Chapter 14
It had been a week since Osiris said he wanted us to be a family, and while I wanted to, I hadn’t agreed right away. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t, because I wanted nothing more than for the three of us to be together, but this nagging feeling in my stomach said I should wait.
He’d been showing me he wanted this to work by spending time with us and buying that house. He also put things into play for him to move back permanently, but he said he had some business to handle in Paris, then he would be back for good.
Since he would be gone for a week, his family decided to have a going away dinner for him. His sister’s husband had been doing better, so they came with their two boys, who Little O adored.
“Wynter, I saw that write-up my brother did about Taurus. I wish I didn’t miss it because he made it sound like the food was good,” his sister said as we sat at the table.
I wiped my mouth with the napkin and responded. “Let me know when you can come by, and I’ll make sure I fix something special for you.”
“I will, and I’m coming by myself.” She looked at her husband and smirked.
“As long as you bring me back a plate.” He smiled at her.
The two of them seemed so in love, just like their parents did, and I couldn’t wait to have that for myself one day. I felt like Osiris and I were close but not there just yet.
“I guess it’s worked out better that I didn’t go since you two have been able to rekindle your love, and we got to meet Little O,” she added.
“Yeah. I can’t apologize enough about not telling you guys.”
“Wynter.” Mrs. Gray called my name. “I told you before we aren’t worried about that anymore. You two are here now, and that’s all that matters.”
I had repeatedly apologized to Osiris and his family, but each time, they told me to stop it. I thought one day they would be mad at me, but they never showed it. Osiris was the complete opposite of what I thought he would be. He had Little O with him every single chance he got. With him being a food critic, he was able to take Little O with him to work with him if he wanted to, and he did. On other days, Little O would be with my parents or his. We all made it work.
“I know, but I can’t help to feel ba…” My words trailed off when there was a loud crash outside.
“What was that?” Mr. Gray asked.
I looked around the table, and everyone seemed to be just as surprised as I was.
Mr. Gray pushed his chair back and stood. “I’ll go check it out. Maybe it was an animal or something that got into the garbage can.”
Another noise that sounded like glass breaking got everyone’s attention again.
Everyone slid their chairs back. I grabbed Little O while Osiris’s sister ushered her boys into the other room.
“Osiris!” a woman yelled outside. “I know you’re in there.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. I knew I didn’t have apprehensions about him for no reason.
“Osiris!” She yelled again.
Osiris turned to face me. “Listen to me. Do not come to the door. I will explain everything to you after I take care of this.”
“Son, what is going on?” his mother asked.
Osiris looked around the dining room and smiled at us. His sister and her boys were in the other room already, but her husband was still at the table as well as his parents.
“Someone I was dealing with in Paris. We weren’t in a relationship, though, so I’m not sure why she’s here or even how she knows where I’m at. I’ll go handle it and be right back.”
So, he’d been trying to start a relationship with me but hadn’t cut off whatever he had going on. What type of shit was that? Did he think he would have two separate families? I didn’t want to think he tried to play me, but I wasn’t sure how he could explain this.
Osiris turned to me again. “I don’t know what is going on or what she is capable of, but please stay away from the door.”
I looked at him like he had three heads because he must have been out of his damn mind if he thought I would stay behind.
“You think I’m supposed to sit here while you probably go out there and tell a lie so you can have your cake and eat it too? I fucking doubt it. I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Gray.”
They both gave me sympathetic nods.
“No, that’s not what I want, baby, and you know that. I don’t want you or my son in harm’s way.”
“We wouldn’t be in harm’s way if you would have just told me and whoever it is outside the truth.”
I got up and grabbed Little O’s bag before stomping toward the front door. I would apologize for my rude behavior later. For the moment, I needed to get out of the door.
“Wynter, wait!” Osiris was behind me, but I ignored him.
I snatched the door open at the same time the girl had her fist up to knock on the door.
She was pretty, but something in her eyes was sad. Like she’d had better days. I hoped she wasn’t looking like that because of Osiris.
The girl looked me up and down but focused on Osiris when he called my name.
“Wynter.”
“Daddy.” Little O stretched his arms out.
The girl blinked slowly. “Daddy? You have a son?” she asked as she stumbled back.
I walked past her to my car. I didn’t know what they had going on, but she looked hurt by the news of Osiris having a son.
“Wynter,” Osiris called again.
“So, this is why you couldn’t answer my calls or come back home yet? You’re out here playing house with the next bitch.”
I had the urge to stop, but since I didn’t know her state of mind, I didn’t want to put Little O in more danger than I already had by coming outside.
I unlocked the car door and placed Little O inside.
Osiris called me again, but I didn’t respond.
“Shannon, please. Give me a second, and we can have a conversation. I promise.” Osiris kept his eyes on me as he talked to her.
“No. No! I’ve been trying to talk to you, but you haven’t answered my calls.” Her tone was shaky.
I gasped when she pulled a gun out of her pocket.
Osiris threw his hands up in surrender.
I guess he was taking too long to go back in the house, so his father ended up coming out.
“Hi, I’m Mr. Gray. I’m sure my son would be willing to talk to you, but I need you to put the gun down.” Mr. Gray’s soothing voice tried to coach her, but homegirl was too far gone.
“No!” Tears streamed down her face. “All I wanted was for him to love me, but instead, he ignored me and had already moved on.”
Mr. Gray’s gaze shot over to Osiris then back to Shannon.
“Stay right there!” she shouted when Mr. Gray tried to step closer.
“I will. I promise. Let’s just talk,” Mr. Gray pleaded.
“Shannon, look at me. I’m sorry for not being honest, but a lot has gone on. There’s no excuse for it, so again, I’m sorry.”
I would never want to be that crazy over a dude. Osiris was everything I wanted in a man, but I couldn’t imagine behaving like that.
She used the barrel of the gun to rub the side of her head, then started mumbling to herself. I couldn’t make out what she said though.
Osiris attempted to step closer to her, but she pointed the gun at him.
I slapped a hand over my mouth to stifle my scream. She seemed to have forgotten about Little O and me, and I wanted to keep it that way. I didn’t want her to get any ideas and try to hurt my son or me.
“Shannon.” Osiris’s hands were up, and before any of us could react, Shannon shot him in the hand. “Fuck!”
Tears sprang to my eyes when Osiris bent over, holding his hand and hollering. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move because I didn’t want to leave Little O alone.
Shannon ran over to him. “O, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” She started pacing back and forth. “Oh God. Oh God. What have I done?” She fell to the ground and cried louder, as she squeezed her head with her hands.
Since she dropped the gun, Mr. Gray ran over to Osiris and wrapped his hand in the shirt he had on.
Within seconds, the ambulance and the sheriff had come. I wasn’t sure who called them, but I was grateful someone had.
Once they arrived, everything afterward happened so fast.
Mrs. Gray ran out of the house and over to me.
“Wynter. Are you okay?” She grabbed my face in her hands, inspecting me.
“Ye-yeah. I need to check on Osiris.” I glanced back at Little O, but he was oblivious to what had happened.
“Go ahead. I’ll take him to the house. We’ll be fine. Just please call me as soon as you can.”
“I will.” I kissed Little O on his cheek and hugged Mrs. Gray.
My heart raced in my chest as I ran over to the ambulance truck, where they loaded Osiris into the back. The sheriff had handcuffed Shannon and put her in the back of the squad car.
“Si, are you okay?” I asked as soon as I climbed into the back of the ambulance.
“Wyn, baby. I wasn’t in a relationship with her. Yeah, I dealt with her, but it wasn’t like that. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about her, but I never thought it would come to this.”
I grabbed his free hand. “Shh, none of that matters now. I just want to make sure you are okay.”
The ambulance worker inserted an IV to give him some fluids, and they had his hand wrapped in a bandage.
“I’m okay. I promise you, but I won’t be okay until I know you forgive me. I love you and Little O so much, and I want to marry you one day and have more kids.” His eyes were slowly closing, so I wasn’t even sure if he knew what he was saying.
“I gave him some medicine, that’s why he’s so sleepy,” the EMT guy informed me.
I looked down at Osiris, and he was already looking at me.
“Baby. I mean it, Wyn. I can’t rest until I know you forgive me.”
I leaned over and kissed his forehead. “I forgive you, Osiris.”
He smiled and closed his eyes. Seconds later, he was snoring.
I wasn’t sure where we would go after this, but the only thing I could worry about was making sure Osiris was okay.
Little O had just gotten his father, and I got so scared, not knowing what the girl would do. Hell, I’d just gotten Osiris back, and I didn’t want to lose him.
The minute the drugs wore off, we would have a nice long conversation about everything.