Episode 180
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Brant sat at his desk thinking about the strange turn of events that had
come about in his life lately. Sure things weren’t perfect, but as he
thought about how long he’d waited to have Avery in his life it just
felt too good to be true. He’d hoped for so very long that she’d
start to feel something for him as well and sure she was fighting it, but
he was sure in time that would change. With a small smile he thought back
to the kiss they’d shared before Guy arrived. It had been brief, but
intense and the sparks between them were more than obvious. He was certain
that she’d felt it too until she pulled away from him. Even now he was
tempted to go and seek her out, but he’d promised himself that he’d
give her time. She needed to figure things out for herself and he wanted to
give her room to do that.
“She’ll come around,” he muttered to himself leaning back in
his leather chair as he could still taste her kiss upon his lips. Grinning
like a schoolboy Brant closed his eyes thinking about the future that was
in store for him and his wife.
“Oh Brant,” he could hear her calling to him from across the room.
Opening his eyes he saw her standing in the doorway wearing a sexy, black
satin and lace nightgown, “I was wondering where you’d drifted off
to.”
“I was just giving you and Guy some time alone,” Brant confessed
with a warm smile, “I thought you looked like you could use some space.”
“That was very thoughtful of you, but right now I have to admit there’s
far too much space between us at this very moment,” she wiggled her finger
at him, “Get over here you handsome man you.”
“Over there?” he nodded towards the doorway watching her fingers
tease down the front of her nightgown seductively. He eyed the path she’d
taken with her index finger, his throat going dry with every slow movement
he’d made.
“Right here,” she purred arching her head back as he slid out from
behind his desk. Boldly he approached her moving in close enough to bring
his hands out on the wall on both sides of her.
“Right here,” he questioned with a sexy smile feeling her hands
slide out over his waist, then up and over the steely contours of his spine.
“Exactly right here,” she nodded curling her fingers through his
hair roughly before devouring his lips with her tempting, luscious mouth.
Being a man who didn’t need to be told twice, Brant tugged her into his
arms eagerly--the urgency of the moment continuing to build between them.
His hands roamed over her curves greedily, his mouth consuming ever erotic
inch of her as his patience seemed to have paid off.
“I need you Brant,” she moaned rubbing up against him, “I need
you right now.”
“Let me take you upstairs,” he groaned feeling her body entice him
further.
“Forget upstairs. I want you right now, right here,” she nibbled
on his earlobe, scratching her nails in over his back before their tongues
tangled once again. Their bodies collided against one another--his pulse racing
out of control as his hands slid down over her bottom lifting her up ever
so slightly against his throbbing need.
“I love you,” he groaned against the base of her throat, tasting
the sweetness of her skin.
“I love you too,” she purred, melting against his touch.
“Oh Angela, you have no idea how long I’ve waited for this,”
Brant confessed feeling her stiffen against him as she pulled away from his
touch.
“Angela,” she gave him a strange look, “Who the hell is Angela?”
“Avery,” Brant gulped taking a step back only to discover the woman
he’d had on his mind standing in the middle of his study.
“Go on Brant,” Angela taunted folding her arms in front of her chest
as she glared over at him, “Tell your wife all about our time together.
I’m sure she’d love to hear all about the torrid details. Come on.
I dare you.”
“I can explain. I can…” Brant gasped, his eyes snapping open
as he felt his body laced with perspiration. Somehow he’d drifted off
in his office while waiting for Guy and Avery to finish up with one another.
Now as his heart rate quickened he thought back to that Christmas he’d
shared with one of the most erotic women he’d ever met. Angela had been
sinfully tempting and everything he’d hoped for when Avery hadn’t
been in his life. She was fuel to his fire--the source of an ache that still
stirred up inside of him and ultimately she’d thrown him out on his ass
in a heartbeat.
“This is ridiculous,” he shook his head bringing his fingers through
his dark hair. Angela was his way of dealing with losing Avery. She was fun
while it lasted, but it was a fling. A simple, enjoyable couple of days that
meant nothing. He’d done that before and was able to walk away with a
fond memory every now and then. Angela was no different…well, other than
the fact that she looked very much like his wife. If he’d had them side
by side, there would almost be no way of telling which woman he was with--which
woman he’d been losing himself to.
“Just stop,” Brant cursed under his breath, his gaze turning to
the ring on his finger, “You have absolutely everything you’ve ever
wanted now that Avery is your wife. You’re not about to let someone you’ll
never see again destroy that. Avery is the woman you love. Avery was what
you wanted then and she’s everything you need now. You love Avery.”
Still as he opened the top desk drawer, he saw the clippings that his private
investigator had sent him. Fingering them carefully he could feel himself
slipping back into that holiday they’d spent together. Things had been
so intense, so exactly what he’d needed at a time when he’d hit
an all time low, yet that was then. This was now.
“Brant,” he heard Avery call out to him. Quickly he shoved the clippings
in his top desk drawer vowing to get rid of them in the morning. He didn’t
need his fantasy girl any longer now that he had the woman of his dreams as
his wife. Sure things hadn’t exactly gotten off to a great start with
him and Avery, but this, well this was forever. He was going to work, he promised
himself before turning his desk lamp off and going to see what his wife needed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Angela gazed out the window thinking about the plans she’d made for
the day. Sure when she’d gotten up this morning she’d had every
intention of going with Kevin down to the pier as promised, but after the
way she’d felt earlier, she knew the last place she needed to be was
on the water. Shuddering as a chill crept in over her, she placed her hands
over her arms in a feeble attempt to get warm, but it was useless. There was
no fighting this feeling that had overtaken her lately and sure maybe she
should’ve stayed in bed, but she had to do something to keep her mind
occupied.
“I wish you could’ve done with me on the water today,” Kevin’s
voice rang through her head.
“Trust me Kevin. You wouldn’t want me there. Besides I might head
over to my office for a bit. I want to check on my latest patient,” she’d
explained simply. “He could use some of my attention.”
“What you could use is a day of Angie. That’s why I asked you out
on my boat,” he’d reminded her sounding less than pleased with her
decision.
“I understand that, but trust me Kevin. Today is not a day for sailing.
I’ll sleep in for a while and then maybe I’ll make it to the office,”
she’d lied knowing full well that the moment she hung up with him she’d
be at her office trying to make sense of what lay before her.
“Fine, but know that I will check up on you later and you’d better
be resting,” he’d warned in that same parental tone he’d used
with her time and time again after her last big slip up. Still now was completely
different.
“Sorry Kevin, but I have work to do,” Angela thought aloud turning
her attention to the desk before her. Sure, she could’ve taken the easy
way out this morning, but that simply wasn’t her. It simply wasn’t
what she’d wanted especially when staying at home meant she’d have
to think about the last person in the world she wanted to think about. However,
in trying not to think about him, the damage had been done.
“Damn it,” Angela replied with a heavy frown returning to the window
once again as a heat started to spread over her features. Closing her eyes
she thought back to that time at the beach house when she’d really thought
she’d found someone special--that she’d foolishly fallen under the
notion that great sex could turn into something more. He’d been so gallant,
so charming and for a brief moment in time she’d thought that maybe just
maybe he could be someone she’d find herself falling for.
“Whatever business you had with Angela, well it’s over,” Brant
decided pushing his way in front of the man who quite possibly could’ve
held a few inches over him in height, “It ended the moment you hit her
on the beach and now I’d strongly suggest you turn around and get out
of here before things get ugly.”
“Look Romeo, you don’t know who you’re dealing with,” George replied shoving his hand into Brant’s chest as Brant seized the man’s arm throwing him down against the coffee table before him. With a simple twist, Brant had the man immobilized as the man tried to struggle against the hold Brant had on him.
“No. You don’t know who you’re dealing with now, do you? In fact given that you know very little about me, well it would be in your best interest if you pay close attention to what I’m about to tell you…” Brant began in a menacing tone.
“Go to hell,” George growled back at him despite the disadvantage he’d had in this particular arrangement as Brant shoved him harder against the top of the coffee table.
“Nope, wrong answer,” Brant hissed, a darkness in his tone as he pushed on George’s arm just a bit to give it a little extra effect, “Now you listen to me buddy. I strongly suggest you leave Angela alone because I swear to you if I ever hear about you laying a hand on her--if you even think about touching her, doing anything to hurt her or hell even looking at her the wrong way, well you’re going to have to answer to me and I swear to you if I find out that you’ve done something to her that isn’t on the up and up, I’m going to hunt you down and make sure you feel the hurt you think you can press upon others. Do I make myself clear?”
“Brant,” Angela gasped as she stepped into the room with the sheet wrapped around her unable to believe what was happening, “What are you doing?”
“Just getting better acquainted with George,” Brant explained fishing into George’s back pocket for his wallet and releasing him as he took a good, long look at George’s driver’s license.
“You’re insane,” George hissed rubbing at his elbow as he turned to Angela, “and you, well you…”
“Go to hell George,” Angela huffed in response bunching the sheet up around her body tighter, “The deal’s off as I’m not going to do that article for you. Nothing you can offer me is worth what you’re trying to do here.”
“You’re going to regret this Angela,” George threatened as Brant reached out to him again seizing him by the collar as he lifted him up off of the ground.
“I’m already not liking your tone George,” Brant threw him a menacing glare, “which means it’s time for you to apologize.”
When George remained silent, Brant shook him for effect before George belted out in a slow whimper, “I’m sorry Angela.”
“Tell her that you realize you made a mistake with your offensive behavior and you’re never going to lay a hand on her again,” Brant ordered in a more abrasive tone.
“I was wrong Angie and words can’t even begin to express how sorry I am,” George muttered fearfully as Brant glanced over at Angela awaiting her response to the situation.
“Apology accepted…for now,” she answered with a nod of her head as Brant dropped George sending him crashing to the ground before Brant tossed his wallet at him right into the center of his chest.
“Get out of here,” Brant grumbled in response watching George stumble around on the ground as he followed him out towards the door, “and remember I know where you live which means if I find out that you’re screwing with her in any way, you’re a dead man. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal,” George nodded quickly rushing off of the property as Brant slammed the door shut behind him.
Rubbing his hands together Brant returned to Angela with a proud smile beaming over his handsome features, “That felt good.”
“That was good,” she couldn’t help but grin in awe of him as she rushed over to him throwing her arms around his neck excitedly leaping into his arms as her sheet fell to the ground, “and I don’t know how I can thank you enough for that as I never had the balls to just tell him where to stick it…”
“That’s what you have me here for,” Brant curled his arm around her spinning her with each step he took as a laugh bubbled over him, “It’ll show him not to mess with you…”
“God, I don’t think I’m going to have to worry about him ever again as you came on like a wild man with the way you dealt with him,” she boasted proudly, “Oh I just can’t believe how good you are. I mean you stepped into the role of the perfect heroic type telling him where he could go and…”
“I did, didn’t I,” Brant grinned excitedly, “and damn that felt good.”
“Try being on this end,” she laughed in response feeling excitement curl over her down to the tips of her toes, “I mean you had it going on Brant. You were just like the protective boyfriend stepping up to save the woman he loves and…” she paused as a moment of reality fell upon her and her smile faded, “though you’re not the boyfriend…”
“Maybe not, but well,” he hesitated before he squeezed her in against him dropping a tender kiss upon her lips, “Maybe it’s a role I might be interested in researching on for the future.”
How stupid she’d been to actually think that something could’ve
come from that weekend, she frowned to herself. She reached out to close the
blinds in her office having had more than enough of the day outside of the
four walls she’d tried to hide herself in. Sure, Brant had been full
of promises, but she should’ve known better. The whole situation was
bad--really bad and for her to have thought that she could’ve spun some
kind of fairy tale romance from it, well it just proved that she’d been
more delusional than ever after her husband had died.
Things just hadn’t been the same for her ever since that morning when
she’d gotten the call about his car being pulled from the river. She’d
thought that maybe he’d run out on her with one of his groupies, but
then well, when he didn’t return to tell her what a bitch she was for
making him miserable, she thought that something might’ve happened--something
major. Sure, the world had known him as the infamous Cody “The Killer”
Meloni, but she’s known him as Cary Vincent Meloni--one of the first
men she’d ever truly loved. Things with Cary were hot and heavy and intense.
God were they intense and Angela had thrived on the drama. They’d had
some good times, but mostly in the beginning and all the while Kevin had called
her insane for getting into the whole relationship. Still, when she’d
discovered that Cary had vanished from this world it changed her perspective
on things. The truth about what kind of man Cary had been came to the surface
making her feel like one of the stupidest women alive.
“No more stupid mistakes,” she had reminded herself vowing to never,
ever fall down that dark road again. She wasn’t about to get her heart
broken by some big muscle bound overbearing hothead who was all about proving
what a god he was to everyone but his wife. That had been the past and though
Angela still admitted she’d felt very strongly about what she’d
once had Cary, she should’ve known it was doomed. With Cameron stepping
in like he did should’ve been a sign.
“God, what is wrong with you,” Angela groaned bringing her finger
through her dark hair, “First you start thinking about Brant and now
Cary. You must be in the mood for some self loathing. The fact is that Cary
is dead and Brant, well he’s the past. He’s gone and out of your
life forever.”
“Well almost forever, but the part of him that still is remains…you’re
not going to let it haunt you.” she paused taking a moment to look at
herself in the mirror, “He’s nothing and you know that.”
“That’s it,” Angela snapped ready to do what she came to do
this morning. Reaching for a few mints to tuck into her pocket, she made her
way out into the hallway taking her time getting to the first patient on her
list. She entered his room to find him in very much the same state as he’d
been in since he’d been transferred here months earlier. Now looking
at him, she felt a pang of sadness sweep over her.
“Here I am thinking about my failed relationships while you’re fighting
for your life,” Angela reached out to push a strand of his dark hair
from his face, “It doesn’t seem fair, now does it? Still, don’t
you worry. I don’t care what the charts are telling me. I’m going
to pull you out of this. I’ll find a way to help you. You have my word
on that.”
“There you go again,” Kevin’s voice caught her off guard causing
her to nearly leap out of her skin, “making promises you can’t keep,
huh?”
“Would you stop doing that,” Angela chastised him, “Don’t
sneak up on me. I’m more than likely to turn around and deck you one
day for that.”
“Hey, I can’t help it if you’re edgy,” Kevin entered the
room, a full smile spreading over his features, “I told you to stay in
bed today.”
“Yeah well if I did that I’d get nothing done. You know I have work
to do,” she replied with a heavy frown turning her attention to her patient’s
vitals. “I’m needed here.”
“Angie, what you need to do is rest,” he reached out to touch her
arm gently, “If you keep working yourself like this, it isn’t going
to help anything.”
“Look Kevin, I don’t want to hear it,” she glared up at him,
“I’m not in the mood.”
“Yeah, well whether you’re in the mood or not, the fact is you can’t
avoid this much longer. You’re a doctor. You know what the risks are
by ignoring the obvious signs,” he shook his head at her, “I realize
that you’re still a bit shell shocked, but it’s been a couple months
Angie. You should really be letting someone help you with what’s going
on…”
“I can take care of myself,” she insisted with a small hiss, “as
you just said I’m a doctor, remember?”
“Yes and they say that doctors make the worst patients which in your
case is very true. You should’ve stayed home and rested. You shouldn’t
be here working with him when you know that he’s still the same as he
was yesterday and the day before,” Kevin frowned down at her, “Angie,
you’re pushing yourself too hard.”
“Spoken from a man who takes his job of being glued to my hip so seriously
he can’t go out and have any fun,” she shook her head at him, “Kevin,
why didn’t you go out sailing? Why not take that blonde you were spending
time with along for the ride?”
“Because she was a flake and besides,” he paused his thick gaze
weighing down upon her, “you need me.”
“No, I don’t,” she argued with him, “You just don’t
want me to run off and get you into trouble with Cameron again. That’s
really what this is about.”
“Damn it Angie. You know me better than that. You’re my friend.
Can I help it if I care about what happens to you and…” he started
his voice raising with emotion.
“Just stop Kevin,” she brushed past him dismissively, “I don’t
want to hear it. Not now. I still want to check in on the castaway that we
picked up the other day.”
“Angie, don’t walk away from me,” he snagged her arm with his
palm before pulling her aside, “I could tell by the sound in your voice--hell,
even by the look in your eyes right now that you know I’m right. I know
you well enough to know that you’ve been bothered by that jerk you met
before for a while now. I know that’s why you’re refusing to listen
to me.”
“He’s a thing of the past Kevin. I never should’ve told you
about him in the first place,” she insisted trying to wrench out of his
hold on her.
“See now that’s where you’re wrong. You should’ve told
me about him a lot sooner so I could find him and break his legs and his neck
for what he did to you. I knew that I shouldn’t have let you sneak out
like that when you did. That book deal was bound to go sour and if I would’ve
known you’d pick up some guy in the process…” he frowned with
obvious disapproval.
“Look Kevin, it was my mistake. I’m dealing with it. You’re
not my father and I don’t need to constantly hear the lecture. I’ve
lived and I’ve learned,” she huffed impatiently, “I realize
what’s next.”
“I don’t think you do. I don’t think that you’re taking
the time to really view this seriously. You should be doing so much more for
yourself right now and if you’re not going to do it, then I’ll have
no choice but to bring Cameron into this,” he released her folding his
arms in front of her chest.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she grumbled in response calling him on
his bluff, “You know better than to do that to me.”
“Fine, maybe I won’t call him, but what I will do if you don’t
start taking better care of yourself is find a way to drag you down to see
someone myself. I don’t care if you go kicking and screaming Angie. I’m
not about to let you get out of this. You’ve already cancelled two appointments…”
“That’s because I’ve been busy,” she waved at him dismissively,
“and I’m still busy. I have a patient that needs me and…”
“Angie, what you need is to take time for you--really take the time that
you need to come to grips with things. You need to quit letting the memory
of that jerk haunt you and start moving forward with your life. All I need
is a name and I swear to you if I ever come into contact with him, then he’s
a dead man. I’ll make sure he never hurts you…”
“Kevin, he’s the past. You said it yourself,” she pleaded with
him, “and us going another ten rounds about this isn’t going to
help anything. What’s done is done and now I’m moving forward. If
I get a little wrapped up in work, well that’s good for me. Being here
is very therapeutic.”
“It’s an avoidance tactic and I know that Angie. You’re caught
up in ignoring the reality that…” he started watching her move past
him, “Hey where are you going?”
“I have work to do and I’m not about to continue this debate with
you. It’s over Kevin. If you’re really upset then you make the appointment
and I’ll go,” she called back refusing to look back at him as she
entered her patient’s room to check on his condition.
“Fine I will, but this time you won’t weasel out of it Angie,”
he replied with a huff knowing full well that while she’d always been
impossible, this situation with the mystery man she’d encountered had
made her far more miserable than she’d ever been. She was stubborn and
reckless and Kevin knew where that always lead to with her--trouble.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Valerie licked her lips, taking a good look at her reflection in the small
compact mirror as she prepared herself for the night to change everything
for little Ms. Ashford. Smiling to herself she vowed that she would deliver
the final nail in Blake’s coffin so to speak.
“What are you waiting for,” JT questioned with an impatient huff,
“The bar to close?”
“I’m just making myself perfect for my grand entrance,” Valerie
explained brightly, “I want both Blake and Seth to remember this for
always.”
“Yeah well if you don’t hurry up, I think they’re going to
be too wrapped up in one another to care what it is you have to say,”
JT reminded her harshly casting his gaze out over the crowded dance floor
where Seth and Blake danced together seemingly lost in the moment.
“Yeah, well she can enjoy it while she can because after tonight it’s
over for that little bitch. No one takes what’s mine and gets away with
it,” she declared snapping her compact shut before looking up at JT.
“How do I look?”
“Devastating,” he waved his hand at her, “Now are you going
to make a move for it or what?”
“Look, I’ll do this at my own pace. I don’t need you rushing
me,” she eyed him intently, “Besides I thought you didn’t care
about my cause.”
“I don’t, but I know as long as you’re miserable you’re
not going to help me get closer to mine. You still owe me that address, remember?”
he tapped his fingers on top of the bar impatiently.
“I haven’t forgotten,” she leaned forward teasing her fingers
over the center of his chest, “and soon Diane won’t forget where
it is she belongs either. If she means that damn much to you, then she’s
clearly wrong for Ben.”
“Ben has no business moving in on my girl. Diane and I are meant to be
together,” JT replied behind a clenched jaw.
“Yeah, well we’ll work on that, but first things first,” she
grinned hearing the song come to an end, “It’s time to work my magic.”
“Finally,” JT grumbled watching her work her way through the dance
floor in search of Blake and Seth. However after a few seconds of searching
she returned with a scowl on her face.
“That wasn’t them,” she hissed, her eyes wild with vehemence,
“JT, that wasn’t them at all.”
“Val you and I both saw them with our own eyes. They were over at that
table and then they were dancing and,” he turned to look over at the
table they’d been seated at only to find a tip for the waitress laying
on the table top. “Son of a bitch. You missed them!”
“No we missed them,” Valerie tossed her dark hair back over her
shoulders, “and this is all your fault. I can’t believe you kept
me busy for as long as you did when all I wanted to do was go and confront
that little witch.”
“I kept you busy?” JT’s eyes widened in response, “You
were the one worried about your makeup and your looking beautiful.”
“You sicken me,” she clenched her purse at her side, “and just
for that, you’re not getting that address out of me. If you can screw
up my plans, then I will be more than happy to return the favor.”
“Oh no you don’t,” JT caught her arm before she could stomp
away, “A deal is a deal Valerie. You owe me that address and you’re
not leaving here until I get it out of you.”
“It’s not with me,” she curled her lip in a pout.
“Fine, then I’m going with you because one way or another I will
find my way to Diane,” he vowed knowing that nothing would be able to
stand in his way ever again when it came to the woman he wanted.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Thanks guys,” Sarah smiled as they pulled up to her home to drop her off. “I had a really great time.”
“Me too,” Seth nodded slowly, “We should really do that again sometime.”
“Yeah, maybe you could bring Kyle next time,” Blake suggested with a slight shrug.
“That sounds like it would be fun,” Sarah stated smiling, “Well I guess I should get going.”
“Are you sure you want to go home, I mean you could have an all night party with us,” Blake declared seeing Sarah shake her head lightly.
“You know that sounds really good, but I am really tired. I just think I am going bed,” Sarah shrugged before opening to door.
“Are you sure? I mean, we don’t mind hanging out all night,” Blake insisted before seeing her nod her head. “I mean we could even hang out here if you want.”
“I will be fine,” Sarah laughed before getting out of the car and waving telling them that it was okay for them to leave.
She walked up to her door as she pulled her keys out of her pocket slowly. She went to her door, but when she reached it the door creaked slowly. She looked carefully seeing that the door had been broken into. She panicked as her fingers slowly pushed open the door looking into the dark room. She flipped the switch up as the light spread across the room.
“Oh my god,” Sarah gasped looking across the disastrous room, “What happened in here?”
Everything she owned was thrown to the ground and most of it broken. Her television had been cracked open and her glass cups were broken on the floor. She walked through the mess trying not to step on anything. As she walked to her kitchen she saw the roses that Kyle had gotten for were all torn up and thrown onto the floor. She reached down picking one of the pedals holding it in her fingers as she shook her head.
“Who could have done this?” Sarah questioned with a deep sigh before letting the rose petal fall to the ground.
She stepped over a few broken pieces of glass before coming over to a broken DVD that was cracked into many pieces. She picked up the pieces to the DVD and saw that it was the one Kyle had bought for her. She felt a short pain of sadness as she frowned.
“This has gone too far,” she stated before getting slightly worried if there was still someone there.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Susan eyes followed Jade’s every movements as she walked up to the cashier. Susan had spotted Jade’s arrival moments earlier when she’d come in with a handsome man trailing behind. That in itself had Susan very curious as she wondered if maybe Jade wasn’t as saintly as she’d tried to be. Perhaps this was something Susan could use to her advantage as she wondered if perhaps Grady’s latest fling too had a taste for extracurricular activities.
“What could she be doing?” Susan questioned never taking her eyes off Jade.
Susan gasped as she saw the cashier put the item into the bag.
“Oh my god,” Susan’s jaw dropped astonished seeing what it was.
It was a pregnancy test, how could Jade be pregnant? This was going all wrong.
“Jade can’t be pregnant,” Susan protested with a sigh shaking her head, “Grady is mine.”
Anger overcame Susan as she went to go into the store, but a thought overcame her. There was no way in hell Jade would get away with this latest move. If she was in fact pregnant Susan would have to take matters into her own hands.
“Your lucky that you have that hunk with you tonight,“ Susan declared with a devilish grin, “If he wasn’t with you, you would be in some serious trouble.”
Susan stayed outside the store a few more minutes before thinking everything over. This really wasn’t worth getting aggravated over. Grady would never be able to get out of jail and they would never be able to be together. Just that thought made Susan smile. This was all worth fighting over. Grady couldn’t get out of jail, she wouldn’t let it happen.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“So what do you say we try something different for a change,” Brant
suggested entering the living room with a box tucked under his arm, “I
found this in the attic the other day after I was looking for something of
my mother’s for Blake. I guess it kind of felt like something that might
come in handy and tonight seems to be good for it.”
“What is it,” Avery questioned turning her attention away from the
fireplace to look up at him.
“It’s monopoly,” Brant explained with a simple shrug, “Given
that neither you nor I have been in the best of moods lately, I thought that
maybe there would be nothing like a little competition to get the fires burning.”
“So you thought you’d bring in monopoly to tap into my competitive
streak?” she questioned giving him a strange look.
“Absolutely,” Brant grinned revealing his dimples with the sparkle
that followed, “I mean hey I know you’re at your finest when you’re
fighting there.”
“So now you’re saying I like to fight, huh?” she questioned
watching him slide one of the coffee tables over to the center of the floor
in front of the fireplace.
“No, not at all,” Brant shook his head before reaching for a couple
of oversized throw pillows and placing one on each side of the small table,
“but at the same time I know how you feel about winning. I’ve seen
you in action and I think tonight you’ll prove yourself a worthy adversary.”
“Is that how you view me these days?” she questioned lazily watching
him work to set up the game for them, “An adversary?”
“Of course not,” Brant shook his head adamantly, “but I’ve
learned the first step in building a relationship is having the ability to
laugh with one another. That and also being able to spend quality time with
one another unwinding.”
“Unwinding,” she repeated with a look of skepticism, “so you
thought that playing the never ending game of monopoly would help us unwind?”
“Maybe, maybe not,” he shrugged, “but it might help us both
relax a bit if we’re willing.”
“I should probably be up front and tell you that I’m rather good
at this game,” Avery couldn’t help but smile at his attempt to lighten
the situation between them.
“Yeah, well I should probably do the same and tell you that I’ve
actually played this game to the point that I’ve won and cleaned house
with everyone else,” he teased with a small chuckle, “so feeling
up for a little friendly competition now?”
“Oh you’re so on,” Avery nodded enthusiastically making her
way to the floor across from him, “You’re so toast Brant.”
“We’ll just see about this,” he reached for the little metal
pieces before motioning to her, “Any preferences?”
“I’ll take the car,” she decided leaning in over the table,
“so that I can run you over when I win this.”
“Ah, confident are ya,” he laughed lightly reaching for his own
piece, “We’ll just see about that by the time this is over.”
“You’re the dog,” she arched a curious brow, “interesting.”
“Do you have a problem with my being the dog?” Brant questioned
curiously.
“Oh no of course not,” she shook her head all the while fighting
to suppress the smile that teased at the corners of her lips, “It’s
very fitting.”
“Hey,” Brant paused for a moment, “I object to that--at least
I think I do.”
“Well do you or don’t you,” she arched a curious brow before
leaning in closer to him, “Of course you know this indecisiveness isn’t
going to help your game tonight.”
“Oh believe me I already have my own strategy planned here,” he
promised reaching for the money, “unless of course you think you’ve
already figured me out.”
“I think it would take me decades to truly figure you out Brant,”
she confessed honestly.
He glanced up at her again with obvious interest, “What would you say
if I told you that I felt that way about you as well?”
“I’d say good,” Avery replied after a moment’s contemplation,
“I wouldn’t want to be an open book. There’s no fun in that.”
“You have a very valid point there, but then again, if there was ever
anything you wanted to know about me, well you do realize all you have to
do is ask,” he offered up while fumbling through the paper money, “You
know that don’t you?”
“I suppose,” she shrugged reaching to sip the drink she’d had
with her earlier, “though as it stands I think I know enough…”
“Enough for what?” he asked, “To trust me? To think about the
possibility of what it means for me and you being together like this?”
“We’re just playing a friendly game,” she reminded him, “I
don’t think there’s much thought involved in it.”
“Maybe not, but you know that’s not what I’m referring to,”
he frowned slightly.
“Then what are you referring to,” she questioned curling her legs
underneath her while she readjusted her body on the floor.
“Us,” he admitted sheepishly before dropping his hand down underneath
the table to touch her knee gently, “I’m referring to what we have
together Avery.”
“Brant, I don’t think now is the right time to get into that,”
she replied uneasily, “I thought we were going to play a game here.”
“We are, but at the same time, well I just kind of wanted to talk about
this distance we’ve had between us over the last few days. I know full
well that I could never, ever replace Russ in your eyes, but as your husband
I also want you to be well aware that I would really love for you to give
me a chance here.”
“Brant, I’m trying,” Avery paused for a long moment thinking
about what she’d happened upon last night when she’d tried to give
something to Brant. “It’s just that it‘s…”
“I know it’s not going to be easy, but I remember a time when you
used to want me Avery,” Brant pointed out with a small sigh, “God,
even now I think about that night in the hotel room when we almost made love.
If Russell and Heather hadn’t gotten in the way like they did, then there’s
no telling how things might’ve turned out.”
“Why is it so important to you that you get the opportunity to seduce
me,” Avery asked bluntly, “I mean is that really what you’re
hoping for with this marriage?”
“No,” he shook his head, “that’s not it at all, but…”
“But what?” she frowned, “But until we sleep together it’s
always going to bother you?”
“Avery, that’s not what I’m trying to say. I mean yeah, sure
I’ll be honest with you and tell you that I’ve been thinking about
it--a lot actually, but I’m a man and it’s in my nature. It’s
kind of like breathing at times. You try not to think about it, but…”
“You just can’t help yourself, right,” she frowned again, “It’s
just a guy thing, huh?”
“Avery, I love you. I’ve never lied to you about that and yes, the
idea of making love with you is something that’s been haunting me from
the first moment I met you,” he confessed reaching out across the table
to take her hand in his, “I’ve wanted you for longer than I can
remember and even now…even in touching you like this…Avery, it’s
not enough. It’ll never be enough.”
“Brant, I just don’t know if I can…” she withdrew from
his touch, her gaze traveling to the game board on the table before her.
“I’m not asking for it now. Hell, if it takes a long time, then
so be it, but all I want is for you to open yourself to the idea that maybe
one day we could…well that we could explore the possibility of what if…”
“Brant, I know how much that seems to mean to you, but after last night,”
she paused knowing that she couldn’t keep the truth from him any longer.
She’d screwed up and she had to face that whether she liked it or not,
“I need to talk to you about Ken.”
“Ken,” he frowned slightly, “What about him? Avery, if this
is about what he said earlier, well, you’ll have to try to ignore him.
He’s set on being an ass right now and in his path of self-destruction
he’s ready to take down everyone who crosses paths with him. It’s
not right at all what he’s doing, but I promise you that I’m going
to find a way to get him in check…”
“Brant, you don’t understand. It’s not about what he said.
It’s about what I think he’s done…what I think I’ve done,”
she started feeling her throat go dry as her heart started pounding in her
chest, “Brant, I really thought that I was doing something for you last
night, but then when you were gone, well Ken might‘ve…I think he
may have been…”
“I thought I heard someone still up,” Heather’s voice swirled
through the room as she stood in the doorway. She looked between the both
of them tentatively, “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“No, of course not,” Avery offered a polite smile, not knowing where
this kindness towards Heather had generated from, but at the same time she
found herself dreading like hell telling Brant about her suspicions. “Is
something wrong?”
“I just couldn’t sleep,” Heather admitted looking between the
both of them, “but if I’m bothering you…”
“No, not at all,” Avery shook her head before turning to Brant,
“right?”
“Of course not,” Brant decided forcing a polite smile, “did
you need something?”
“I guess I just kind of felt restless. I was thinking about Charles,”
Heather started uneasily, “I just miss not being with him.”
“This situation isn’t forever Heather,” Brant tried to comfort
her with his words.
“It feels like it,” Heather confessed with tears behind her eyes,
“I just wish that I could be with him--that I could hold him and make
up for the mistakes I’ve made so far.”
“Hey, it’s going to be okay,” Brant rose to his feet, making
his way over to embrace her, “Heather, I told you once we take Cameron
down, then you can have that life you always wanted.”
“I know, but it’s the waiting that’s killing me,” Heather
replied sniffling on his shoulder before her eyes fell upon Avery, who still
remained seated upon the floor. Heather took a step back almost immediately,
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Brant tried to assure her, “In fact, why don’t
you join us? I’ll go get us each a round of drinks and then we can get
started.”
“Oh I don’t want to intrude,” Heather stammered a bit.
“It’s no intrusion,” Avery added with a polite smile, “We’re
in for a hearty game of monopoly if you’re interested and as Brant said
you’re more than welcome to join us.”
“Well, since you put it that way, sure,” Heather smiled back at
her, “why not?”
“Excellent, then I’ll be right back,” Brant replied reaching
for Avery’s glass before exiting the room temporarily.
“Thanks,” Heather began moving in closer to Avery and taking a seat
on the floor.
“For what,” Avery glanced over at her.
“For being nice to me,” Heather replied in a low tone, “Given
what’s gone on between us, well I know that you don’t really have
any reason to do so.”
“And I really don’t have a reason not to either,” Avery explained
drawing in a slow breath, “You’re trying to help us clear Grady’s
name and that means a lot to me.”
“Even so, I feel like I owe you some kind of apology about what happened
before,” Heather paused for a long moment, “you know with what happened
with Russ…”
“It’s the past,” Avery stiffened at Heather’s mention
of Russ.
“Even so, I just need you to know that when I did what I did, well I
don’t remember how I wound up in bed with him, but I can promise you
that I thought that it was Brant I was with. I really, truly believed that
I was making love to Brant,” Heather paused biting on her lower lip nervously,
“not that it really helps the situation now given that you and Brant
are together and…”
“And I said it’s the past,” Avery replied quickly, “We
can leave it at that.”
“Okay,” Heather nodded, “but for what it’s worth, I just
want you to know if I could go back and change that night, I would. I never
meant for anything to happen like it did for any of us. If I could’ve
somehow spared Kipp the pain that I put him through…”
“I wish that things had turned out differently, but obviously your husband
had an agenda that none of us were aware of even then,” Avery answered
snidely before taking in a slow breath, “I’m sorry. I know it’s
not your fault. You had no idea what Cameron was.”
“No, maybe I did in my own way. I was so bent on hating the world for
what I felt it had done to me. I wanted Brant back so bad…” Heather
trailed off, “I guess in my own way I just wanted to hurt him.”
“And now?” Avery questioned protectively, “Do you still want
to hurt him?”
“Not a chance,” Heather shook her head urgently, “I don’t
want to hurt him at all. He saved my life and for that I’ll be forever
grateful. He’s a great guy you know.”
“Yeah I know,” Avery nodded thinking to all that Brant had done
for her.
“You’re really lucky,” Heather added with a sad smile, “because
at one time I would’ve given the world to be in your position. I wanted
to be Mrs. Brant Ashford more than you can imagine, but I guess fate had other
plans for us all.”
“Yeah, I guess it did,” Avery nodded in response turning her attention
to the fire once again as she wondered how she’d been lucky enough to
wind up with the love of a man like Brant. Heaven knew she didn’t deserve
to have him, but now that she did, she realized she had to find a way to be
what he wanted as he deserved so much more than she’d given him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Angela stood over by the window dwelling on what Kevin had lectured her about.
Sure, he might’ve had a point, but she didn’t need to hear it day
in and day out. She knew what she was doing. She was well aware of what was
expected of her and the last thing she wanted was to listen to him telling
her about yet another mistake he felt she was making.
“It’s none of his business,” Angela tried to tell herself when
she heard a sound from behind her.
Turning around, she noticed that her castaway that had washed up on the beach
was no longer sleeping. His eyes were open and he made a small couching sound.
Immediately she pushed her own self-loathing thoughts aside as she moved in
closer to him.
“Hey you,” Angela smiled down at him seeing the confusion and disorientation
behind his eyes, “can you hear me?”
He nodded with another cough before his lips parted and his voice came out
in a low, raspy whisper, “Wh-where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital,” she explained smoothly hearing him
cough again, “Would you like some water?”
He nodded and she reached over to pour him a glass of water. Leaning in closer
to him she raised the plastic cup to his lips giving him a second to sip.
Much to her surprise he gulped it down, eagerly seeking out another glass.
“More,” he pleaded with her, his hand rising up off of the bed to
catch her wrist, “please…”
“Of course,” she nodded giving in to his request. This time he used
his own grip to take hold of the glass. He drank heartily before his gaze
returned to her. Immediately she was taken by the expression on his face.
There was something about his eyes--something about the way he looked at her.
Even though the sun and the heat had caused him to wash up on her shore less
in a than proper fashion, she could sense something about him--something that
told her the shadow of a stubble over his face had been very foreign to him.
She’d been wrong somehow. He wasn’t like the others that had washed
up here--at least that’s what her instincts were telling her.
“Who are you…” he questioned after a long moment of silence.
“I’m your doctor,” she explained smoothly, “You washed
up on the shore and I brought you here. You were dehydrated and you needed
medical attention…”
“I did,” he questioned with obvious confusion looking to the IV
line in his arm.
“That’s right,” she nodded in response, “you’ve been
out of it since I brought you back here, but now…well, can you tell me
what your name is?”
“My name,” he repeated with a blank expression on his face.
“Yes, your name,” she encouraged him, “Can you tell me that?
Can you tell me what happened to you?”
“I was…” he paused clearly flustered as he shook his head,
“I was in the water. It was all around me. There was this bright light
and…and it was so…”
“So what,” she questioned prompting him further.
“Wet,” he replied with a small cough, “I kept looking for something
to hold onto and then…”
“Yes?”
“Nothing,” he shook his head. Painfully he raised his palm up to
his face, running his fingers through his dark hair, “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know your name or what happened to you?” Angela
questioned patiently.
“Any of it,” he blurted out in frustration, “I don’t know
anything about how I got here. All I can remember was water. Lots of water…”
“It’s okay,” Angela offered up in an encouraging tone, “given
what you’ve been through it might take you a couple of days to regain
that knowledge. You may have…”
“I have to get out of here,” the man explained desperately, “I
can’t be in here. I need to go.”
“Go where?” Angela watched him shuffling with the sheet that lay
over him.
“I just have to get out of here. I need to…” he started to
pull at the IV line in his arm.
“I can’t let you do that. Not yet…not when…” she
reached out over him to stop him from hurting himself, “You need to relax.
You need to just calm down and give yourself time to figure it out when…”
“I can’t relax. I need to get out of here. I need to be,” he
continued to protest until his penetrating gaze fell upon hers. Suddenly his
movements were stilled as he looked to her. His eyes widened, his lips parting
as he extended his fingers out and up towards her face, “I remember…”
“You remember?” she repeated catching the strange way he was watching
her.
“Yes, I remember,” he repeated with an emphatic nod, his fingertips
grazing her cheek gingerly in a surprising movement. His index finger pressed
in over the center of her lips, teasing over her bottom lip in a slow, seductive
movement, “I remember you.”
“Me?” Angela nearly choked on the word after the way he’d reached
out to brush his palm against her face. “No, you must be mistaken.”
“No, it’s the one thing I’m sure of,” he insisted reaching
out for her again, “I know your face. I remember you…”
“That’s impossible. Unless of course you’re thinking about
the beach when I found you,” she stammered a bit taken by his words,
“Other than that we don’t…”
“Yes, we do,” he nodded urgently, his hand curling around her arm
in a surprisingly tender motion, “I’m sure of it.”
“No,” she shook her head stumbling back a bit too caught off guard
to say much more when the door to the room opened.
“Angie, look I‘m sorry about what I said before. I was just…,”
Kevin started entering the room only to discover Angela and the patient in
an awkward position with one another. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“Kevin,” Angela let out a small breath of relief still shell-shocked
by the way in which her patient had touched her. Her face was burning hot
at the simple contact he’d made with her. She thought of the sentiment
behind his eyes when he’d reached for her. Quickly she focused upon him
again seeing confusion register over his features before he fell back onto
the bed unconscious.
“Angie, what in the world…” Kevin started watching her lean
in over the patient’s bed, “Was this creep bothering you?”
“No, he’s just confused,” Angela did a quick check of his vitals,
“and obviously he’s far from getting through whatever happened to
him.”
“For a minute there, when I walked in and saw you both…I just thought,”
Kevin started still a bit surprised by the color in her face, “are you
sure that…”
“I’m positive,” she nodded, “now would you just give me
a hand here? I just want to make sure he’s alright.”
“Okay,” Kevin shrugged his shoulders knowing full well that there
was more to the story than Angela was telling him. He stepped in closer watching
her work on her patient as his gut instincts told him that somehow this man
was bound to be nothing but trouble.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sarah picked up the phone with her shaking hands dialing a number slowly. The sound of the ringing made her even more scared looking behind her back.
“Hello,” Diego’s voice made her jump from just the sound of another person.
“Diego, it’s Sarah,” her voice sounded scratched and jittery making him know something was wrong.
“Sarah, what’s wrong?” he questioned quickly scared if someone did something to her.
“Someone broke into my house,” she informed him looking around into the reckless room.
“Is everything okay?” he questioned quickly standing up from where he was sitting.
“Well, I am okay, but everything in my house is mess,” Sarah stated with a frown picking up another piece of glass from the floor.
“What do you mean?” he wondered looking at his watch to see what time it was.
“I mean some of my things are broken and they are all over the floor,” she got quickly showing that she was slightly out of breath.
“Everything is going to be okay, are you alright?” he questioned worrying about her condition.
“I am fine,” she replied taking in a deep breath, “I am just a little scared right now.”
“Is Kyle there with you?” he wondered wanting to make sure she had someone with her to make sure she would be okay.
“No that’s why I called you,” she began to explain to him, “Kyle is out of town and I am here alone. I am sorry I called you, but I couldn’t think of anyone else to call.”
“It is okay,” he hushed her before grabbing his coat, “I will be right there okay?”
“Alright,” she nodded before looking around her house. “Just make sure you say that it is you.”
“I will do,” he agreed before walking towards the door, “Do you have something to protect yourself right now?”
“I have a baseball bat,” she replied grabbing the baseball bat that lie on the couch next to her.
“That will be perfect,” he nodded to himself opening his door, “Just stay where you are and I will be right there.”
“Alright,” she agreed before looking around the room worriedly, “Diego?”
“Yeah?” he questioned before shutting his door making sure nothing happened.”
“Hurry,” she got out before hanging up the phone.
She looked around her house and took in a deep sigh.
“Who would have done this?” she asked herself thinking of all the possibilities. This was crazy; this type of thing was going a little too far.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kevin grabbed his papers off from the desk of the post office.
“Thank you,” Kevin smiled sliding the mail into his pocket as he started walking out he noticed two people he had never seen before. The guy looked suspicious and for some reason there was something about him that put Kevin immediately on edge. He’d known the type oh too well in the past and in seeing a man like that on the island he had a feeling that trouble was to follow. He knew it wasn’t right, but eager to see what they wanted he listened into their conversation.
“So where do you think we should look?” the man questioned as he looked around the post office.
“I don’t know, maybe we should start asking people,” the woman suggested before Kevin heard the man laugh.
“Yeah, I’ll go up to someone,” the man began to laugh as he started to talk again, “Excuse me ma’am have you seen this dead guy?”
“Dead guy?” Kevin questioned to himself lightly, not loud enough for them to hear him.
“That’s not funny,” the woman hissed before hitting the man in the chest.
“I was just saying,” the man shrugged before looking back towards Kevin as he looked away.
“Well, it could work,” the woman stated before speaking up again, “It could work.”
“Fine, we can do it your way,” the man shrugged before pointing her direction, “Next time we are going to do it my way though.”
“Whatever,” the woman shrugged before Kevin saw the two of them walk in his direction as he looked down.
“Excuse me sir,” the man caught his attention making his look up.
“Yes?” Kevin nodded seeing the man pull his wallet out of his pocket.
“My name is Kyle and this is my…girlfriend Shannon,” Kyle got out slowly before opening his wallet. “I was wondering if you have seen this man before?”
“No man,” Kevin shook his head slowly before looking at the picture next to the one the man was showing him. It was a picture of Angela and this guy with his arm around her. A slight bit of anger came above him as he fought it back. “Sorry.”
“It’s no problem,” Kyle smiled before putting his wallet away, “Thanks for your help.”
“No problem,” Kevin nodded before walking away and taking one glance back at the two seeing them ask someone else. “That has to be the asshole who hurt Angela.”
He had a sudden urge to go back there and give that a guy a piece of his mind, but he decided it wasn’t worth it as long as the guy wasn’t looking for Angela.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Gabe knocked on the door not wanting to pressure Jade, but at the same time
he remembered how shaken up she’d been at the prospect of what she was
about to face. He could only imagine how difficult this could be for her with
Grady behind bars. That itself put a bit of a challenge in front of her. Still
he’d offered to be her support system every step of the way.
“Everything okay in there,” Gabe questioned through the door only
to feel it open.
“Hey,” Jade offered up a weak smile looking up at him.
“So how are we doing,” Gabe asked gently not wanting to push her
too hard, too fast.
“We have to wait a little while,” Jade explained stepping out into
the hallway with him. “I was going to do it in there, but well, after
about a minute I realized that I can’t do this waiting alone. I’ve
never been good at that sort of thing.”
“Neither have I,” Gabe openly admitted, “I have no patience
when it comes to waiting for the important things. Still, since we have a
little time left, how about some tea?”
“Tea sounds good,” she nodded following him into the kitchen, “You
know…I never thought it would be like this. I mean, sure I guess I always
thought that one day I might be a mother for real, but I just never imagined
it would kind of fall into my lap like this.”
“I know you and Grady obviously weren’t planning this, but if you
are pregnant,” Gabe started reaching for a couple of mugs for them.
“Then it opens up a whole new world of complications,” Jade sighed
bringing her hand in over her abdomen, “Not that I don’t want this,
because in a strange way I do, but…”
“But you’re scared,” Gabe motioned for her to sit at the table,
“You’re afraid of what comes next, huh?”
“Well yes, that and then there’s…” she paused clearing
her throat uneasily, “Gabe, there are so many other things going on here.
Things that I’ve never told anyone before--not even Grady…”
“Jade, if you want to talk, then you know I’m here for you,”
he returned to the kitchen table to take a seat across from her, “but
if you’d rather not…”
“No, I think I want to,” she insisted reaching out for her steaming
mug, “In my own way I think I need to.”
“Okay,” he reached out to squeeze her hand supportively, “talk
to me sweetheart.”
“It’s just…” she paused contemplating her words as a lump
of emotion built in the back of her throat, “It’s just so complicated
you know. I mean sure I guess I kind of always knew that this would come up,
but…”
“But you weren’t expecting to find motherhood threatening to come
at a time like this,” Gabe offered watching her features darken a bit.
“It seems to come at times when I’m just not prepared for it,”
Jade paused choked up on emotion. Her eyes misted over as she began to divulge
a secret that only Seth had known the truth about, “I told you that when
I was fourteen I was raped…”
“I know,” he nodded before squeezing her hand supportively, “and
that was a horrible, horrible ordeal for you to have to have gone through.
I wish like hell you didn’t have to face something like that…”
“Yeah, well I did and just when I thought the nightmare was over, well
a short time later I discovered that I was pregnant,” Jade confessed
painfully, “At the time I was in a strong state of denial. I had a nervous
breakdown after what those monsters did to me. Sure, Seth did all he could
to try to make the whole situation easier on me, but then when I found out
about the baby, it was like I was living through the rape all over again…”
“Oh Jade,” Gabe’s eyes glistened with emotion, “I had
no idea…”
“No one did,” she admitted with a painful expression, “Seth
and I were the only ones who really knew about the baby. At the time I’d
been taken to the hospital things were different than they are now. It was
a different place and time and when I ended up being pregnant, well I had
one of two choices. I could either keep my baby or I could terminate the pregnancy.
Either way it was something that I knew would change my life forever. Even
now when I think about it…”
“Oh Jade,” Gabe got up from where he’d been seated to move
over to the table and embrace her. She broke off into tears of anguish as
he held her, “I’m so sorry.”
“I just never thought that something like that would happen to me. That
I would end up having to go through something like that and then to be pregnant…I
mean my God I was only fourteen,” she continued shuddering at the memory,
“I remember hating them all--hating the world--hating my father for what
he’d done to me and hating what those men had turned me into. My life
wasn’t mine any longer and I resented that baby. I hated what was growing
inside of me and then when I had to make a choice…”
“Jade, I’m sure that you did what was right for you,” Gabe
tried to soothe her tears knowing full well that pain like what she’d
endured would never completely fade away.
“I made an appointment for an abortion,” Jade explained, her voice
hollow and empty, “I knew it was the only choice I had in the matter.
Seth and I argued about it, but it was what I had to do. I couldn’t be
a mother then. I couldn’t have that baby.”
“Of course,” he nodded, “you were only a child yourself.”
“It was unfair and it never, ever should’ve happened to me,”
Jade’s voice grew empty as she thought back, “but then when I went
in for my appointment, they did an ultrasound and I saw the baby. I saw the
life growing inside of me. Gabe, despite how much I hated being pregnant,
I saw my child and that changed things for me. I knew then that I couldn’t
go through with the abortion. I couldn’t kill my baby when what happened
wasn’t the baby’s fault.”
“So you’re saying that you…” Gabe’s eyes widened
with obvious surprise.
She nodded, “I wanted to keep my baby. Even though I’d been so bitter
about it at first, I decided to stay pregnant. Seth promised he’d help
me with what was going on and we left town. We went to stay with an aunt of
mine while Seth worked to help me prepare for the baby. God, he gave up so
much in order to help me through this situation. I mean he had a scholarship
in the making to go to one of the Big Ten colleges for football, but he threw
it away to help me and my child even knowing where my baby had come from.
He’s an amazing man and I’m lucky to have a brother like him…but
evne with all Seth’s help…it wasn’t enough. I tried so hard,
but it just wasn’t good enough…”
Her voice tapered off as Gabe noticed the strange expression that crossed
over her features. It was as if she was reliving her own private hell all
over again.
“I carried the baby almost completely to term, but then there were complications
and…” tears streamed down her face, “It was in part to my being
so young and then after the ordeal and the breakdown… I tried so hard
but…”
“Oh Jade,” Gabe felt her hugging him tighter than ever.
“My son died because I wasn’t able to get out of what they did to
me. I hated him in the beginning--hated him so very much that it ended up
killing him when I finally realized how wrong I was…” Jade sobbed
into his chest, “I lost my baby because I wasn’t strong enough.”
“No, Jade, that’s not what happened,” Gabe shook his head as
he tilted her head up towards him. He wiped at her tears, “It just wasn’t
the right time. Your son knew that as much as you loved him his place wasn’t
in this world. He’s with the angels, you know?”
“I know,” she nodded biting back on her tears, “but after that,
I just never thought--I mean I never believed that I would be facing this
again. I mean sure okay maybe I thought about what it would be like to be
a mother and have a family, but for so long I blocked out what happened. I
went on living like my son never existed. I went on pretending that I could
ignore what happened, but then when I started to suspect that I could be pregnant…”
“It call came rushing back to you,” he noted watching her face twist
with emotion.
“It sounds crazy, doesn’t it?” Jade sniffled, “I mean
here I am at one of the worst possible times in my life wondering if I could
be pregnant and my boyfriend is in jail with the possibility of never getting
out.”
“That’s not going to happen,” he tried to assure her, “Grady
will beat this.”
“I’m just not so sure. Gabe, when I was pregnant the last time things
were so wrong. My child was created out of hatred and rage, but with this
baby--if I am pregnant, then that means that the love Grady and I have with
one another is responsible for this,” a small smile spread over her features,
“It’ll be a life created out of love and what we have…”
“Which is all the more reason why it’s right for you if you are
in fact pregnant,” Gabe wiped at her tears, “Maybe fate is trying
to give you and Grady a reason to believe.”
“But if I’m not and this is all for not…” Jade trailed
off, dropping her gaze to the floor, “I mean I know all the reasons why
it’s not the right time, yet I’m so afraid if I’m not pregnant--that
it means that I’m being punished all over again. That somehow I’m
paying for what happened with my son…”
“Jade, you did all you could for your son. I’m sure of it,”
Gabe insisted with a small sigh, “Sweetheart, I see the way you are with
my daughter and there isn’t a doubt in my mind that you gave all you
had for your boy. Even under the circumstances that surrounded you, I know
you and your heart. You’re full of a lot of love Jade and I’m sure
that if you are in fact pregnant, then you’re going to give that child
all of what’s inside of you. You’re going to be a wonderful mother
and whether it’s today or a few years from now, I have no doubt in my
mind that you and Grady will have that family that you’ve dreamt about.
You’ll have your happiness Jade.”
“I hope you’re right,” she leaned into him hearing the alarm
go off alerting her that it was time to find out the answer to the question
that had haunted her. Clearing her throat, she felt her fingers tingle a bit
with nervousness before she looked to Gabe, “I guess the mystery is now
over huh?”
“So it would seem,” he tucked a strand of her dark hair back behind
her ear, “Are you ready for this?”
“Ready as I’m ever going to be,” Jade admitted with a weak
smile hoping that whatever the results told her that she would be able to
find a way to make it work.
As she’d told Gabe the last time this came up, she’d had mixed emotions,
but now, well now the idea of having Grady’s baby was something that
would change her life forever. Before Grady she’d known a life of pain
and heartbreak, yet even in facing what they’d gone through with one
another, she had to admit that in loving him she’d finally found a slice
of heaven. They had something together that she’d always longed for and
as she made her way back into the bathroom ready to see what fate had in store
for her, she wondered if maybe just maybe things would start looking up for
them.
“Well,” Gabe questioned from the hallway watching as she reached
for the test ready to see what they had to tell her, “Jade…”
She eyed it for a long moment feeling as if her breath had been stolen from
her throat. Her eyes misted over and as she felt Gabe reach for her shoulder,
she couldn’t help but be bowled over with emotion.
“Jade, what is it,” he asked watching as she spun around to face
him once again.
“Gabe, the test is positive,” she blurted out with a tearful smile,
“I’m pregnant.”