The Hospital Emergency room was unusually quiet for a weekday except for a few minor injuries and some incoming patients from a vehicle accident so the nurses and doctors were surprised When Jonathan ran into the emergency room looking for Jennifer
"Can I help you?" a bored nurse asked at the front desk
"I'm looking for my wife!" He yelled frantically
"What's her name and injury?"
"Jennifer Hart, She was attacked!"
The nurse checked the computer, "I'm sorry there's no one here with that name, Maybe a different hospital?"
Jonathan wondered if she was right and started to walk away from the desk when an ambulance screeched up and skidded to a stop suddenly in front of the emergency room, three EMT workers jumped and opened the back of the rig while a fourth person was pumping a blue oxygen bulb into the person on the gurney's mouth, it was difficult to see who was in the ambulance but the person had long red hair and a very distinctive familiar shape to the person's face. He'd know it anywhere. But there was no time to run to her.
The EMTs were moving at a fast pace calling out information to one another "We have a 35 year old female with numerous cuts, contusions and fractures as well as a traumatic head injury, there may also be a stab or two we aren't sure,"
Suddenly Doctors came rushing in, calling orders for IVs, EKGs and bandages, Jonathan didn't even have time to respond or even get a good look at her once beautiful face, there was too much chaos around her. All he saw was her eyes slammed shut and her lips in align
He stood there absolute silence, it was as if everyone around him was moving a thousand miles an hour and he was completely paralyzed.
It was only the sound of his cell phone buzzing that snapped shook him of his stunned silence, opening the phone he saw it was Jessica, maybe they had found the kids unharmed
"Hello?" His voice cracked
"Mr. Hart?" Jessica yelled over the noises of the police cars and overhead helicopters " ?
"Yes, Jessica" He yelled loudly
"We still haven't found the children and Reeve Collins has just arrived," Lily's Mother, she must have been frantic.
"I'll be right there," Jonathan knew that's what Jennifer would have wanted, she was being taken care of and he needed to step up and be the father he was.
Willow Pond was normally a quiet street, with a dirt road that led to a cul de sac and not much else, he barely knew his neighbors which was fine because he was content on focusing on Jennifer and the kids and make their lives wonderful without distraction from nosy neighbors but his arrival at Willow Pond was met with total chaos, Police, Fire department, US Marshalls and the Feds were surrounding the house.
He was barely able to get through the gate when an Officer stopped him
"I'm sorry Sir,you won't be able to enter,"
Jonathan produced his driver's license and the Officer gave him a sad look before letting him through and he pulled to just before the house where Jessica was staring somberly at the house, a sense of a déjà vu came over him when the Kitchen burned down
"Jessica," He touched her shoulder and she jumped a mile before she threw her arms around him and cried in franticness
"Oh Mr. Hart, I can't believe this happened! I only left the house for a moment and now ..the children are missing and Mrs. Hart is injured, this is my fault!"
"We can't think like that, we need to focus on finding the kids, did they search the entire house?"
"They started from the top and worked their way to the wine cellar, what if they were kidnapped!"
"We can't think like that, let's just try to retrace their steps," he took her hand and led her to the front of the house where the house was being photographed and finger printed
"Hold it," Another Police Officer stopped him, "You can't enter here, this is a crime scene,"
"My name is Jonathan Hart, and this is my home," Jonathan snapped
"I'm sorry Mr. Hart, but I can't allow anyone into the home until we've finished processing the scene,"
"Where are you processing?" Jessica asked
"Mainly the kitchen,"
"What if we looked around upstairs away from the kitchen?" Jonathan suggested
"Alright," the police officer relented "but please be aware, not to touch anything,"
They nodded and headed upstairs, past Jonathan and Jennifer's bed, his heart broke thinking that it was just a few days ago he made love to her in the middle of the night, how her eyes glowed in the moon light and how much his desire for her had heightened despite three little ones who constantly demanded her attention. But when they went down for the night, it was their time and he was grateful at that moment for that memory.
They continued on to the bedrooms, Aubrey's was first, thinking maybe in the chaos she'd hid with the other kids in the closet, He wanted to laugh remembering how she'd dragged Lucas's carrier into the closet and shut the door and when Jennifer went to nurse the boys and found him missing, She'd screamed in fright and ran to call him at the Office, convinced that Elliot had returned and instead of scooping up all three kids, he was now after their oldest boy and then he would come back for Andrew, When Jonathan had raced home, He found her at top of the stairs with tears streaming down her face and When He'd asked her about the other kids, she'd said that the Aubrey was with Pearl at the Zoo and Andrew was asleep, she said she waited for him to come home to call the police because she needed him to take the lead on this. He was just making the decision to call the police when a loud wail was echoed through the house, which made it sound like the wailing was coming from the walls and using her mother's intuition, she followed the noise until she reached Aubrey's closet, throwing open the door, there was Lucas, his tiny face red and angry. Jennifer had cried with relief and anger, refusing to put him down for hours until her arms ached and when Aubrey came home with Pearl, she told them that she was playing and simply forgot he was there.
Jonathan threw open the doors but there was nothing, he heaved a sigh of disappointment and picked up Simba off the floor, who'd been once again tossed aside during naptime. Jessica had bypassed Aubrey's room and gone onto the boys room. Jonathan heard Jessica gasp and ran into their room to find the crib missing
"Oh my god, whoever took them, also took the crib?" Jessica pointed out, questioningly..
"It doesn't make sense, none of this any of this makes sense," Jonathan was exhausted, physically and emotionally
Jessica suddenly stopped in her tracks listening intently "Mr. Hart, listen!"
"What?" He couldn't hear anything then again He couldn't really concentrate on anything except Jennifer and his need to get back to the hospital
"It sounds like the walls are crying" She crinkled her forehead
His ears perked up and he realized it wasn't the walls, it was coming from the vent beside Andrew's crib that lead down to the basement
He pressed his ear to the vent and pulled his head back to speak "Hello?"
"Hello?" a little voice whimpered back
"Lily!" Jessica gasped
"Come on!" He grabbed her arm and dragged her down the stairs behind him, past the police who looked on in wonder
"What's happened?" the officer who'd opened the door for them demanded
"I think we found the kids!" Jessica said over the commotion
Jonathan went around the bar and noticed that it was in disarray, a few glasses were broken and the clock had been moved aside, he shook his head and pushed the button, stepping back to allow the walls to separate and immediately spotting the crib, Lucas was screaming while Andrew was laying on his back quietly, Lily just beyond the crib sitting on the steps with her hands over her ears and singing Itsy Bitsy Spider to herself
"Lily?" Jonathan asked quietly noticing Aubrey wasn't with them and his urgency heightened again
"Who are?" She asked tears streaming down her face and glasses on the floor beside her
"I'm Aubrey's Daddy, Is she down here?" Asking maybe she'd ventured down the passageway to figure a way out but it was too dark for her to walk that far
"No," Lily whimpered "I want my mommy"
"Of course, take my hand," He held out his hand and helped her up, picking up her glasses so she wouldn't step on them and brought her outside, leaving Jessica to take the boys, he'd come back to help her
"Mommy!" Lily shouted
"Oh my baby!" Reeve shouted back breaking through the police tape and scooping her up "I'm so happy to see you"
"I'm very sorry this happened," Jonathan felt he should apologize, She was in their care and someone had been reckless
Reeve simply nodded and left, she knew now was not the time to place blame, as long as her daughter was alive, that's what was most important.
Jonathan walked back into the house and one of the police officers helped carry the crib out of the passageway and into the living room
"We still need to find Aubrey," He said picking up Andrew and kissing his head, sending up a thanks heavens for finding them and that they were safe "Did anyone check the backyard?"
"Yes, and we found some muddy footprints small enough to be a child's but then they abruptly stopped," a police officer spoke up
"Where?" Jonathan asked
"Come, I'll show you," The officer took Jonathan who was still carrying Andrew through the side doors of the house, the doors that lead to the garden and pointed to them, the sprinklers must have come on when Aubrey was running and it created mud that allowed footprints, they followed the footprints to the other side of the yard but they abruptly did stop at the edge of the yard
Jonathan knew that if she was panicked enough, she hide no matter how hard he yelled her name and he knew the only thing that would make her come out was to sing her mother's favorite song, it was like a code for them
The song that she'd sung for the boys when they were in the hospital
"Let me call you "Sweetheart," I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the love-light glowing in your eyes so true.
Let me call you "Sweetheart," I'm in love with you."
Aubrey heard him singing and she knew that only one other person could know that song
"Daddy!" She yelled from the tree house, she was exhausted, and wet from the sprinklers, all she wanted was her mommy to hug her and tell her that the whole thing was a nightmare, to shake her and tell her it was time for breakfast
"In the Treehouse," Jonathan said handing Andrew to the Police Officer and climbed up, when he managed to squeeze in the tight space, Aubrey threw her arms around his neck and began to cry
"I know, Baby, it was so scary," He whispered, "But it's all right, Daddy's here," he hugged her and kissed her face, knowing this could be the beginning of a long road of trouble for her in dealing with this.
He let her cry for a few minutes longer before convincing her that she needed to come down before she caught a cold in her wet clothes
He carried her into the house and upstairs to change her clothes and a quick bath, noticing the bruises and cuts , he realized after her initial "Daddy!" she stopped speaking and even looking him in the eye, he was going to ask her a few questions but figured it was best not to push it at the moment
Just as his cell phone rang
"Hello, Jonathan Hart" He said never taking his eyes off his daughter
"Hello, Mr. Hart, This is One of the Nurses on your wife's team and we think it's best if you come back to the hospital," The nurse said quietly, there was a chance she might die without having her husband present and He had a few decisions he needed to make for her as well
"I'll be there," He said ," Come on Aubrey, we need to go see about Mama," at the sound of her Mama's name, Aubrey's eyes filled with tears again
"I know Baby, but I promise it'll be quick quick," He was lying but he had to go back and there was no chance of leaving her with Jessica and the boys in a house full of cops who were processing the crime scene
He picked her up and she rested her head against his shoulders, knowing for the moment she was safe but for how long, was the question running through her mind
Jennifer's subconscious
She felt like she was floating, that she weighed nothing and that nothing, not even gravity could pull her back and she had a feeling that there was nothing keeping from floating away and she liked the feeling, almost like being in a bubble bath
She felt no pain and that everything, all the blows to her body hadn't happened , that it was a mistake and that maybe she was being taken someplace wonderful in place of that awfulness.
"Jenny?" a voice called, a familiar voice she hadn't heard in years and had longed to for so long
"Mama?," she asked her voice croaked
"Open your eyes, Darling child,"
Jennifer didn't realize her eyes were closed so tightly, slowly she opened one eye and then the other to find that familiar face, her mother's round face with those beautiful brown eyes so similar to hers and her short red hair done in curls, she was wearing a white dress with a shawl and she looked the same as she did 30 years ago.
"Oh Mama," Jennifer sat up and hugged her mother tightly "I've missed you so much,"
"I've missed you too," Her mother even smelled the same, of ivory soap and Chanel #5, "Come, we've got all the time in the world to catch up," she pulled back and held out her hand
Jennifer looked around and realized that she was in a garden of some sort, with a beautiful lake and flowers everywhere "Am I dead, Mama"
"No, my darling, you're in limbo, it's up to you to back or continue on to Heaven," Her mother pulled her up and crinkled her nose "Come let's get you out of those clothes,"
Jennifer looked down and realized she was wearing the same bloodstained sweater and jeans from her attack, she nodded slowly and followed her mother, feeling excited for her mother but sad for the pain she was putting Jonathan and the kids through
Her mother lead her to what looked like a small room at the edge of the lake and told her to change into a dress similar to hers, it seemed so weird that this place would have a dressing room but she knew now was not the time to ask questions.
She followed her mother after getting dressed to a bench, sitting beside her mother, she was anxious as if maybe her mother would just disappear like she did before
"How are you, little girl," her mother kissed her forehead
"So confused Mama , and I have so much I want to tell you and want to know,"
"In Time, but for now, tell me about your life, with Jonathan, my rascal granddaughter and the most beautiful baby boys ever," Sarah Edwards smiled
"You know about them?" Jennifer asked in amazement
"Oh Darling Girl, there is so little of your life I haven't been a part of, I was there when you graduated from College, When you met Jonathan, all the little moments and especially when Aubrey and the boys were born, I only wish I could have been there to prevent her from being taken," Sarah's face dropped "but she came back to you and she's doing beautifully, truly an angel"
"Oh Mama, why do awful things keep happening to us," Jennifer asked quietly
"To Show you that although life keeps getting in the way, things are meant to be and you'll learn from them, to understand how to be a better person, a better daughter, mother and wife all the things you were sure you were never going to be but are and are wonderful at, I'm so proud of you,"
It was validation she'd long to hear for so long and exhaled the breath she didn't realize she was holding
"Mama, I don't want to leave my babies and Jonathan, I need them as much as they need me,"
"I Know that but that's not what's keeping you from going back, something else is,"
"What's that?"
"Only you can answer that question, my girl," Sarah stood up and held out her hand again "Come, there's someone I think you need to meet"
Jennifer took her mother's hand and followed her across the lake, listening to the birds chirping and only when her mother stopped walking at the water's edge, did she understand why her mother wanted her to come meet this person
It was a little girl, with brown hair and brown eyes, a little round face wearing a sundress and playing in the sand, when the girl looked up, Jennifer saw that she was a smaller version of Aubrey, and she knew instantly that this was Aubrey's baby sister
"Mommy!" the little girl smiled and Jennifer's heart jumped three feet "I missed you,"
"My baby" Jennifer whispered
"Soleil, come little one," Sarah called out
"Soleil?"
"With the Sun in the Morning and the Moon at Night," Sarah sang off key and Jennifer laughed, remembering how much her mother loved the play Annie Get Your Gun
Soleil run to her mother and wrapped her arms around her knees and when she smiled, Jennifer truly felt the sunshine radiate from her
But she felt so distant from this child, she couldn't understand why , it was unlike her not to fall instantly in love with one of her babies and It came to her like a bolt of lightening
Soleil wouldn't be crossing over into the world, she'd be going onto Heaven with Sarah and Jennifer began to cry
"Don't cry Mama, please," Soleil looked up and Jennifer smiled sadly, knowing this would be the only time this child would call her Mama , she wouldn't get to know how wonderfully her Daddy was and to grow up with her sister and brothers, it wasn't fair and Jennifer began to get angry
"Don't let your anger consume you," Sarah said as if reading her mind, "Things will work out, I promise,"
"How?" Jennifer hissed
"In Time,"
Sarah sat down on a bench and Soleil instantly broke away from Jennifer and climbed onto Sarah's lap, whispering into her ear. Jennifer wanted to be in on this moment, to be a mother for a moment but she couldn't and it broke her heart again.
"Mrs. H?" a familiar voice called her
"Max?" She turned around and saw Max, her eyes filling with tears, this was too much and she wanted to go home
"How are you?" he smiled, he looked so healthy and vibrant
"So Sad Max, I've missed you so much!" She hugged him, "How are you?"
"Better than I've felt in years, I think this is what's best,"
"What's that?"
"For me to come home and for you to go back,"
"Home like Willow Pond?" She knew what he meant but couldn't believe it
"No, Darling He means home like crossing over, it's his time," Sarah told her quietly
"No Mama Please!" She begged Sarah
"I've had a great life and it's time, I'll miss you but it's time,"
"No it's not, take my hand and we'll go back now," Jennifer extended her hand
"I'm sorry, you know how much l love you guys but it's time for you to get on with everything,"
"But you'll miss so much, especially with Pearl" Jennifer hung her head down and sobbed
"I'll always be with you all, and when the time comes, we'll be together again, having you kids is what kept me young for long, I'll especially miss my girl Aubrey, and Jonathan is a good man, he'll keep you strong, I've taught him that, Life is meant for living and I can't do that hooked to machines, it's better this way,"
"It will never be that way, you keep us together, We'll fall apart without you,"
"No because you and Mr. H have something so rare, so beautiful that nothing could break you apart, my only wish is that Pearl and I had more time together.."
"So come back with me and you'll get more time with her,"
"I can't, "He kissed her forehead
"Max, it's time .." Sarah interrupted quietly
He nodded
"You have to go back, it's not your time and you know it, this was a temporary situation and with Jonathan and the kids, it's where your meant to be but I promise I'll always be watching over all of you," He bent over and picked up Soleil "Ready Kiddo?"
"Ready Poppa" She smiled, Jennifer kissed her forehead and stepped back, know that the image of that child would be seared into her heart
"Before I go too, I need to tell you this, stop looking for questions and answers you already know otherwise you'll miss everything that's important, time is precious and before you know it, it's over, My Girl," Sarah whispered in her ear
Jennifer nodded, tears pouring down her face that she knew would never end
Sarah Nodded and took Max's free hand, together they walked in the direction of the horizon and Jennifer had to cover her eyes from the bright sun and soon they were gone
Jennifer realized that she was all alone at this lake now and no way to get back, she sat down on the bench to think, about everything that had just happened and everything that came before it. And whether or not she wanted to stay here or really go back.
All sorts of questions and no real answers.
