John, Cheryl, and Tara follow behind me into the room.
“Mother, you should go home and rest. I’ll be okay, and I’m looking forward to leaving this hospital bed. I’ll go home with Dad and the evil one.” The room goes deathly quiet, and the Taylors all look around.
“Queen Vee, I want you to come home with me, baby, please. Let me take care of you.”
“It’s not a bad idea, darling,” Cheryl says. She sits on the side of the bed and takes one of Vickie’s hands. “Sometimes in life, we have to open our hearts and give someone a second chance.” She presses the hand to her face. “Especially when they own up to their mistakes and want to do everything to make things right.” She leans in and whispers something in Vickie’s ear that I can’t hear.
She looks around the room and looks into my eyes. She holds my stare, and for this moment, I’d give up my entire fortune to be able to read her mind. I mouth please.
Alicia whispers something in Vickie’s other ear, and whatever she says makes her tear up, but she nods and says, “Okay.” That one word is all I need. This is my chance, and I’m not going to let it slip away.
“I’m going to call Mama and see what she has going on for dinner. Everyone is welcome.” I excuse myself and walk down the hall to call home. I give her a list of things that Vickie can’t eat or smell, and she tells me out of the two of us, she’s the only one who’s been pregnant and that she has it under control.
I step into the bathroom and check my reflection in the mirror. I don’t think I’ve slept five hours in the past three days, but I haven’t felt this good in months. Vickie is coming home with me, and we’re having a baby. That’s something we didn’t plan, but when the woman you’re in love with is pregnant with your child, there’s no better feeling in this world.
After splashing cold water on my face, I leave the bathroom with a pep in my step that wasn’t there before. I know my physical therapy will be rough tomorrow, but now my career is not the only thing I won’t be losing. I’m so eager to get to my woman that I don’t question why her family is in the hallway and not the room. Tara looks around wildly when she sees me, and I know instantly that something is wrong.
“What happened?” I ask. “Are they okay?” I turn to run into the room, but Cheryl puts a hand on my wrist.
“They’re fine. Gerald is there, and Vickie asked us to leave so they can talk alone.”
It takes a few seconds for her words to sink in. When they do, I snatch my wrist away and sprint down the hall. I get in there in time to hear him say, “I’m not raising another man’s baby, Victoria. Terminate it and I’ll forget this ever happened.” I grab him by the back of his scrubs and push him against the wall, ready to beat him within an inch of his life.
“Colt, no!” Vickie yells, and I step back. The last thing I want to do is upset her more than I already have. “Gerald, leave. You were never in any danger of raising another man’s baby. He or she already has a father. Get the hell out of here.”
“Yes, leave.” Alicia steps in and approaches Gerald. “Right now.”
I pull him by his collar and drag him out of the room and down the hall. He tries to pull away, but he’s no match for me. I push him inside an empty bathroom and close the door. Before he can utter a single word, I punch him in the stomach. He doubles over and falls to his knees. “I hope I never have to see you again, but if I do, I will not hesitate to beat you within an inch of your pathetic life.” I leave him gasping for air and walk back to Victoria.
FIFTY-SEVEN
Colt’s apartmentsmells like a combination of fresh bread and vanilla. I don’t know what Mary Leigh is cooking, but it smells great and doesn’t upset my stomach. It still feels unsettled, but the intense nausea and aversion to smells have diminished. I’m barely through the door when she engulfs me in a hug, squeezing me to her bosom. When she lets me go, Evan jumps into my arms, and I stumble back at the sudden assault.
“Vickie, Uncle Charlie wants to watch Annie, but he said we had to wait for you.” Colt takes him from me and messes his hair. Charlie hugs me next, but our bodies never fully make contact. He taps my back with his hand, almost as if he’s afraid I’ll break.
“She’s not made of glass, Charlie. Come sit down, honey. I made some ginger tea that will help your tummy.” She hugs me again and says, “I’m so glad we’re all together.”
She made three different soups and homemade bread. I had bone broth and chicken noodle. Colt hovered and buttered my bread, never once taking his eyes off me. After dinner, while he cleans, I watch Annie with Evan and Charlie. I let them do the singing and dancing this time, but it’s nice to have normalcy after months of uncertainty. Despite the very loud and very bad singing, my eyes get heavy. Strong arms carry me and gently lay me down on the bed. I sigh when I feel the soft down comforter covering me.
I wake up hours later in Colt’s dark bedroom. He’s not in the bed next to me. He’s on the couch, reading a book. I chuckle when I see the title.
“You’re reading a cookbook?” I ask.
He rushes over to the bed. “Are you okay? Do you need to throw up?” He touches my forehead. “Let me carry you.”
I shake my head and he steps back. I get up on my own and use the bathroom. He’s standing right behind the door when I step back out. He helps me in bed and climbs in next to me. I usually cuddle to his side or let him spoon me. Despite our extreme height difference, we’ve always been a perfect fit. Now I don’t know what to do, so I make sure our bodies don’t touch.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he whispers. “I know you haven’t agreed for us to be together, but you have to know that’s what I want.” I roll my eyes in the dark room. I do know that. He’s made that clear to me every day for months. “When I went to Alabama, I—”
“When you went to Alabama without me,” I correct him.
“When I went to Alabama without you, it wasn’t meant to hurt you. I was in a bad place. I didn’t know if I’d have a career, and I was miserable to be around. And frankly, I was embarrassed. I’m used to winnin’. I’m sorry for pushin’ you away. I really am. All I can do is promise that will never happen again.”
I don’t speak while I try to digest his words. He sounds sincere. The truth is, I’ve not only missed Colt, but I missed Evan too. I even missed Mary Leigh and looked forward to her calls.
“But you don’t win every single time. You haven’t won every game you’ve ever played. Truth is, you pushed me away repeatedly. We talked every day, and every day you put me off. Every day was another rejection, and I don’t do well with rejection or abandonment. I don’t forgive that easily.” Then I sigh and say, “But I don’t want to raise this baby alone.”
He turns to his side, and I do the same.
