What If, If Only
Chapter 1: Faltered Fate
Ring…Ring…Ring!
A young woman with blonde hair picked up the phone. "Hello?" She asked politely. Then she heard a slight cough over the other line. She held the phone away from her ear briefly. She smiled and placed the phone back onto her ear. "Ambrose? Is that you?"
"Yes," Ambrose, Adrian Monk's brother said on the other line.
"Is there something that you need?" Trudy asked, already knowing the answer. She turned at a slight noise behind her. She saw her husband, Adrian walking out of their room still wearing his favorite maroon pajamas. She smiled warmly at him and he smiled back. Her attention was then brought back to her husband's brother's voice as he spoke again.
"Yes. I'm coughing," He coughed again, as to prove his problem. "I need some medicine. I think I'm getting sick. Can you go out and get some for me?"
Trudy knew very well that Ambrose could not go out and get his own medicine, for he was agoraphobic. Afraid of the outside. "Of course. I'll be over there in a while."
"Okay, thank you. Good-bye."
"Bye-bye." She slowly hung up the phone.
Adrian made his entrance from the kitchen to the living room grasping a bottle of Sierra Springs. "Was that Ambrose?"
"Yes." Trudy said simply.
"What did he want?" Adrian asked, taking another sip of his water.
"He's getting sick. I've gotta go to the store and buy him some medicine."
"Why don't I go out and get it?" Adrian offered. Trudy shook her head.
"No, Adrian. You hate going to the store," She said, already collecting her purse. "Besides, it will be easier and faster if I go."
Adrian nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. Just don't be too long."
"Sure thing, Adrian." Trudy said, walking up the stairs.
Adrian stared after her and smiled. To him, she was the most beautiful thing to walk this earth. He loved her more and more everyday. He was still staring at the same place when Trudy reappeared out of the bedroom wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of old blue jeans. Adrian smiled more broadly. She smiled back.
"You still standing there?"
Adrian nodded, drinking more of his water. "I can't help it."
"Alright. I'm going to go now."
Adrian only nodded. Trudy kissed his cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too."
He watched her put on her shoes and walk out the door. Then he went upstairs to change into his usual suit. (He was glad the day was Friday. Captain Leland Stottlemeyer gave him the day off.) He looked at a picture of Trudy on his nightstand and smiled. The love he felt for her grew once again.
Trudy walked down isle 2 looking for a cough medicine. She stopped and stared at the variety of the medicines, and furrowed her eyebrows; trying to remember which medicine Ambrose took. She finally gave up and reached for her cell phone. She dialed his number and gently placed the phone up to her ear. Ambrose picked up after seven rings.
"Trudy? Is everything okay?" Ambrose asked nervously.
"Yes, everything is fine," She heard Ambrose sigh with relief. "I just forgot which cough medicine I should get for you."
"Oh, my gosh. I never told you what medicine I took!" Ambrose exclaimed. Trudy was taken by surprise at his note of panic. "I'm so sorry." He finished quietly.
"Ambrose, it's okay. Everything will be fine. Just calm down and tell me what medicine you prefer."
"Tylenol. That's the one I want. Tylenol."
Trudy stifled a giggle. "Thank you, Ambrose. I will be there shortly."
"Okay. Bye."
Trudy hung up and placed the phone back into her purse. She shook her head and smiled. Trudy thought about how much Ambrose was similar to Adrian, and how they were so much different. It was very confusing.
She seized the Tylenol cough medicine and walked quickly to the checkout line. The woman waited patiently in line behind a woman with a child and a new baby. She even stayed patient when the child began to scream that he wanted candy. The mother reprimanded him and he went silent. Trudy stared at the baby girl that the woman was holding. How cute it was. She longed for a baby, but she knew that Adrian wasn't ready.
"Ouch!" She exclaimed quietly. She looked down at the bracelet Adrian had given her for their anniversary. It was beautiful with the diamonds on every 4 of the golden heart-shaped charm. And it was painful when it pinched her. It wasn't very often, so she wasn't used to it quite yet.
She moved up when the lady left. She placed the medicine down and slipped the bracelet off her wrist. She placed it in front of her.
"Is this all ma'am?" The cashier asked.
"Yes."
"Then that will be $4.48."
Trudy reached into her ivory purse and pulled out a five-dollar bill that was neatly folded and unwrinkled. (Thanks to Adrian.) She handed the money to the man and he gave her the change. He put the medicine into the bag and handed it out. Trudy took it, thanked him and left.
The cashier spotted the abandoned bracelet and he turned to tell Trudy, but she was already gone. He grabbed it and set it by his computer in case she came back to retrieve it.
Trudy walked downstairs into the almost empty parking garage. It was easy to see her brownish tan car, even if it was a ways away. She walked quickly to it. When she was ¾ of the way there, she looked down. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized her bracelet was gone.
She began to panic. Her mouth turned dry. She looked all over the ground in case she dropped it. "No! Not the bracelet! Adrian is going to be so crushed!" She said aloud.
'Calm down, Trudy," She thought to herself. 'Think about where you last had it." She closed her eyes tightly and began to think. Suddenly, her eyes shot open when she realized she left it in the store. A feeling of dread washed over her. She feared that somebody stolen it. Her eyes filled up with tears. How was she going to tell him the bracelet was gone?
Trudy knew what she was supposed to do. She was just going to have to go back and see if anyone returned the precious item.
She turned around sharply, and just as she did she heard a deafening sound. She dropped her bag and clasped her hands onto her ears. She spun around and screamed when she saw that her car was exploding. Debris was flying everywhere.
Her eyes widened in fear and everything went black as a large piece of metal hit her sharply on her head.
Trudy Monk collapsed onto the ground, motionless.
A/N: Okay…my first chapter. Tell me what you guys thought! I hope you all liked it.:) Have a great day, and thank you for reading. :)