Reuben Chapter 12 #2
“What the fuck!? Jesus Christ. I’m sorry, Reub. Which hospital are you at?” he immediately responded.
“I just wanted you to be aware in case I have to miss work. There’s no need to come here. Stay home with Tajah and Matea.”
“Do you think if I tell my wife that Cristiana is in the ER, she’ll stay home? Come on. Just tell me and I’ll let the others know. We’ll be there.”
His automatic offer made tears sting my eyes. Without another protest, I told him which hospital we were at. He said to hang in there, and I’d have support in no time. I thanked him, then disconnected. Just as I did, Maddy came out.
“Sir, she’s awake and asking for you. You can go in. I’ll get the doctor to see her soon.”
“Thanks so much. And my name is Reuben.”
Maddy acknowledged me with a nod, then she scurried off. I hurried into the cubicle. The curtain was still drawn all the way around it. Seeing her awake filled me with relief. I went to her bedside and bent down so we were face-to-face.
“Mi hermosa nina, you’re awake. You’ve had me worried sick. How do you feel? Are you in pain?” I babbled.
She blinked several times before she answered me. “What happened? Why am I in the hospital?” Her voice was hoarse.
Fear hit me. She couldn’t remember the fight? What else didn’t she recall? Me?
“Cristiana, do you know who I am?”
She gave me a confused look. “What do you mean? Of course I do. You’re Reuben, my boyfriend.”
Her answer relieved some of my fear.
“Yes, I am. Tell me what you do remember,” I prompted.
She frowned as she concentrated. Finally, she answered, “I remember us driving to your parents’ house to have lunch with your whole family. I was so nervous. We had a great meal together, then… then it’s blank. What happened?”
“You don’t recall us talking about Lustz and my family being less than nice to you? Or me and Tonio fighting?”
Cristiana gasped, then shook her head frantically. “Oh God, no! I don’t. I’m so sorry. I never meant to upset you or your family. Did they not like that we’re both patrons? Why did you and your brother fight? How did I get hurt?”
Before I could answer, the curtain was pulled back, and in strolled Maddy and another woman. This one was in scrubs, too, and wore a white lab coat. She smiled.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Tinney. And you are?” she asked.
I held out my hand, which she quickly shook, then dropped. Her expression was stern when she looked at me.
“My name is Reuben Davila. I’m Cristiana’s boyfriend. Glad you’re here.”
“Mr. Davila, I need you to go to the waiting room. I need to examine your girlfriend. We will be running numerous tests. It’ll be too crowded in here,” Dr. Tinney stated.
“I’ll stay out of the way,” I assured her.
Dr. Tinney shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t allow it. Maybe later, but right now we need to run several tests on her. You’ll end up sitting here alone most of the time,” she argued.
“Reuben, carino, you should do as she says. I’ll be fine, and if anything changes or they let you stay, they’ll get you. Won’t you?” Cristiana asked the doctor.
There was a brief hesitation, then the doctor nodded. “If that’s what you wish. Now, let’s get you going. The sooner we do, the better it’ll be for you.”
There was no way I was leaving without kissing Cristiana. I bent over, kissed her deeply, and she returned the kiss. When I broke contact, I whispered, “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Go try to relax. I’ll be fine,” she whispered back.
With the greatest reluctance, I straightened, gave the doctor and nurse a chin lift, then left.
I found my way out. It was essentially walking in the opposite direction from where we had entered.
Opening the door between the treatment area and the waiting room, I took in the number of people sitting there to be seen or waiting on a loved one. My gaze landed on my family.
Christ, why didn’t they leave? It wasn’t as if they genuinely cared if she was hurt or not.
With a target to divert my mind, I advanced upon them.
The women were seated. The only ladies missing were Eliza and Ava, and the only guys not there were Daniel and Liam.
No doubt they were back at the house watching the kids.
I came to a halt in front of the men. They all watched me warily.
They should. One wrong word and I wouldn’t give a damn that we were in a hospital.
I’d punch their head in. It was Papá who spoke.
“How is she?”
I wanted to be petty and not answer, but I made myself tell him. “She’s finally awake. The doctor is with her. They’re going to run tests. She doesn’t recall the fight or being hit. I don’t know if that’s temporary or not.”
“Thank God, she’s awake,” Mamá murmured, crossing herself.
“I’m hoping it’s a good sign. Listen, there’s no need to stay. Mikhail and our friends are coming. If we need anything, they’ll make sure we get it.”
I caught the slight flinch Papá couldn’t hide.
“Reuben, I’m so damn sorry. You have to believe me, hermano, brother. I never meant to hit her. It was an accident,” Tonio interjected.
“Tonio, I’m not having this discussion here. It would be in your best interest to stay away. If not, you may end up in a bed in the ER yourself,” I snapped.
“Reuben, what has gotten into you!? You never act this way,” Mamá cried out.
“My family rejected my chosen and insulted her. Our life was deemed wrong, and therefore, we must be horrible people. I knew none of you liked my work and my lifestyle, but I never thought you’d be cruel and insulting to someone about it, especially your son’s girlfriend, the only woman I’ve ever introduced you to.
No, let me finish,” I ordered Marcello, who opened his mouth to speak.
“Cristiana will be my wife. I’m waiting for the right time to ask, but she’s already agreed she’d say yes.
Nothing you say or do will change that. However, going forward, my loyalty will be to her and our children.
If you want any part of our lives, if she’s willing to allow you in, you’ll need to ditch your prejudice or whatever it is that caused you to act the way you did.
I won’t allow my wife or children to feel like they don’t belong, are second class, or dirty. ”
I wasn’t yelling, but I knew others in the waiting room heard us. I guess my family realized that because they scanned the area.
“Let’s go outside and talk,” Francisco urged.
“Nope. I need to be where they can find me. For now, this conversation is done,” I informed him.
Without another word, I walked over to an empty chair away from where they were. I got several looks from people, which I ignored.
???
I sat there, and my family remained in their seats on the other side of the room.
They kept murmuring, but I disregarded them.
I watched the door to the treatment area, waiting to be called back.
It had been almost an hour since I left her.
I was giving them five more minutes, then I had to check to see what was going on.
The swooshing sound of the outer door opening registered faintly, but I didn’t bother to look.
It had been doing it on and off for an hour as new people entered and others left.
A hand on my shoulder caused me to startle.
Whipping my head around to tell whichever family member it was to leave me alone, my words died in my throat.
It was Mikhail. Standing with him were Tajah, Hoss, Cady, Carver, and Alex.
A lump formed in my throat. It took me a moment or two to come to my feet.
Mikhail gave me a hard, back-slapping hug. From there, I got one from all the others, though the ladies were gentler with theirs. None of us said a word. When we were done, Mikhail broke the silence.
“We got here as fast as we could. How is she?”
“She was awake an hour ago. They kicked me out so they could run tests on her.”
“They kicked you out? Well, let me go have a word with them,” Cady growled.
She went to walk away, but Hoss snagged her. “Whoa, hang on there, Cady Cat. We’re not pissing off the staff and getting Reuben permanently barred from seeing Cristiana.”
Hoss never raised his voice, but you could hear the authority in his tone. It was the brat handler in him. It was amazing to watch Cady respond to it. Her scowl eased, and she relaxed, smiling at her husband.
“Fine, I’ll behave, but he might want to ask them for an update. At least they can do that for him.”
“I was giving them another five minutes. Thank you all for coming. It wasn’t necessary, but it is appreciated. Where did you stash Matea?”
“She’s with my mom,” Tajah said.
“Shit, I hate that you’re pulled away from her. You and Mikhail should go home. Thank you for coming, but I’ll be alright,” I told her.
“It’s not happening. Matea is being well cared for and spoiled at our house. Tamara was thrilled to get alone time with her. She always complains I hog Matea,” Mikhail claimed, grinning.
“You do,” I told him.
“Hey, what can I say? She’s my princess. You wait until you have a daughter.”
At his words, an ache started to throb in my chest. I pictured a little girl, the spitting image of Cristiana. I wanted that.
“Hey, there’s a group over there who is staring at us intently. Is that your family?” Hoss asked softly.
“Yeah, they came and seemed to think that by sitting here, it would make up for what they said. I told them to leave, but they refused,” I told him.
“If you want them out, we can make it happen. Say the word and we’ll tell them to go. If that doesn’t work, Matvey has some guys whom we should be able to borrow. I know they’re your family.” Mikhail left the rest unsaid.
Sometimes, family was the last people you needed or could rely on. Carver was nodding his head. He and Cady would know all about that. Their dad was a piece of shit.
“Just ignore them. They want to talk and work things out. I told them not now and maybe not ever. I never thought they’d basically call Cristiana a whore for being a patroness at Lustz. That’s what Tonio insinuated. His words started the fight.”
The gasps and angry muttering from my friends made me feel vindicated in some way.
“Excuse me, Mr. Davila,” a woman’s soft voice said from behind me. Turning, I found myself facing Maddy.
“Ms. Perez is asking for you. You’re welcome to come back if you’d like. We’re mostly waiting on results.”
“Go. We’ll be here,” Hoss said.
“Thanks. And yes, I want to go back to her,” I told the nurse.
Walking away, I felt lighter knowing I was about to see Cristiana.