*Chapter five*
Natalie's POV
I could hear the thumping sound of my heart,racing fast against my chest. I was standing so close to him but couldn't be with him. I watched him with bulging eyes. Dave was in pain and I knew it. I clung tightly to the tree I slid under,watching my very own funeral at the cemetery. With tears and pain for my loved ones who mourned me.
'Emma'
Rivers of tears escaped my eyes, I hadn't know how my entire world collapse within two weeks. I sucked in my endless tears,falling to my knees. My whole world was in three words 'turned upside down'.
I wanted to go to him shout to the whole world that I was alive,Jeanine Smith Anderson was alive. I gazed at the sight of the supposedly coffin. Pain,squeezed mercilessly my heart. It was her in there. Natalie. I couldn't help but feel guilty, if I hadn't offered her help,she would probably be alive now. I killed her,I could feel the strength slowly fading from my legs. It was all my fault and I couldn't help but feel was cursed.
Natalie would have been here with her daughter if it wasn't for me. My thought went back to Skylar, that angel. I cried the more remembering those tender eyes and love she looked me with. I wasn't her mother, I felt guilty and sympathy towards her it doesn't change the fact that I wasn't her mother.
I needed Dave,I too suffered, I lost my child. I let the whole pain bath through me.
'I should go up there' a thought raced through my mind. I couldn't hide forever,soon enough people would understand. Dave would. I tried hard not to think of what that male,Asher or whatever is his name, said to me at the hospital. I have a life of my own, a husband and it's not fair on Skylar's part,she need to know what happened to her mother. To say her final goodbye to her mother. Natalie would want it. The image of Natalie conjured up in my head.
"She thinks you are her mother. She won't be able to bear it." Those words of Asher haunted my subconscious even if I denied it.
Natalie saved me. I knew it.
"Skylar is a special child with a special condition. If she knew Natalie was no more,it would crush her.All I ask is to play along till I slowly make her understand." He pleaded desperately,with paternal concern evident in his husky voice. He stared at me with a look which wavered between anger and disgust.
I of all people understood, I also didn't like the present outcome of things that's why I ran away.
After being discharge today,I fled away. I wasn't running away but I needed to think, something I haven't been able to do after I woke up some days ago.
I rang up Dave's line but it didn't pull through,I called my home and I was surprised as hell to find out it was unfortunately my funeral and Dave was there.
The accident clearly changed it all.I was dead.
Dave stood up,my eyes never abandoning him. He was aided up on his feet. With a white rose held gently by his ever glorious hands. He staggered beside the coffin.
He had lost some weight, he had dark circles below his eyes,I noticed little scattered beards on his face.
'She was an angel. Jeanine was the most loving and happy person I knew. She always had a knack for making everyone around her feel happy and loved. Most of you all here knew of her,she was one of a kind.' He stopped drawing in a long painful breath, 'She didn't deserve this,Jeanine should be here,with me,we were just becoming a happy family. Today I not only mourn my beloved wife but also my unborn child. Most of you here know me,I'm an orphan, the one good thing life I took from life was taken away,it should have have been me.'There were gasps around. I couldn't control the overflowing tears that crumpled my face. 'It should have been me' I couldn't hold it back,my impulse took over,I started walking to where Dave stood,crying earnestly, I would tell him,I'll explain it all. There to everyone.... I was inches away from the gathering when I felt a pull... I was grabbed forcefully behind a trunk...When I glanced up to look at my abductor, I was faced with the most, frightful death stare ever conjured.
It was him. Asher Reed.
I felt like a criminal caught in action. I shouldn't feel this way. I wasn't doing anything wrong but it felt like I was. I tried wiggling my way through his hard rock chest but my attempt fell unnoticed. "Are you crazy?"
His words echoed into my ears. I felt nothing more like little Skylar been reprimanded by her grumpy and overly defensive father. "Running away!..." Again I was dumbstruck. I was helpless in his face after my whole 'think about it' talk.
"Look,I'm sorry,about Natalie and Skylar but look..." I pointed defensively at my funeral, unexpected tears rolled down my cheek. "That's me...they all think I'm dead. My husband thinks he failed his unborn child and I,he thinks he is mourning for us. I'm sorry but you are being selfish for wanting me do what you want. Skylar is a lot stronger than you think. Believe me it's better she hears it from you than finding it out from someone else because I'm telling Dave and you can't stop me" I resolved, staring at him with similar conviction as in his eyes. I had expected a fit, or more arguments but not what proceeded from his lips. "Skylar needs you... Her mother. I won't be the one to take it away from her." With just that the guilt returned but I had no choice, she had to know. "I'll accompany you,I'll tell her today. Where is she?"
"At the hotel" He said,I gave one last glance at Dave before leaving with Asher. Before I could face him, I needed to face this, to break that angel's heart. I didn't like it any more than she will but there are some things we can't escape from and this unfortunately was one.
Dave's POV
"I'm so sorry for your loss...Jeanine was a kind soul."
"Thanks" I said over the phone disconnecting while I strode into 'Glamorous' My favourite hotel. I could smell the intoxicating scent that seemed glued to me. Freedom.
The past two weeks has been quite chaotic,I mean it wasn't easy feigning sadness, eating less, looking pale and unkept.
'Urgg' I couldn't even go on. I've had enough. I'm not the first widower on earth, I mumbled to myself,remembering the exaggerating remarks during the funeral.
Oh well. I had no choice. Waiting to let her rest after two weeks was quite worth it. I couldn't let the opportunity slip away. I had to gain the sympathy and pity of everyone.
Jeanine was a kind soul....she was an angel... I chuckled. She was indeed,but you know all angels are up there above. So I did my cutie wife a favor.
If only I got to laugh it right in her face,but couldn't have that. My ambition and future is far more important. If only she knew how I hated her. She was useless in all aspect,except in bed of course. A devilish smirk spread across my lips, noticing a super hot waitress walking by.
I'm so free. Back in business baby. I let out the best of my flirtatious smile earning a wink.
Jeanine... Jeanine... Jeanine
I was so done. I stared at my wedding ring,it wasn't time to get rid of it yet. My hand slipped right into my jacket pulling out Jeanine's ring.
The Mall had called saying she forgot her wedding ring and who better to go fetch it than a devastating mournful husband.
Oh dear. She outdid herself. Pulling a stunt 'Dave,honey you are going to become a father' It left me stoned. Didn't know how that happened, I took the needed contraceptives to ensure that doesn't happen. No baby but that witch managed to bypass that. What better way to get rid of her than a car accident when her dear husband wasn't in town. I got the insurance, her company...sorry mine now, and everything that came along with her glorious exit.
She was the epitome of stupidity.
Good riddance to that.
I smiled while scouting the area for unwanted company. My eyes caught some pair of eyes gazing at me. She was wearing a black furry jacket and a white pant. From afar one could tell she's quite a beauty, though her hair covered almost her entire face as it hung loosely under her black hat. With the furry jacket above her inner shirt neckline covering her jaw. But her gaze never wavered. I had never seen her before, trust me if I had I would no doubt have remembered. She was with a child who back was against me. If I hadn't noticed the tapping heels and elegant legs of Emma arriving I would have gone over to her. I looked back at her and her eyes were now on the little child.
I moved away to the elevator while Emma followed suit in a distance, or I thought she did.
When we were basically out of sight and alone in the lonely hallway of the elevator she grabbed unto me. Her lips expectedly came crashing to mine.
"Slow your roll now honey." I said catching a breath. "Someone might see us"
"Come on love,it's been a while, you can't tell me you aren't as impatience as I am." Emma said flirtatiously, across my lips. "Besides who will see us."
She was right. The elevator doors opened swiftly and now,I pulled her in,her back against the doors while we let our lips do the talking.
It was then,just as the doors were almost shut I noticed the fading shadow of a figure,it was a woman.
I froze,trying to see the face clearly when suddenly a male figure pulled her closer to him.
The door was completely shut.
Who could that be?
Something was wrong, I knew it.
Those gazes.... My thought kept on lingering.
My whole being was screaming Jeanine.... As soon as her name left my lips.... I regretted it.
She was here.