Chapter 9
[Addison]
“I’m so sorry, Addison,” the doctor placed a hand on my shoulder as she said her farewells. “Would you like us to call your husband or would you…”
Shaking my head I told her not to bother. If he had cared about me or this child he’d have saved us in the warehouse. He’d have
come back for us, or at least checked in on me after he was informed I was taken to the hospital.
But I haven’t heard or seen anything of my husband in the three days I’ve been in the hospital receiving blood transfusions and recovering from the miscarriage and injuries. My body is slowly starting to heal–but my broken heart and shattered mind will
never be the same
I am trapped within the loop of memories as I struggle to make sense of what happened that night. My son was so desperate to go outside and play, more insistent than usual. He was so persistent and didn’t ease up until we went out together only to have him run off away from me and out of sight as soon as I opened the door.
Why?
And then the car ride with Evelyn and the kidnapper, everything that happened in the warehouse. Evelyn must be behind all of this somehow. She was far too familiar with the man behind the wheel of that car to be anything other than a willing participant in destroying what remained of my family.
Laying back in bed, I close my eyes as the tears burn my cheeks.
Three days is a long time to be alone to one’s thoughts. No one has come by to visit me. Nobody has called. I tried texting Michael, but he ghosted me, leaving my message on read while he’s doing whatever it is that he finds more important.
He hasn’t even checked to find out WHY I’m still here. I haven’t told him about the miscarriage–I was waiting to see him in
person.
But he never came. He hasn’t visited me once.
“I guess I’m not his family anymore,” I sigh, looking at my silent phone one more time. “If they don’t want me, maybe I should leave them to Evelyn.”
I guess it’s really over.
Wiping my eyes, I reach over to grab the TV remote when my phone begins to vibrate, startling me. Picking it up, I recognize the number immediately–Jayson is calling me from his tablet. vibrates in my hand and I jump, startled. Looking at the number on the ⚫
screen, I receive a second shock–It’s Jayson, calling me from his tablet in his bedroom.
“Jayson sweetie,” My heart skips. Maybe my son hasn’t forgotten me. “You called.”
“Mom, where are you?” His pouting face fills the screen as he video–calls me from his room. “I’m sorry about what I said before.
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Chapter 9
+25 Bonus
I didn’t mean to be mean. Come home. I’m hungry.”
Does he only care about me when he needs something from me?
“I’m sorry Jayson, I’m still in the hospital resting and…”
“You need to come home, NOW!” My little boy demands, holding the screen almost too close to his face. “You should be done resting.”
“Jayson,” I try to talk sense into him, but he isn’t listening.
“Who else is going to feed me?” he queries, his face growing red with frustration.
Closing my eyes I take one deep breath, and then another.
“Mom…”
“No, Jayson,” my eyes snap open and I see his little mouth form an ‘o‘ of shock. “I’m not coming home to feed you. You’ll need to find Mama Evelyn. She’s going to feed you for now on.”
Ending the call, I turn it off and set my phone face down.
My heart aches as I cover my face with my hands and weep. Michael only used me as a placeholder for his true love and Jayson tossed me aside as soon as a prettier mommy came into his life to spoil him. I love them with everything that I am–did either of them ever love me?
“No,” I moan, rocking myself back and forth. “I don’t think they did.”
As that realization settled in, something deep inside snapped and let go. If they don’t want me, I can go somewhere else.
I’m done. They aren’t my family anymore.
I want a divorce. That way we can all be free to find the love we need. Michael and Jayson can have Evelyn and I…
“I guess I’ll be alone,” I muse, sniffling.
“You’re not alone,” a deep voice calls from the doorway and I turn to see who spoke. (1
Standing just outside the room is a tall man with dark hair and deep blue eyes wearing a crisp, gray suit.
