Suicide Note (26 page)

Authors: Teresa Mummert

Tags: #Contemporary, #Romance

BOOK: Suicide Note

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Gail made a look of disgust as she jumped up.

“That’s just gross. I’ll have to burn it. I’ll sleep on the chair,” she said as she plopped down on the recliner, her legs hanging over the edge.

“Sweet dreams, Gail.” I laughed as I followed Shane into my old room and he closed the door behind us.

ShaneDecember 25, 2010, Christmas day

“Hand me that big box with the red bow,” I called to Zack as he rummaged through the presents and gave me the one I had asked for. “This is for Jake.”

Jake smiled and hesitantly took the gift from my hand. He looked over the wrapping before smiling.

“Jenn wrapped this, didn’t she?” I couldn’t help but chuckle. I was horrible at wrapping presents. I had used duct tape on more than a few occasions.

Jake peeled the paper apart, trying not to rip it.

“You unwrap gifts like Grandma.”

“God rest her soul.” Jake raised his eyebrow, but I could see he was trying not to smile.

“What is it, Dad?” Tyler asked as he sat down on May’s lap. She pulled him into her and wrapped her arms around him. I couldn’t wait to be able to do that with my son.

“It’s a shirt.” He pulled it from the box and held it up to read the writing across the chest. His eyes tearing up as he read
World’s Best Brother.

“You got him clothes?” Zack laughed.

“It was the only thing I could find that said what I needed it to say.” I shrugged as Jake leaned in and wrapped his arms around me, patting me on the back.

“Jenn, this one is from me.” May held out a small box and slipped it into Jenn’s hands. She slowly peeled the wrapping off.

“Ohhh…” Jenn said as her eyes widened.

“I told you she would love it.” May playfully smacked me on the arm.

“Ohh…” Jenn called out again.

“All right that’s enough. Who told you May and I bet on which gift you would like more?” I asked as I eyed up the kids.

“I don’t think she is talking about the gift.” Jake pushed to his feet and panic washed over him.

“The baby!” May jumped up and began flying around the house like a crazy person.

“What are you doing?” Jake called after her as I grabbed hold of Jenn’s hands and pulled her from the floor.

“Just breathe,” I said calmly in her ear as I rubbed her back. She nodded and looked around at the chaos.

“I’m getting supplies!” May screamed, her hands full of everything from a blanket to a coffee mug.

“This isn’t the apocalypse!” Jake yelled as he ran to the bedroom.

“We will meet you guys there,” I said calmly as I turned to smile at Jenn. This was it. We were going to be parents. I wondered if our son would have her eyes or her cute little nose that she crinkled whenever she would laugh.

“I’m not sure I am ready for this,” she said as I led her out to the car.

“Sure we are, sunshine. We have the overnight bag in the trunk and the car seat is in the back. All we need is our baby.”

She looked up at me through scared eyes as she sank down into the passenger seat. I tried my best not to look scared. I pushed her door closed and quickly jogged to the driver’s side.

“We don’t even have a name,” she said as she breathed in deeply through her nose and blew it out heavily from her mouth. I pulled out and headed toward the hospital, hitting play on the CD player. “Fireflies” began to play and Jenn laughed.

“I have an idea.”

“Care to share it?” she asked as she readjusted herself.

“It’s a surprise.”

She looked at me like I had lost my mind.

“I don’t like—”

“Not all surprises are bad,” I cut her off. She sank back against her seat and sighed. I couldn’t see her face, but I knew she was rolling her eyes.

JennDecember 25, 2010, Christmas day

“With this next contraction we need you to push,” the doctor called up to me from between my legs. Shane was squeezing my hand so tightly I thought he would break the bones.

“I can’t.” I was overwhelmed. I knew everyone we cared about was out in the waiting room and I was going to let them down.

“You can do this, Jenn. This is the only way we can meet our son.”

“Hold her leg up.” A nurse grabbed one of my knees and pulled it toward my chest. Shane grabbed the other and pulled back as the nurse did.

“Grab under your knees and bring your head to your chest,” the nurse instructed. We watched the monitor as my next contraction began to build.

“That’s it. Bare down. Good girl.”

I held my breath as I pushed with all of my strength. Shane looked absolutely terrified.

“You can do this, Jenn. You’re the strongest person I know,” Shane said as he held my leg up. I gasped for breath as my contraction subsided.

“This is too much.” I panted as I relaxed my head back onto my pillow.

“I can see his head. Don’t give up now. A few more pushes and he will be here,” the doctor tried to encourage me.

As the pressure built again, I grunted as I pressed my chin into my chest. I could hear them cheering me on as I squeezed my eyes closed and focused on holding my son in my arms.

“Stop pushing for a minute.” The doctor was working down between my legs and I couldn’t see what was happening. Panic began to set in as I looked to Shane. When his eyes met mine, he smiled.

“One last push,” the doctor said.

I stared into Shane’s eyes as I pushed one last time and the room filled with cheers.

“It’s a boy,” the doctor said as a nurse used a device to clear the babies throat and nose.

“Why isn’t he crying?” Shane asked as I struggled to see my baby.

Seconds later, we heard the sweetest sound I have ever heard. Our son took a deep breath and cried. Tears of joy rolled down my cheeks as they placed him in my arms, cocooned in a small blanket.

“He’s perfect.” I smiled up at Shane, who had tears in his eyes. He placed his finger in the palm of our son’s, who gripped it tightly.

“Congratulations,” the doctor said as he continued to work on me.

“We have to tell everyone.” Shane’s face lit up and he turned toward the door. I grabbed his T-shirt sleeve and kept him next to me. “We have to name him first.”

“Owen Ryan Tudor.” Shane smiled down at our baby.

“Owen. That’s perfect.” I held him up for Shane to take. He slipped his arms around the baby, carefully holding his head like May had taught him. He pulled him into his chest.

“I will always protect you, Owen. Daddy will always have your six.”

Table of Contents

Jenn Reynolds – Maine, March 12, 2010, Friday

SSgt. Shane Tudor – Kuwait, March 5, 2010, Friday

Jenn – February 3, 2010, Saturday Morning

Shane – March 5, 2010, Friday

Jenn – March 13, 2010, Saturday Afternoon

Shane – March 8, 2010, Monday

Jenn – March 13, 2010, Saturday, 3:00 p.m.

Shane – March 12, 2010, Friday, Somewhere in the Sky

Jenn – March 13, 2010, Saturday, 3:32 p.m.

Shane – March 13, 2010, Saturday, Bangor International Airport, Maine