Love In Strange Places (13 page)

“Andrew, I only came here because I think you need to know.” She cried in his arms.

He gently messaged her back.
What could it be? She can’t be pregnant with my baby, one, because I always used protection and second, she’s not showing
. “Tell me.”

She pulled away and took two steps back. “Don’t hate me, Andrew.”

“I could never hate you.” He stayed where he was standing. She obviously didn’t want him close.

“My ex cheated on me with multiple women, and I didn’t know. I thought it was only one, but he had his doctor’s office call me and tell me.” She broke down, crying hysterically. He stepped closer to her and she put up her hands.

“I’m getting worried. What did he do?”

She wiped her tears. “I’m HIV positive.”

His breathing stopped for a few seconds. Her words rang in his head.

“Andrew, we didn’t have unprotected sex, but you never know. What if the condom broke and we didn’t realize it, or when we…practiced oral sex.”

“Get out.” He first said it above a whisper, and then he yelled. “Get the fuck out!” He held the door open.

When she passed by him, she whispered. “Andrew, I’m so sorry.” She rushed to the elevator.

“Nancy, cancel all of my appointments, no questions asked.” He turned and slammed the door shut.

He picked up the phone. “I need to see you. In person. Now.”

Thirty minutes passed until Matt entered his office. “What’s wrong? You sounded rattled.”

Andrew was staring out of the window. With effort, he turned to look at his brother, knowing his emotions must be all over his face.

“What’s wrong?” Matt raised his voice.

Andrew put his hands on his face. “She has fucking HIV.”

Matt froze. “Sherry…has….”

He lowered his hands. “No. Leann. Leann has HIV.”

Matt’s expression changed to one of relief. “Dude, you had me worried.” Andrew waited for his brother to catch on. “Oh God no, not you.”

Andrew got up. “I don’t know. I mean I always used protection with her. I never had an accident, but—”

“But what Andrew?”

“She said something about oral sex.”

“You gave her?”

“No, never. She gave me oral.”

“If you practiced safe sex with her chances are you didn’t get it.”

“I have to get tested.
Sherry and I have been trying to get pregnant. We’ve been having sex like rabbits.” Matt’s face scrunched up like he didn’t need to know that part. “I haven’t used protection with her. What if I have it and I gave it to her? What if she’s pregnant and the baby…Oh God.” He shoved his hand into his pants pocket. “She’s going to kill me. She didn’t ask for this arrangement, I pushed her into it.”

Matt put his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “I see you care for
Sherry. Just talk to her. She might surprise you.”

“Yeah she will, with a bullet.” He slouched against his desk.

“Don’t go jumping to conclusions. Talk to your wife, and you both get tested. I know in my heart the test will be negative.”

“From your mouth to God’s ears.”

“What did she say? When did she think she got it? Its obvious she doesn’t think it’s you.”

“I don’t know. All I remember her saying was that her husband slept around and his doctor called her.” He placed his hands on the desk. “I threw her out. I was so angry.”

“Maybe she went back to him after your fling. You need to talk to her.”

“Not with how I’m feeling right now.”

“Calm down, and go see your doctor.”

“You’re right.” He picked up his office phone. “Nancy, I’m leaving for the day. If you need me, call.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you, Nancy.” He hung up.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No.”

“You know I’m here for you no matter what.” He hugged his brother. “And everything discussed here today, stays here. Talk to Sherry.”

He pulled away. “I will.”

The house was pitch black when Sherry opened the door. As she turned on the light, she was surprised to find Andrew with his hands over his face.

“What are you doing sitting in the dark?” she asked, placing her things on the table. He took down his hands and his eyes were red-rimmed. She marched over to his side. “What’s wrong?”

He observed her and could see the concern in her eyes. How do you tell the woman you’re in love with you might be HIV positive?

“Is it Matt, the kids? What?”

He shook his head. “Have a seat.”

She sat beside him. “Andrew, talk to me. What’s wrong?” She caressed his cheek.

He took her hand in his and kissed it. “Leann came to visit me today and she had some news.”

She just stared at him. “She’s pregnant?”

At that moment, he wished that were the case. “No.”

“Then what?” She eyed him with concern.

“There’s no easy way to put this. She’s HIV positive.”

Sherry
gasped and placed her hands over her mouth. “Oh God, is she okay?”

He looked at her in awe. He’d just told her the woman he used to sleep with was HIV positive and all she did was ask if she was okay. “I’m not sure.”

“What do you mean? She came to you and told you that horrible news and you didn’t console her?”

He released her hand. “No, because all I did was think of you.”

“Why?”

“Because what if she gave it to me?”

She stared at him. “But you said you used protection with her.”

“I did.” He placed his hand on her stomach. “What if I have it and I passed it on to you? What if you’re pregnant?”

She smiled, gently cupping his face, and kissed his lips.

He was so confused. She surprised the fuck out of him. He’d expected her to scream and hit him, but no, she was being so loving. He gazed into her eyes.
I’m in love with this amazing woman
.

“Andrew,” she whispered against his lips. “I can’t believe you thought about me first. Did you have sex
with her after we got married?”

“No….”

“Then we’re okay. Remember when we went to the doctor’s office? He tested us for everything and all of the tests came out negative.” She caressed him again. “So you see, you’re clean.”

“I forgot about that, but I won’t chance it. I got tested today, and from now on I’m using a condom.” He thought about it for a second. “Or better yet, no sex.”

She backed away, looking sad. “What about the baby?”

“That will have to wait. I’m sorry,
Sherry, but I can’t chance you and a baby getting hurt because of me.”

“But we’ve already had sex, so the chances are already there.”

“You’re right, but I just can’t until I know for sure.”

“I understand.”

He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “You mean more to me than I ever thought possible. If my test still comes out clean, then we’ll try again.”

“The results will be back in a week or less.”

“I just want to be sure.”

She snuggled into his hug. “Our marriage ends in three months.”

“That’s only if you want it to end, because I don’t.”

She looked up at him. “I don’t either.”

He kissed her.

“Andrew, you need to talk to Leann. She was just told this terrible news, and she went to you. She didn’t have to tell you, but she was woman enough to face you.”

“I was in shock.”

“I understand, but she needs a friend. Imagine how she must be feeling. It wasn’t her fault her ex was having unprotected sex with multiple women. I think she went to you because she needed someone to tell her that everything would be okay.”

He just observed her, how amazing and wonderful she was.

“How can you be mad at her? She didn’t cause this ripple effect, he did. She used protection, she always did the right thing.” She sighed. “Call her.”

“Now?”

“No time like the present.”

He pulled out his cell phone from his pocket, and dialed her number. It rang.

“Andrew!” She sounded surprised to hear from him.

“Leann, we need to talk.”

Andrew knocked on Leann’s office door. “Come in.”

“Hi,” he said, walking in.

“Hi Andrew.” She stared at him. “Please have a seat.”

He sat in the chair in front of her desk. “Leann, first I have to apologize for the way I acted the day you came to my office.”

She gazed at him. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay. I should’ve been there for you.”

“You didn’t expect me to tell you I am HIV positive. I might have reacted the same or worse.”

Andrew
moved forward in his chair and took her hand from off her desk. “Leann, I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve the way I treated you. It’s not your fault your husband didn’t protect you and your family. He should’ve put you first.”

She wiped her falling tears with her other hand.

“You are an amazing woman, and I’ll be here for you if you need me.”

“What will your wife think of you helping me?”

“She’s the reason I’m here.”

She pulled back her hands. “You told her?”

“Yes.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to mess with your marriage.”

“You didn’t. I was expecting her to scream and leave me, but she didn’t. She defended you.”

“She did?”

“Leann are you okay?”

“No, I will never be okay again.” She sniffled. “I’ll be taking pills after pills for the rest of my life.” She broke down.

Andrew stood, walked behind her desk, and wrapped his arms around her. “You don’t deserve this, but you’re a strong woman. I know it’s hard to see it now, but all you need is faith. You are stronger than this disease.” He rubbed her back. “My sister-in-law had breast cancer, and she beat all the odds. She remained strong.”

“But cancer is curable. HIV isn’t.”

He moved away and cupped her face. “You can still live a normal life. You’ll still be able to see your kids grow up. A lot of people don’t get that chance. Please, please don’t let this beat you. Live life to the fullest.”

“Andrew, I needed to hear those words.”

He hugged her tight. “Call me if you need anything.”

She backed away and dabbed a tissue over her face. “Tell your wife I said thank you.”

“I will.”

Sherry concentrating on what was on her screen. By the time she looked up with a smile, it was too late.

“Hey,”
said Dean.

He looked different. He’d lost a lot of weight, and his eyes were sunken in. He strolled over and took a seat in the chair in front her desk. “Your assistant let me in.”

“I’ll have to have a talk with her.”

“She knows me.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. How are you doing, Dean?” She eyed him. Up close, he looked like he might be on something. What could have happened to the good-looking man she used to date?

“I’m okay. I heard through the grapevine that you got yourself married.” He looked around her office.

“Yes. I know you didn’t come here to congratulate me, so how can I help you?”

“I was fired from work, and I need money.” He stared at her, giving her chills.

“And you came to me. Why did you get fired?” She crossed her hands and leaned back. “You had a good job.”

“They lied on me and said I stole money.”

She sighed. “Dean, how much?” She understood how it felt to lose an income.

“Twenty thousand.”

She looked at him in disbelief. “You want to borrow twenty-thousand dollars.”

“I didn’t say anything about borrowing. You’re going to give it to me.” He glared at her.

She laughed. “Are you crazy? I don’t have that kind of money.”

“Bitch, please.”

She leaned back a little, surprise at the words that had just left his mouth. “Excuse me?”

“
Sherry, you’re going to give me that money. You can pay me in installments if you want, but you will give me the money.”

“How you figure?”

He pulled out his phone, and handed it to her. “Press play.”

She grabbed the phone from his hand and pressed the button. All she heard was moaning and then, gasping, realized those sounds had come from her. He had a tape of them having sex. She turned it off and threw the phone at him. “Get out!”

He stood. “I bet your husband and family would love to see this,” he said, smiling.