Chapter 6

They were outside taking a stroll when it happened. Stephanie had just reached up to kiss Paul after he'd spun her some line about being the most beautiful woman on the planet. He'd then flashed her that sexy smile. The smile that made her stomach pool with desire and right there and then she'd silently promised to show him how much she wanted him once they were back in the privacy of their home. But in the meantime she'd settle for a kiss and a silent prayer that the kids would fall asleep early tonight. With any luck the fresh air would knock them out. She had plans for her husband, plans that involved just him and her, all alone and naked.

Paul's lips gently caressed hers. That's when Stephanie became aware of the sound of a car screeching to a halt. Immediately thinking of her own children, she quickly broke their embrace and her startled blue eyes looked around her. Jake was in his stroller safe and she felt a huge wave of relief when she spotted Ellie's familiar head of curls at the bottom of the driveway just ahead. However that relief was short lived as her head turned towards the direction of the stalled vehicle. Stephanie gasped lifting her hand to her mouth, her stomach churning nauseously as she saw the little person lying in the road.

"Oh my God Paul! The car hit Jamie."

Mark's daughter lay unmoving on the tarmac. As Stephanie rushed over to check on her, Ellie ran towards her father crying. Her small features were completely distressed as she witnessed what was happening in front of her.

"Daddy, there's blood. Is Jamie going to die?"

Paul knelt down by the side of the stroller and hugged a sobbing Ellie to his chest with one arm while his big hand reached for his son's and he gripped it protectively. "Shhhh sweetie. No-one's going to die. It's going to be alright."

Her gut wrenching sobs broke his heart. As he tried his best to comfort his daughter, Paul glanced over and saw Mark run across his front lawn. He swore he saw his face crumple when he finally realised what had happened. He let out a guttural scream and rushed over with Chloe, his baby daughter, in his arms.

"Jamie! My baby!" he cried.

Paul closed his eyes unable to watch his pain and gripped hold of Ellie that little bit tighter. Like him, Mark was a father. The roles could easily have been reversed and that could have been Ellie lying there right now instead of Jamie. The mere thought sent a cold chill down his spine. He buried his face into Ellie's hair and squeezed his son's fingers affectionately.

"She just came out of nowhere. I couldn't stop."

Paul looked up to see the driver standing beside him, his face pale and his body shaking in total shock. He recognised the guy. He lived a mile or so down the village.

"I've called them though, the paramedics I mean. They're on their way now."

Paul nodded unsure what to say. God knows how the guy had to be feeling right now. Just then he felt Ellie pull away. She wiped at the tears that had fallen down her face.

"Jamie didn't mean it Daddy. She didn't mean to hit the car. She just forgot to look where she was going."

Paul smiled reassuringly and brushed the hair back from her face. "I know sweetie. It was an accident."

He looked towards the car and saw Stephanie consoling Mark. He seemed to be hysterical as he hovered over his daughter trying to wake her up. His painful cries echoed in the silent road as the low sun shone down on them eerily. Each one of them ripped at Paul's heart as he could only imagine what the guy was going through. Hearing her sniff, he looked back at Ellie. That was when he saw the horror on her face and decided she shouldn't be here witnessing any of this. Jake neither for that matter. They were both still so young and so innocent.

Paul got to his feet and glanced over at the driver. As he lifted Jake from his stroller, the man managed to offer him a shaky smile in spite of his distress.

"Could you look after my daughter for just a second?" he asked him. "I need to go and talk to my wife and I don't want her over there."

The driver nodded and crouched down beside Ellie.

Paul carried Jake as he walked towards Stephanie deliberately avoiding looking in the direction of the little girl. His wife saw him and stood up to go to him, letting go of Mark.

"How is she?" he asked her as she approached him.

Stephanie slowly shook her head as the tears shone in her big blue eyes. "She's unconscious and there's a lot of blood. It doesn't look good, Paul."

Paul let out a sigh as he reached across, wiping a tear from her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "Listen, I don't think the kids should be here. I'm going to take them home and I'll take Chloe with me if you think it would help."

"I'm sure Mark would appreciate it." Stephanie sniffed. "But you won't mind if I stay with him, do you? I don't want to leave him right now. At least not until the paramedics get here."

"Of course you don't. Anyway he's going to need someone to help him get through this."

Stephanie smiled and nodded hugging her husband before walking across and talking to Mark. Paul saw him look over and nod at him appreciatively. Paul gave him a small smile and took the pram from Stephanie as she wheeled it over. Paul called out to Ellie and mouthed his thanks to the driver.

"We're going to go home Ellie. Say goodbye to Mommy."

Ellie ran over to Stephanie who crouched down to hug her. Paul saw how tightly Stephanie held onto her and knew she was as every bit as grateful as he was that it wasn't Ellie lying in the middle of the tarmac.

"Is Jamie going to be alright, Mommy?"

"I don't know sweetie but the doctors will take real good care of her, I promise."

Just then they heard sound of sirens approaching as the ambulance appeared round the corner. Stephanie stood up and kissed Jake before hugging Paul. He kissed the top of her head.

"You take care of yourself and call me later, okay?"

She nodded and lifted her hand in a wave to her family as she walked back across to Mark. Paul quickly turned the pram around not wanting to see any more and Ellie walked beside him.

"Are we going to the hospital, daddy?"

Paul adjusted Jake who had fallen asleep in his arms. ""No honey. We're going to go home and help Mark by looking after Chloe, okay?"

Ellie nodded and gave him a small smile. As they continued to walk home, Paul tried hard not to feel guilty at how relieved he was that it wasn't his daughter that was lying on that road. The simple thought of it gave him chills and he couldn't even begin to fathom the pain Mark was going through right now. God forbid he'd ever have to find out. Instead he would count his blessings that his baby girl was safe and pray that despite the odds, Jamie would be too.