The Race

11 Weeks & 6 Days: Part 2

Jess's POV

"I want a divorce!" Jared screamed at me. Tears started rolling down my face.

"Why?" I blubbered, confused.

"I can't handle the cancer, the baby, everything! I need to get away. I should have never brought you home that night to your house." He muttered.

I stopped crying and stood up, wobbly. "You know what, fuck you! I thought you were different! I always did! I never believed any of those tabloids about you being an asshole, but guess what! I was wrong! I should have just fucking killed myself 3 years ago. Go to fucking hell Jared. AND GET THE HELL OUT OF MY DAMN HOUSE!" I seethed and stormed into our bedroom and grabbed the photo album of us and his most prized possession.

I walked into the living room where Jared was standing and turned on the fireplace. His eyes widened as he saw what I was about to do. I threw in the album and his belongings and watched it burn. I looked back at him and said, "I have never felt so much regret in my entire life than I do now, knowing that I'm carrying your fucking child and I actually married you." I threw in my wedding ring and watched the silver band melt.

Shannon's POV

"Jess! What's wrong? Stop crying!" I whispered and quickly walked over to her bed where she was crying in her sleep.

"I had a nightmare. Jared wanted a divorce and I threw my wedding ring in the fireplace and told him I wish I would've killed myself instead of marrying him." She sobbed.

"Shhh, it's okay. It's just a dream." I stroked her hair.

"Where... Where is Jared?" She whispered, tears still streaming down her face.

"He went to go get things from the store." I lied and immediately regretted it. But I couldn't tell her where he actually was because I didn't even know.

"Okay. He'll be back soon then." Jess told herself and began to calm down.

"I'll be right back, okay?" I told her.

"Yeah. Okay." She gave a weak smile.

I walked out into the hallway and dialed my brother's number. It went to voicemail.

"Fuck Jared! She fucking wants you here with her! I told her you went back to the house to get clothes! What the fuck Jared? Where the hell are you? Where did you go? She fucking needs you here Jared! She is sick and is pregnant with MY niece or nephew and I'm not letting anything happen to them! You better get your fucking ass down to this hospital right now. If you won't, I'm telling Jess and hunting your ass down and I'm going to beat the shit out of you. How could you be so fucking stupid to do something like this and not be here for someone you love, let alone your FUCKING WIFE! I'm giving you until tonight to get back here and if you don't, then I'm going to tell her everything and it'll be my name on the birth certificate." I threatened and ended the call.

I walked back into the hospital room and smiled at Jess. I sat on the edge of her bed and watched her.

"Shannon?" Her cracked lips said.

"Yeah Jess?"

"Could you run home and grab a couple of things for me? Since I'll be here for awhile? And maybe call my mom? I know it's a lot to ask and I understand if you don't want to, I can just call Jared."

"No no, don't call him. I'll be more than glad to do it. What do you need?" I asked her immediately.

"Definitely some more clothes. I also want our wedding photo album and the 2 baby books on my nightstand. You and I can look at names when you get back." She smiled.

I cringed at the sound of "wedding album", if only she knew.

"Do you want me to go now?" I asked her instead.

"No, you don't have to. But could you lay with me? Just until Jared gets back? Platonically, of course." Jess pleaded.

"Of course." I grinned and climbed in the bed next to her. Jess rested her shoulder on mine and she started showing me all of the pictures of the concerts of ours that she never showed me.

"He isn't coming back, is he?" Jess asked quietly, about an hour later.

I closed my eyes and whispered back, "Not that I know of."

She only nodded and turned the other way on the bed, facing the door.

"I'm going to the house and then to get some Chinese for us. What do you want?" I said, trying to make her feel better.

"Fried rice and orange chicken please." My sister-in-law replied, monotone.

"I'll be back. Get some rest." I nodded at her and walked out of the door, knowing that I was going to come back.

Jared's POV

I drove up to the empty house and walked inside looking at all of the photos of Jess and I on the walls. I never imagined myself getting married, let alone even expecting a child. I sighed and walked into the kitchen looking at the pot of fettuccine still on the stove and plates scattered all over. I didn't notice the note on the table. I grabbed the biggest bottle of whiskey I could find and didn't even bother getting a glass. I threw my stuff down and tipped the bottle of liquid fire down my throat to throw out my emotions as well. I grabbed 2 more bottles, not even sure if they were whiskey and headed into our bedroom. I flopped down onto the bed and took large gulps of the alcohol. I no longer felt anything except a raging headache. Still having the bottle clutched into my hand, I turned on the TV and tipped the bottle down my throat once more.

Shannon's POV

I pulled up to Jess's house and it was about midnight. I got out and saw Jared's BMW sitting in the driveway. I peered inside and he wasn't in there. Shrugging, I walked inside the door and saw his coat and shoes throw across the floor. He has to be here, I thought.

"Jared?" I called out. No answer. He's probably sleeping, I reasoned with myself. I walked back to their bedroom to get Jess's clothes and books that she wanted. Jared was in there clutching the whiskey bottle while passed out across the bed.

"Dammit Jared," I grumbled as I pried the bottle away, "you've never done this, why the hell now? You should be with her." I looked over at his phone and saw that it still said that there was a new voicemail. I quickly deleted it and grabbed Jess's belongings and scrawled out a note for Jared and placed it next to a bottle of water and aspirin.

"She has an ultrasound tomorrow and she is awake. Be there for her. She NEEDS you."

I glanced one last time at his drunken state and shook my head, closing the door behind me and going back to the hospital to fill the void of someone absent. Jared.