Standing Still - Twenty-five

I received a call today from the wife of a police officer, it's seems her husband and my wife once crossed paths. She was upset so I listened and soon I too was close to tears.

EARLIER THAT DAY

"Hello, I'm sorry to bother you but I was told that your wife was a victim of the freeway accident," she asked hesitantly.

"Are you a journalist?" I asked sternly.

"No, please I'm just trying to find a person and I believe that person is your wife."

"My wife?"

"Yes, was she hurt?"

"Look I don't know who you are but I'm a busy man and I don't have times for games."

"Please, I'm sure it's your wife, she asked for you by name. You are Christian right,"

I pause at her statement uncertain what to say or how to proceed.

"She asked for me, I just left her an hour ago. Who are you and where are you calling from," I snapped.

"I'm sorry my name is Allison, Allison Fletcher and I'm calling from my home in Seattle."

"How do you know my wife?"

"I don't, but I think my husband does. My husbands Jim, he's a police officer."

"I don't understand," I reply, quickly losing patience with this woman.

"My husband was at the crash site, he was on duty. He helped a young woman and I think the person he helped was your wife."

"Okay."

"Look I'm sorry I shouldn't have called you but I needed to get some closure for Jim. He's been having a hard time since the crash and he's convinced himself that the women he saved passed away. I did some research and based on what Jim told me I did the math and put the pieces together. I saw your face in the paper and read that your wife was hurt. Christian Grey, my husband said she asked for you."

"She did," I mutter shakily.

"Well she asked for a Christian and you were the only Christian I could find with a link to the accident."

"Are you looking for money, I'm sure by now you know who I am."

"Mr Grey you misunderstand me, I'm only looking for closure. Certainly I recognised you when I saw the article in the paper but it was a short piece and made little of your wife's condition."

"I'm a private man Mrs Fletcher and I keep my personal life out of the media as much as I can."

"I understand but if you could just tell me if Mrs Grey's okay. It would really put Jims mind at ease and he's been so worried about her."

"My wife's getting better and that's as much as I want to say on the subject. Look I'm sorry but how am I to know if you're really who you say you are. You say you're not a journalist but I've been burned before by the media, I know how underhand they can be."

"They were driving in a black SUV, it flipped over and my husband climbed inside to help your wife. She stopped breathing and he brought her back with CPR, she called your name for the first time then. Fire-fighters helped Jim carry her from the vehicle and they bundled her into the back of an ambulance. She stopped breathing again and Jim told me how much he feared she would not come back that second time.

Jim held her hand and stroked her hair and he told me it was then that she called for her children."

"Stop," I whisper brokenly.

"Teddy and Phoebe, Jim thinks about them everyday and prays each night that they still have their mother. He said she was young and that he thought her too young to be a mother yet. He cried when he told me what she said next."

"What did she say?" I ask softly.

"She said your name and asked Jim to look after your children. I believe she thought he was you and I believe he brought her comfort in those terrible moments after the crash."

I'm crying softly at her words as I picture Ana calling out for me. I wasn't there for her and it's been a constant ache in my heart that she was alone at that time.

It takes me a while to pull myself together but I'm so grateful that Jim was there for Ana. It helps me to know that someone was there to hold her hand and that someone stayed with her.

"I'm glad your husband was there for my wife," I eventually utter.

"I am too and in turn can you help me now Mr Grey. Jim suffers everyday with not knowing."

"My wife, Ana is slowly mending. It's been difficult and she was badly hurt in the crash, in time I hope she will make a full recovery."

"Oh I am glad to hear that and Jim will be too. He's witnessed a lot over the years with his job but I do believe this has affected him the most."

"I'm extremely grateful to him and you for calling me. I sorry if I was short with you at first and I'm sorry that this has taken a toll on your family. It's taken a toll on so many people and I forgot about all the emergency workers who have also suffered."

"That's true, unsung heroes," she says firmly.

"Unsung indeed."

We talk together for awhile and I warm to her quickly after my initial mistrust. She's so committed to her husband just as I am to Ana. She tells me a bit about herself and talks about her two sons and what they are doing. One is away at college and the other is in high school and I'm grateful to think how young are children are still.

I give her permission to call again anytime and ask if I can call Jim, so I can give him my thanks personally.

After I hang up I'm thoughtful for a moment then move to call Ana. She picks up on the first ring and we chat together as she tells me what's happening at home.

I love to hear her voice and I'm suddenly struck by something, without Jim I wouldn't be hearing it. I owe Mr Fletcher so much and all he wanted was to know that Ana was alright. When I get home I will tell Ana about the phone call with Mrs Fletcher but for now I just want to bask in hearing her happy voice.