me lonely sometimes.

A few hours later he returns with our son. “Mommy?” His little voice calls from the doorway. “Mommy I made you a present.”

As Michael helps me out of bed, my son hands me a lovingly crafted doll. “Look what I made at school!”

“Wow, Jayson,” I give him my best smile as I hug him to my waist. “When did you learn to sew so well?”

“I’m sorry I was mad yesterday,” he presses the doll to my chest, promising me that she’ll make me feel better.

Michael drops me back at home, his phone ringing as yet another emergency pulls him away. “Take care of one another,” he kisses us both on the tops of our heads before rushing out the front door.

Jayson and I play together until it is time for me to prepare dinner. Looking up at the clock, my son turns and asks, “Can I play outside.”

“It’s 5:30,” I frown. “It’s already starting to get dark. It’s too late.”

“But Mom,” he whines. “Just for a few minutes. I won’t leave the yard.”

I tell him it’s a bad idea but he persists.

“Pleeeeze,” he begs, his large blue eyes blinking innocently. “I want you to come with me. We can play together.”

“Okay, but only for a few minutes,” I relent, happy that Jayson wants to spend time with me.

As soon as I open the door, Jayson starts running around the yard like a tightly wound spring. Still exhausted and sore from this morning, I do my best to stay with him, but he has always been an energetic child, and today is no exception. He runs to the edge of our yard and balances on the curb.

“Come on, Mommy,” he calls out. “Let’s play!”

He leans toward the street, almost falling.

“Come away from the street, Jayson,” I call out.

He doesn’t listen. Looking over his shoulder he taunts me, inviting me to chase him.

“You can’t catch me, Mommy!” he laughs as he runs down the street towards a dark alley.

“Come back here right now, Jayson” I gasp, leaning over to rest on my knees for a moment before giving chase again. “Mommy’s serious, this isn’t a joke.”

Following his laughter I turn a corner.

Standing in the middle of the alley, a bright overhead light shines down on him like a heavenly light, and he points a finger directly at my chest. “There she is.”

“Jay…”

A rag smelling of chemicals covers my mouth and nose while strong arms grab me around the face and torso. My eyes start to close as I reach out for my son. “Jayson!!” I try to scream but the rag clamps down even tighter.

Inhaling one more time I call my son’s name.

“Jayson,” I gasp as my son’s image blurs in the distance, my eyes losing focus before they finally close.