If Only We Knew (18 page)

As they were leaving the hospital after his therapy, Matt a
sked, “Where’s my kiss?” He follow
ed behind Shannon with his cane; his limp was slowly disappearing.

She turned, smiling,
getting
on her tiptoes, and slowly kissed him on the lips.

“Mmm,” he said as she moved back. “I can’t wait to make love to you.”

“I can’t wait, either.” She gave him a mysterious glance,
taking
his right hand
in hers
and they walked out to the car.

She was about to get into the driver’s seat when he stopped her. “Let me drive.” He could tell she wanted to protest, but didn’t. She walked over to the passenger side, where he held the door for her. She stood in front of him, and kissed him again before getting in and sitting. He closed the door and walked over to the driver’s side, got in, started the car, and drove off.

She caressed
the side of his face
. “I love you.”

He glanced at her for a few seconds and looked back at the road. “
Mamita
, I love you more.”

“That’s what you think.” She smiled, winking at him, when he glanced her way. She
kissed
his hand
. “Let’s get our son.”

They pulled up to the daycare to pick up Matthew. Shannon got out of the car and went in to sign him out.

Briana was behind the counter. “Did she forget something?”

Shannon looked at her, a little confused. “No, I came to pick up Matthew.”

“Mrs. Johnston already picked him up.” She showed her the sign-in sheet.

Shannon panicked internally. “Who?” She took a deep breath.

“Matthew’s father’s wife. She said it was his weekend with the baby, so she came to pick him up.”

“Who gave you permission to give her my son?” Shannon asked, raising her voice.

“Ms. Jones, please calm down. She is one of the persons you put down that can come and pick him up. Is there something wrong?”

“Yes. She hates him.” Shannon sat down, crying.

“Ms. Jones,
she seemed so good with him
.”

Sh
annon
asked her for the
phone
. Briana gave
it to her
and
she
dialed 911, explaining what happened.

Matt looked at his watch one more time. She’d been in the daycare for fifteen minutes now, she was usually in and out. He got out of the car and headed
in
. When he stepped inside, he could see Shannon desperately crying. He rushed over as best he could with his cane. “Shannon, what’s wrong?”

“She took him,” she said, wiping her tears.

“Who took him?” But she didn’t answer because she couldn’t stop crying.

Briana came over. “The police are on their way.”

“Where’s my son?” Matt asked.

“Sir, your wife came and got him. She said it was your weekend with him.”

He just stood, staring at her in disbelief. “Why would you give him to her?” he asked calmly.

“She’s on our records as a person who can drop him off and pick him up.”

“Matt, it’s not their fault. I forgot to update the list.”

Though he was in discomfort, he bent down and hugged her. “She won’t hurt him,” he whispered in her ear, rubbing her back.

“Are you sure?” She slowly pulled back. “Promise me she won’t hurt him.”

He cupped her face. “I promise.”

The police came in and questioned everyone who had been there at the time, but since Karen had the right to pick up the baby
, they gave them options
. “We can issue an Amber Alert.” The police explained the process to Shannon.

They
were about
to radio it in, when Matt’s phone rang.

He stepped away and answered. “Hello.”

“Matt, where are you? We’ve been waiting at home for you.”

Matt could hear Matthew in the background, talking his baby talk.
Thank God, he’s okay.
He took a deep breath. “Karen, why did you take him?”

“I wanted to surprise you and show you that I’ve accepted him.”

“I’m on my way.”

He hung up and w
ent
back to where the police and Shannon were. “I know where he is. Thank you guys for everything. It was just a misunderstanding. My wife and son are waiting for me at home.” Shannon looked at him in anger. The police left.

They walked out of the building, and he grabbed her arm, turning her around. “Don’t be mad at me.”

She pulled her arm back. “You’re letting her get away with taking my son.”

“That’s not true, and you know it. She’s at my house with him. If we send the police, she might panic. I don’t know how she will react. I’m taking you home and I’m going to get our son.”

“I’m going to get my son,” she said, walking toward the car.

Matt tried to catch up to her, but the pain of leaning down earlier had gotten to him. “I’m taking you home. She is expecting me.”

“No, I w
ant to make sure he’s okay!”

“Shannon!” he yelled to get her attention. “Do you trust me?”

She whispered, “Yes.”

“I’m taking you home. He is okay. I heard him in the background.” He
opened her car door and waited until she
got
in, closed it, and
walked around the car and got in,
placed the key in the ignition, turning
it
on
, and drove off. They
remained
silen
t
. Shannon didn’t talk all the way to her house. She just sat with tears rolling down her cheeks. He glanced over and tried to wipe her tears, but she
slapped h
is hand
away. He pulled up to her driveway, and she opened the door.

“You promised me she wouldn’t hurt him. If I don’t hear from you in a half hour, I’m showing up,” she said, then closed the door and walked up to her
house
.

Matt rushed up the stairs as fast as he could with his cane and opened his front door. “Karen!”

“We’re in the family room!” she
answered
back.

When Matt walked into the family room, he saw Karen on the floor playing with Matthew. He was crawling around and laughing with her.

Matthew was the first to see Matt. “Dad-dy, Dad-dy.” He walked toward him.

Matt bent down and picked him up, kissing and hugging him tight. “Thank God you’re okay.”

Karen got up and ran up to Matt, kissing him on the cheek. “I’ve missed you so much.”

He stepped back, looking at her
in disbelief
. “Karen, you’ve been gone for over two months.”

She stared
up
at him. “Didn’t you miss me?”

“You stole from me and cheated on me with my mother’s accountant.”

“I’m sorry. He made me do it. He threatened me.” She sniffled and looked as though she was about to cry.

“You were with him for four fucking years. Our marriage was a sham and a lie.”

“No, it wasn’t. We were good together.” She
moved closer to him, trying to touch his face
, but h
e lean
ed away.

He walked over to the desk, opened the drawer, and took out some documents. Then he put Matthew in his playpen,
turning
back to her, and handed the documents to her. “Sign these.”

She read the first page. “No, I’m not divorcing you. When I called you, you told me you wanted me back, that you missed me.”

“I lied.”

“No, I love you. Matt, please don’t do this, baby. Don’t do this. I’ll do anything for you to forgive me,” she begged.

“I don’t love you, Karen. I’ve never said those words to you. Let’s be honest with each other, for once. I married you because you were pregnant, not because I loved you. You knew that.”

“In the beginning, but I know you fell in love with me afterward.”

“I
never loved you. I
tried everything to make you happy, even when I wasn’t. I was willing to stay in a marriage with no love because of the baby.
”

She sh
ook
her head
, and chuckled
.

“Was the baby even mine?”

“There was never a fucking baby!” she
screamed
at him. “I lied. I was never pregnant.” He just stared at her with anger in his eyes. “There was no miscarriage.” She continued laughing. “You were such a fool. I knew if I told you I was pregnant, you would marry me because of your fucking past. It was so easy to fool you. I can’t have kids because I choose not to.”

“You fucking bitch, get out of my house!” he yelled.

“This is my house too, remember?”

“Karen, get the fuck out of my house before I throw you out. I’ve never hit a woman, but I’m so close to doing it right now. Get out!” 

Shannon opened the door to Matt’s house and ran into the family room, but was brought up short by the sound of yelling from farther in the house. She just stood there in the doorway, not believing the things she was hearing Karen say. “Matt.” She could tell he was angry because his jaw clenched. “Don’t do it.”

“I told you not to come.” He
said
taking a deep breath
.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Karen asked, walking up to Shannon.

Shannon took two steps and slapped Karen on the face. “You bitch! Don’t you ever touch my son again.” She was about to walk away when Karen grabbed her by the hair.

“You bitch, this is entirely your fault, you and that baby!”

Shannon turned around with her fists in the air and punched Karen in the corner of her mouth. “That one’s for Matt,” she grunted, “and this one is for me.”

Matt ran over, trying to forget the pain he was in. He picked Shannon up by the waist and walked over to the other side of the room. Karen came rushing after her, but he tried to keep them separated. “Shannon, stop!” he yelled, staring at her. “He’s crying.”

He let go of Shannon’s waist, and she ran over to the playpen and picked up the baby. “It’s okay. Everything is okay. Mommy’s here,” she said, kissing him.

Matt grabbed Karen by her arm, and on the way out the family room, he
picked
the divorce papers and a pen. “Sign the divorce papers or I’ll press charges.”

“For what? I didn’t do anything wrong.” Karen touched her mouth and looked at her hand. “I’m bleeding! I’m the one who can press charges.”

“It would be your word against ours. You stole from me, but I guess that’s not a crime because you were my wife, but you and your boyfriend embezzled money from my mother.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.” He handed her the documents. “Sign.”

She snatched the pen and paper from him and signed it. “I still get half of everything you own, fool.” She walked down the few steps, and then she turned around and said, “Tom and I will get the last laugh.” She left.

Matt stared at her and
chuck
led. “You wish,” he whispered.

When he turned around, Shannon was right behind him with the baby in her arms. “I’m going home.” She tried to pass him.

“Shannon, wait.” He
said
,
getting in her way. He took her
hand and
she
snatched it
away. That’s when he noticed her hand was swollen. He went to move when he was attacked by pain in his leg. Shannon leaned forward, helping him.

“You’re hurt.”

“No, I’m just sore.” He slowly limped into the house, and she followed. “Please don’t leave.” He
said
,
limp
ing
into the kitchen, got a Ziploc, filled it with ice, and came back out to the living room. “Sit down. Let me take care of you,” he pleaded.

Shannon did as he asked her. He held Matthew to reassure him and handed him a toy, and then gently took Shannon’s hand, kissing it, and placed the ice on it. “I’m finally going to be a divorced man.”

She
touched his leg.
“I’m sorry for what she did to you.”

“Why are you sorry? She did those things to me; you didn’t.”

“You didn’t deserve any of it.” She
began to
massag
e
his left leg
, like she seen the therapist do
.