In Love, Never Say Never

I nodded and took a deep breath. Having calmed down slightly, I asked Hannah, “Where are you now? Send me your address, and I’ll come over right away.”

“OK!’

After we’d ended the call, I found Ashton looking at me anxiously. “What’s going on?”

“I think Hannah’s going into labor. There’s no one with her right now, so I’m going over,” I said, already making a beeline to my wardrobe to change.

When I had finished, I saw Ashton waiting for me at the door with his car keys in hand.

I was startled but had no time to question him. We immediately got into the car and headed off towards the address Hannah had given.

On the way, I began dialing John. None of my calls were successful.

“Why isn’t John picking up?” I fretted.

Ashton continued driving, his eyes fixed serenely on the road. “Don’t get all flustered yet.”

I knew that I had to compose myself but couldn’t keep my hands from shaking. Hannah’s baby was only seven or eight months old. How can she suddenly be going into labor? Something must have gone wrong.

It was precisely at this crucial moment that John had chosen to go missing.

I considered briefly and decided to give Louis a call. It was quiet on his end of the line. Louis’ rich voice came through clearly. “Scarlett, what’s up?”

“Uncle Louis, where’s John? I think Hannah’s going into labor now. Can you reach him?” I asked hurriedly.

Louis paused, then said, “I’ll look into it. How’s Hannah doing?”

replied, “I’m still on my way over to her.

dear. Let me worry about getting in touch with John. Focus on getting Hannah to the hospital as soon as you can. Don’t worry!” Louis

wildly down the roads. He wrinkled

“What’s wrong?” I prompted.

to enter. I’ll have to go down to take a look,” he said, immediately parking the car. He swung his legs

with a puddle of blood forming beneath

us, she heaved a sigh of relief.

hospital, Hannah was quickly wheeled into the ER. It was only then that I let

look at Ashton, only to see streaks of blood all over his

glanced down at his dreadful state. He then commented ruefully, “I’m fine! I’ll go back and take a shower

and I crumpled onto a chair along the hallway. I quickly clung to Ashton once

last time I experienced a miscarriage washed over me like a flood,

worry, nothing bad is going

my original mission. I took out my phone and called John again. It rang for ages before

however, that answered. “Hello, Mr. Stovall is

The voice

John on the line,”

other end for a while. “Are you Ms.

and my voice hardened. “Get John on

really in the shower right now. I’ll be sure to get him to call you back.

flung the phone away from me without

was rather hardy and survived that sudden bout of violence, clattering onto the floor with only a

and retrieved the phone. He deftly extracted the memory card, then casually tossed

arrived in no time at all, bearing an entirely