Chapter Forty-Four
Jack
I drive back to Ria’s, taking in the Christmas lights that cover the houses on her street. I love living in New York but there is something about this small town just outside the city that Ria found herself in that has that feel of home that I want. The smell of our Chinese takeout fills my car, our car. I love saying ‘our’, this is it for me, Ria, and the girls and as much as I love her little home, I want to find somewhere that is ours, something we choose together.
I tap my fingers against the steering wheel to the radio when a bright light floods my car, so bright I have to squint and raise my hand to shield my eyes. The car is coming at me full speed and I pull the wheel with force to miss it as it speeds past.
“What an asshole,” I shout, pressing my car horn.
I pull into the driveway and get the bags of takeout. I exit the car and walk up the steps to Ria’s house but something feels off. It’s the same feeling I would get when on the frontline in Afghanistan when the enemy was closing in, or before we entered a compound. I notice the front door is open and I drop the bags, racing up the porch steps.
My heart constricts when I see Ria laying in a heap under her white robe at the bottom of the staircase, a small pool of blood on the floor next to her head.
The air leaves my body and my knees buckle.
I find my bearings, stagger over to her and fall to my knees. “Ri, baby, can you hear me?” I rush, panic filling my voice. I press two fingers to her pulse point on her neck and lean my ear to her mouth to check her breathing. It’s shallow, but it’s there. I know I shouldn”t move her. I’ve dealt with many casualties when on tour and I acted without a second thought, going through the motions, the relevant checks, and administering the first aid they needed. But this isn”t a comrade, a brother in arms, or even a friend.
This is Ria, my Ria, the love of my life. Laying lifeless in front of me, blood dripping down her perfect face. My chest tightens at the thought of losing her. I stroke my hands over her head, trying to see if I can find the source of the blood loss.
“Ria, sweetheart, it’s me. I need you to wake up for me okay, wake up, baby.” I stroke the hair away from her face with one hand and fumble in my pocket for my phone.
I dial 911, my fingers shaking so much I have to redial the numbers several times to get it right.
The wetness on my fingers triggers something… a flashback of being shot back in Afghanistan, Scotty covered in blood, but I can”t let myself go there, not now. I shake my head, a wave of dizziness taking over. I inhale a deep breath. Silently pleading for the operator to answer.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“My girlfriend, she’s hit her head. I don”t know if she fell or got hurt, but you need to send an ambulance, now,” I say, fear clawing at my throat as I fight back tears. I need to keep it together. I can’t let my fear take over. I need to save Ria.
I hang up from the operator once I know an ambulance is on the way, and that’s when I hear crying from upstairs.
The girls.
“It’s okay girls, I’m coming,” I shout up the stairs.
Ria stirs and groans, trying to move her head as if she can hear them too.
“Sweetheart, don”t move, okay? Help is coming. You’re going to be okay, I got you.”
“Alex… The girls,” she mumbles.
“Alex?” I say, confused. “Did he do this? Where is he?” I ask, anger coursing through my body. “Ri, did Alex do this?” but she doesn”t respond.
“Fuck,” I roar with a guttural moan; one I hope I never make again. If he did this, if he takes her from me, from the girls, I’ll—my thoughts are interrupted by loud cries again coming from upstairs. I’m so torn. I don”t want to leave Ria, but I need to check the girls are safe.
I kiss Ria’s forehead. “I”m coming back, baby. I’m getting our girls. I’m coming back, I’m not leaving you.”
I stand on shaky legs and race up the stairs and head for the girl’s room. I burst open the door to find Lexi crying in the corner of her room, curled in a ball, tiny hands over her ears, and Elle wailing in her crib.
“Lexi,” I whisper, utter relief flooding my body at seeing the girls here, and safe. Lexi stands and runs to me. I open up my arms and scoop her up. Her little body trembles in my big arms and I feel the tears I’ve been fighting back free fall.
“Daddy hurt Mommy,” she sobs.
“Daddy was here?” I check. She nods. “Mommy screamed and there was lots of banging and Daddy shouted.”
“Okay, princess, you did good. Now I need you to sit here with Elle whilst I go help Mommy. Do not leave this room, okay?”
“Okay.” She nods. I lift Elle and soothe her, giving her the pacifier and then I place Lexi in the crib with her. I turn on Elle’s projector and music to hopefully drown out any noises that may come up here from downstairs. I don”t want them to see Ria the way she is. I need to protect them.
“I”ll be back in two minutes,” I say, holding up two fingers. I edge out of the bedroom, my heart hammering in my chest.
Is he in the house?I feel myself go back to Afghanistan when we enter compounds to clear them, anticipating the enemy to jump out at us at any time. I check the bathroom. Clear. I then check Ria’s bedroom—clear—and I am thankful the house is small.
As I reach the bottom of the stairs, the entryway is flooded with flashing lights as the ambulance pulls up in front of the house. Relief washes over me at the sight.
“They”re here, baby. You”re gonna be okay. Stay with me.” I reach for her hand that is flopped lifelessly across her stomach and squeeze it. It feels cold and clammy, and I squeeze a little harder, willing the life back into her.
Paramedics charge inside with bags and equipment. and it’s as if time slows and everything goes in slow motion.
“Sir, I”m gonna need you to stand back please so we can assess the patient.” the paramedic says, bending over Ria. I nod, knowing I need to give them the space to work on her.
“We haven”t had enough time. Please don”t leave me,” I beg, but all I can do is stand there and watch, feeling helpless as they try to save the love of my life.