by Marie Fraser
He was trying to make things easier for himself though. He had insisted that he drive on his own, so he wouldn’t have to be crammed in the back seat of the car in between Amanda and Adam who were known for their affectionate ways. Jason had picked up his father’s truck and had driven that down to the woodland area. That itself had been another ordeal.
Since the very start, Jason’s parents had favored Rachel. She had always been their favorite and anything she did was worthy of their praise. However, nothing Jason did was right. He was a disappointment for them, a son who had failed to meet their expectations by not joining the family mechanic business. Jason had never wanted to join in the first place, since his very childhood, Jason had detested his father’s business and the sort of commitment it asked from his father.
His childhood was tainted with memories of wanting his father around but always knowing the answer.
Dad will come late, he’s working late in the garage.
After growing up, Jason had built his own life and had stopped trying to reach out. Now the family only met on events and occasions, for Rachel’s sake. If there was one thing all of them could connect on, it was their love for Rachel.
Rachel was Jason’s best friend since the start. She was younger to him by two years and they had grown up together, along with Jack. Jason didn’t have any memory with either of them where one of them was missing. The whole town would joke about their friendship and their bond. They been aptly titled the three musketeers as they were always together.
Jason wondered if the others had arrived already and picked up his cell phone to call Rachel.
“Hello?” Rachel answered on the first ring, sounding breathless.
Jason knew it was best to not think of the reasons she could be breathless in a room with Jack.
“Hey, have you guys reached the place?” Jason asked, awkwardly.
“Uh, yeah. The receptionist led us to the cabins and said you could check in when you arrive.” Rachel said, cheerfully.
“Great. I’ll be there in an hour or so.” Jason told her.
Jason had gone to pick up the truck from his father’s garage, which was the reason behind him being so late while the rest of the group had already reached the cabins. He wondered if he’d reach them before sunset, as he wasn’t a fan of driving around in the dark.
When they had been dating, Jessica would be the one to drive them at night, since Jason hated doing so.
He ended the call with Rachel and put down his cell phone, his mind feeling upset with all the thoughts of Jessica and all their memories flooding his mind. He hadn’t expected himself to act so weakly, but who could blame him?
She had been his everything since day one, for three whole years. Jason remembered so clearly the day he had met her. She had been wearing a little black dress, which had become a personal joke between them, sitting at the bar, sipping on her drink and giving him a flirtatious look. He had gone over and then had realized she had been looking at the man behind him the whole time. Both of them had laughed and a conversation had started.
They never looked back and had begun a new life together. Jason couldn’t believe he had been about to propose to her! He had even bought the ring, which now lay in his jeans pocket, weighing him down like a burden he had to bare. His mind felt too depressed for him to continue driving and Jason pulled over at the next gas station when he saw the gas was low. His dad was one of the cheapest gentlemen out there.
Jason loved him but he could bet on his restaurant that his father had emptied the gas tank deliberately.
Jason filled the gas tank before parking it in the lot next to the small pub which seemed to be popular as there were many people sitting inside, Jason noticed through the windows. He decided that the only way he could relieve his mind of the thoughts that made him feel worthless was by having a few beers to last him for the remainder of his drive.
He knew it was a reckless thing to do but right now, his mind was the enemy and he had to numb it. Jason locked the car, taking his wallet out of the pocket of his bag and walked to the pub. The moment he entered, Jason was greeted by the smell of roasted nuts and frosty beer.
He walked to the bar and sat down, sighing in frustration and tiredness. He took out the ring from his pocket and placed it in front of him, on the bar counter.
To a stranger, Jason knew, he looked pathetic and miserable. However, he was far beyond caring.
“What can I get ya?” The bartender asked.
“Beer.” Jason said, not looking at him.
He moved away and a minute later placed a glass of cool beer in front of Jason.
“Hang in there, bud.” The bartender winked and Jason, reluctantly, smiled back at him.
Jason downed the beer in one go and before he could gesture the bartender to bring him another, he was already served one.
“You seem low.” The bartender asked, using his cloth to wipe empty beer glasses.
“What gave me away?” Jason snorted, feeling ashamed.
He used to be so confident and lively, now it felt like all his energy had been sapped out of his body. Jason felt disgusted with himself for getting affected the way he had. He was always whining and being sappy. His mood would always be low and it was quite easy for Jason to snap at people around him.
He knew this was badly affecting his own restaurant as his staff was too scared to come and discuss matters with from fear of Jason scolding them. His restaurant had suffered and now Jason had to find replacements for the people who had quit, something he truly didn’t want to think about right now.
“Perhaps the frown and the ring.” The bartender chuckled. “Bad marriage?”
“Didn’t reach that point.” Jason told him, shaking his head.
“You here for fishing?” The bartender questioned.
“That’s the plan.” Jason told him, smiling.
There was something about the bartender that made Jason want to open up to him.
“That ought to get it out of your system.” The bartender laughed and winked at Jason.
They continued talking for a while and soon Jason could feel the buzz from the beer taking control of him.
“I can’t believe she played with my heart.” Jason slurred, down to his third beer.
“You might just find someone else.” The bartender said.
“I don’t know. I’m here to find peace.” Jason mumbled.
“There’s a lot more this place has to offer.” The bartender said, mysteriously.
Before Jason could ask the bartender what he meant, his phone rang and it was Rachel calling.
“Hello?” Jason asked, trying his best to sound sober.
“Jason??” Rachel asked, frantically. “Where are you?!”
“Uh, my car, stopped.” Jason lied, not wanting to worry Rachel.
“Are you sure…?” Rachel asked, sounding worried.
“Yeah, chill. I’ll be there soon.” Jason said, regretting wasting so much time at the bar.
“Alright, we’re waiting.” Rachel said, suspiciously.
Jason hung up and picked up his jacket, forgetting about the bartender’s remark and raced out of the pub. He had to get to Bear Lake quickly before Rachel could figure out what was actually up. The sun had set and Jason groaned, it was dark, and he hated the dark.
He got into his car, shaking his head to rid himself of the drunken stupor which only increased due to the sickening motion. He regretted his decision to get beer, since he was now too drunk to drive, not without causing an accident.
Jason knew he couldn’t delay the drive anymore. He had taken too long already.
He drove out of the parking lot, making sure to focus on the road in front of him instead of on the thoughts in his mind that were working only to distract him and make him lose his concentration.
Jason drove forward, not allowing himself to think of Jessica. Needless to say, that was a futile attempt.
He picked up his phone, a deep urge inside him coaxing him to
call her and see where she was. How could she just stop after a relationship of so many years? Jason took out his cell phone, dialing her number and waited.
It rang once, twice and finally on the third ring the call started.
“Hello?” A man answered.
“Jessica?” Jason asked, confused as to why a man was answering her call.
“Hold on a second.” The man said.
“Babe, there’s a call for you!” Jason heard the man call out.
Before Jessica could come on line, Jason hung up.
Had she really moved on so quickly?
He turned on the radio, wanting the distraction desperately. The Radio Jockey on Wisconsin Public Radio was discussing the wolf chaos that had left the area feeling threatened. There was a total of 925 wolves in the area, and some had caused havoc by destroying property and by eating the livestock. That was an approximate count, droned the announcer, as the count didn’t take the spring pups into consideration.
Jason began driving faster, he didn’t care what happened or if he got into an accident. He didn’t want anything.
He saw a deer run out on the road, missing his car by a few inches. Before Jason could stop the car, a wolf shot out of the woods, large, with brown fur that shone because of the headlights.
“Shit!” Jason cursed as he hit the wolf and it flew off, falling on the road in front.
What were the odds of Jason hitting a wolf, the very animal that had left the area feeling endangered?
“Well, I guess that makes 924 wolves.” Jason chuckled, feeling drunk still.
He got out of the car, wanting to see the damage he had done to the hood of the car. His father would not be okay with it and Jason knew he would have to pay for the repair.
All thoughts of the car flew out of his mind, when in place of the wolf, he saw a naked woman on the road, unconscious.
Chapter 3:
Jason blinked, unable to believe the sight in front of him. Had he really hit a woman?
He had been sure it was a wolf. A gigantic, brown wolf.
Jason wondered if he had become a light weight. Clearly, he was a crazy man who was seeing things that weren’t there to begin with.
“Oh man.” Jason hyperventilated.
He knew he couldn’t get away from this. He ran to the woman on the ground, wanting to check her pulse. He kneeled next to her. He flipped her over to check her face and gasped.
She was so beautiful.
How could Jason have hurt someone like her? He felt so baffled.
He could’ve sworn he had seen a wolf, not a human. Could he really be that drunk?
Jason prayed silently, hoping she was alive, as he placed two fingers on her neck to check her pulse.
“Thank God.” Jason sighed in relief when he felt her pulse under his fingers, faint but present. He was surprised to see she wasn’t bleeding and that she only had a few bruises on her arms, perhaps from the force of the fall.
Jason knew he had to take her into town and make sure she got the right medical attention. He ran back to the car to open the back door and cleared out the back seat of the truck. He picked her up in his arms and led her to the car, before laying her down on the back seat. He covered her with a blanket before he ran to the front to fish out his cell phone and dialed 911, wanting to find out where the nearest hospital was.
The extension told him he would have to travel way back in to the city.
“Perfect.” Jason groaned, trying to wrack his brain to find an excuse to tell Rachel.
He knew she would lose her mind if he told her what had happened. She was very particular about such things and Jason hated upsetting her. The best thing Jason could do right now, unfortunately, was lie. He knew he didn’t have time to make the call for now and left it to be dealt with later. He got into the car and did a U-turn, heading back where he had come from.
Jason used the navigation system to keep a check on where the hospital was and how he could get there quicker. He kept glancing at the girl from the rearview mirror, trying his best to focus on her health and safety. Jason had the recurring thought of seeing the wolf, the gigantic beast, running out of the woods and in front of the car.
He wasn’t that drunk, to see things that weren’t there. Jason felt afraid of the woman lying in his back seat. Obviously, for two reasons, for one, she was absolutely beautiful and for another, she could be a wolf. Jason felt stupid, he couldn’t believe he was actually considering this explanation.
Sure, he liked to think werewolves and vampires existed. Who wouldn’t? But to actually come across one? That was something Jason had never envisioned. He pushed away such a scary thought and drove faster to the hospital. He would drop the girl off at the emergency unit and go on his way. Staying would only drag him into the situation unnecessarily.
He reached the city limits, noticing his phone blinking as Rachel called him for the third time. He didn’t pick up again and headed in the direction the navigation system directed him to. He reached the hospital and drove directly to the emergency unit where two nurses waited with a gurney for incoming patients.
“She was hit by a car.” Jason told them, not admitting that he was the reason behind the accident.
“How long has she been out?” One of the nurses asked as the two of them listed her out of the car and lay her on the gurney.
“It’s been an hour. We’re driving from the Northwood’s area.” Jason informed them, anxiously.
Could he have been too late in bringing the girl here? Jason knew he would never forgive himself if something were to happen to her.
“You’re her husband, right? Or boyfriend?” The nurse asked Jason, who was taken aback.
Would they not take her in without any one there to take care of her?
In his hurry, Jason blurted out the only answer he could think of.
“Husband.” Jason told them.
“Let’s get her inside.” The nurse said to the other one as they began rushing in to the hospital with the girl on the gurney.
Jason ran besides her, placing his hand on hers and for a second, he could’ve sworn he felt it move, slightly. He held her hand, tightly, to let her know she wasn’t alone. Slowly, the beer started evaporating from Jason’s mind and he began seeing clearly.
How could he have allowed such a mistake to happen? Why did he have to drive drunk? Was his pain from the break up really as important as the girl’s life, a life that now hung in the balance because of him? Jason knew it was now his responsibility to stay with the girl until she woke up and was able to go back to her own home safely.
A slow realization dawned upon Jason when the nurse thrust a form into his hands.
“We’re taking her in. Fill this out and submit it to the counter.” The nurse said and they led the girl away from Jason, leaving him standing with a form he had no idea what to do with.
He knew he couldn’t lie about too many details and resigned to tell the receptionist that he had forgotten their insurance and other important documents back in their apartment. This would be an elaborate lie but Jason would have to make sure he wouldn’t get caught.
Perhaps this was the only way Jason could beg the girl for forgiveness. Jason knew she would be very upset after waking up, because he had lied and also because he had hurt her.
Jason sat down on one of the chairs in the waiting room, where multiple family members sat waiting for news on their loved one’s health. Jason felt numb, if he was to be honest. He had no idea who the girl was and who her family was. If something serious were to happen to her or worse, Jason didn’t know who he would contact. He had made a terrible mistake.
He filled out the form, putting in mostly all his information as he had decided to pay for the complete care the hospital would provide. Jason at last reached the section that required him to fill out the girl’s information. He didn’t even know her name, a thought that made him feel quite disappointed and dejected.
He wrote Anastasia, for reasons unbeknownst to
him before moving on to the other areas. He didn’t know her age but by the looks of it she was clearly in her early twenties. Jason went on a hunch and wrote twenty-four, a figure in between and one that looked probable. Jason didn’t know what profession he could put in, without the form becoming too suspicious and hence went for a chef position in his own restaurant.
This reminded Jason about the fact that he actually did have to hire a new manager and a chef. Their last chef had left them during the busy season to join their nemesis, the Italian bistro, right opposite Jason’s steak house. The chef, Ricardo, had also taken the manager and a few other waiters with him, leaving Jason and his team struggling.
It wasn’t that Jason and Rachel couldn’t handle the restaurant on their own. Rachel was the head of management while Jason was the head kitchen, however, Jason did need a right-hand man under him to make sure the kitchen functioned smoothly, the same way Rachel required a manager to help her fulfil all her tasks.
There were a ton of chefs in town just waiting for Jason to hire them, however, the only reason he couldn’t was because he didn’t like other chef’s providing feedback. Yes, it was selfish, but Jason preferred handling everything the way he wanted and rarely let anyone get away with adding their own taste to things. The restaurant was his baby and no one other than Rachel could have a say in the operations.
Jason knew he could be dominating and controlling, but this was the one thing he wouldn’t ever compromise on. He had built the business up with his own hands, from scratch and now they served the finest meals in town.
For him, cooking was a form of healing. The kitchen was the one place Jason felt at ease. He had no one to answer to and he could create any dish he wanted, any way he liked. From sirloin beef to T-bone, Jason had created a wide array of dishes. His signature dish was the Milwaukee Hunter, one of the first from his menu to receive five stars.
Cooking was his way of expression. Even Jessica would tease him about this, relentlessly. While talking was a forte Jason could never master, cooking came naturally to him. He had started off as just a bus boy in one of the cheaper bistros in town. Each night, after cleaning the tables, Jason would bribe the sous chef with his tips and ask him for guidance.