Chapter 3 The Realization

Chapter 3: The Realization

I parked outside the elementary school, my heart beating faster than usual as I watched the children who were coming out of their various classes.

My eyes were searching the crowd frantically until I saw Ethan and Liam who were waiting by their classroom door, with their little backpacks across their shoulders. They looked eager and excited whispering about something that I had no idea of.

But when they saw me, their faces fell from happiness to confusion.

"Mom?" Ethan said, his voice filled with disappointment as he asked. "Where's Jessica?"

I almost flinched physically from the question as I tried to keep my expression neutral as I reached Liam's backpack to take it from him.

"Jessica? Why would Jessica be picking you up?" I asked, trying to sound normal despite the anxiety that I was feeling.

Liam pulled away from me with a sad face as he mumbled something out.

"Dad said Jessica was coming to get us today instead of you. He texted us during lunch so we thought she would come."

I remembered last Tuesday-the day I had died-as I hadn't picked them up.

I'd been busy with grocery shopping, and when I got home, the boys were already there, alone in the house.

David had said the school called because I was late, so he'd left work early to get them before heading back to work.

That was a lie now that I could see it.

"Change of plans," I said, forcing a smile on my face as I tried to keep them unaware of what was going on for as long as I could.

"I thought we could go for ice cream before heading home."

"But Jessica promised to take us to the arcade," Ethan protested, arguing with me pouting visibly unhappy.

I knelt down, looking both my boys in the eyes as I touched them to get their attention.

"Listen, I know you like Jessica a lot. She is like a cool aunt to you but today you're coming with me since I am here first. She can pick you up next time like she always helps. But we need to have some family time, just the three of us."

The twins looked at each other, but I couldn't understand their looks.

Were they disappointed? Annoyed? Or was there something else that I was unaware of.

"Fine," Liam finally said, but the boys didn't look happy at all which made me feel hurt by their actions.

In the car, the silence was loud and awkward as hell. Neither boy would speak to me, as they resigned themselves to staring out of their windows with identical scowls on their faces.

I tried to liven the mood so many times by asking about their day, about homework, about anything, but received only one-word answers or shrugs that showed that they weren't interested in what I had to tell them.

When did I lose my children? When did Jessica become the mother they preferred all this while for them to think this was normal?

By the time I got them back home, I was moments away from bursting into tears.

The boys got down from the car without any words the moment I stopped, and they ran to the front door and waiting impatiently for me to unlock it.

"Go wash up," I said to them gently as they pushed past me into the house. "I'll make lunch."

They ran up the stairs without responding to my instructions, and I heard their bedroom door slamming shut.

Taking a deep breath as I tried to control myself. I had about six hours before Jessica would come to kill me, if my dream was anything to be sure of. I had enough time to feed them, get their clothes and get them out of here.

I decided to start making a light lunch for them, it was sandwiches, My mind was also working double time trying to come up with an escape plan on how to get the boys out of the house before Jessica arrived.

We could go to my sister's place in the next town over-Sarah would take us in, no questions asked.

After getting their lunch ready for them and setting the table, I made my way upstairs to call the boys down.

As I got closer to their room, I heard Ethan's voice, which was loud enough whenever he was speaking out of excitement or disappointment.

"She's here right now, we are at home not in school! Mom picked us up instead."

I stopped, stiffening outside the door, my hand raised to knock.

"Is she alone?" Jessica's voice, was the one I heard. It seemed that it was on speakerphone.

"Yeah," Liam answered innocently this time around . "Dad's at work."

"Good." Jessica's voice spoke as I could hear something like satisfaction in her voice. Her voice got a bit lower as she kept on speaking.

"Remember what we talked about? About making Caroline go away so we can all be together?"

"Will it be soon?" Ethan asked happily as he continued speaking. "You said we could have a new mommy."

"Very soon," Jessica said promising them. "I just need you two to be patient and brave for me for a little while longer. Would you like that? To have me as your new mommy instead?"

"Yes!" Both boys shouted happily giggling to themselves.

I nearly collapsed as my legs were shaking which made me lean against the wall. My own children were also involved in this.

They knew, that Jessica wanted to replace me, although they had no idea that she wanted me dead. Only for her to be their new mummy and they wanted it.

"Good boys," Jessica said happily as she added. "Now, is your mom making lunch?"

"Yeah," Liam said. "Stupid sandwiches again."

Jessica's laugh was like poison being forced down my throat as I strained my ears to hear more.

"Don't worry about it okay. When I'm your mommy, I'll make your favorite foods every day. No more boring sandwiches."

"When are you coming over?" Ethan asked.

"Later today," Jessica said. "I have a surprise. But it's our secret, remember? Don't tell your mom I'm coming."

"We won't," the twins promised together.

"I have to go now," Jessica said as she added. "Be good for your mommy while you still have her."