Hank and Jess had something in their marriage most couples cannot claim, an unbelievable connection and fierce love for each other. While on a mission trip to Haiti, Jess is murdered. The shock of loss overwhelms Hank and his journey to reconcile he...
I made it home but I don't know how. Once I had come to, Detective Anderson had insisted on driving me back but I didn't give him the chance. I could barely breathe and had to get away. I forcefully got away from them and drove home.
I don't remember the drive. She was pregnant. Jess was pregnant. I walked into our bedroom and lay down on the bed completely exhausted. It had been weeks since I slept. Now this bombshell had threatened to destroy me completely.
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My hand was throbbing. I hoped my hand wasn't broken from slamming it into the drywall in my hall. I was so angry.
I closed my eyes but burned there was a picture of the autopsy drawing. The mark where the uterus was located and the words Feticide- 4 weeks written on the paper. Sleep was futile. I opened my eyes and got out of bed. I sleepily made my way to the kitchen where I put on some hot tea. I dreaded having to let anyone know about this as everytime would be like reliving the moment I found out. But, I needed to call my mom. She wanted to know what happened today at detective's office. I couldn't hold this from her. She would be devastated.
I dialed the number on my cell phone and took deep breaths. Mom had no grandchildren from my brother, even though he had been married for ten years. He and Sue traveled all over the world and children would just slow them down he said, not that mom hadn't preached to Steve about his paternal calling and needing arrows in his quiver and all that but he wasn't having any part of it. It had been up to me to bear them a grandchild and it too was ripped from me and from them. And now I had to be the one to tell her.
"Hey Mom." I tried to fake normal but my voice broke. There was no one like your mother when you were hurting. I felt it welling up like a massive wave about to hit.
"Oh honey, I know it was hard. Did they not find the journal entry helpful in their investigation? What happened?" Mom knew all to well about investigations. Her dad had been arrested three times before I was born. The fourth time he was arrested her mother and he divorced. Grandpa was fairly good to her and to us but he couldn't kick the drugs. He had to sell to keep his addiction going and that was his demise.
"Mom, there was more to Jess' death than we thought. Much more I am afraid." I gathered the strength to say words no man should ever have to utter. "Jess was five weeks pregnant..."
I heard a wail and then soft whimpers coming from the earpiece. That brought the tears flowing down my own face. "Mom, I am so sorry..."
"Oh son, no. Please God, no. This can't be happening." Mom was in good shape and still pretty young but the years dealing with her dad and now this was taken its toll on her.
"Sit down mom. Slow your breathing. You are going to hyperventilate. You ok?"
"Hank you didn't know?" She raised the question that had been plaguing my thoughts since I heard.
