Love In Strange Places (20 page)

“Dewayne, I’m fine. You can go home.”

“But—”

“Go home. I’ll call you.”

He walked over to her and kissed her forehead. “See you.”

“Damn girl, you have two men madly in love with you, but it’s a shame you only love one.” Tiffany sat down
in the chair next to her bed. “Why don’t you stop all this foolishness and get back with your husband? I’ve never seen you as happy as I did when you were with him.”

“He is not my husband. He made sure he took care of that detail.”

“Come on, Sherry, everybody make mistakes. You did.”

Sherry
arched a brow.

“You weren’t innocent in all this. You kept something from him, too. If the roles were reversed you would’ve acted a donkey too, and you know it.”

“Why are you defending him?”

“I’m defending both of you. His pride and ego got in the way when Dean’s wife told him all that junk, but he put his pride away and begged for you to forgive him, even when he didn’t know the truth. Now your pride is standing in your way to happiness.”

She sighed. “Maybe he was never my happiness. Maybe it’s Dewayne.”

Tiffany laughed. “If you believe that, you’re insane. Dewayne will never make you happy. Did you ever ask yourself why it took him so long to realize he wanted you or why you never once thought about him in years?”

“Tiff, I don’t want to talk about this anymore, and you didn’t come here to lecture me on my love life.” She rolled her eyes.

“You’re right. I came to see my good babies.”

Days had passed
and Nathaniel was doing so well. The doctor entered her room, “how are you feeling today?” he asked, looking at her file.

“I’m feeling much stronger,”
Sherry answered.

“That’s good to hear. I have good news, we will be
moving your baby boy out of NICU.”

Sherry and Andrew hugged each other.

“Do you have any update on Natalie?” Andrew asked.

“Her body is reacting well to the medicine, but she’s
still delicate.” He placed her file back down in its slot. “You’re twins are fighters.” He said excusing himself.

After a while
Sherry fell asleep and her cell phone rang.

Andrew
stared at it, thinking if he should answer it, he didn’t want to violate her privacy, but something told him to answer, and that’s what he did, but the person didn’t give him a chance to talk.

“You haven’t been answering my calls. If you don’t meet me today at four, I’ll make sure your whole family sees what a slut you are.”

Andrew felt his nostrils flared.
That’s Dean
. Why would he talk to her like that? He texted him back.
I can’t make it there. Can you come to my office?

He answered back. “
See you at four.”

Andrew stood and kissed
Sherry while she slept. “You stood by me. It’s my time to take care of you.” He looked at his watch; it was three.

He placed her cell in his pocket and left.

Twenty minutes later, he passed her assistant in the hallway on the way to his wife’s office. “I’m meeting someone here for Sherry.”

She stared at him, and he guest it was because, he hadn’t shaved in three days, looking rough.

“How are she and the twins?” she asked.

“She’s doing good and the twins are getting stronger by the minute.” He took the keys out her purse and opened her office door, remembering the last time he’d been there. His mind’s eye focused on the look on her face. Because of this fucking bastard Dean, he’d almost lost his family. He stood in the lee behind the door, waiting for him to arrive.

Dean entered the office and walked straight to her desk. “Sherry?”

The slamming of her door, and then the click of the lock appeared to frighten Dean.

“What the fuck?” he asked, turning around. He must’ve seen the anger in Andrew’s face. “She told you?” He started twitching.

Andrew decided to lie. “Yes, she told me everything.”

“Look, dude, I didn’t mean for her to fall. Is she okay?”

Andrew could feel his anger boiling over. “You caused her to go into premature labor!” He had to work to control himself.

Dean stuttered. “S-she wou-wouldn’t give me the money. Our deal was she gives me the money and I wouldn’t ruin her reputation, or yours.” He shook. “Where’s my money?”

“Before I give you the money, show me what you got.” Andrew took two long strides.

“She already saw it. She was worried about her family, and you. She made sacrifices for her family.” He thought for a moment. “Your buddy Mr. Shin would give anything for what I’ve got.”

“I want to see it.”

Dean pulled out his cell phone, tapped the screen a few times, and handled it to Dean. “Press play.”

Andrew
forcefully took it from his hands, and did as he’d been told. He clenched his jaw until it hurt. The vein in his neck started jumping. He took the phone and threw it against the wall, shattering it into pieces.

“You think that’s the only copy I have?”
He smirked.

In one swift move, he grabbed Dean’s shirt and pushed him against the wall. “When was that taken?” He made his hold tighter. “When?” he yelled.

“Long before you.” His voice was rattled.

“Because of you I almost lost my family.” He wanted to pull back his fist and punch him in the jaw, but he couldn’t afford that right now. His wife and kids needed him. He couldn’t afford to be thrown in jail. As a lawyer, he certainly knew the consequences. So instead, he punched the wall behind Dean. “I know your kind, looking for the highest bidder, but guess what? Your game ends here. If you do have any other copies, destroy them or you’ll regret it. I know very dangerous people and they won’t have a problem taking care of you.”

“Mr. Shin will protect me.”

Andrew laughed. “Mr. Shin
doesn’t come close to the people that owe me favors. I’m not a violent man, but when it comes to my family, I’m fucking ruthless. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“You would hurt me over a good lay?”

Andrew lost it mentally. He’d been trying to control his anger but this fool wasn’t getting the point. Dean started shaking his head. Andrew grabbed his neck. “You’re talking about my wife!”

“I’m sorry man…I lost my job, my family…I needed money.”

“I don’t fucking care about your reasons. You almost destroyed my marriage. My twins almost died because of you!” Now Dean couldn’t breathe. If it hadn’t been for the ringing of Andrew’s phone, he might have killed him. “Yeah.”

“Andrew, where are you?” his dad asked.

“Why?”

“You need to come to the hospital.”

Andrew released Dean.” Stay away from her, or you’ll be dead.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt her or the babies.”

Andrew opened the door and sprinted out of the office and down the stairs.

Andrew ran out of the elevator. His and Sherry’s parents were crying. “Why are you guys out here?”

“She kicked us out,” her mother said. “She needs you.”

“Is it Natalie?”

His father shook his head, and hugged him. “Son, I’m so sorry.”

He pulled away from his father and ran into Sherry’s room. She was crying uncontrollably.

“My Natalie is gone, she’s gone.”

He got on the bed and held her tight. “What happened?”

“Dad and Mom where visiting her, and she stopped breathing. Our baby is gone.”

He should’ve been here instead of confronting Dean, he thought looking at his knuckles behind her back. “I’m here now.”

Tears rolled down his face. “I can’t believe she’s gone. She was so sweet. My little girl is gone.” They broke down, crying together, holding on to each other.
God, you didn’t answer my prayers. Not then with my mom and not now with Natalie. Why?

“Our little girl is gone….”

They wiped each other’s tears. “She felt our love,” he said. “She knew we loved her.”

“I needed you. Where were you?”

There was a soft knock on the door.

“Come in,” he called, still holding on to
Sherry.

The doctor came in with a chart in his hands.

“What the fuck do you want?” Andrew glared at him.

“Andrew!”
Sherry scowled at him.

“
I have some good news.”

They both just stared at him through their tears.

“Your baby girl is still alive.”

They both took deep breath. “What?”

“She did flatline, but we performed CPR. Your parents ran out before we had her back on the ventilator.”

“She’s alive?”
Sherry asked.

“Is she okay?”

“She is a fighter, but she may have suffered some brain damage during her flatline, only time will tell.”

Sherry
covered her mouth with her hand.

“Can we see her?” Andrew asked.

“Of course. She needs to feel her parents love.”

Andrew helped
Sherry off the bed and followed the doctor to the nursery. He held her hand as they went to see their little girl. She looked down and saw his knuckle was swollen, but decided not to ask.

They both smiled, looking down at the incubator. “Natalie, thank you for hanging in
,” Sherry placed her hand over her mouth and blew a kiss on it, and placed the gentle kiss on her baby’s tiny hand.

“God, thank you for answering my prayers.”

Sherry watched Andrew sleep in the chair beside her bed, his head contorted to rest on the mattress. The doctor had come in earlier to tell them she would be released tomorrow and that Nathaniel might be able to go home a couple of days later. She didn’t want to leave her babies alone in the hospital, but Andrew convinced her it was time. He reassured her he would bring her to the hospital every day.

She lift
ed her hand, moving it into his hair. She missed everything about him, even his corny jokes. “I love you too,” she whispered. She noticed his hand was still slightly bruised and wondered how he’d gotten the injury.

He needed his rest. He’d been with her almost nonstop, up until four days ago when he’d disappeared for a few hours.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” she said, trying not to wake him. The nurse appeared with Nathaniel in her hands. She covered her mouth with her hand
surprised to see her baby. Every time she wanted to see him, she had to go to the NICU. “This is a wonderful surprise.”

“I have someone who wants to say hi.” The nurse stepped farther into the room.

“Nathaniel,” Sherry said, extending her hands as a tear ran down her cheek.

The nurse gently placed the baby
in her arms, and she kissed his forehead. “I love you.” She played with his fingers as the nurse left quietly.

“You’re perfect.” She kissed him again. “We’re going let Daddy sleep a little longer. He’ll be so surprised when he wakes up
and sees you.” The baby made cooing sounds. “My miracle.” He squeezed her finger with his. “You’re getting so strong.” And so was Natalie. Her lungs were getting stronger with the medicine they were giving her.

Nathaniel began whining, and let out a loud cry, startling his dad awake.

“Hello, sleepyhead,” she said, taking the baby’s hand and waving hello to Andrew.

His smile was big, from ear to ear. “Hi, Nate.”

“Nate,” she said, rocking him.

“Yes, my son’s nickname.” He touched his son’s cheek with his index finger. “Nathaniel Xavier and Natalie Sky.”

She smiled. “I like.”

The baby fell asleep and lips trembled, making his parents laugh.

“What was that?” Andrew asked.

“You do it when you’re sleeping, too.”

“No I don’t,” he said. Their gazes locked.

“What happened to your hand?” she asked, looking at his knuckle.

“I handled Dean.”

“What did you do?”

“If you’re asking if I killed him, the answer is no. But he wont be bothering you anymore.” He cupped her face. “You should’ve come to me. I would’ve handled Dean.”

She looked down at their baby. “I thought I could take care of it on my own, and I didn’t want you to think less of me, but that backfired.”

“Why would you try to handle things on your own? That’s what I’m here for.” He turned her face. “You should’ve believed in me.”

“After everything that happened between us.”

“If you would’ve told me what he was doing to you from the beginning, everything that happened between us wouldn’t have. You should know I would always be there for you.”