A/N: Hey guys! Glad you're still enjoying. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, though I'm sure you're all gonna hate how it ends, lol! Sorry it's been awhile since the last update, life is getting hectic with the semester ending soon. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy. Unfortunately, I can't answer reviews this time; I got a bunch of stuff to do and I wrote this on a homework break. Mistakes are mine; I was gonna have it beta-ed but it worked out better than the original draft was working so I didn't end up needing it. Enjoy and I'll try to get more wrote soon. Running Back fans, be on the lookout late tonight/tomorrow afternoon-ish for the update.
Chapter 6
Saturday Night
Bri fell asleep near the end of Cinderella and Sadie and I moved into the dining room to talk. We sat down at the table and drank some tea (Sadie's newest fad) and caught up on each other's lives.
"OK, what gives?" Sadie asked me after we went through the motions of talking about work, Bri, and Sadie's relationship with Kwest. They had been dating for just over 3 years and seemed happier than ever.
"What are you talking about?" I asked her, not sure what my sister was asking me.
"You've been" She paused like she was searching for the best word. "distracted. What's going on Jude?" She asked me.
I sighed and knew exactly what Sadie was referring to. Since Tuesday when I ran into the Tommy look-a-like at the Mini-Mart, I couldn't stop thinking about much else.
"I just…I ran into this guy the other day," I started and frowned at Sadie's look. Her eyes widened and she leaned forward slightly, completely attentive for the details to follow. "It's not what you think." I told her sternly and Sadie didn't budge and continued to watch me with interest. "I was leaving the Mini-Mart and ran into this guy. I apologized for not paying attention and when I looked up…" I took a deep breathe.
"He looked like Tommy." Sadie finished with a sigh and a look of sympathy.
"Sadie, he looked exactly like Tommy." I stressed. Sadie's gaze got more sympathetic. "Look, Sadie, I know what you're going to say but"
"Jude, you probably just"
"I didn't imagine it. Sadie, I can't fake how I feel. How I felt when I looked into his eyes. I can't fake that feeling I get when I would be in the same room with Tommy. Sadie, it's the same one."
"Jude, you just thought it"
"Sadie, I know, oh I know." I told her groaning. "But I felt it. Sadie, they never found his body. What if…"
"Jude," She said tiredly.
"Sadie."
"Jude, you need to stop doing this to yourself." She told me, her eyes sad and apologetic. I didn't say anything and Sadie leaned across the table and took my hands. "I know you want Tommy back, we all do. We all miss him."
"Sadie, I'm telling you, he's still alive." Sadie just sighed and didn't respond. "Believe me or don't, but I can feel it." I told her. Sadie just shook her head and didn't look convinced.
I know it, I told myself. He's alive, I just have to prove it.
-----The Next Day-----
Briana and I went shopping. I needed to get her some school supplies and since we were out, some new clothes. The girl was growing like a weed and was unable to wear half of her wardrobe. The thought of Bri growing up saddened me. I wanted to share this with Tommy. I wanted him to see his little girl grow up into the beautiful young woman I knew she would. But Tommy…he was gone.
As we walked down the sidewalk, I held Briana's hand tightly and she chatted merrily about the picture she drew in Mrs. K's class and Mr. G, the consonant of the week. Her enthusiasm made me smile and I found myself remembering Mrs. A and Mr. B as well.
My cell rang out and I moved us out of the way and dug into my purse for the phone. I couldn't find it with one hand and I let Bri's go so I could dig easier. I pulled my phone out and glanced at the CID screen before answering it.
"Hey Kat." I greeted, reaching down to grab Bri's hand again to find empty air.
"Hey Jude," Kat was saying and I didn't hear the rest. I looked down and around frantically for my five-year-old daughter and she was no where in my immediate sight.
"Kat, I gatta go." I said hurriedly and hung up the phone and glancing wildly around for my daughter. "BRIANA!" I yelled, moving into the crowd and looking around frantically. Oh my god, Bri. I could feel tears of fear sting my eyes and I tried to ignore it as I looked around for my daughter. I didn't see her on the sidewalk and my heart sank as I could think of only one more scenario.
The busy street.
I whipped my head around and saw my daughter running as fast as her little legs would carry her across the street. She was yelling but I couldn't hear her words.
My voice caught in my throat and I felt my heart stop and my body shut down. There was heavy traffic heading towards my daughter. I could see the cars hitting her small body and leaving her lifeless. I was frozen. I was frozen with fear and I couldn't move my body no matter how hard I tried.
I was aware of people stopping to stare. I heard a car horn blare and I turned my head to see a black sports car trying to break. I squeezed my eyes shut because I couldn't watch. Oh my god. I thought tears streaming down my face.
I heard squealing brakes and people gasping. I heard a thud as the car collided with a body and then it was over. I heard people frantically on their cells calling for 911 and an ambulance.
I managed to open my eyes, my heart in my throat and I managed to move my body towards the accident scene. When I got there, I felt my relief wash over me. My daughter was in the arms of an older man.
"Mommy!" She called out to me and I rushed over and picked her up, not bothering to see if the other man was ok. Yet.
"Briana!" I yelled, feeling choked up. I couldn't muster up the anger to yell at her. I couldn't. I held her to me and closed my eyes, thanking god and whoever else for saving my daughter.
"Mommy, you're squeezing too tight." Briana told me and I pulled back a bit and set her down. I leaned down and grabbed her arms tightly and Briana looked at me with sad eyes. She made it with only a couple scratches and I was thankful that's all the fared.
"Don't you ever do that again." I told her sternly and Briana nodded her head.
"Mommy"
"No Bri. Don't you ever go in the street without me." I continued and she nodded and looked over at the man. "Bri!" I snapped, not happy my daughter was ignoring me.
"Mommy, it's Daddy." She told me and I looked at where she was pointing. The man who saved my daughter was still laying where he fell. I couldn't see his face but there was something about him…
"Excuse me, Ma'am." Someone said and I looked over to see paramedics had arrived. I grabbed Bri's hand and moved her out of the way.
"Bri,"
"Mommy, it's Daddy." She told me again, sounding so certain that I wanted to believe her.
"Sweety, Daddy's…"
"Excuse me, Miss?" I looked up to see one of the paramedics looking at me.
"Yes?"
"Your daughter was involved in this?"
"Yes, I-"
"Does she need medical attention?" He asked, glancing down at Briana and then at me.
"I…it probably wouldn't hurt to have her checked out." I said. Though it looked like she was ok, I didn't want to take a chance.
"Mommy"
"We'll talk about this later Bri, ok?" I said and followed the paramedic over to one of the ambulances. He did a once over on Bri and drove us over to the hospital to get her checked out.
As we rode, I closed my eyes and replayed the scene that had just happened. It was too close. I allowed myself to get distracted and I hated myself. I almost lost my daughter. I felt tears sting my eyes again and I let them fall.
Moments later, we arrived at the hospital and the doctors checked out Briana and bandaged her scrapes and gave her a shot for infection prevention. Overall, she was fine.
As the nurses finished bandaging her up, I stepped out of the room and walked over to the desk. I asked them about the other man who came in and I was directed to a room down the hall.
I had to thank him for saving my daughter. I couldn't thank him enough but I felt compelled to see if he needed anything.
I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me, and my breath caught in my throat when he looked over at me.
"You don't look like a nurse." He told me, flashing me a smile that made my knees go weak and my mind go numb.
"T-tommy?"