Chapter 45

IVY'S POV

The lightning in the sky took snapshots of my devastation while the thunder clapped at my despair. I looked up to the heavens, the cloud had gathered at my far east- a sign it was going to be a long night if I don’t find my way to safety. The rain was coming.

I managed to crawl towards the shattered phone laid on the floor. It was already damaged beyond use. I grasped a piece of it in my hand, pressing in until it stung my flesh, piercing a little into my palm.

My heart curled with different emotions. Hate, betrayal and heartbreak. It didn’t take time before the heavens began to weep. The rain slapped against my head and back, trailing through my hair and cloth before touching the ground.

I had searched for possible shelter but there was none. I was surrounded by thick canopies slopping into the woods. Jessica was deliberate with her action. She made sure I was dumped somewhere away from her fiance. I wouldn’t blame her. I might have done the same to protect my heart.

The unforgiving cold and the chill wind that the storm carried, bit hard into my skin. My teeth gnashed together. I hugged myself so tight to create even though it was a second of warmth, but there was none.

My spirit was about breaking, when a flood of light engulfed me from behind. An incoming vehicle. Finally help came. My frozen skin found its way to move. I flung my hand desperately to stop the vehicle.

The lights were so bright I couldn’t see what vehicle it was. I had hoped it would stop but sadly it didn’t. Instead it washed mud mixed with water and tiny granites on the dirty road on me. How much more humiliating can the day get? I heaved in disappointment, spitting out the droplets of mud water that flew into my mouth.

By this time, It was already dark and that was all I knew. The rain had subsided. I didn’t know what time it was. A couple of drivers had driven past me and no one offered to help and I didn’t bother stretching my hand out for one.

A sharp twist in my belly forced me down on my knee. I clutched my belly, pressing down the loud protest of my stomach. It rumbled. I was hungry, at the same time, worried. What would be the condition of my child if I starved for an hour more or maybe two? Who knows, it could last days.

“Hold on baby…give mummy a little moment to figure things out,” my brows furrowed, warm tears trailed down my frozen face.

Just at the brink of giving everything all up, another beam of light hit me. Unfazed, I shut my eyes waiting for the vehicle to zoom past me as usual but it never did. The tires screeched to a stop behind me.

“Honey, be careful. It could be anything.” A female voice streaked with fear and worry came behind me.

“Get into the car and shut the door, now.” I heard an older male respond. Then, his footsteps drew closer. “Hello Miss? Are you okay?” he queried.

My hands trembled as I tried to pull myself up, but it was too weak to hold my weight, sending me back to the floor.

“Easy!” The man hurried towards me, lifting me up to my feet. “What are you doing out here alone?” he heaved, balancing me on my feet.

I was too weak and disoriented to coin a response. My teeth ground against each other from the cold.

“My goodness! You're freezing. Let’s get you some warmth.”

I barely nodded as he led me towards the car.

“Open the door, Louisa!” he called out in a croaky tone, then the door clicked open.

An older woman with short gray hair, well-wrapped for the weather, stepped out and ran to the rare door, holding it open.

“My goodness, James! What happened to her?” her tone sank at the sight of my drenched body and my protruding baby bump. “She’s pregnant. Oh my God! Get her in.”

They both guided me into the vehicle. The sudden warmth that hit my skin made a bead of tears roll down my cheek. Just when I was at the brink of giving up, help arrived. They shut the door driving me away from the desolate highway.

I groaned, tuning to my other side. My brows furrowed in my sleep at the smooth feeling beneath me. It felt warm and cozy, a clear contrast of where I had been. The golden rays of the sun stabbed my eye through the curtains. I winced, dragging myself up on the bed.

“Good morning, Miss.”

My neck turned to the familiar voice. “Good morning,” I responded skeptically. “Where am I?” I rasped.

“Thank goodness, you’re awake. I was scared my husband and I were going to be doing some explaining to cops with our hands cuffed with chains,” the old lady flashed a smile at me as she approached me with a tray of steaming cups of something hot.

“Here, I brought you some tea to warm you up.”

I recognized her. The same old lady that had held the door for the man that picked me up.

“How far long gone are you?” She gently laid down the tray, pointing to my belly.

I instinctively place a hand over my belly. “The doctor said it’s my second trimester,” I responded with a long face.

The bed dipped under her weight as she sat in bed with me, handing me the cup of tea and bread.

“My name is Louisa and I was super scared when James, my husband, pulled over to get you,” She began. “He is very stubborn, but I’m glad he did,” she smiled.

Not sure how to respond, I smiled, sipping the tea she handed me.

“My husband and I have been in this small farm for five years now, after our house back in town got engulfed by fire,” her face dropped. “I lost my only child in it,” her voice cracked.

Her statement almost got me choking on tea. “I’m so sorry Mrs. Louisa. I didn’t mean to remind you of your daughter,” I pleaded.

“Oh no!” she chuckled. “Come off it. I’m glad we got you in time. But, why were you there all alone? Where is your husband?” She threw the question on me like a punch.

I was short of words to say. How was I going to explain myself? A ghost with no name. I slowly laid down the cup, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Uhmmm,” my gaze dropped to my belle. “It's just me and my baby. I don't have a memory of who the father might be,” I lifted my eyes to meet hers. Her expression was unreadable.

“I got into an accident. The doctor said it affected my memory and I'm all blank in my mind. I don't have any memory.”

Louisa slapped her hand over her mouth in shock. “Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry about that,” she chimed. “Have you spoken to the cops or something?”

“No,” my throat tightened. “I was supposed to be discharged yesterday from the hospital and start a new life with the man who saved me but his fiancée adopted me, accused me of having an affair with her man and left me by the roadside to die,” I explained.

“That is so wicked! How could one be that inhumane,” she clenched her fist with a scowl on her face. “We need to get you to the cops, perhaps they will find your family.”

I just sat in silence thinking of what I had been through when the sound of the mowing machine broke the ice.

“Oh! That's James. He's wedding the field again. That man hates sitting his old butt down for a second,” a smile radiated across her face as she hurried over the window to take a peep.

I admired her chemistry with her husband and wished life would be fair to me for once.

“Ohh, I forgot to ask. Do you have a name?” She toned down her voice so as not to sound rude.

“Yeah, my name is Ivy,” I responded with a smile.

“Alright, Ivy. That's a beautiful name. Do you mind if I take you on a walk around the house?”

I looked at her face. Beneath the smile, she looked like her heart would rip apart if I said no. I shook my head, throwing off the duvet I was wrapped in.

“I'd love to,” I smiled, stepping out of bed.

We took slow walks past her room, down to the kitchen, the dining and finally we were in the sitting room. It wasn't cozy like in the television. There was a long ammunition hanging on the wall. Different sculpted images, a dee’z head staring at me and a picture that made my heart sink.

I could hear my heart slamming against my ribcage. Could this be what I'm thinking it is? I drew closer. I wasn’t mistaken. Beside the old television was a picture frame of Louisa and James then Dominic!

How on earth can this be possible? Was I in his parents house? My throat tightened.

“Is everything alright?” Louisa placed her hand on my shoulder, startling me. “Are you okay?” She asked.

Speechless, I grabbed the picture frame.

“Who is the other man in the middle?”