Page 5 of Nineteen Letters
Removing my phone from my pocket, I search through my contacts for her number. She would have got a bit of traffic on the way to work this morning, especially with this rain, but surely she’d be there by now.
I’m not concerned when it goes straight to voicemail. Her boss is a pompous arsehole, so she probably turned her phone off to avoid getting into trouble. I’d love nothing more than to wring his neck for the way he speaks to her sometimes, but I know Jem wouldn’t want that. She loves her job, and all I want is for her to be happy.
Opening my messages, I shoot her a text.
Me: Just checking in to make sure you arrived at work safely. Is it wrong that I miss you already? Because I do. I can’t wait for our date tonight. Hope you have a great day. Call me when you get a chance.
It will ease my mind to know she’s okay. My head needs to be in the game this morning. This deal means everything to me, and my business partner, Lucas—it’s the break we need to catapult our company to the next level.
I know the roads are going to be chaotic, so I head into the kitchen and pour the remainder of my coffee into a travel mug before grabbing my briefcase and the plans for the new shopping centre we’ve designed from my office. This is the first time Lucas and I have branched out from our usual portfolio of designing houses and office blocks. If we pull this off, it will be the biggest deal we’ve ever landed and will launch our small architectural firm into the big league.
Lucas and I are still young and have long careers ahead of us, but that doesn’t stop us from yearning for that big break. It’s what we’ve always strived for. We met at university eight years ago and clicked straight away. He’s not only my business partner, he’s like a brother to me. Our ideas are fresh, and we’re not afraid to push boundaries. It’s what gives us the edge over our competition—we’re visionaries, you could say. There are exciting times ahead for L&B Architectural Designs, I can feel it in my bones.
If we seal this deal today, Jemma won’t need to work anymore if she doesn’t want to. She loves what she does, though. She has an exceptional eye for detail and is already forging her place among some of the top interior designers in the country.
Is it crazy that even our careers go hand in hand? I design houses for a living, and Jemma creates the interiors. It’s not something we planned, it’s just another reason we’re perfect for each other.
When my phone rings, I slide it out of my pocket. I’m expecting to see Jem’s number on the screen, but it’s Lucas.
“Hey, buddy,” I say when I place the phone to my ear. “I’m just getting ready to leave now.”
“That’s why I’m calling. I left five minutes ago. The traffic is horrendous. There’s been an accident at the Main and Riley intersection. It must be pretty serious because the roads are closed in both directions. Traffic is being diverted all over the place.”
The uneasy feeling in my gut intensifies. That’s the route Jemma takes to work. But I force my voice to sound normal as I reply. “I’ll leave now. Hopefully one of us gets there in time.”
I redial Jemma, but again it goes to voicemail, so I leave her a voice message this time. “Jem, it’s me. Call me as soon as you get this. I need to know you’re okay.”
I try not to sound panicked, but I’m pretty sure I fail. I’ve always been protective of her, and that will never change.
Sliding my phone back into my suit jacket, I pick up my briefcase and tuck the blueprints cylinder under my arm, before reaching for my travel mug. I was up until late last night going over the final draft, ensuring it wasperfect.I know our clients are going to love the amendments I made to the original design.
I look down at my watch as I head towards the door.Jemma left an hour and twenty minutes ago. I tell myself that I’m overreacting, that she’s probably safe and sound at work.
Then why is my stomach in knots?
The rain has eased to a light sprinkle as I walk across the front lawn. Placing the travel mug on the roof of the car, I fish in my pocket for the keys. Once I’ve stowed the blueprints and my briefcase on the back seat, I reach for my coffee as I close the back door.
I pause when a car pulls into the driveway behind me. It’s not just any vehicle, it’s a police car. Fear grips me as images of my wife flash through my mind, and I internally freak the hell out. My brain is telling me to calm down, and not to panic until I have reason to, but my heart already knows this isn’t good news.
“Mr Spencer?” the officer asks as he exits his vehicle and approaches me. He already knows my name, which does nothing to calm me. I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. My heart is thumping hard against my ribcage, and there’s a part of me that wants to flee so I don’t have to hear what he’s going to say. Inhaling a large breath, I hold it as he comes to a stop a few feet in front of me. “Are you Braxton Spencer?”
Words again fail me, but this time I manage to nod my head.
“I’m Officer Martin. I’m sorry to be the one to inform you,” he says, reaching out and placing his hand on my shoulder. Every ounce of air leaves my body as I wait for him to continue. “Your wife’s been in an accident.”
I swear I feel all the colour drain from my face as my legs threaten to give way underneath me. Lucas’s words swim around in my head.“It must be pretty serious because the roads are closed in both directions.”
The travel mug in my hand drops to the driveway below with a thud. I vaguely feel the sting of the hot liquid as it soaks into the fabric of my trousers. The world around me appears to be moving in slow motion as the officer grabs hold of my arm to steady me.
“Is … is she okay?” I’m not sure I even want to hear his reply, but I need to know.
“An ambulance transported her to the local hospital.”
“I need to get to her. Are her injuries serious? Is she … alive?” I’m rambling.
“Only the doctors can answer that, Mr Spencer. All I can tell you is the car she was travelling in was T-boned after driving through a stop sign. She had to be cut out of the vehicle, but yes, she was alive when they wheeled her into the ambulance.”
I scrub my trembling hands over my face as my stomach churns. I think I’m going to be sick.
