If Only We Knew (17 page)

“Matt, you don’t know how much those words mean to me. I knew you loved me. I have to go,” she said, with laughter in her voice.

She hung up before he could find out if she was coming back or not.

Shannon was about to enter Matt’s hospital room, to tell him about a job offer she’d received in Atlanta, a position she’d been working for all her adult life. Her excitement about the offer turned to
near panic
as she heard Matt’s words to his wife.
His wife
. Hot, humiliating tears coursed down her cheeks. Without a word to anyone, she turned around and left the hospital.

Shannon went back to work and wr
ote
her resignation letter, giving two-weeks’ notice and then called the company in Atlanta, telling them she accepted their offer and would be there in three weeks.

She wiped the tears from her eyes.
This is for the best.

Her cell phone rang. The caller ID told her it was Matt, but she ignored it and kept working. The cell phone stopped ringing, then gave a beep. He’d left a message. Despite her better judgment, she picked it up and listened.

“
Mamita
, I thought you were coming to spend your lunch hour with me. I guess you’re busy. I love you.”

She was about to delete the message and thought about it. Finger hovering over the button, she changed her mind.

Matt was get
ting
worried. He called and texted Shannon, but she didn’t answer or call back. He picked up his phone and dialed again.

“What’s up?” Andrew answered.

“Andrew, I need your help. If I could get out of this bed, I would do it myself.”

“What do you need?”

“I need you to find out if something is wrong with Shannon or Matthew. I haven’t seen them in three days, and she’s not answering my phone calls or texts. I’m worried,” he said with a sigh.

“Matt, I just saw Shannon yesterday. She seems fine to me. She came over and told us her news.”

“What news?”

“You need to talk to her. I thought you knew.”

“Knew what? Tell me!”

“Shannon is moving to Atlanta in two weeks. She came over with Matthew so I could spend some time with him.”

“Why? How could she make a decision like that without telling me? She’s taking my family away! I can’t go through that.”

“I’m on my way to the hospital. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“I won’t.”
He hung up the phone.

Why would she do this? She promised never to take him away from me. What the fuck happened?
He thought.

Sherry came in, holding Matthew. “Dad-dy,” Matthew said, trying to get to Matt.

Matt
tried to smile
. “I’ve missed you. Come here.” He took the boy from Sherry’s arms, kissing him as Matthew tried kissing him on his chin. He looked up at Sherry. “Why did you bring him instead of Shannon?”

“Shannon’s taking care of loose ends. She sent me over with the baby so you can spend time with him. She said you hadn’t seen him in a few days.” She sat in the chair next to his bed.

“Sherry, what did I do?”

“Matt, you know I love you like a brother, and I will not judge you. Your life is your own.” She gave him an envelope. “She sent you this.”

He placed Matthew next to him, making sure he was secured within the bars. He opened the envelope and read the letter.

Dear Matt,

I apologize for not coming in person and doing this, but I don’t think I can bear seeing you right now. First, let me tell you I will never keep your son from you. You’ve been such a wonderful father. Who would’ve thought we would make such good parents together? I’ve decided to accept a job in Atlanta. I was on my way to tell you about the job offer when I overheard you tell Karen you forgave her and wanted her back. I’m not mad at you… she forgave you, why shouldn’t you? Matt, I don’t think you know how much I love you and, because of that, I need to leave.

Love,

Shannon.

His eyes teared up, and he looked toward her sister. “She has it all wrong! She misunderstood the conversation,” he said, trying to get up. “Sherry, hold him please.”

When Sherry took Matthew from him, he cr
ied
, reaching for his daddy. “Matt, what are you doing?”

“I’m leaving this fucking hospital to explain to Shannon what she overheard. Why didn’t she ask me?” He pulled his leg over
the side
.

“She heard you say you still love Karen and you wanted her back,” Sherry said, trying to stop him from getting off the bed.

“What she overheard wasn’t how I really felt. I was trying to get Karen back so I can get a fucking divorce and marry your sister!” he yelled, pulling the IV out of his arm.

The baby kept crying. “What’s going on?” Andrew asked as he came in.

“Your brother is trying to leave the hospital, and he can’t even walk well yet,” Sherry said, trying to calm Matthew.

Andrew walked over to Matt and held his arm. “Get back
in.
”

“No, I need to see her, Andrew. She misunderstood the call with Karen.” He leaned on the side of
the railings
. Blood was running down his arm.

“She heard you? Why didn’t she cuss you out like normal?” Andrew helped him.

“You knew about the call?” Sherry asked with irritation in her voice
.

“Yes, I told him if she ever called, he needed to try and get her back home so we could serve her the divorce papers.”

“Help me get dressed,” Matt said to Andrew.

“Okay.”
Andrew picked up his clothes.

“Andrew, he’s hurt. He needs to stay in the hospital,” she said, raising her voice.

“If you think he’s hurt now, you won’t want to see him if he loses Shannon. Don’t worry. I’ll take him.”

Matt turned around. “Where is she?”

“She’s at home.”

Andrew took Matt into the bathroom and helped him get dressed in a T-shirt and jogging pants. “Matthew’s coming with us.” Andrew grabbed Matt’s cane and the wheelchair. Matt, overtired already, sat heavily on the vinyl seat. Even so, he glared at Sherry to let her know he meant business.

“I’ll walk with you to the car, and get his car seat.” Sherry
told
Andrew.

Andrew parked behind Shannon’s
vehicle
.

Matt slid his legs out of the car and stood up, grabbing his cane. He was a little weak, but he needed to do this by himself.

“Do you need help?” Andrew asked with concern.

“No, I’ll be okay.” When Matt started slowly walking, Matthew began crying. Matt turned back around. “Can you give him to me?”

“Matt, you’re too weak to carry him,” Andrew said, getting out
too.

“Not if you carry him
for me
. I can’t leave him like that.”

“I’ll take him
up
.” Andrew
unbuckled
Matthew out of his
seat and walked him up the front door, also helping Matt. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” he asked, passing the baby to him.

“Yes.” Matthew
held
on to Matt.

Andrew walked down to his car, watching them.

Matt was getting weaker, but it wasn’t going to stop him from fighting for his family.

He leaned down and whispered in Matthew’s little ear, “Say ma-ma.” He knocked on the door.

“Ma-ma, ma-ma,” he said, helping Matt bang on the door.

When
it
opened, Andrew slowly drove off.

“Sher—Matt. What are you doing here?” She grabbed Matthew out of his arms, placing him on the floor to help Matt. She
took
his arm and helped him inside, closing the door behind him. “Are you crazy?” She walked him over to her couch. “You’re hurt.” She looked over at him, concerned, then looked over at the baby. “Matthew, come here.” He crawled toward them.

Matt was sweating. “Shannon, I love you,” he said, staring into her brown eyes. “Please don’t do this.” He looked around at the empty boxes.

“Matt, you don’t have to feel guilty for going back to your wife. I understand.”

“You don’t. I can explain the conversation you heard.”

She put her fingers on his lips. “You don’t have to explain. I’m okay with your decision.”

He
kissed her fingers
. “Shannon, look at me.” She stared back at him. “The things I said to Karen were all lies. I need her to come back, to serve her the divorce papers. Why didn’t you just talk to me about what you heard?” he asked, still holding her hand.

Her eyes filled with tears. “Matt, when I heard you say those things to Karen, my whole world crumbled around me. I couldn’t see or talk to you.” A tear escaped her eye.

“I would never hurt you like that. You were going to leave without even talking to me.”

“I thought it was for the best.”

“It’s not. I finally have a family, and you want to take it away from me. When did you start looking for a job?” he asked, with a questioning look.

“I applied for a couple of positions before I got the promotion more than a year ago. The company’s president told me he kept my resume on file.” She paused. “Matt, are you okay? You look pale,” Shannon said with concern, feeling his forehead. “You’re burning up.” She got up and picked up Matthew. “We’re going to the hospital now.”

“No, not until you promise…me, you’re not…going to leave,” Matt said between breaths.

“Matt, I quit my job, and they’re expecting me in Atlanta in two weeks.”

“Promise me…if you leave…you’ll leave with me,” he struggled to say.

“What are you saying?”

“If you leave…I’m leaving…with you.”

“You have your job and family here.”

“You and my son…are more important than…anyone and anything. Wherever you go, that’s where I want to be,” he said, trying to get up.

“You’ll do that for me?”

“I’ll do anything for you, Shannon. Don’t you know that by now?”

“I love you, Matthew Miguel Johnston.” She reached to pull him to her, to kiss him.

Just out of her grasp, he collapsed.

“Why did you let him leave the hospital?” Shannon yelled as soon as she saw Andrew.

“Because you were too much of a coward to face him, that’s why, Shannon. My brother would’ve left regardless of what I did.” He
moved
closer to her.

“Andrew, I love him!
If
anything happens to him….” Shannon broke down crying.

“I know you do. He loves you too.” He hugged her. “Where’s Matthew?”

“My mom came and got him.” She pulled away.

“Shannon, he needed to see you. You were going to take his son and leave without facing him. You know him better than anyone. Did you really believe he would do that to you?”

“I thought the worst, that she is who he wanted and married.” She sat down.

“You are the one he’s always wanted, and you knew it, but you pushed him away telling him everything you knew he didn’t want because you were afraid to love. My brother just wanted someone to love him for him, and I know that’s you, Shannon. You’ve been with him when he needed someone the most, not Karen.” He sat next to her.

“I was leaving because I thought he didn’t want me.”

“Well, he wants you and only you.”

Matt’s doctor came out
. “Mr. Johnston is going to be
. He pushed his body too hard too soon.
”

“Thank God.” Shannon said wiping her eyes.

He advised them to keep him from leaving the hospital.

They both walked into his room. “Matt, you have to promise never to scare me like that again.” She
got
closer to his bed.

“If you promise never to leave me again.” He grabbed her hand.

“I promise.” She leaned down and kissed his lips.

Andrew cleared his throat. “Guys? I’m in the room.”

They both smiled.

Matt had been released from the hospital three weeks earlier, but he still had to get therapy for his leg. Shannon wanted him to stay with her, but he decided it would be better if he stayed at his house until he was one hundred percent, and divorced. Shannon had decided to retract her resignation and stay. Her boss was glad she’d changed her mind; since she’d been made VP, turnover had been cut by fifteen percent.