He could see flashing lights from cop cars and an ambulance up ahead and saw that there was a car accident as he slowed down. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the familiar black Jetta. He slammed on his breaks nearly causing an accident himself and jumped out.
" Sir you need to back away. It could be dangerous, " an officer said.
" Amanda, " Kevin shouted, determined to push past the officer when he saw her on the ground. Hundreds of thoughts ran through his head as he rushed over to her and dropped to his knees beside her. He took her hand in his and squeezed it tightly.
Amanda opened her eyes slowly, but Kevin could tell she was weak and it didn't look good. " Ke...Kev, " she managed to say in a quiet voice.
" I'm here baby, I'm here, " Kevin replied trying to hold back tears.
" I...I left work early to...pick up Bennet...he's still at day...care, " Amanda struggled to say. She went on unconcious as the pain overwhelmed her.
" Amanda? Amanda, wake up, " Kevin cried out in a panic.
An officer grabbed Kevin's arm and pulled him out of the way as two paramedics began wheeling Amanda to the ambulance. " This can't be happening, " was all Kevin could say over and over to himself as he ran back to his car, but it was reality and there was nothing he could do to change it. The ride to the hospital seemed to take forever. He wanted to believe that he was going home and not to the hospital but that wasn't where he was going. He rushed into the emergancy room and looked around for anyone who could give him any information.
" Hello? Sir, can I help you? " a voice said from behind Kevin.
Kevin spun around not realizing before that someone was talking to him. After explaining his situation, he was led off to a private waiting room with out further information. Kevin paced back and forth with his cell phone in hand. He had just gotten off the phone with Brian and the others, and had yet to hear anything from the doctor.
" Mr. Richardson, " a doctor said walking into the waiting~room. Kevin turned around and could see bad news waiting to be told in the doctor's eyes.
" How's my wife? She's ok right? " Kevin asked not giving the doctor a chance to talk.
The doctor shook his head and and looked at the ground. " No. I'm really sorry Mr. Richardson, but...she didn't make it, " the doctor replied in close to a hushed voice.
" No...she can't be...no! " Kevin said in a fit of tears and threw his cell phone against the wall. His whole world seemed to pause and fall apart as he collapsed to the ground and sobbed helplessly. A.J, Howie and Nick walked into the room. " You bastard! You could have saved her! Why didn't you try to save her?! " Kevin shouted and acted as if he were going to lunge at the doctor in a mad rage, but A.J and Howie held him back.
" Yo Kev, calm down. They did try, " Howie said as a tear rolled down his cheek as him, A.J and Nick tried to comfort Kevin. They helped Kevin get up and sit in a chair. Kevin just sat there with his head in his hands and cried.
" Daddy, " Bennet said in a small voice as Brian held onto his hand and led him into the waiting~room.
Kevin looked up, his face tear~stained and grief~stricken and saw his son standing there. Bennet ran over to him and jumped onto his lap and immediately Kevin took him into a hug. " Hey buddy, " he managed to say.
Bennet pulled back from Kevin. " Why crwy Daddy? " he asked not aware of what had happened.
Kevin didn't know how to answer. The guys walked out of the room leaving Kevin be alone with his son. He shifted Bennet on his knee and cleared his throat. " I don't know if you'll understand this buddy, but, Mommy's been in an accident, " he said, feeling the tears welling up again. He shouldn't have to be doing this right now, or ever.
" Mommy got boo~boo? " Bennet asked.
" Yeah, Mommy's got a bad boo~boo, " Kevin replied wiping his cheek with the back of his hand.
" When she come home? " Bennet asked.
" She...she can't come home Ben, " Kevin said as tears began streaming down his face.
" Why? " Bennet asked.
" Because Mommy had to go to heaven, " Kevin replied and saw small tears forming in the corner of his son's eyes.
" Mommy doesn' love me no more? " Bennet cried.
Kevin's heart broke as he sat there watching his son not being able to understand what was being said. " No, Mommy loves you very much and she always will, " he said hugging Bennet tightly.
" Then why she leave? " Bennet continued to cry.
" I...I don't know Bennet, I don't know, " Kevin replied rocking Bennet gently on his lap.
Brian walked quietly into the waiting~room and went over to Kevin who was trying his best to comfort his son. Brian who was crying himself, stood there silently, not being able to find words to say.
Kevin looked at him through teary eyes. " Wh...why Amanda? " he asked and stood up. " It's not fair, it's just not fair! "
" I'm so sorry cuz, " Brian said giving Kevin and Bennet a hug.
" I * sniff * want * sniff sniff * Mommy, " Bennet said as he cried hysterically.
" I know you do son, I know you do, " Kevin replied. He and his son had been unfairly robbed and he wished he could close his eyes and open them and have everything back to normal, but that's not the way it works.
Days later...
" How you holding up Kev? " A.J asked walking over to Kevin who was sitting with Bennet on his lap. They were all at the funeral reception and Kevin was sitting alone at a table with his son.
" A little better, " Kevin answered quietly and looked down at his son. " I'm worried about Ben. Always being a talkative guy, he hasn't said a word since it happened. "
" Just give him time. He's lost his mom and being 3 1/2 years old, he doesn't understand, " A.J said sympathetically.
Later...
Everyone was leaving the reception.
" Hey buddy, I'll be bakc in a sec, " Kevin said as he placed Bennet onto the passenger side seat in the car. He shut the door and walked to Amanda's grave site and stood in silence.
***************************************************************
" Is he asleep again? " Amanda asked as Kevin got back in bed.
" Yeah, " Kevin replied and stared at the ceiling.
" What's wrong? " Amanda asked.
" Nothing's wrong, " Kevin said.
" I know you well enough Kev to know when somethings wrong, " Amanda replied.
" It's just that I'm really going to miss you guys when I'm gone and I wish I didn't have to leave tomorrow, " Kevin said,
" Awww, don't worry about it baby. You'll only be gone for a few months and they will go by fast, and before you know, you'll be on your way home again, " Amanda replied cuddling up to Kevin as he placed his arm around her.
" I love you, " Kevin said and kissed her on the forehead.
" I love you too, " Amanda replied.
" Promise you'll never leave me. "
" I promise... "
***************************************************************
" I never thought I would be in the position of having to say goodbye forever. It's just not fair, " Kevin sad and bent down next to the grave stone. " I'm going to miss you so much baby. Why did you have to be taken away from us? " He began to cry. He felt a small tug on his pants and saw Bennet standing there.
" Mommy? " Bennet asked, pointing at the gravestone.
" Yeah, " Kevin replied.
" I wuhve you Mommy, " Bennet said yanking a flower out of one of the bouqet of flowers and placed it on the gravestone.
A smile of peace appeared on Kevin's face as he watched his son. " I'll always love you Amanda, " he said and with that, he took hold of Bennet's hand and they walked off towards the car.