Chapter 36
36
6 YEARS LATER…
I walked down the halls and heard meticulously beeping heart monitors present as I did my rounds for the day. Lottie and I have been going strong, and once things settled down, I lived up to my promise to go back to school, trying to live the nine to five life.
It proved difficult at times, but I enjoyed it, and Lottie never really returned to her place. She liked what she did and I admired her for it, though it was a bit ironic. She was happy and so was I. It was too late for me to become a doctor, so I became the next best thing. I became a nurse.
My shift at the hospital was coming to a close, and I wanted to get home, I had an insane number of fluids on me and my stomach was still churning from someone’s handsy grandma.
“Hey Rowan,” Tiffany asked. “Do you have a minute; I have an issue with a patient, and I think you can help.”
“When can I say no to you?” I said sarcastically. Tiffany was the best. She took me under her wing and showed me everything I needed to know. The good, the bad, and the ugly. So if she had a request I had no problem helping.
I walked into the room to see a female no older than nineteen or twenty. She was laying on her side with a ghostly look in her eye and flashes of Lottie came to mind, but I quickly shook them away and grabbed her chart.
My eyes flitted to Tiffany in understanding. I came clean to her once, when she had shared about her past, and what she went through.
“Are you staying?”
Please stay, I don’t want anyone else here.
“Of course,” she replied.
I pulled up a chair and sat next to her, but she didn’t acknowledge me, she didn’t need to.
“Hello, my name is Rowan and I’m another nurse here, can I start with at least your name?”
She didn’t answer. So, I leveled. I pulled out my phone and there they were, and I faced it toward the girl.
“Do you see this beautiful woman, that’s my wife and our kids. She was gang-raped and abused for days. Some days I don’t even know how she did it, move forward I mean, but she did. It does get better.”
I didn’t get a name, but I got a chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“She looks like she’s out of your league.”
I raised my eyebrows but played along. “Right, the twins took after her, but poor Gracie took after her father.”
“Can you help get it off?”
“Get what off?”
I looked over at her and ushered Tiffany to come and help. She pulled her gown up midway and I stumbled backward seeing the familiar W etched upon her thigh and my jaw clenched in anger.
They are moving back in.
Fuck.
There’s nothing I can do, But Lottie can.
“You’re actually in luck, have you ever heard of the Cardinals?”
“Not much other than what’s heard on the streets,” she replied.
“Well, my wife happens to be the leader of the organization, we can help you, if you want, but it has to be your choice. Here’s my address. As long as you don’t mind two four year-olds and a six-month-old, I think it would be beneficial to meet her.”
“Can you wait until they discharge me? Please? I don't want him to come after me.” She pleaded, grabbing my hand.
“I’ll wait, nobody is coming in here.”
“I’m home!” I called out and everyone came barreling downstairs followed by Lottie gracefully stepping down, before placing the baby in her swing.
It was a long road, but after a few surgeries and a few disappointments, the twins came with our second round of IVF. They were both born healthy at six pounds, a boy and a girl.
Gianna was a bit airy like Charlotte in the best way, which explained why she tripped three times while running to me.
Casey was the wilder of the two and already he was a handful.? I lost count over how many times Lottie or I were called into the preschool for hitting someone or being a menace, but him getting in trouble was bullshit, my kids were perfect, so I told the teacher to fuck off and they were kicked out. Whatever. I never told Charlotte why I wanted to name him Casey, but it was my small sign of respect for her father. A thanks for allowing me to love his daughter, even with the mistakes I had made. When he was older I would teach him all the things I wasn’t.
Lastly, Gracelynn or Gracie was our happy accident. She was a happy baby and opted to get more food in her hair than in her mouth. Already screaming when she didn’t get her own way, like the day she took my wallet off the table and cried until I gave it back. Out of all the toys she had. She was the only one of the three that had made me vomit on more than one occasion. If anyone asked me, I would say I didn’t have a favorite, if you asked me in private; I would tell you a story about how this little girl had me wrapped around her finger from the first time I held her.
And of course, after much persuasion, Charlotte brought it upon herself to surprise me with a corgi named Remi. I loved animals, but I knew this dog spited me, fucker would look right at me, staring as he pissed on the floor. Life was good, and I would do anything to keep it that way.
Lottie walked into the kitchen with a puzzled look, before moving her eyes over to the scared girl behind me.
“There was an issue at the hospital, and she needed a safe place to stay,” I said putting the kids down.
She didn't ask any questions, just moved to the stove where dinner was being cooked. While she still ran the organization, she opted to raise the kids and paint. I made sure she understood I supported whatever she wanted to do with her life, and if she wanted to finish her psychology degree, we would make it work. But she declined. There was nothing better than worshiping her pouch and her stretch marks. Fuck, I go crazy for it; she can tend to be a bit insecure about it, but I would always reassure her of how beautiful she was and remind her that those tiger stripes brought our children into this world.
“Well, there's plenty to go around; why don’t you show her to the guest room and shower. You smell like shit, Rowan.” She giggled.
“Hey, I just worked twelve hours, woman.”
She walked over and gave me a kiss, and I laughed.
After everyone had settled down, I joined Lottie on the couch draping her legs over mine, rubbing her thighs softly.
“So, what are we going to do about them?” I sighed, running my hand through my hair.
“I’ve called Thomas and Arthur, Thomas is willing to take her in, if that's what she wants. Are you ready to make your appearance? Everyone will know you’re alive, including Joshua.”
“Well, Thomas kind of already knows” I whispered, kissing her hand. “And I have no doubt in my mind that Joshua knows, he hasn't bothered us; maybe he’s just as tired as you are.”
“You didn’t see the look on his face that day Rowan. I'll call the meeting.” She sighed. “Then, I'll need to set up some interviews.”
“For what?” I asked furrowing my eyebrows.
“A bodyguard, Rowan, you’re whole-body cracks when you get out of bed in the morning.” She chuckled.
A breathy chuckle left my lips as my hand slithered around her neck, and I hovered over her. “You think you’re funny.”
“Do you think we have enough time?” She asked flirtatiously, sucking her lip between her teeth.
I narrowed my eyes teasingly. “Gracie shouldn't wake up for a couple hours. I think I can make it happen. Unless my cracking body gets in the way.”
“When your balls touch the toilet water, then I’ll start to worry. Let me go put the cups in the sink, and I’ll meet you upstairs.”
She wasn’t in the kitchen for a moment when a scream sounded, and the cups crashed to the floor. I jumped from the couch running into the kitchen when I saw my kids who were supposed to be in bed, and Lottie laughing uncontrollably.
They both wore white masks that looked oddly familiar, and I raised it over Casey’s head letting it rest on top of his waves.
I knelt laughing. “Where did you two find these?”
“In your room, Dad.” Casey huffed.
“No! I found them, so finders’ keepers.” Gianna countered.
“There’s two, so we each have one, you dumb shit,” he replied back with a laugh.
“Casey, we don’t call people names.” Lottie scolded.
“Dad calls you names all the time mommy, and you don’t yell at him.”
“Yes she does, the doors are closed but sometimes we hear you.”
“Alright.” I interrupted, shaking my head before she could go any further. Nobody is getting these, now hand them over and go to bed.” I demanded.
“Fine,” they said in unison as they trudged up the stairs. I looked at Charlotte, and she just shook her head.
“They are your kids..”
“Uh-huh, we should move our room, probably wasn't smart being in the middle of them, but I know you wanted to be close.” I mumbled.
“Or maybe we just put a bed in the basement,” she smiled. Her face turned serious and a worried expression painted her features.
“What's wrong, Princess?” I asked, moving a strand of hair from her face, and placed it over her shoulder.
“Roe, I was only kidding about the bodyguard thing, and I know I made you retire, but I can’t do this without you. What if he comes after the kids?”
A smirk crossed my features and I nodded. “You and me Lottie, always. Whatever you need me to do.”
I placed a kiss on her lips and we pulled away hearing Gracie’s soft whimpers on the baby monitor. “I’ll go take care of her.”
I nodded. Her form soon disappeared, and I looked down at the mask that once sat on my face. While I love retirement and raising my family, Lottie needed me, and so did the others. But another idea was already swirling around my head. I ran my thumb over the smooth surface with a smirk. Maybe, for now I could dust off my suits, and when the time was right, I could pass down the legacy.
I knew one thing for certain. Joshua was mine, and one day soon I would end him like all the others, he wasn’t stepping one foot near my family.