Moments that define us

Chapter Twenty Six

Jameson

They say life happens in the blink of an eye. But I think I watched my world shatter in one single heartbeat.

I watched as the tree fell and Emily tried to get away from it, she turned too hard too fast and her car flipped. I run as fast as I can and try to pry her door open. I run back to my truck and grab my crowbar. After a few minutes of tryin' it finally opens. Emily is upside down passed out. I'm so scared to touch her, but I know I need to get her out of the car.

I dial 911, and tell them where we are. I go to unbuckle her, and I grab her before she falls. When I get her out of the car I hold her close to me. She's got a cut on her forehead. I hold on to her as tight as I can. Rain pelts our bodies.

In the distance I hear the sirens. My eyes wander to her belly. My tears are mixin' with the rain. It's cold, and I need them to hurry. I can't believe she's pregnant with our baby.

When the ambulance gets to us they check her out and put her in the back. I ride with her, keep her hand in mine. Bringin' her hand to my face I lightly kiss her wrist. She looks so broken and battered, but she's still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on.

Why didn't she tell me she was pregnant? I know though don't I? I let her go. I wouldn't talk to her like she asked me to.

We get to the hospital and Emily is rushed back to a room. They tell me I have to sit in the waiting room and they will let me know somethin' shortly. I call Mac to tell him what happened and ask if he can get my truck and bring it here.

Then I sit and wait. My mind goin' a hundred miles a minute. Wonderin' what moment I went wrong. Should I have just walked away from Emily the moment I met her? Should I have stayed in Kentucky? Would she be okay if it wasn't for me?

In the middle of my breakdown Mac walks in with a distraught Amy under his arm.

"Hey Amy." I whisper.

She rears back and slaps me across the face. "How could you do this to her?" She seethes. "All Emily did was love you! And this is how she gets repaid." Tears stream down her face and she falls into Mac.

I walk outside and lean against the wall. The rain is still comin' down. I look up into the rain covered sky. "What do you want from me?" I yell. "I'm tryin' to do what's right. Is she better off without me? I love her so much. Please let them be okay."

I slide down the wall. My tears and the rain coverin' me. A few minutes later Mac slides down and sits beside me. "Their gonna be alright Jamey."

I look over at him and shake my head. "She's been through all this on her own. I should've been there."

He's quiet for a moment, then he gets up and extends his hand. "Why don't you come back in and be here for her now?"

I get up and we walk back into the waiting room. Our clothes are soaked, but the only thing on my mind is Emily and our baby.

We sit there for hours sittin' on pins and needles to know how they are. Amy looks over at me and smiled a sad smile. "Alma and Roger are on their way here. They told me to keep them updated on their girls. I wonder when we will hear somthin'."

Their girls.. Does that mean? "Our baby is a girl?" I choke out.

"Yeah. We found out the other day. She was wiggling around like crazy when the ultrasound tech was tryin' to get a good look. She finally got her to cooperate. She's due May 18th."

Silent tears role down my face. I can't get over the fact that Emily thought she would have to do this alone, she probably thought I didn't love her anymore. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there." I whisper.

Amy slides her hand in mine and squeezes. "I know that, and she does too. But from what I hear you have some choices to make."

My phone has been ringin' like crazy. Mandy is mad cause I left her. I go through the messages she sent me. She's threatening to leave me, threatening to take Beckham. Says I'm no good.

Why didn't I notice before? She has always been toxic, and a result of my mistakes are the woman I love and our unborn baby girl in a hospital bed fightin' for their lives.

I turn my phone off the same time a nurse walks out of the double doors. "Emmalynn Conley's family."

We step up to her and she takes a breath. "Let's start with the bad news first. She has a broken wrist, several cuts, and her body has been tryin' to go into labor." I go to say somethin', but she stops me. "Her and her baby are okay. We finally got the labor to stop, but we will need to keep her a day or two to monitor the both of them. We will allow you to go back one at a time. Who's first?"

I look at Amy the same time she looks at me. "She needs you now more than ever Jameson. Show her your a man of your word."

I nod my head then follow the nurse back to where my heart lays broken and beat down on a hospital bed.