The mall is packed, but I was the idiot who left most of my shopping last minute, not that I had much of a choice in it though.
"Stay beside mommy please," I tell Owen as I let go of her hand to grab something from the shelf and throw it in the basket for our gift exchange. We decided this year to all just buy something no more than fifty dollars and play the age-old game of Kris Kringle. The game of keep or steal.
Outside of the small pile of presents, I managed to get for Owen by saving up. Mostly things she needed like new bedding, and a doll's bed for Mr. Dino that she has been begging for. A new dress for Christmas, though I am sure that Leslie will send her own as well. I know that Ken got her some toys and books, and my parents got her a new snowsuit and boots. I told my sibling to not worry about things for Owen, but they all shook their heads. She was their niece after all, if they got Delilah something, Owen had to get something.
"Owen!" I call out as she makes a beeline for something. Goddammit, I curse reaching out for her. She is generally not a runner, but sometimes I see the great help of toddler security tethers or leashes as some people call them.
I grab her quickly. "Owen you don't run away from Mommy," I chastise her gently.
"But kitty!" She exclaims pointing to the display of Kitten Surprises.
"You still don't leave mommy's side," I shake my head. God this was a drastic mistake if there ever was one! In the end I don't let her let go of my hand for the rest of the mall not trusting her.
"Earrings," she saw in aww the jewellery stand that we walk. "I want, like mommy!"
"When your older sweetie," I tell her nudging her along, "piercings hurt and your still little to understand the choice," I tell her. Mom had pierced Joy's ears as a toddler, and even the twins, in the '90s but by the time I came along the tides had been changing and it was no longer acceptable, so I had been eight years old when I finally asked to pierce mine to look like my sisters.
Owen pouts and I just shake my head.
"Rilla?" I hear my name and see Chelsea the girl I met that day at the playground near Joys. We met up once or twice since then for playdates despite our busy lives.
"Chelsea!," I say brightly. "Hello Leo," I say to her little boy who waves at me shyly.
"Braving the mall alone with a toddler as well?" She asks me with a knowing smile.
"Such is life," I say nodding my head.
"How have you been," she asks falling to step beside Owen and me.
"Pretty good, you?" She responds.
"All right I suppose, between funerals, weddings and break-ups it's been a long few weeks," I tell her honestly.
"You broke up with your boyfriend?" She asked quietly.
"Well, it was more of he didn't realize just want life was like with toddlers and realize no amount fantasies would prepare him for what it could be like and decided that maybe he wasn't ready being a potential stepfather one day?" I explain bitterly. "But I suppose better now than two years down the road when she's potentially attached to him?"
"That is true," Chelsea nods her head.
"Mommy!" Both kids shout as they see the indoor play area. We both look at each other as if we both could use a break and sit down for a few minutes. We open the gate and let them through and soon they were off running around as we find a bench to sit at.
"Are you attempting Santa photos this year?" Chelsea asks next.
"Honestly I haven't even tried in previous years?" I tell her. "But I think my friend Miranda is working there for the holidays as an elf?"
"That sounds like hell on earth," Chelsea laughs shaking her head.
"Miranda is resilient," I say with a small shrug. "We spent most of the senior year together, she's a good friend even if we don't get a chance to see each other as often these days?"
"What about your other one on the mainland?"
"Olivia, she's home next week and we can't wait. It's been so long since we saw each other, I even managed a sitter to go out one night." I tell her happily. "If you can, you should come along we're going to Baba's Lounge for some live music and dancing?"
"I'll talk to Aiden and see if he's working or not," Chelsea tells me. "It sounds fun and it is nice to get out of the house one night."
I nod my head smiling as we both turn to watch the children.
We make a small stop around Santa, waving at Miranda who was dressed up in her elf costume. Blonde hair curled down her back, complete with candy cane stockings
"Oh my god, I haven't seen you in forever," she hugs me and then Owen. "Oh my god, you need to stop growing so much!"
Owen giggles. "Teetee?" She looks up at me for confirmation, she hadn't seen Miranda since before school started.
"Yes, that is Aunty Miranda," I tell her and Owen moves to hug her.
"Do you want some photo's with Santa, I can sneak you into the line?" She asks grinning.
"Santa!" Owen exclaims and I guess the look on my face says it all to Miranda.
"On the house, I get two free sessions and really I'm not going to use them?" she says hurriedly. "Right Sam?" She turns to her co-worker. "Staff perks are amazing?"
"They are aren't they? I'm getting my sibling's photos this afternoon for my parents as a surprise." The other girl grinned.
"I don't want to cut in line," I say unsure of it.
"Look I already booked an appointment time for you," Miranda says pointing to the computer screen. "Come back in half an hour, go shopping, go have a bathroom break. Leave your bags here I can watch them for you."
I sighed shaking my head. "All right then if you insist," I tell her smiling.
We browse the book store last as I am mentally counting the money I had in my wallet and what I have left in my bank account for mom and dad's present. I wanted to get a poetry book for mom, and Dad there was something for his office that I saw online.
I browse the children's area with Owen.
"Daddy please?" She comes up toddling to me as she holds out a holding box that had a dig-a-dinosaur fossil kit that was meant for five-year-olds.
I double-check the price and was relieved that it was on sale at least.
"Do you ever notice that older moms love to stare at us and make comments about our ages, but yet our children are probably the most well-behaved children in the area?" Chelsea comments not caring who hears.
I snort trying not to laugh. Owen had her moments that was for sure, any toddler has their tantrums, but Chelsea was correct in a way. The mothers who looked down their noses at us often had some of the most unruly, disruptive children I had ever seen! More then once I have dodged running around children, or pull Owen out of their way as they run pass her after the first time she was almost knocked down by one of the them.
We make it back to Santa, checking into our appointment slot a few minutes beforehand, Miranda makes it fairly painless and manages to get Owen and Leo to sit next to Santa while holding a candy cane in her hand.
We walk away with the download for digital photos, and two small photos printed out each. Chelsea goes off to finish her things leaving me with Miranda.
"She seems nice, I know Liv and I are pretty amazing but I can see how having a friend who understands your plights would be good for you," Miranda whispers as she hugs me goodbye. "I'll see in soon?"
"Of course, and yes," I say quietly nodding my head. "It is comforting to know I am not the only teenage mother on this island."
I hug Miranda goodbye, and Owen gives her a sloppy kiss on the cheek, after receiving another candy cane.
I do up Owen's jackets as I look side of the mall. It had started to snow while I had been doing my shopping. I hold her hand through the parking lot, all my other bags in the other I manage to unlock the car and toss the bags on the seat carefully before ridding Owen of her winter jacket and buckling her into her car seat and covering her with her jacket to keep her warm. I take the gifts next and put them properly in the trunk of the car before slamming it shut.
"It's getting chilly isn't it," I say to Owen as I turn on the car and crank up the heat and she nods her head to me.
"Snack?" She asks and I shake my head and reach for her bag of them and dig out something for her to eat and her cup of water.
I glance at my phone for a moment, looking at whatever messages I still needed to reply to. For the most part, I spent the better part of the last few weeks pretending that nothing in my life had changed. At least to my family anyway, if they had any inkling of my newly single status nothing has been said about it just yet.
Mom texted me asking if I could stop by the honey and wine place she likes to pick up some beeswax candles, honey and of course wine that she ordered ahead of time. I sigh as if it was the opposite direction, but I told myself I would.
The roads were shit, but it wasn't too windy yet so at least I could see, and hopefully, the market would still be open. Owen fell asleep which only made things difficult because I didn't want to wake her up by taking her out of the car, but I couldn't leave her in the car either.
In the end, I carry her inside on my hip as I talk to the shopkeeper who brings out a crate of things. Christmas presents.
"I'll help you to the car with it," He says. "I just need ID for you to pick up the wine, I know your 19, but just have to check anyway." I nod my head and show the back of my cell phone where my driver's license was stashed at the moment. He nods his head and grabs the pallet of stuff for me. I click the trunk open for him as I get Owen back in her seat without too much trouble.
My stomach growls at me, reminding me that it is well past lunch and I haven't eaten since this morning.
I should have known better, I should have headed back through the city to get back home. But I take the old roads that are usually quicker and I quickly learn my mistake the closer to the sea the more I get as the wind picks ups and the roads become worse and blowing snow becomes my enemy. My eyes hurt from the brightness of the snow I slow down to a comfortable speed. I still haven't driven in many storms.
I know there is a stop sign coming up ahead, I know that road well enough from summer drives out to the beach, but I can't see it. I don't see it until it is too late as I just break for it but I only feel I feel the tires slide, the brakes pumping automatically as I try to steer while in the horror of what was happening. The snow is blowing all around and I was driving to the conditions, but my heart pounded and I feel the wind and the car do what it wants.
"Mommy?" Owen screams from the back as I slide down the edge of the road, down the ditch area, my head hitting the window more than once as I try to keep some sort of control until a tree stops the car. The impact is fierce enough as my head swings, I hit the side of the window wincing before another bounce makes my head hit the steering wheel.
I groan, my ears ring and the sound of crying, something warm and wet running down my forehead.
"Baby?" I say opening my eyes and seeing the airbag and my blood until I look up in the mirror. God how long had I been out. "Mommy's okay, mommy is okay," I just reached for her with my hand.
"Mommy!"
I try to squish the airbag, trying to find my phone.
911
Call 911
Why did my head hurt so much?
Dispatch how may I help you?
Hello?
"I need help?" I say weakly and it almost feels like they jump to attention. "My car, the storm," I try and explain.
"Do you know where you are? What is your name?" The woman asks, she most likely already tracking my fine. "Is there anyone else in the car who is crying?"
"My name is Rilla Blythe, My daughter she's two and a half," I choke up struggling to undo my seatbelt. "She's still rear-facing," I say trying to climb into the back seat but I can't.
"That's good to know," She tells me. "What about you anything hurts or bleeding, are you in the car, is it smoking?"
"I hurt my head, it's bleeding, but otherwise legs and arms feel okay, my left feels a bit bruised? The car bumped into a tree, we're inside it still. I hurt my head on the window. I don't even know if I was out for long?" I tell her honestly.
"I've sent help to you, it should be too long they are coming from new Glasgow," she tells me.
"Mommy!" Owen cries about for me once more, I turn my head to see that she trying to unbuckle herself and stand up.
"Owen no-no sweetie stay sitting place," I tell her. "She's trying to get to me," I tell dispatch.
"Try to keep her in her seat, I am sure she is fine, but it's safer for her to keep to her car seat,"
I make a noise of acknowledgement. Reaching behind with my one arm that didn't hurt and she grasps my hand.
"Should I shut off the car?" I ask the operator.
"You'll want to keep the heat, is there an engine light or anything blinking at you, smoke?" She tells me kindly.
"No, it's just one?" I say. "I bumped into a tree? I don't know have bad it is, oh god my parents are going to kill me."
I don't know how long it takes, or when they arrive, but I know it was darker then it was before as the sun set in the sky. At the very least I remembered to turn on my hazards so they could see me hopefully.
"Her first," I say as the paramedics and firemen approach the car. "Baby these people are going to make sure you're okay and not hurt."
They check her over before the paramedic lady takes her and wraps her in a blanket as she holds onto Mr. Dino. They check me over, while another asks me if there is anyone to call, I haven't even thought about calling anyone since dispatch stayed on the phone until the paramedics, fire and police come.
I explain what happened, offering my license and the insurance and registration to the police. When it was all said and done. I manage to get out of the car slowly with help as the one paramedic picks me up carefully and someone digs out my purse and Owen's bag and stuffed animal from the back of the car. They carry us both up to the ambulance and set me down before giving me another once over before they let me sit back up. I'll be bruised up most likely and probably will have a headache, but I can feel all my fingers and toes, and move my limbs.
"Marilla Blythe," they say looking at my id and health card.
"My dad works at the hospital in Charlottetown, Dr. Blythe," I tell them and they look at each other as Owen reaches for me and I nod my head to let them know I can hold her.
"Mommy," she cries wrapping herself around me.
"I have things in the trunk!" I realize all of the things I bought that day. "It's not much, but…"
"We'll grab it for you and you can bring it with you." One of the men told me.
We drive carefully to the hospital, sirens on but they aren't rushing as we seem fine.
We're wheeled into emergency, a few nurses get a look at me knowing just exactly who I was were on the phone in an instant. They allow Owen to stay with me thankfully as she seems to be fine as the one emergency doctor checks her over asking her if anywhere hurts, and to do a few movements with her arms and legs for him. I keep my eyes half-closed as the lights feel blinding to me and more than once the young doctor on call calls out my name to me.
"Rilla!" I hear my dad's voice frantic.
"She's in here Gilbert," the other doctor calls out, opening the sliding door.
"I'm sorry about the car," I tell my dad instantly when I see him come around to my area in his lab coat.
"I don't care about the car, I care about you two," Dad says as he grabs my chart reading it over, and Owens who was clinging to me. Ever such the doctor that he was, but he looks at me for a moment before he moves gingerly and pulls me into a soft hug. We stay like that for a good minute before he backs away. Whispering that he was glad that I was safe.
"What has to be checked over yet?"
"Your Granddaughter seems perfectly fine, seems like the car seat did its job. Your daughter I suspect has a mild concussion. It looks like she hit her head rather hard, her shoulder is abit bruised. Seat belt did it's job." The other doctor told him.
"I think I hit it on the window, or maybe the steering wheel?" I answer honestly. "I just know it hurts?"
"CT scan?" Dad asks the other doctor's opinion.
"She's coherent and responsive,"
"Lights are bothersome," I add on for them.
"We'll get you some sunglasses then," Dad jokes. "But I think we should get one just to be sure considering how it happened?"
"I thought you couldn't treat family," I poke at my father.
"I'm not, just giving a second opinion," I can hear him grin. "I can stitch her up though, I have no patients, you can help another person." Dad offers him.
"Are you all right with this Rilla?" He asked and I just shrug my one shoulder wincing in pain. "It's better than coming to him four months pregnant and trying to explain that I was bleeding to him," I say trying to be comical, and they both smile weakly at me and the other doctor takes his leave.
I watch Dad through squinted eyes as he grabs gloves and the things that the nurse set out for him.
"This might sting for a moment," he picks up the needle of what I expect is to numb the area. I try to nod my head but stop myself as I feel my vision go blurry.
I hold onto Owen who hasn't let me go yet, and close my eyes as dad works on my gash? Cut?
"I don't think it will scar," he says with his last suture. He doesn't ask, but I know he's must likely wondering.
"I don't know what happened, the firemen said something about ice on the road. I couldn't see the stop sign until it was too late," I try to explain to him as he wiped over it gently once more to finish cleaning it before gently covering the wound with a fairly large bandage.
"It can happen to anyone Rilla, the car is fixable, replaceable. You and Owen are not," Dad tells me taking off his gloves and washing his hands.
"Sorry to bother you, but there is a Kenneth Ford here for Owen Blythe, he says he's her father?" A nurse asked after knocking politely on the door.
"He his, he can come back," I tell her.
"Daddy!" Owen screams when she sees him and I instantly hold the side of my head.
"What happened?" Ken asked looking at me as he picks her up in his arms. "Are you all right?"
"It was blowing snow and there had been some freezing rain and ice on the road," Nurse tells him reading from the paperwork the paramedics must have given her. "Your daughter is fine, your girlfriend is in good hands with Doctor Blythe."
"He's not," I answer automatically but stop not caring as my head pounded.
"We're not together," Ken says calmly and kindly.
"Why don't you take Owen home with you, Rilla needs a few more check-ups to make sure she's all right?" Dad looks at Ken.
"Mommy?" Owen whimpers at the thought of being taken away from her.
"Go with daddy," I whisper to her. "Mommy will see you when she's all fixed up."
"Is she going to be all right in a car?" Ken asks thinking about it for a moment and Dad stops for a moment frowning.
"I don't know Kenneth, just take it slow and try to explain to her calmly that accidents are just what they are accidents," Dad explains quietly. "The same will go for you," he looks to me next. "Though we should call your mother?"
With that I groan, but nod my head.
I have never been in a car accident, and took procedures from what I see on tv and movies and google. If it's not completely accurate, forgive me, but my PEI Friend did explain that high winds from the ocean, blowing snow, white outs and freezing rain can make any care loose controls and drive off the road and cause accidents like such.
Tina.