Chapter Twelve
Friday Evening, November 9
Dallas, TX
Ian
T he fall evening air is cool against my face as I walk up the stairs to Kami’s front door. The threshold is lit by a single porch light to the upper right-hand corner of the red door.
I hold a small bouquet of vibrantly pink chrysanthemums as I adjust my black dress shirt. If there was anything other than flowers that I could give her to best convey how I feel, I would.
Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I knock and wait.
After I told Mom about Kami, word soon traveled fast within the family that I was finally dating again. I never expected everyone to not only be rooting for me, but to also offer to cover most of my shifts for the rest of the month so I could spend more time with her. Even when I told them I would be with her and her family for Thanksgiving, they were still happy for me.
Not even a minute later, I hear the door unlock and open with ease. Kami stands directly in my line of sight, looking more gorgeous than ever.
She’s stunning with her spiral curls pinned into a neat, large bun. A strand lays on the side of her delicate face. She wears silver hoop earrings while her slender neck is decorated with a small, simple, heart-shaped necklace. She wears a bright, hot pink dress that accentuates her breasts and small waist, shows off the curves of her hips, and falls just past her knees. Her feet are adorned with black heels with a bow at the toes.
My cock, on the drive over, was already hard just thinking about her. But having her stand in front of me turns it to steel.
“Hi there, gorgeous.” I smile.
“Hi.” She gives a half smile, taking notice of the flowers in my hand. “Are those for me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I hand them to her.
“Thank you. I’ll put them in a vase, and then we can go.”
She holds the door open for me, and I walk inside. The place is clean with hints of a feminine touch throughout.
I follow her into the kitchen; she grabs a glass vase and a pair of scissors.
“I can cut the stems while you fill the vase with water,” I suggest.
She looks pleasantly surprised. “Sure.”
A few moments later, the freshly cut flowers are in their vase, standing proudly on the breakfast table.
“You didn’t have to help me,” she insists.
“I like being useful.” I shrug my shoulders.
“Well, thanks for your help. Mia will like them too since it brings color into the kitchen.”
I scan the rest of the open-concept apartment. The ambience is cozy, warm, and inviting. “You have a nice place here.”
“Thanks. You should have seen the place the other day. The amount of boxes Mia brought was insane.”
“I can’t imagine.” This easygoing conversation brings me back to when we first met. Casual yet engaging.
She grabs her black clutch and lace sweater, then walks over to the front door. “Shall we?”
I open the door for her, and she beams at me with an optimistic smile. As she walks past me, I’m hit with the same sweet scent from before. I instantly recognize the fragrance that I gave her after laying eyes again on her after our night together.
I’m fucking done for.
I climb into the driver’s seat and shut the door when I hear something from Kami I don’t see coming.
“I’m sorry about the other night. You were right; I wasn’t being fair to you.”
One of the things I appreciate about someone is their accountability. I’m grateful Kami took this step. “Thank you for apologizing.”
If she’s going to be honest with me, then I should do the same about my feelings for her. I know how I feel, but I can’t just assume Kami feels the same way either.
I angle my body toward her from my seat. “I want to be transparent about something with you, too.”
She nods. “Okay.”
I hate to sound like a middle school boy telling their crush how they feel but…“I’m into you…a lot. I’ve liked you from the moment we met. And secretly, I want you to feel the same. But also understand I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. By the end of our agreement, if you’re still not interested, I’ll respect your decision.” My mind, body, and soul are screaming to have her with me, but I know it also takes two to tango. It’d be selfish of me to try and keep her all to myself if she doesn’t feel the same.
She’s quiet for a moment. As though processing every word I’m saying. Is she scared that I like her? Is she shocked? Disgusted? I wish I knew what was going on in that beautiful head of hers. “Thank you for telling me. I don’t know how I feel right now, but when I do, I’ll let you know.”
Her response isn’t much to go on, but it’s better than what we started out with.
“Just know that I think you look beautiful tonight,” I compliment her as I turn the key in the ignition, drive out of the parking lot, and out onto the road.
“Thank you.” Is she blushing?
Not even ten minutes into our time together, and it’s already going great.
We’re almost to the restaurant when a loud ring breaks the moment between us. I immediately recognize the ringtone—and go into a panic. Quickly pulling over, I have the car come to a screeching halt. The moment I put the car in park, I pull my phone from my pocket and answer it.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” I’m frozen in my seat, waiting with bated breath for a sound from the other end. The hair on the back of my neck stands straight up.
Did she fall? Is she struggling to breathe? I can only imagine the worst because Mom would never call me at a time like this unless it was an emergency.
The last time I felt my heart beat this fast was when a police officer called me on my dad’s cell, telling me there had been an accident.
“Hey, bro,” I hear my brother’s voice. “I’ve got it all under control, but just wanted to let you know—”
“What happened, Matt?” My voice turns urgent. “Is she okay? What’s going on?”
“Mom fainted coming from the bathroom. She’s conscious but still says she feels dizzy. I called the paramedics, and we’re on the way to the hospital. Like I said, everything is under control, so there’s no need for you—”
Like hell. “Which hospital?”
“No. Don’t you dare ruin this for yourself.”
“Dammit, Matt. Where is Mom?”
He sighs. “We’re headed to the hospital that’s around the corner from her house.”
I hang up the phone the minute I hear his words, putting the car in reverse before U-turning. Cars around us honk their loud horns. I don’t give a fuck as I race down the road like a bat out of hell.
I must have blocked out even the sounds coming from the car because then I hear Kami screaming at me, trying to get my attention. “Ian! What’s going on? Where are we going? Slow down.”
“What?” I turn to face her. Her face is filled with terror. I feel guilt grip me like an iron fist. “I’m really sorry, Kami. I got a phone call from my brother about my mom and...”
“Your mom? Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know, but she’s en route to the hospital. I hope you don’t mind, but I want to see if she’s okay.”
“I’m so sorry. Of course, you should check on her.” She places a hand on my shoulder.
Something about her touch gives me relief, calms me.
We make it to the hospital in half the time it normally would take, meeting the paramedics as they pull Mom on the gurney into the emergency wing of the hospital.
I quickly rush to Mom’s side, taking her hand in mine. “Mom, I’m here.”
“Ian. What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be on your date.”
“Matt called me from your cell.”
She groans. “I swear, none of you boys ever listen to me. I told him not to call you since I didn’t want to ruin your night.”
“Mom, you haven’t ruined anything. Matt did the right thing. Where is he?” I look around for my brother.
“He was ahead of the ambulance. Said he’d get me registered. I’m fine, honestly,” she tries to assure me.
That’s what she said right before she got her cancer diagnosis.
“Your health is more important.”
“You didn’t leave Kami at the restaurant, did you?” Mom takes her gaze from me to Kami who I realize is behind me. “I’m so sorry about all this, dear. I’m normally not such a klutz.”
“It’s no trouble at all, ma’am. We were more concerned about you.”
Mom then turns her focus back to me. “Go back to your date. I’ll be fine.”
“Let’s see what the doctor says, and we can go from there,” I state. As much as I would like to take advantage of Mom’s offer, I don’t want to leave her side if this whole visit turns into something life-threatening. But I don’t want to keep Kami hostage either.
“We’ll be waiting just outside, Mom.” Matt appears at the other side of the gurney, assuring her.
The doctors and nurses then wheel her into the ER, disappearing from sight.
I turn to Kami. I’m sure the last thing she’d want to do is wait around all night. “If you want to go home, I completely understand. I can drive you back.”
She puts a hand on my arm. That soothing touch again helps me to relax my muscles. Geez, I didn’t realize how tense I was until now.
“It’s okay. I’ll stay here with you.”
“Really?” This is coming from the girl who, just a few days ago, wanted nothing to do with me.
She nods. “I want to keep you company.”
The three of us go into a corner of the large waiting room. The place, even out here, smells of antiseptic and dread. Kami and Matt are sitting beside each other, while I pace back and forth.
Matt clears his throat, looking to me like I forgot about him. Shit, I did. “Kami. This is my brother Matt.”
“Oh, hi.” She extends a hand to him. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” He smiles. “Finally, I get to see the woman my brother can’t shut up about.”
An hour later, Matt and Kami raid the vending machines, setting out a variety of snacks on a nearby coffee table. I stop pacing and walk over to them.
“I know this isn’t exactly a meal.” I feel guilty she didn’t get to eat real food tonight.
“It’s all good. I love Cheez-Its and powdered donuts just as much as the next girl.” She rips open a package of donuts. She’s not mad at me for choosing my family over a date? That’s interesting.
Matt sits beside Kami on one side while I sit on the other as we dig in. My brother spends the next fifteen minutes telling her every embarrassing thing about me he can remember. Normally, I’d be annoyed, but the longer he continues, the lighter emotionally I feel. Kami’s giggling and occasional bursts of laughter help to take my mind off the situation. All I focus on is her laughing and smiling. What would I give to hear that laugh every day? Another sound of hers that’s now become my favorite song. Though her screams of ecstasy will always be number one.
I can’t help but picture what life would be like if Kami were mine. My mom on the sofa with Matt’s kids. Matt and I having a few laughs over a beer. Kami, round with my babies and a large wedding ring on her finger, sits back beside Mom. She’s fucking gorgeous in this picture I’ve created in my mind. I feel warm inside, complete, happy. I picture being as happy as I was before Dad died. What a life that would be.
If I play my cards right, that fantasy could very much turn into reality.
“Excuse me, I’m looking for the Brown family.” A doctor walks over to us, bringing me back into reality and to the waiting room. The warmth and fuzziness I felt now recedes back into anxiety and fear as I stand to hear the news.
“Here,” I call out.
The doctor walks over to us as Matt presses a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Same. We’re her sons.”
“Good evening, gentlemen.” The doctor clears her throat as I wait with bated breath. “We have your mother stabilized for now, but when she came in she was a little dehydrated, and her blood pressure was extremely low. I see according to her chart, she’s taking medication for high blood pressure. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” I reply without hesitation.
“And I understand your mother has been in remission from breast cancer for four months.”
“Yes,” Matt replies.
She nods. “Based on the medications listed in her chart, and the way your mother is responding to them, it seems the medication she’s on now for her blood pressure needs to be changed, so I’ll be decreasing her dosage. I also recommend that you get her to drink plenty of water. That should take care of her dehydration and prevent any fainting spells in the future.”
“So she’s okay? Everything is fine?” Please let there not be a but in this doctor’s sentence.
“From what I can see, your mother is going to be fine. We’ll keep her overnight for observation and discharge her in the morning.”
Relief washes over me.
The woman continues, “Visiting hours are still open if you’d like to see her. Family members only, of course.”
I nod in understanding.
The doctor turns her gaze to Kami. “Are you family as well?”
Not yet, but she will be soon.
Kami turns to me, then the doctor. “You guys can go. I’ll—”
“Yes,” I interrupt and grab her hand firmly in mine. “She’s my wife.”
“Very well, follow me,” the doctor tells us before turning in the direction of the emergency room doors.
Matt looks at me like I’m crazy, while Kami stares as though I’ve grown two horns at the back of my head. Exactly why I called her my wife? I have no idea. But I did like the sound of it.
This wasn’t how I initially wanted Kami to meet the woman who gave birth to me, but I want to not only ease my mom’s guilt for taking my time away, I also want to show Kami one of the things I value most in life: my family.
Watching her interact with my brother sparks something in me. Something that has now fueled me with determination to see our agreement through and come out of it as more than two strangers helping each other.
We walk the long corridor and into a single room. Inside is my mother in a hospital bed. She’s hooked up to what looks like a heart monitor and an IV bag.
“Oh, my babies,” she greets us with her arms open.
“Mom.” Matt and I rush to her side. I squeeze her hand tight.
I must have been wearing my emotions on my face when Mom turns her gaze to me with a sad smile. Tears well in her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you both. But I’m okay now. The doctor says I’m going to be fine.”
“We heard.” Setting my fear aside, I focus on the task at hand. “This is why I ask how much water you’ve been drinking every day.”
She shoots me an incredulous stare. “Seriously? You’re going to lecture me when we have a guest?”
I whip my attention back to Kami. She stands stiff against the threshold, seemingly unsure where to be.
I walk up to her. “Come meet my mom.”
She looks to my brother, then to our mom. “Is that okay?”
“Don’t worry about me, dear. Come on in and join the party.” My mother sends her a warm smile.
Kami walks over to her. “I-it’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Brown.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Kami. Despite this setting, it’s nice to meet the woman who my son speaks so highly of.” She grabs Kami’s hand in hers.
Kami lets out a soft laugh. “Does he now?”
Mom looks like she’s about to say something again, stops herself, then turns to my brother and me. “If you two don’t mind, us girls need to chat.”
Translation: she wants to talk about me behind my back. Now? She’s doing this now? “Mom, visiting hours will be over soon. I don’t think we have the—”
“Don’t worry; it won’t take long,” Mom assures me.
I slowly nod. “We’ll be just outside if you need anything.” Closing the door behind me, I’m left to wonder what will be said and what Kami will say.