2003
Ana
"Bye Daddy!" Callie waved to her Daddy who drove away for the day and I smiled at her as she turned around with a big smile. "I miss Daddy."
"Me too bug, me too." I responded with a smile as I put my hand out for her to hold which she took and we walked back inside. "We will have heaps of fun today, just us two."
"Really, Ana?" Callie whispered as she looked up at me with her big chocolate eyes and I nodded as I guided her into the kitchen.
"I am taking you on a surprise trip, my little bug." I replied with a big smile and poured her some cereal with milk then put it in front of her. "But I won't tell you until we are there, okay?" She nodded with excitement and I smiled at her softly. Milk fell down her lip onto her chin and I quickly took a snap with a giggle and she giggled too which made more of a mess. Lucky she was still in her PJ's which made the clean up a bit more easier.
"Ana!" I looked up from the tickets to Disney Land and saw Callie dressed already. "I am ready."
"Almost." I stated gently with a laugh as I saw her hair was still not brushed yet and I got up then guided us to her room. I sat her down on the dresser and brushed her long brown wavy hair gently then tied them into two braids which made her look so cute. "There we go, bug."
"I like it." She looked at herself through the mirror with a big smile and I smiled too then grabbed my bag, tickets and car keys.
"Let's get on the road, sweet girl." We walked out of the house and she went straight to my BMW then I helped her get settled in with her buckles teaching her how to buckle herself in. "There we go!"
"Where are we going?" She squealed in excitement and I smiled at her after I hopped into the front seat then buckled myself in.
"Somewhere magical." I hinted softly and saw her face showed confusion like she was trying to figure out where we were going. "I will give you hints along the drive there."
"No no!" Callie squealed with laughter. "Let me figure it out! I bet you I can tell you before we get there." I nodded with a laugh as I started the car.
"Okay, sweet girl." I replied then started the drive to Disney Land but we never made it to Disney Land.
I covered my mouth in a yawn then suddenly everything went blank then there was flashing lights and people screaming. I was shocked but all my mind went to Callie so I tried to turn around to see if she was okay. "Callie-"
"Please don't move your head." A man spoke sternly and I looked to my right where he was standing but I couldn't focus.
"Is she okay?" I spoke as loud as I could but I felt squished and tight. "My baby in the back!" He looked back and heard another a voice behind me that didn't belong to sweet Callie.
"She will be okay but we need to get you out too." He whispered calmly as he held my hand as the door got pulled off. "She is a strong girl. I can see where she got it from." I looked puzzled at him but nodded as they took my seat belt off and placed me down onto a hospital stretcher.
"So glad you were both wearing seat belts or you could of been worst of." Another woman spoke as they placed a brace around my neck and I started to worry about what happened. "I can't believe they drove through a red light."
"Did I do this?" I questioned in pain and she shook her head.
"No.. It was the other car."
Mike ran in and I took his hand into mine. "I am so sorry, Mike." I pleaded for forgiveness as she stroked my forehead. "I should of-"
"Sh-sh-sh Ana, it's not your fault." Mike whispered with reassurance as the nurse who was looking after me came closer. Mike looked up as my eyes filled with tears. "How is our daughter going?"
"She had to go straight to surgery to stop the bleeding and I haven't heard anything new from that." The nurse replied with sincerity and nodded at the both of us. "But no news is good news at this point, yeah?"
"How about the other car?" I spoke with weakness as Mike continued to stroke my hair. She looked at us both with a sadness.
"I can't give out information about the o-"
"It was their fault I was told but I would like to know if they were drunk and that is why they drove through a red light." I spoke with seriousness as I tried to sit up but Mike gently held me down and I let him.
"That is the only thing we are allowed to state until this person's family arrives and decides to go public with this information."
"Parents of Callie Foster?" Mike stood up and waved to the doctor that walked in. "Your daughter did fantastic in theater. The car that hit you had the most impact on Callie's side which is why she has suffered from internal bleeding which we have managed to stop before any bad damage is done. But she was hit pretty badly and we aren't sure of the extent of the damage done to her head until she wakes up. She could most likely suffer from amnesia but she is alive and we will get you both in a room as soon as possible."
"Oh thank you so much." Mike said with happiness as they shook hands and I smiled up at him.
"Thank god." I whispered then I looked into his eyes. "What is happening with me? Can I take off this neck brace?"
"I heard they just want to check up on you to make sure everything is going as it soon before taking the brace off." The doctor replied with a smile. "It won't be any longer than a hour but you will get to see Callie sooner."
Callie looked so rough and didn't wake up until the next day. She was confused about where she was, what day it was and how she ended up in hospital with me on the bed next to her. "Ana, why am I so sore every where?"
"Baby, we were in a car crash a few days ago." I responded as I put down my magazine and looked into her tired brown eyes. "We will get to go home soon, that will be nice won't it?"
"I guess." She shrugged and I sighed softly as Mike walked in with food.
"Food!" Mike stated as he put one brown bag on Callie's lap and gave me my brown bag but Callie pushed it away sadly. "Cal, you have to eat. I brought your favorites." Callie glared at Mike and lied back down on her bed then closed her eyes. I shrugged to Mike as I pulled out a sandwich to try to eat. I know that both our appetites aren't exactly there but I have to try and so does Cal.
"This might help with the pain in your stomach, bug." Mike stated softly and Callie opened her eyes. "Try some apple sauce at least." He got out the apple sauce and opened it as Callie slowly with pain to sit back up. She finally ate a bit of apple sauce which is the closest she has been for the past few days since the accident.
"Ma, why can't I remember anything?" Callie whispered as I sat on the floor in the bathroom and helped wash her.
"It's because you hit your head pretty badly when the other car hit our car." I explained softly as Mike got some warm PJ's for her. She nodded with a sigh as I gently washed her small, petite body and felt her relax into the water. "I wanted to say how sorry I am.." She opened her eyes and looked into mine with concern.
"Why are you sorry?" She whispered as she took some bubbles into her hands as I washed her hair. "It was an accident wasn't it?"
"Yeah, sweet girl it was." I stated gently but I always felt like if I could of done something earlier to miss the car colliding into us.. If I wasn't so tired, I could of been more alert to the danger and steer out of the way.
"Accidents aren't anyone's fault." Callie whispered after a short silence. "It's like when I first learnt to use the potty instead of my diaper. I had accidents all the time before I could ever do it right but I never had to say sorry to Daddy.."
"No, baby you didn't have too." I stated with a sad smile as I washed the all in one shampoo and conditioner out of her hair. "I guess you are right.."
"I bet it was scary."
"It was." I whispered under my breath and half hoped she would never remember the crash as it still gave me nightmares. I sighed as I took out the plug and lifted her out gently as Mike made an appearance to sort out Callie so I could have my shower.
I sat there and watched Mike get ready for bed. "I hope you don't think this is your fault for what happened to the both of you." Mike stated out of the blue as he climbed into bed and I looked at him. "Because you know you had the green light."
"But I wasn't alert. I was tired, Mike." I whispered as he wrapped his arm around me with a sigh. "I could of done something.."
"It would of happened too fast for you to steer around the other car.. Trust me, Ana this would of not been avoided. His death is not on you but on his own choices to drink and get behind the wheel." Tears filled my eyes and he kissed my cheek. "Thank god I didn't lose you both and you are both home safe. I couldn't bear losing either of you." I nodded and relaxed into his arms.
"Thank you."
"Thank you for being my daughter's mother." I smiled to myself and also noticed how Cal has started to call me Ma. "You have filled the hole she was missing when Stef suddenly passed away and I know how grateful she will be to know Cal is well loved."
