Life After the Epilogue: A Bonus Scene for The Accident by A.M. Heath

For a special treat, I have a bonus scene for The Accident. This scene DOES contain some spoilers and is best enjoyed and understood if you’ve already read the novella. So if you found this page a little too early, I encourage you to bookmark it or look for it later under the “Bonus Scenes” section on my Novel Extras page here on the blog. 
And if you haven’t read the novella yet, you can read a sample or pick up your ebook copy for .99 on Amazon.

Life Beyond the Epilogue

October 30, 2017

Ashlyn’s Diary

    Uh-oh. Just when I thought the cell phone thing was behind me, something returned to bite me in the rear. Ok, so here’s what happened at dinner tonight:
    I was lost in my world of chicken quesadillas when Daddy suddenly stopped chewing and stared at me. He leaned both forearms against the table and studied me.
    Momma stopped eating and looked between the two of us.
    I sent a questioning glance to Momma, who only shrugged.
   “Chris, what’s the matter?”
   Dad’s eyes zeroed in on my shirt, then back to my eyes. “It was you, wasn’t it?”
   I set my partially eaten quesadilla down. “What did I do now?”
   “That day at the hospital?”
   I felt the color drain from my face. I stared at him with my jaw hanging open. I had been found out. When he didn’t recognize me after our first real meeting, I assumed I was in the clear. But apparently not.      Dad let out a dry chuckle and wiped a hand over his mouth. He leaned back in his chair.
    “What is it?” Mom asked, looking from me to him, again and again.
    He pointed to me but looked at Momma. “Do you remember reading my message to Ashlyn … you know, in the beginning, when I thought she was you, and I said that some girl walked into my hospital room and stood there staring at me?”
    I watched the color drain from Momma’s face, as Daddy gave her a look with hiked brows, all the while pointing at me with his finger.
    “Ashlyn!” she hissed.
    I shifted on my seat. “Please don’t be mad,” I rushed out.
   Momma’s face melted even further. “Then it’s true?”
   I started but stopped, then finally spoke, “I didn’t plan it. We were there to visit Ms. Amber and Daddy–err, Chris at the time–texted to say he was about to be discharged. I had a chance to see him face to face. I didn’t think about it, I just … did it.”
   “Ashlyn! How could you? What if–”
    I waved her off. “He didn’t know who I was. I pretended to be lost, and he believed me … until now,” I uttered, flipping my gaze back to him.
    Dad only chuckled and rubbed his face again. He does that a lot when he doesn’t know what else to say. “What are we going to do with you?”
    I winced and lifted my shoulders. “Love me?”
   They both laughed.
   “Oh, we’ll love you, all right,” Mom muttered. “So, this whole time, you knew who Chris really was?”
    I nodded. “I knew. I knew he was perfect for us. I just didn’t know how to tell him that he didn’t really know you.”
   I turned to Daddy. “But how did you figure it out? I thought you’d recognize me the first time, but you didn’t. Why now?”
    He pointed to my shirt. “You were wearing the same kitty astronaut shirt. It stuck out to me because I thought it was charming, in a weird sort of way. Just now, when I saw the shirt, I had the same thought run through my mind; then it hit me that the last time I had seen a shirt like was on a red-headed girl about your age, your height, and your build standing in my room that day.” He smirked and shook his head.
   “Am I in trouble now?”
   They eyed each other.
   Mom sighed.
   “I won’t do it again, I promise!”
   Momma rolled her eyes, then turned to Dad.
   “What’s done is done, I suppose. But, Ashlyn …”
   “I know,” I muttered, hanging my head.
   He patted my arm, and I looked up at him. “Where has that shirt been all this time?”
   I shrugged. “I found it buried in my closet the other day and washed it.”
   They dropped it and we moved on for the night. But what a close call! Just think, if the hospital visit had come out earlier, I would have been toast. Needless to say, I won’t do that again.

Danielle and Chris:

Chris 9:05 pm:
I’m at the store. Did you finally decide what you wanted?

Danielle 9:05 pm:
Umm …

Chris 9:05 pm:
LOL Is it going to be like this for the next 7½ months?

Danielle 9:06 pm:
LOL I hope not, but it’s been a long while since I’ve been pregnant. Things might have changed since then. 😉

Chris 9:06 pm:
LOL Fair enough.
Well, last night, the little nugget wanted a Butterfinger.

Danielle 9:07 pm:
He said not tonight. I think he wants ice cream.

Chris 9:07 pm:
She wants ice cream, you mean. What kind does she want?

Danielle 9:07 pm:
Moose Tracks. HE definitely wants Moose Tracks.

Chris 9:07 pm:
LOL
Has Ashlyn suspected anything yet?

Danielle 9:08 pm:
Not yet. I want to get this first appointment over with so we can tell her.

Chris 9:10 pm:
I can’t wait. She’ll be a good big sister.
All right. I have the ice cream. I’ll be home soon.

Danielle 9:10 pm:
Okay, thanks. I love you. And drive carefully.

Chris 9:11 pm:
Will do. I love you too.

Danielle 9:11 pm:
Oh, go ahead and pick up a Butterfinger. 😉

Chris 9:12 pm:
LOL I already did. 😉 So far, life has taught me that my little women are tricky, and I had best be on my toes at all times.

Danielle 9:12 pm:
LOL I’m glad to know you’re teachable.

Chris 9:13 pm:
Ha. Ha. Ha.

Danielle 9:13 pm:
😉

Chris 9:13 pm:
Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask you. What do you think of the name Annabelle if it’s a girl?

Danielle 9:14 pm:
Ooooh! I like that! I like it a lot!

Danielle 9:14 pm:
Christopher if it’s a boy?

Chris 9:14 pm:
Sure.
But it’s a girl. 😉