Defending Jacob: The Aftermath Book 1

Unexpected

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While, in Jacob's hospital room, Dr. Stevens came in and told us Jacob's memory was a bit foggy. They told us the swelling on his brain was coming down slowly. The more the swelling came down the better he was getting. The doctor said it will take sometime for Jacob to get his centre of gravity back. He needed physical therapy just like Laurie. The doctor informed us Jacob could come home in a couple of weeks. We told Jacob the house was sold, we had made and offer on a nice home in Burlington, Mass. Jacob was happy about the move he wanted out of Newton he told us. 

He looked at Laurie, he was looking at her thinking something. 

Laurie said "Jacob, honey what's wrong, you can talk to us about anything, we love you." 

Jacob looked nervous and spoke up "Mom you know I didn't kill Ben right."

I looked at Jacob, Laurie looked at me in shock. I was taken aback by what my son had just said. Why would he say that to her, my brain told me "Andy you know it wasn't an accident." I felt rage building. I tried to calm my nerves.

"Jacob, I know you didn't kill Ben, Patz did why are you thinking about that, do you not remember the charges being dropped?" Laurie asked.

Jacob looked at me, than Laurie, he said "I don't know why I said that mom, I just remember saying that in the car with you."

I looked over at Laurie wondering even more what happened in that car ride the day of the accident. My mind of racing with thoughts, I could hear Logiudice's voice "Andy help us get justice for Jacob." His words kept haunting me. 

We stayed with Jacob, he was talking to us, he was remembering a lot more than Laurie. He talked about Mexico, how he met and spent time with Hope Conner's on the vacation. How she went missing, the police questioned us for hours. He remember packing for the move and spending more time with me than Laurie after Mexico. He said she was distant with him, but he couldn't remember why. Jacob was getting tired and needed his rest so we left letting him sleep. We went to make talk with the doctor about him coming home, what he would need etc.

We left and headed home, we grabbed some take out on the way home. My mind was overthinking that day of the accident. I made a quit stop at the store to grab a 6 pack of beer so I could stop thinking and get some sleep. I looked over at Laurie while eating dinner at the table, I finally snapped "Laurie what happened, why didn't swerve away from the bridge for fuck sakes." I yelled.

"Andy I'm sorry, I feel horrible everyday, don't you think if I could take that day back I would." she yelled back with tears.

I sighed, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I know it was just an accident, I don't know why I said that to you." I said as hugged her and rubbed her back.

"Andy, I can you please stop drinking beers, your drinking a lot more than I have ever seen you. I keep finding empty bottles every night." she asked.

"Ok, just been stressed with everything going on, but now that your both getting better, it will be different." I said. 

We retreated to bed for the night. Laurie was sleeping peacefully, it was the first time she had no nightmares since coming home. I couldn't sleep, I went downstairs, I started looking at information on Ben's murder. I had my old laptop back, I studied case file. My mind was coming up with who could have done it. I looked on Charlotte's facebook page dedicated to finding the real killer. She had theories, stating she didn't think is was Jacob, but another classmate. She wrote, Ben would talk to her about this person in texts even. I couldn't help myself, so I searched up her personal page as well, on there was pictures of her, she was beautiful looking. My thoughts went to how is she single.  Right away I yelled "fuck Andy stop" to myself. Through all the stress and trauma, my mine was playing tricks on me. I drank one beer as I told Laurie I would drink less, I ended up falling asleep on the couch. I dreamed of dark hair and blue eyes haunted my thoughts.

The next morning, Laurie and I did our usual thing, breakfast, chatting,  but about what I couldn't remember. We went to see Jacob, Laurie had her first appointment at Dr. Brown's office today. I said I would go with her. She wanted me to stay with Jacob, I was nervous, I didn't want Laurie to remember anything. I also found my thoughts thinking of the assistant the woman who haunted my dreams at night now. I needed to get a grip on my life. I went to see Jake.

"Dad where's mom?" He asked.

I looked at him saying "Jake your mom is at her therapist appointment, she doesn't remember much of anything after Mexico." I asked him "Jake do you remember anything about the accident."

He had tears in his eyes and told me "I can't remember too much, I just know I was scared of Mom the way she was driving, I begged her to slowdown."

That hit me like a tone of bricks, Laurie had snapped in the car while driving, I heard my thoughts saying it now Andy she threw out his baby book, she wanted him dead, she thinks Jacob is a killer. 

I let out a huge breath, "Jacob mom was just hurrying to your appointment you guys where late, it was an accident." I lied to him. I now had the pieces to the puzzle, my heart broke. I was wrong, about that day. I refuse to let Jacob or Laurie figure it out.

Jacob and I talked for a while, Laurie was at her appointment. She came to his hospital room, we all talked about moving  before Jacob came home in now.  Jacob was remembering more that day. He mentioned to Laurie he remembered he watching videos on his phone while she was  driving. My heart was racing, I needed to figure out who the real killer was faster than I thought. My mind was getting excited about my night meeting with Charlotte, I could figure out all the answers with her help. We left the hospital at 6pm went home. I let Laurie know I had and errand to make and would be back later.

I rushed out of the house I didn't want to be late. I pulled into the parking lot in back of the pub. I got out of the car, I reminded myself "Andy where just talking figuring out who killed Ben." I walked into the pub,  it had dim lighting,  lots of people in there having drinks. I looked around and didn't see her. Than I spotted bright blue eyes in the back corner table looking my way. I smiled at her and headed to the table to talk. I didn't realize how far gone I was now. What I was now feeling inside myself was unexpected. I needed to control my thoughts more than ever around her.