CHAPTER 2: Bad News

Omniscient narrator

Months had passed since then, and despite the circumstances, Skyler had never felt better. She no longer woke up in the morning with tension that something would go wrong in the company and her husband would get even even with her, or know that she had not even returned and find him in the kitchen drunk when her son was having breakfast.

He was no longer a baby, and she couldn't allow him to live in an environment like that. Sam had left her no choice, he would be willing to do anything to torture her.

Calling the police didn't suit her, but she was more than sure he was still looking for her, in her own way.

Beyond that, he managed to find stability. The woman he met outside the station told him about the home where women victims of violence were sheltered. He had been given a room where he stayed with his son, the place where he lived with Izzy for a few weeks. She told him about the money she had saved and they pooled their savings, eventually getting a house for both of them.

In that place there were not too many questions and Skyler used her fake ID so that there are no records about her. Now she had a home, in a nice neighborhood and where her son could experience a normal life.

How come she ended up there after being a rich woman?

It was simple, if she tried to take too much money out of the savings account then Sam would know he would try something. He was able to take what he had in the safe and a suitcase for both of them.

He now had a job and a safe bed where he slept every night.

While serving the hot coffee he receives a kiss on his cheek and a hug. Looking at Sam's face as he sat on the kitchen island, he thought that rarely had he looked as radiant as he does now, and that took away his insecurities about his decisions.

"Are you ready for today's match?" she asks with a smile.

"Will you go to see me? "

"Of course if honey, I've already asked for leave at work. Why are you with that face? "

"My teammates say the other team's team are good at playing. They are the current champions of the league. "

"And that worries you?" the woman strokes his hair. "You guys are good too, I'm sure you'll have a great game. Just go have fun, there will be many matches after this one. "

"They are very tall, Mom. Some even look like adults. "

"And you are small and skilled, isn't that better?" the woman smiles and winks.

"Good morning" Izzy sits next to the boy with a smile on her face

"You don't look very good, how do you feel?" Skyler frowns as she touches the woman's forehead

"My head hurts, but I don't want to be in bed all day. Also, I won't miss the match. "

"And I can go?"

A four-year-old girl walks towards them, rubbing her eyes. That miniature was the portrait of Izzy. Skyler approaches her and leaves a kiss on her cheek before helping her sit on the stool.

"Of course yes, you will go to Auntie today. Is that okay with you? "

"Hey, they're not going to leave me here" is Izzy's turn to complain

"Mom, but those who are sick stay at home to recover faster. What if you get sicker? "

"Your mommy is going to stay home, because she's going to scare everyone with her sneezes" Kayla laughs as she covers her mouth

The thing is, Izzy was too stubborn to just accept it, so she and Skyler had an argument over breakfast. Izzy had fallen ill the night before and looked really bad.

Skyler and the kids arrived at the place where Gus would play today, so they settled into the stands waiting for the game to start.

Izzy and Kayla were his family, the closest thing Skyler had ever had to a sister. The woman helped her through the most difficult time of her life and was still by her side, even though she too carried a hard history. Kayla had adopted her as her aunt, and loved spending evenings with Skyler.

The match began and the mothers' talks soon appeared when they noticed that the rival team were being too aggressive. Everyone was clamoring for the referee to warn them, but it all happened too quickly when Gus was left lying on the ground, screaming in pain.

With Kayla in his arms, walking desperately down the guard hall, he begged that it wasn't something really serious. He had to wait with the girl there until one of the doctors came out to inform him.

"How is he? "

"Don't worry, the child is fine. We have taken him to several studies, but I have to inform you that he has fractured his wrist. "

"Oh, shit," he mutters under his breath. "Then what's next? "

"For now he has her immobilized and pain-free, but I have consulted with my colleagues and he will need surgery. Do you want to accompany me to see it and then we talk in my office about this? "

Relief came over her when she saw that her son was okay. The boy had cried and the nurse managed to reassure him, but he wanted to see his mother. Skyler tried to reassure him, even though she was the one who was most tense there.

The worst thing that had happened after that was the meeting with the doctor. He told her that it was best to have surgery and then rehabilitation so that the child could recover as soon as possible, and that even sounded simple, if it were not because he did not have the money to pay for it.

Izzy was waiting for her in the hallway of the clinic while holding her daughter. He knew everything was wrong when he saw her come out with that expression. They returned home quietly, Skyler's mind thinking thousands of things at once.

When he left Izzy in his room with the cartoons, he returned to the kitchen with Skyler, who was still doing the math.

"This is all I have," the woman tells him. "I'm sorry, Meg. Kayla's took all the money she had. "

"Thank you" the woman looks at her. "The doctor said he could pay him when he came back. I talked to the surgeon and the anesthesiologist. "

"Is that the amount?" says the woman looking at the paper.

"Yes. That doesn't even cover half of it, and my boss doesn't want to give me an advance, I called him. "

"He can go to hell" Izzy begins to walk around the place, thoughtfully. "I can go to work and bring the missing money. "

"Izzy, it's a lot of money. There's no way we can do it now. "

"Look, Gus needs that surgery and the doctor has told you they'll do the procedure now. You can take that money and tomorrow the rest, right? "

"Yes, but we won't be able to get the rest."

"Yes, I will. I had to go to work in the evening, so I'll just take a bath. I'll call the babysitter. "

"How do you think you can go to work like this? You're sick, Izzy. "

"I can do it, you don't worry. Go to the clinic to bring her the money, I'll stay with Kayla and arrange my work. Please stop telling me no. You know it's the only way. We have to take care of our children, and you have done a lot for Kayla, don't complain about this. "

There was Izzy again, solving her problems. What could I do without it?

Skyler returned hours later, when the sun was gone. I had to find clothes for Gus and would return a few hours later, he would stay at least for that night there. The surgery had gone well, and she was able to hand over that part of the money.

When she entered the house, she could hear Izzy coughing, she looked even worse than in the morning. There was no way I could go to work.

"I thought you wouldn't come back until tomorrow," says the woman as she prepares a small purse.

"I came to take a bath and look for clothes. Did you take the medication? "

"Yes, I did. Don't worry about it. Lore will come in a moment, he has a delay with the college. "

"Tell Lore not to come today. You will stay here with Kayla. "

"Come on, Megan. We talked about this," he says as he coughs again. "I have to go to work. "

"You can't attend in that state, hell. Is there no way I can replace you? "

"Do you want to replace me?" she raises an eyebrow

"Yes, Can't you talk to your boss?"

"Meg, I'm no longer in the safety of the place, I've been promoted. Remember? "

"Yes, you mentioned something about driving a vehicle. "

"Exactly. I make deliveries for the company. "

"And I can do it for you," the woman grimaces. "Come on, Izzy, you can't stay more than half an hour out of bed, it's cold outside, and it won't take too long. I can do it. "

"Good. I'll make a call, but I don't promise you anything. If they refuse, then I will go. It's not the only delivery I have to make to get the money. "

"Won't they give it to you then?"

"After delivery I have to call, you don't worry. "

Skyler got into the shower while listening to her friend talking on the phone, trying to explain to someone that she wasn't feeling well. There was no question about going if it made Izzy feel better and if she could afford her son's surgery.

An hour later he was getting into a minivan that had been delivered to him at Izzy's work. She was in a supermarket chain, although she had never been there, it was somewhat far from the city.

The man who received her was not very nice, but he cared little.

They had left the location on the GPS, he had to make the delivery to a depot half an hour from there. Skyler began to drive calmly, it was not yet so late, and the indicated road was almost not busy.

Suddenly, halfway through, a car went through out of nowhere, causing it to suddenly squeeze the brake and the truck began to skid. Her pulse quickened, but not so much when she stopped and watched two men get out of the car and go straight towards her.

"Get off, damn it!" he shouts while pointing a gun.

Skyler puts her hands up and listens to him, she had no intentions of taking risks just now. The moment she got off, one of them grabbed her by the neck and threw her against the vehicle.

"You're new," she says with a smile on her face. "What do you say, Kai? Shall we carry it? "

"What the fuck do you say, Scott? We have to leave quickly, these sons of bitches are going to find out soon. "

"She is a witness. Do you know what he can tell you about us? "

"No, please. I won't say anything, I need to go home," the woman begged.

"Let's see if she has what we're looking for. "

"Let go of me! "

The man smiled in her direction and suddenly hit her, leaving a pain in her mouth because of the ring she had. Skyler growled in pain and felt them pull her hair to take her with them to the back of the truck.

Their eyes widen in surprise when they break one of the boxes and inside all the confetti items was money. Lots of money.

She knew they were going to do it and wasn't willing to die there after all. He took one of the wooden boxes and threw it on the head of the man in front of him, then hit the one who was catching it, with the tip of his elbow. As he began to flee from there, a gunshot was heard in the air.