This is Chapter 5 of Jake & Jessica. It is short but holds a lot of content. Thanks to Todger65 who edited my story.
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Chapter 5: Pain & Sadness.
It was a beautiful evening in Georgia as Anne and Jim were heading to a resort in northwest Georgia. They were going to spend the weekend there and relax. Anne was one month from her due date of September 3rd. The last few months had gone by quickly as she sat and rested once school was out. They had just left an hour ago and it being a Friday, traffic was heavy. They didn't start making up any time until they hit Highway 140. They figured this would be their last break for at least few years seeing as they were going to be busy raising another child. Anne looked over to Jim.
"So, are we going to discuss names?" Anne asked.
"Sure, you want to name her after your mother?" Jim asked.
"No, I was thinking about something a little different. How about we name her Jill?"
"You think Jill would be ok with that?"
"Yeah, I think she would love it. Jill has been a big part of our lives. I was thinking Jill Susanna Edwards. That way all our children would have JSE as their initials." Anne said smiling.
"You're something Anne, I love you very..." Jim was unable to finish as a tractor trailer ran into the Dodge Ram 1500.
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Mike slowly walked to the door with two uniformed officers behind him. One of them was from the Atlanta Police Department and the other was from the Georgia State Patrol. He moved his shaking hand and rang the door bell to the Edwards home. A few seconds later Jake opened the door.
"Hey Mike!" Seeing the officers behind Mike, he asked. "What's wrong!?"
"Jake, can we come in?" The officers and Mike walked into the living room.
"Yeah. Jessica!! Come to the living room, Mike is here." As the officers stood, Mike sat down while waiting for Jessica. She came in and stood next to Jake.
"What? What is it?" Jessica asked just as tears started flowing from Mike's ever reddening eyes.
The Georgia State Patrol Trooper was the one to have to tell them. "Mr. and Ms. Edwards, your parents were involved in a crash on Highway 140 about 2 hours ago. I regret to inform you that your father died as a result of the crash. I'm sorry."
Jake felt as though he were hit in the stomach. He didn't want to believe what he just heard. His father was killed in a crash. He looked to Jessica and could see her pain. He grabbed her into a hug as she screamed out in agony and fell to the ground.
"NOOOOOOO!!" She screamed. It was all Jake could do was to hold her. He knew he had to be strong for her. She was crying and sobbing in his arms. He thought about his mother.
"What about our mother?"
"Sir, your mother was airlifted to North Fulton Hospital with serve trauma. I know she was being rushed into surgery. That is all I know." Jake was in tears as he held Jessica listening to the Trooper tell them about their mother.
"I'm also here to give you an escort to the hospital." The trooper added. Jake looked up and nodded his head to the Trooper.
"Jessica, I know it hurts but we need to go to the hospital." Jake said to her.
She got to her feet as Jake helped pull her up. She was going to the door as Jake held her but turned and ran to the kitchen. She made it to the trash can and puked. Jake followed her and put his hand on her back.
"I'm alright Jake." She said while silently crying.
They went out to the APD Tahoe and got in. Mike sat in the front and was visibly distraught over the death of his best friend. The GSP patrol car led the way with lights and sirens as they made their way to the North Fulton Hospital. Jake and Jessica were both sad and crying knowing their father who loved and cared for them was dead. Their mother was in the hospital and her condition unknown to them.
They made it to the hospital in short time. They got out and went into the ER and asked the desk person about their mother.
"We're Anne Edward's children. Is she in surgery?" Jake asked.
The nurse looked at the computer screen. "She is currently in surgery. You can wait in the waiting room on the 3rd floor." She told them and Mike led them to the elevators.
"I called Jill and told her. She is picking up Amy and they will be coming here." Mike told them as they were in the elevator. They made it to the 3rd floor and told the person at the desk that they were Anne's family and were waiting.
They waited and waited with 45 minutes going by when Jill and Amy exited the elevator. Jill went to hug Mike who had his hands on his head looking down at the floor. Amy came to Jake and Jessica who were hugging one another.
"I'm so sorry you guys." She said to them as she was crying.
They waited another 30 minutes when the elevator chimed and revealed Jack to them. He was accompanied by another APD officer. Jack was visibly crying and very sad. He had been up in the helicopter and didn't learn of the crash until he was back at the Air Operations Center once he landed. Major Samson told him what happened. He fell apart right there in the briefing room. He cried not knowing the fate of his sister. The officer with him drove him to the hospital.
They waited another hour before the doors to the OR ward opened and out walked two doctors and a nurse.
"Family for Anne Edwards?" At hearing that, everyone stood and walked to the doctors with Jake and Jessica leading the way.