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The next few days passed in a blur.
She broke the news to Ollie after he’d finished school that same day.
Ollie had looked up at her, his eyes wide with worry and confusion. “So, Daddy and Felix both had a bad accident?”
Her heart sank. Of course, she hadn’t even thought about Felix. Did that make her a horrible person? Now, poor Ollie had two people in his life who’d been badly hurt. Things like people getting seriously hurt, or even killed, were theoretical to five-year-olds. Sometimes they didn’t even really understand what it all meant until it happened to someone close, and even then, they had trouble comprehending what it meant for the future.
“Yes, but they’re completely different accidents. It’s just bad luck, that’s all.”
“Is Daddy going to be all right?”
“He’s got the best doctors looking after him right now, so you don’t have to worry at all, okay?”
She hadn’t really answered his question, but she didn’t want to directly lie to him. She couldn’t say for sure that Stephen was going to be all right, but it wasn’t as though she was going to tell Ollie that. She bit back tears at the possibility of having to tell Ollie his father had died. The idea of being the cause of such pain for her son was unbearable. She prayed it wouldn’t come to that.
Luckily, Stephen had taken Ollie the previous weekend, so Ollie wasn’t expecting to go to his dad’s again. Due to Stephen’s erratic schedule, Ollie didn’t really know any different when it came to his father not being around. Of course, Ollie had asked to see his dad, but she’d told him that his dad was busy with the doctors. It broke her heart that Ollie had heard about his dad being too busy to see him so often that the boy simply accepted the excuse.
Later that day, the police found the car they suspected to be used in the hit and run. The owner of the car had reported it stolen around seven in the morning. It was after the hit and run had occurred, but the police believed it was simply because the owners hadn’t been awake to notice the car missing, and there was no reason to think they were involved in any way. They still had no idea who’d been driving the car. It appeared to have been wiped clean of prints after it had been dumped.
Stephen woke up after three days, but he was far from out of the woods. He’d suffered some swelling on his brain that affected his speech, and the pain medication they’d given him for his injuries didn’t help. Kristen went in to see him while Ollie was at school and was shocked at how bad he’d looked. She’d barely recognised him—covered in tubes and bandages—and he hadn’t seemed to know who she was either. His speech had been slurred, and he’d barely looked at her.
Lisa was by his side the whole time. “He doesn’t remember what happened,” she told Kristen. “It might come back to him, but it might not. The doctors say it’s pretty common to block it out.”
“But they think he’s going to be all right?”
“Yes, he’s out of the woods now. It’s going to take some time, but we’re over the worst of it.”
She reached out and took Lisa’s hand. “He’s lucky to have you,” she said, genuinely meaning it. Lisa seemed calm and together, and totally devoted to Stephen. She wasn’t sure Stephen deserved to have someone like Lisa, but perhaps this accident would make him realise how blessed he was to have such an amazing woman who clearly loved him.
That afternoon, she went home and cried all over again. Cried in relief that Stephen was going to be okay, cried with relief that Ollie wasn’t going to lose his father, and cried at the prospect of the uncertainty of her near future while Stephen was recovering. She hadn’t wanted to mention anything to Lisa—aware the other woman had more than enough on her plate—but she wondered if she’d still be receiving maintenance payments. Plus, she could hardly expect either Stephen or Lisa to take Ollie for any time until Stephen was better. She was most definitely doing this on her own for the foreseeable future.
Both Violet and Haiden had been brilliant since the accident. Violet was helping out with Ollie, since she was between yet another temp job and didn’t have anywhere else to be. Haiden had been caring and supportive, but neither of them could take away the emotional burden she carried.
After she got back from the hospital, she put her head in her hands and let out a sigh.
Haiden regarded her. He’d been coming home earlier and earlier from the university, and she had the feeling he wasn’t even going to classes anymore, but she didn’t have it in her to deal with his issues with his course as well.
“I think you need a break,” he said. “This has all been too much for you.”
She sniffed. “I can’t afford a break.”
He sat back, twisting his lips as he thought. “You know, one of the other students I’m doing my masters with is even older than me.”
“And?” The weariness in her voice was clear. She didn’t want to listen to any problems he might be having in his course.
He held up a hand. “Let me finish. He’s got a family holiday cottage up on the moors. He’s often talked about how they rent it out. Let me see if he’ll rent it out to me, and we’ll take the weekend up there. Away from this place, and all the people, and the school. Just the two of us.”
She couldn’t imagine that—not having to think about anyone else for an entire weekend. Just the idea made the weight lift from her shoulders.
“I think I’d really like that. It would be good for me.” She realised what he’d said about it just being the two of them. “What about Ollie?”
“Won’t your sister have him? It’ll only be for one night.”
She nodded. “I’ll ask.”
Things had been better between her and Violet since Stephen’s accident. It would only be one night, wouldn’t it? She felt bad at leaving Ollie, but he hadn’t been badly affected by his father’s accident. Things might be different if Stephen was a full-time father, but since Ollie hadn’t seen the extent of his injuries yet, the boy was getting on with things as usual.
When Violet popped around to see how she was doing, she broached the subject. Violet was fully aware that Kristen and Haiden’s relationship was more than just host and student by now, but she’d known better than to comment on it.
“Haiden wants us to have a night away. Apparently one of his fellow mature students has a little cottage up on the moors. He thinks it’ll do me good to get away.”
Violet nodded. “I agree. It will. I’ll take Ollie for the night. He can stay with me, or I’ll come and stay here—whichever you prefer. I’ll be happy to spend some time with him.”
Kristen pulled a face, her insides twisting. “How can I just leave him when his dad’s been in an accident?”
“You said yourself that he’s completely unaware how bad the accident was. Ollie’s fine.”
“I know, but ...” She trailed off.
“Well, then. Decision made.”
The idea of getting away from this place did appeal. Too much had been happening, and it would be wonderful being somewhere different with Haiden—somewhere she didn’t have to worry about someone seeing them together. She was completely drained by the events of the last few weeks, and she needed some time to recharge. She’d be able to come back refreshed and be a better mum for Ollie.
“Thanks, Violet. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”