Declan dashed for the hallway, Max tagging along while the kittens paused their grooming in order to stare at the drama. I heard Declan talking to Max, telling him to babysit the kittens while he was gone. If Max answered him, I didn’t hear it.
In the icy garage, I buckled Declan into his safety seat. “I’ll warm the car up,” I commented.
“I’m not cold.”
“No?”
“Nuh, uh.”
“Well, I am. Brr.”
After rolling the garage door up, I backed the car from it, then hit the remote to run the door down again. Lights from neighboring houses illuminated the street, and despite the weather reports to the contrary, I fully expected snow to fall. The sky overhead was thick with gray clouds.
“Take a nap if you want,” I said, glancing at Declan in the rear. “It’s a long drive.”
“I’m not sleepy.”
“Okay.”
In order to reach the Interstate Highway, a driver must cross the town proper, then drive along a two-lane blacktop for several miles. Cars passed us going the other way while a few sets of headlights glowed in my mirrors. I paid them the scantest heed while pondering my immediate future. Do I stay or do I go?
I loved Declan as my own kid. Did I love Avery as much? I certainly enjoyed sharing his bed, the great sex, his warm kindness and good heart. More than easy on the eyes, Avery also had enough charisma to float an aircraft carrier. What’s not to love about Avery? His sincere apology resonated in my head. Okay, he screwed up. I’ve done worse, I guessed.
A set of bright headlights blasted into my mirrors, nearly blinding me. I swore under my breath, squinting, annoyed at some of these redneck drivers and their big ass pickup trucks. This one grew closer until it sat right on our bumper.
“Oh, shit.”
I knew what the truck’s driver would do a moment before it hit us.
It slammed into the car’s rear bumper hard enough to make it swerve into oncoming traffic.
I righted it mere seconds before a semi tractor trailer crushed us into itty bitty bits.
“Jacy!”
Scared, grim, Declan’s safety in my hands, I stamped on the car’s accelerator. I put some distance between us only to have the truck’s larger engine catch up to us within seconds. It hit us again. I fought to keep the car on the road, terrified we’d be forced onto the road’s edge. At this speed, hitting the trees and small boulders in the fields would certainly prove fatal for Declan and me.
Which was the truck driver’s obvious intent.
Declan began to scream, crying, his fear and panic melded with mine. I couldn’t think, had no plan, felt as helpless in the face of death as a prisoner facing a firing squad. The car’s speedometer topped ninety, and I wove around slower cars in a desperate play at keeping us both alive.
The truck hit us again.
I lost complete control of the car.
It hit the shallow ditch just beyond the shoulder, went airborne, struck a grove of pine saplings, then rolled onto its roof. All in the span of a second or two.
Hanging upside down, I panicked. “Declan!”
He didn’t reply.
Unable to see him, I twisted in my seat belt, frantic, desperate to get to him, to administer first aid and save his life.
The truck’s brilliant headlights glared into my eyes.
It stopped. He’ll kill us both.
I hit the seat belt’s release and fell onto the car’s ceiling. Lashing out with my feet, I kicked the door again and again, forcing it open. I had to get between that driver and Declan.
