Chapter Twenty-Six
Ivy
September 2023
It’s been three weeks since I’ve been on this medicine.
Three weeks of being sick every single day because my body is rejecting it.
Three weeks since I’ve needed to find my mother but coming up empty handed. There’s no way I can speak to Santiago, even though I know Abel can get him here, but it’s not like he made any effort to come back and see or talk to me.
I just don’t want to ask him for anything.
I’m sick of this shit. My mouth has become severely disrespectful since all this shit went down, and I don’t care.
Abel won’t let me out of his sight.
The ol' ladies of the club have taken turns coming over to take care of me. I don’t know how I’m going to go back to a regular life after getting the princess treatment this long.
Abel still spoiled me, with just a little twist… He would have my nail person, hairdresser, and even a masseuse come out to the house to pamper me since I was too weak to do much on my own.
Cam and Travis were oblivious to the fact that I was sick and thought it was just the pregnancy taking a toll on me.
Who was I to say otherwise?
They’ve also been coming back and forth to Abel’s house, claiming it’s because I practically moved out of their place and in with him. Rain, sleet, or snow, nothing could keep them away from me.
Like today, I’m just lounging on the sofa in the living room when I saw Abel and Camden deep in conversation while Travis and I made small talk.
I couldn’t really engage in what Travis was saying, because I was too busy trying to read their lips and failing miserably.
Sly devils.
All of a sudden, a sharp pain radiates throughout my side, causing me to drop the mug of tea I was holding. “Oh, God!” I shout, doubling over in pain.
“Camden, Abel, get your asses in here!” Travis yells, scared for his life when I finally sit up… Laughing.
“Travis!” Snort. “You should have seen your face.” Snort. “The way you jumped up, calling for the guys and trying to come to my rescue was priceless.” I laugh harder.
“Well, aren’t you quite the little girl that cried wolf?” He says, standing up with his hands planted firmly on his hip, clearly pissed at me.
“In my defense, there really was a sharp pain, like a contraction maybe.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, it traveled from my stomach to the side, then rested in my back. It was definitely not something I wanted to play around with.” I say, trying to catch my breath. “I really didn’t mean to scare you, but it scared the hell outta me.”
“Hmm, I’m no doctor, but Abel can definitely help us out. Abel? Where the hell are you and Cam? We need you over here.” His high-pitched voice makes me giggle.
“I’m sorry, Trav, thank you for being so caring and understanding.” I feel like such a secretive bitch because I haven’t told either of them about my diagnosis yet, and I’d like to keep it that way.
Begging Abel to agree with me was not an easy choice or task, because he didn’t think it was right I keep it from them. I can’t make myself tell them any faster.
Hell, I’m still accepting it myself.
It’s been pretty rough, I’ll admit that.
Tired is an understatement for what I’ve been. A lazy couch potato who’s lost a little more weight than I can afford to is more like it.
Abel and Cam come flying in like bats outta hell. “What’s going on? Marrone Dolce, are you okay?” He asks, eyebrows furrowed with concern and anger.
“I’m fine. It just felt like a contraction.”
“You need to tell them. What if I’m not around to help you? They need to know how to help you, and what to tell anyone giving you medical attention about your condition.” Watching him, my smile is gone, my heart begins to race, and sweat gathers in places I didn’t know possible.
“I don’t want to.” I pout.
“Now is not the time to be acting like a child, Ivy.” He barks, making me feel smaller than I already am.
“I’m not acting like a child.”
“Well tell them. They may be able to help find your mother.” He grunts, pacing the floor. “The baby will be here soon, and we need to start looking for a donor.”
“Hold up, what the fuck are you two talking about?” Cam yells, his voice shocking the shit out of me and making me jump. “I swear to God, if one of you doesn't start talking, I’m going to have a bitch fit.”
I want to tell him nobody’s scared of him, but the way his eyes travel between me and Abel with a murderous look on them, has me snapping my mouth shut.
“She was diagnosed with sickle cell last month. There’s not much she can do or take because she’s pregnant, but after the baby’s born, she will need to have a blood transfusion.”
“Is that why you’ve been looking more sick lately?” Cam asks, coming to sit beside me when I nod my head. “Sweetie, why didn’t you tell us?”
It’s like Hoover Dam opened her pearly gates, beckoning me to shed the tears she keeps locked tight at bay behind her walls. “I’m sorry.” I say in a rush. “I didn’t want any of you to uproot your life just to make sure I was okay at all times.”
“Marrone Dolce, that’s what family does.” Abel answers for them all.
Cam sniffs, “Yeah, what Abel said. We are all your family. We have been for quite some time, but you know that.” He takes my hand, squeezing. “You know you can tell us anything, it doesn’t matter what it is, and if we decide to uproot our life for you, then it’s our choice to make.”
“Exactly.” Travis chimes in. “Nothing worth having is easy, but that’s why you have us. We’ll make everything easy for you.” Travis says, and I really lose my shit.
“Oh, you guys. How did I get so lucky to be blessed with three men that will give me the world if I asked them to?”
“Honey,” Cam says, flipping his imaginary long hair over his shoulder, “I ask myself that everyday.”
“You are such a whore.” I sniff, holding back tears of joy.
He gives me a knowing smirk. “Now, tell us everything, and what your evil sperm donors have to do with it.” Cam says, pulling more giggles and snorts from me.
I’m not sure how much time passed when I finally finish. “So, yeah, this is my life now.”
“So, what you both are saying is that one of your parents could be a donor while the other is the carrier of the trait?” Travis asks.
“Yeah, if I’m remembering everything the doctor said, that’s correct.”
“Well, we have to find both those assholes and force them to get tested, right?” Cam says, sounding like he’s got it all figured out.
“Whoa there, tiger. We can’t force anyone to do anything.” I say, because it’s true. No matter how bad I want to, it’s not right. “Besides, I know where my father is, and no I won’t go into detail.”
“The fuck we can force them.” Abel stands up, pulling out his phone and making a call. “Yo, Razor, we need to find someone and could use you. Whaddya say about getting your hands dirty?” I watch his face light up when he starts smirking. “Fuckin-A! When I have more to go on, I’ll hit you up.”
“I won’t ask anything more about your father, but on the bright side, we’re doing this?” Cam asks a little too excited for my liking.
“You bet your fucking balls we are. There’s no way I’m gonna let anything happen to our girl. I don’t give a fuck what I have to do.” Abel promises, making me smile.
“You guys are the best, but I’d like to lie down now. I’m drained.” Before I can stand on my own two feet, Abel is there, carefully scooping me into his large arms. “I have feet, you know.”
“I do, but I like taking care of you.” Just call me a Hershey’s chocolate because I’m melting away in his arms.
“Me, too.” I wave bye to the guys just as Abel’s phone begins to ring.
He motions for Cam and Travis to follow him to my room before he answers the call on speaker. “Yeah?”
“Someone torched your pawn shop, along with the sketchtastic gym on the side.” Someone says.
“What the fuck? Do you have a name for me, Knuckles?”
“I’m working on it, but you need to get over here, they left a message.”
“I’m with my girl, I can’t come.” I begin to wiggle in his arms, trying to tell him he needs to go. I’m not sure where the pawn shop in question is located, but obviously he needs to be there.
“I understand, I’ll send you a picture with the message.” Knuckles says as a clicking noise sounds into the phone before he says, “It should be coming through to you now.”
“Put me down. Cam and Travis can help me into bed.” I whisper, not wanting to interfere, but he has me in a tight grip.
“We’ve got her, Abel.” Cam and Travis say at the same time.
Placing me on my feet, they help me into bed when I hear Abel cuss.
“Mother fucker!”
All three of us say, “What?” Not really sure if he’ll answer or not.
“Someone just signed their own death warrant.” He says, pecking my lips. “Take her back to your place, don’t let her out of your sight or anyone in that you don’t know. I’ll be back, Marrone Dolce.” And he leaves.