CHAPTER 10

3 MONTHS LATER... It's July. Everything is in full bloom; including Chris' stomach. She and the baby are doing fine and the due date is August 8th ... just about a month away. She and T.C. had come to a mutual decision that they weren't going to find out the sex of the baby. T.C. is not in Santa Monica at this point in time though, he's away on a case with Cory. Christy; who has grown even more like a tomboy is spending the night at her best friend - Tiffani's house.

"Hello," Chris said into the receiver.

"Hi Chris," Tiffani's mother said.

"Oh hi Marva," Chris replied. Their daughters had brought them together and they were quite good friends now. "Is everything okay?"

"Actually no. Christy is complaining of a stomach ache," Marva answered.

"Oh she is?"

"Yea she says she wants to go home and my car is in the shop so I can't drive her."

"Oh damn."

"I'm really sorry I know you shouldn't be driving in your condition...."

"Yea don't worry about it. I'll get someone to pick her up"

"Okay good"

"Okay so tell Christy don't worry okay."

"I will. Bye."

"Okay Bye," Chris said and hung up.

Chris quickly dialed Monica's number, they too had become friends....surprisingly. There was no answer and after about the 8th ring Chris hung up. Monica was probably out with one of her many male counterparts. She called Bobby, Jamie, and Russell next, apparently none of them were home. "Gosh! Am I the only one stuck at home tonight?" Chris asked herself. Well not for long she thought. If no one else was available tonight then she'd just have to pick Christy up herself despite the warning T.C. had given her. Before he left he told her over and over again that he didn't want her leaving the house unless it was absolutely necessary; let alone driving. 'It's just a little drive,' she thought, grabbed her keys, jacket and left.

"Hi," Chris said when Marva opened the door. "Hey Chris," Marva replied. She was of African decent and so was the rest of the family. They had moved from Trinidad and Tobago; a Caribbean Island to Santa Monica about a year ago. Her daughter Tiffani and Christy became best friends in no time despite their diverse backgrounds. "I wasn't expecting you to come," Marva finished.

"Yea seems like everyone's busy tonight," Chris answered.

"Oh. Well come on in she's right on the couch," Marva said.

"Hey baby," Chris said sitting down next to Christy who was lying on the couch. "How are you feeling?" she asked slowly running her hands through Christy's hair.

"It still hurts," Christy answered.

"Hey Mrs. Callaway," Tiffani said as she bounded into the room.

"Hey Tiff. How are you doing?" Chris asked.

"I'm fine but Christy ain't. I think she ate too much," said Tiffani.

"It's Mrs. Harrison's food mom you should try it. She doesn't make stuff like burgers and hotdogs she makes Caribbean food like roti and curry chicken and potatoes" Christy said brightening a little.

"Sounds........exotic," Chris said, "Maybe she'll cook for us one day,"

"For my birthday!" Christy suggested sitting up but laying back down the moment her stomach started aching again.

"I'll have no problem with that," Marva said smiling.

"Cool," Christy and Tiffani said at the same time.

"But for now I think I should take you home," Chris told Christy

"I think so too," replied Marva.

"Tell Tiffani goodbye Christy," Chris said as they reached the door.

"Bye Tiffani,"

"Okay Bye Christy, bye Mrs. Callaway," she replied

"Goodnight Tiffani, Marva," Chris said

"Goodbye," Marva replied as they made their way out, "Drive carefully."

"I will."

"I wanna sit in front with," Christy said as they walked to the car.

"Sorry but you know you can't do that."

"Please mommy," she begged, "Please?"

"Okay fine but only this once," Chris said giving in.

"Thank you mom," she said hugging her being careful not to squeeze Chris' stomach.

Chris waited patiently for the traffic lights to turn green. She bent to kiss an already sleeping Christy who was snuggled close to her. The lights turned green and Chris started making her way across the street. She was half way across when she noticed a jeep coming speeding towards her side of the car. The driver of the jeep's traffic light was red but he/she didn't look like they were stopping anytime soon. He/She didn't. Chris froze for a second then made a quick decision to swerve the car right. To her luck a car was driving in the same direction that she had decided to swerve and slammed straight into her side of the car. The jeep that was speeding slammed into the back of Chris' car. It was a three car collision involving an eight months pregnant Chris, her six year old daughter and probably two or more other people.

It took no more than a second for Christy to come awake. She was alive having escaped injury. She turned towards Chris who was slumped forward bleeding from her head, pinned by steering wheel which was; in a way; piercing into her stomach.

"Mommy," Christy said beginning to cry, "Mom please wake up," she said shaking Chris, "Mommy please don't die," she said between tears.

She sighted Chris' cell phone on the floor of her side of the car. She picked it up and pressed 2; T.C.'s speed dial number.

"Hey honey," T.C. answered on the other end; seeing Chris' number as the incoming call.

"Daddy. . . . . . crashed. . . . . . . Mom. . . . . .dead," Christy voice came to T.C as broken words. The connection was bad.

"Christy sweetheart if that's you. I'm not hearing you too clearly. Was their an accident?" he asked trying to stay calm. . . . . for Christy.

"Yes," Christy answered.

"Okay. Who was in the accident?"

"Mommy..... me."

"Oh God. Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Where's Mommy? Is Chris alright?"

"No. I tried.......... Not waking up," she replied. The connection breaking up again.

An ambulance sounded in the distance.

". . . ambulance. . . . . coming," Christy told T.C.

"Okay sweetheart. Take care of you and your Mom for me. I'll be there as soon as I can. I love you."

That was it. The connection went dead.

END OF CHAPTER 10

Read and review please. Chapter 11 should be here in some minutes.