Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(60)

“Aww, Jessie.” He held her for a long time.

There was nothing to say. The group of kids around them grew until fifteen students stood there, silently supporting Jessie Taylor and sharing the pain of what had happened.

Finally Jessie drew back and someone handed her a tissue. She wiped her face and blew her nose, but her tears didn’t stop. She looked at Cole. “I keep thinking about their parents, how awful it must be.”

Elise listened, trying to imagine. She could hear the missing in her own mama’s voice the last time they’d talked. Jessie was right. This would be almost impossible for the girls’ parents.

Like always, Cole was patient. He had no easy response, no promises or explanations. He only kept his hand on Jessie’s shoulder and listened.

This wasn’t the first time Jessie and Cole had suffered a loss like this. Years ago their aunt and uncle and their four girls had been coming to Bloomington for a family reunion when they were hit from behind by a semitruck. The whole family was killed except for Amy, Cole’s cousin. The one who lived with him.

And now this.

Jessie used the tissue again. “I hate drunk drivers.” A sad sort of rage filled her voice. “No parent should have to lose a child. Not ever.”

Her last words landed directly on Elise’s heart. No parent should have to lose a child. No parent. Without thinking, she put her hand on her flat stomach and as she did the baby inside her moved. Stronger than Elise had ever felt it. Truths began shouting at her soul, warring in her mind.

No parent should ever lose a child.

So then what was she doing, placing her baby for adoption? She was a parent, right? And her child was depending on her, bonding with her. The attorney had told her that Randy easily agreed to have his rights terminated. So he was out of the picture. The baby would be hers alone. How could she even think about giving this baby up? It would be a tragedy as great as the one rippling through Clear Creek High today.

Two sets of parents had lost their baby girls.

And in a few months Elise was about to lose her child. Her only child.

Jessie was struggling to talk again. She leaned into Cole and shook her head. “Every parent lives to see their daughter’s dance recital and help her with finals. To be there for her at graduation. And now . . .” Her voice broke. She buried her face in Cole’s shoulder.

“I’m here, Jessie.” Cole ran his hand along her back. “I’m here.”

Elise took in the scene and realized more than ever before that Cole wasn’t only a friend helping her through a hard time. He was the most amazing, most caring guy she knew. She loved him as much as he loved her.

All at once a preview of moments flashed in her mind. Her baby’s first steps and first words, the first day of kindergarten. Walks to the park and sports moments, Elise in the stands cheering at the top of her lungs. High school and dances and yes, one day graduation.

And through it all she could see one person next to her, helping her, holding her, laughing with her.

Cole Blake.

She watched him still hugging his cousin, still comforting her in the midst of this awful morning. She would talk to him later, tell him how this tragedy had changed her. She would tell him how the image of a drunk driver plowing into the girls’ car had made her protective of her unborn baby. Fiercely protective.

Then she would do what she had to do, what her baby needed her to do. She would call Mr. Green and tell him she had changed her mind. She was going to keep her baby.

Because no parent should ever lose a child.





18




They had come to sit and listen, and that’s what they did. Ashley took the spot next to her sister Kari on the sofa across from Theo and Alma Brown while they cried and remembered. At times, they all simply sat there in silence.

The visit had been Kari’s idea. Her daughter Jessie was Vienna’s big sister in dance. She would’ve been driving that night if her homework hadn’t gotten the best of her. The pain hit close to home and Ashley had spent all morning at Kari’s house.

Remembering a different car accident. One that had changed their family forever. And thanking God that this time around they were spared another heartbreak.

But that didn’t make the situation any less tragic for Vienna’s and Sarah Jane’s families. Ashley was thankful friends had gone to sit with Sarah Jane’s parents as well.

Ashley and Kari had arrived at Vienna’s home at two this afternoon and simply knocked on the door. When the Browns realized who they were and that Kari was Jessie’s mother, they welcomed them inside. The couple was still in shock, talking in short sentences, their expressions and voices almost trancelike.

Ashley knew exactly how they felt. There was no easy way to walk through a time like this, no formula. She and Kari had no plan or agenda. They would simply be there, ready and available.

Alma Brown held a framed photo of their daughter’s freshman class picture. The girl’s long dark hair hung past her shoulders, her brown eyes alive with hope and possibility for the future.

“You should’ve seen her light up a room.” Theo, her father, put his arm around his wife. He was staring at the photograph. As if he could still talk to her, his precious daughter. “Vienna was the happiest girl. She never stopped laughing.”

“Even last night.” Alma nodded and leaned against Theo. “Isn’t that right?”