Ch 39

The atmosphere in Mark's truck was tense as he drove through Charlotte back to the hotel. Bella sat quietly in the passenger seat holding onto Mark's hand. Samantha and Jessica were in the back seat talking about a show they were both watching. Jessica's phone started to ring. The moment she saw the caller ID, she hesitated. It was her stepfather's brother, Derrick.

"Jessica?" The voice on the other end sounded shaken.

Jessica frowned. "Yeah?"

There was a pause. Then, the words that would change everything for her started.

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry… there's been an accident."

Jessica froze. Her breath caught in her throat.

Mark, Bella and Samantha immediately noticed her reaction.

"Jess, what's wrong?" Mark's deep voice was filled with concern as he glanced at her through the rearview mirror pulling over into a parking lot.

She didn't answer. Her fingers tightened around the phone.

"What happened? Is my mom ok?" she finally managed to whisper.

Derrick on the other end sighed heavily. "Your mom and stepdad… their car was hit by a truck on the way home. They were both rushed to the hospital, but…" He paused, voice breaking. "…they didn't make it."

Jessica couldn't breathe. The words hit her like a punch to the chest.

"No," she choked out, shaking her head. "No, that's not true."

Mark's knuckles turned white around the steering wheel. "Jess, give me the phone."

Jessica, hands trembling, did as he asked.

"Hey Derrick, it's Mark. What is going on?"

"I'm so sorry for Jessica. Her mom and my brother were in a very bad car accident," Derrick repeated, his voice barely audible over the static. "They were rushed to the hospital. They didn't make it."

"We will be there soon," Mark dropped the phone in disbelief as Jessica let out a broken sob.

Samantha reached for her, but Jessica recoiled, burying her face in her hands as sobs shook her body.

Mark's expression was painful but controlled. He had to be strong for Jessica. He got out of the truck and opened her door. He reached for her and she pushed him away before finally letting him pull her out of the truck. She broke down in his embrace crying for her mom. Bella and Samantha got out of the truck. Samantha gave her aunt a helpless look. Bella hugged her and motioned for her to move to the passenger seat. Bella closed the door going around to Mark and Jessica.

"I'm so sorry for your loss Jessica," Bella cautiously touched her shoulder. "I'll get us to the airport. We will get you back home as quickly as we can."

"She can't be gone," Jessica sobbed, leaving Mark's arms going right into Bella's arms. "She can't be gone. I just talked to her about an hour ago. They were having a late night dinner after seeing a movie," Jessica cried out, clinging to Bella.

"Shhh, it's going to be ok," Bella held her looking up into Mark's eyes. "Your Dad will sit with you while I get us to the airport." Jessica nodded ok slowly letting Bella go getting back into the truck. Mark gave Bella a quick hug before getting into the truck pulling Jessica into his arms. Bella took a deep breath getting control of the emotions running through her as she got back in the truck. Samantha looked at her aunt seeing the pain in her eyes. As they headed towards the airport, Samantha reached for Bella's hand holding it tightly trying to calm herself as well as give her aunt strength.

Kane had met up with them at the airport. Jessica had clung to him on the flight still not believing her mom was gone. Kane had taken Samantha with him to wait at Mark's apartment while Mark and Bella took Jessica to the hospital. Once they arrived, Jessica only had one request.

"I need to see her," Jessica whispered.

Mark hesitated. "Jess…"

"I need to see my mom," she insisted, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.

Mark swallowed hard but nodded.

A nurse's aide guided them down a cold, sterile hallway. Each step felt heavier than the last.

When they reached the room, the aide pushed open the door.

Jessica stepped inside first.

Bella watched as she moved hesitantly toward the hospital bed. Her mother was there, motionless, covered with a white sheet up to her chest. Her face was peaceful, as if she were simply sleeping.

Jessica let out a shaky breath. "Mom?"

No response.

Her steps faltered, a strangled sob escaping as she fell to her knees beside the bed.

Bella's chest ached at the sight. She knew exactly what Jessica was feeling.

Jessica reached out, her fingers lightly brushing against her mother's hand. It was cold. Too cold.

"Mom, please…" Her voice broke completely. "Please wake up…"

Mark stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder, but she shook him off.

"It's not fair!" she cried, gripping the sheets. "She can't just be gone!"

Tears streamed down her face, her entire body shaking.

Bella knelt beside her, gently wrapping an arm around her. At first, Jessica resisted—but then she collapsed against Bella, sobbing uncontrollably.

Mark stood over them, his jaw clenched, trying to keep his emotions under control. He had to be strong.

Even as his heart shattered watching his little girl break.

Jessica barely spoke on the way back to Mark's apartment. She had cried herself silent.

Once they got inside, she went straight to the couch, sitting numbly. Kane and Samantha entered the room, staying silent. Bella hugged Samantha tightly before slowly sitting down next to Jessica. Then, to Mark's and Kane's surprise, Jessica leaned against Bella, resting her head on her shoulder.

"How did you do it?" Jessica whispered after a long silence. "How did you survive losing both your parents? I'm not going to survive just losing my mom," she looked up at her father, thankfully she still had him.

Bella swallowed, gathering her thoughts. She remembered the unbearable pain. The nights where she thought she wouldn't make it through.

"You take it day by day," Bella murmured. "And you let the people who love you help you through it. I'm not going to lie, it takes quite a while for the pain to dull. The heartache never goes away. I still miss my parents everyday. It took me a long time but I have learned it's ok to not be alright all the time. You have so many people that love you and that will help you get through this. You need to try to get some rest right now."

"I miss my Mom," Jessica softly cried.

"I know," Bella fought the tears as Jessica closed her eyes leaning harder against her. She looked over at Samantha seeing the pain on her face and opened her arm letting her nestle against her other side. She kissed both their foreheads trying to find the strength to not have her own breakdown as the memory of the night her parents passed away slammed into her. She looked up, meeting Mark's eyes, finding the strength she needed. Bella held the girls for a while till she felt they had both fallen asleep.

Mark had been watching silently thankfully for Bella comforting his daughter when he wasn't sure how to. He slowly moved picking Jessica up, moving her into her bedroom careful not to wake her. Bella looked down at Samantha worrying what she was going through. She had never known her mother and she was too young to remember her grandparents but she knew Jessica losing her mom was stirring emotions up in her. She kissed her niece's forehead again.

"Everything is going to be ok, Bella. I'm going to watch over the girls. You take care of my brother," Kane said gently, picking up Samantha. Bella met his eyes nodding in agreement as he moved Samantha to the extra bed in Jessica's room.

When Mark returned, he sat down next to Bella. After a moment, he exhaled, rubbing his face. Then, he reached out pulling Bella into his arms.

"Thank you." His voice was barely above a whisper.

Bella looked up at him, her own eyes filled with emotion.

"She won't go through this alone, Mark. I promise. I will help her anyway I can. I will help you anyway I can. I love both of you so much," Bella softly said, caressing his face.

Mark held onto Bella like she was the only thing keeping him grounded. His breath was unsteady, his grip firm as if letting go would mean losing everything.

"I don't know what I'm doing," he admitted, his voice raw with exhaustion. "I'm trying to be strong for Jessica, but—I'm scared, Bella. I don't know how to help her through this. I don't know how to make it easier. She has always been closer to her Mom than me."

Bella tightened her arms around him, "You're already helping her, Mark. Just being there, letting her know she isn't alone—that's what she needs. That's what she's going to remember."

Mark closed his eyes, pressing his forehead against hers. "What if it's not enough?"

"It will be," Bella assured him. "And when it doesn't feel like it is, you have me. You don't have to do this alone."

Mark let out a shuddering breath, finally allowing himself to break.

The weight of everything—the loss, the worry, the fear of failing Jessica—came crashing down all at once. Silent tears slid down his face as Bella held onto him, grounding him.

After a few minutes, she gently pulled back, brushing his hair from his face. "Let's go to bed and try to get some rest," she whispered.

Mark hesitated for a moment but then nodded, letting Bella take his hand and lead him upstairs.

As soon as they lay down, Mark wrapped himself around Bella, holding her as tightly as he could without hurting her. His breathing was still uneven, and Bella could feel how much he needed her.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," he murmured, his voice heavy with sleep.

Bella ran her fingers through his hair, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "You'll never have to find out," she whispered. "I promise you, everything will get better."

Mark finally drifted into sleep, his grip on her never loosening.

But Bella couldn't sleep.

She stared at the ceiling, memories of her parents' accident haunting her. The questions, the what-ifs, the betrayal—it all swirled inside her, suffocating her.

And all she wanted, more than anything, was to call Hunter.

Because despite everything, he was the only person who would truly understand the demons haunting her at that moment.