The Fake Wife

The Accident

Jake

As soon as we got settled in the car, my secretary called. "Sorry, sir. I know you told me to push everything back. But something urgent came up, and I wasn't able to reschedule. Are you still in Riverside? If yes, I can give you the details for the conference call, and you can set everything up at your father's office."

"I am still with the boys in New York, Jessica. I will stop by the office. Please organise something in my office for them and set everything in the conference room for me." I could trust Jessica to find a distraction for them.

I looked in the mirror, and his eyes were already on me. "We will stop at the office, Tommy. You must be on your best behaviour. Ok, buddy? Daddy has some important work to do."

He lifted his hands in the air and screamed. "YEAHHHHHH!!!!"

A few hours later, we were on the move again. But it was short-lived because my mother called asking for us to make another stop. "God, Mum! That is the third time I am trying to get to Riverside today, and something is stopping me."

I sighed. "Where is this place? Can this not wait, or can you send the driver tomorrow to collect it?"

She tried again with her sweet voice. "Jake, you are already in New York. It will take 2 minutes of your time, Son. The artist called now. He finished it early, and I am eager to see it."

Mum chuckled, and I could feel how anxious she was. She feared Dad may not like the portrait and sure would pace back and forth the whole day if I did not get it for her today.

The stubborn woman had gone with an unusual artist, and this was a professional company portrait to replace the one of Father's younger self. It had to be exceptional. Everybody in the company and clients would spot it in the entrance lobby.

"Fine! Send me the location." When I checked the address, it was only three blocks away.

"We will have one more stop before we get to Granny's, buddy. But I am sure you are loving it. We are acting as errand boys today."

He smiled, and I knew he loved being out and about in the car. "Cool, Daddy."

I parked across from the gallery, got Tommy out, and went to get Jamie. "It will not take long, Tommy. We only have to cross the road and collect Grandpa's picture."

And then it happened so fast in front of my eyes while I tried to get the baby out of the car. Through the window, I saw Tommy running across the street.

I stopped what I was doing, leaving everything open behind, and I screamed at the top of my lungs on the street. "TOMMY, WATCH OUT!!!!!!!!"

I just saw a brown-haired head diving in front of the van, shielding my boy and the terrifying loud noise of a crash. My heart raced so fast, like I was on the treadmill. The other cars stopped, and many people came out of the shops to check what had happened. I crossed the road so fast and grabbed Tommy from the arms of his saviour.

With the impression the car hurt him, I checked everywhere, but nothing seemed out of place. But Tommy did not stop crying, and I screamed at no one in particular. "SOMEBODY, CALL 911!!!" People were already with their phones out, making calls. I held Tommy close to my chest and soothed him by making small circles on his back.

"You will be OK, buddy. I promise." But sure, I said it more to calm myself. My heart was still going fast, and I probably would get sick if it kept going like that.

Tommy stopped crying, and I looked at the person who had put themselves in harm's way to protect my son. The first thing I noticed was the purple uniform. It was the girl from the diner. Her eyes were closed, and I spotted blood on the ground. Tommy was lying his head on my shoulder, and I kept him there. He did not need to know that the nice girl he befriended might be dead.