8. Gabe
Gabe
I walked out of the room to get my head together before I slammed James’ head through the nearest fuckin’ wall.
He never thought I was good enough for Chiara since I was a felon.
Doesn’t matter that I was reformed. The nigga still hated my guts and trust and believe the feelings were mutual.
As I paced the hall back and forth, I heard Chi’s room door open and saw Quita come out.
“Hey. How you holding up?” she asked. I stared at her for a few minutes before I opened my mouth to speak.
“How am I holding up? How do you think I’m holding up, Quita? My fuckin’ wife is laid up in a hospital bed and doesn’t remember who the fuck I am! How the fuck do you think I feel? On top of that, all this happened because I told her spoiled ass ‘no’,” I chuckled.
“Don’t you dare blame her,” her bitch ass father came out of the room and inserted his self into our conversation.
“I’m not blaming her. I’m blaming myself.
All I wanted to do was make my fuckin’ wife happy, since she sacrificed so much being with me.
All I ever wanted to do was make her happy, but that shit seems to be in vain because by me wanting to give her everything she ever wanted, it caused her to feel neglected now she doesn’t even remember who the fuck I am, or how much I fuckin’ love her. ” I mugged his stupid ass.
“You can still work and be there for your wife. I told you if you weren’t ready to be a husband, to leave her alone and I would take care of her. I knew I shouldn’t have handed my baby over to you.”
“Nig—,”
“Aye, Gabe!” I heard my name and turned to see my brother and Shannon approaching us. “You good?” he asked, eyeing James.
“I’m straight.” I took the bag from his hand. “I appreciate y’all for coming.”
“Don’t thank us. How is Chi doing?” Shannon asked.
“She’s sleeping right now,” I informed.
“Look, I know tensions are high, but y’all need to calm all that other shit down for the sake of Chi. She doesn’t need the two most important men in her life arguing and going at each other’s heads right now,” Gary spoke.
“I’m her father. I’m going to always make sure that my baby girl is okay, unlike you,” he snarled, and I charged at his ass.
“James!”
“Daddy!” Sharon and Chiquita called out at the same time.
“Now, listen. None of us wants to see Chiara laid up there and with no recollection of what happened. Instead of the two of you going back and forth pointing fingers, you need to get it together…for Chiara. And James, just to enlighten you, your baby girl left to go on a trip alone because her husband told her he couldn’t take her on one since she planned it at the last minute, but promised to make it up to her.
She was being the spoiled brat you created.
” I listened to her mother defend me. I didn’t need her too, but it was appreciated.
“So, you’re on his side?” Her father asked.
“Daddy, nobody’s taking sides, but I told Chi not to go and just wait. Gabe didn’t even know she was gone.”
“I didn’t even know she had left town because I was home too busy making reservations and arrangements since I told her to cancel the trip.
So before you sit and look me in my face and tell me I don’t care about my fuckin’ wife and her feelings, watch ya fuckin’ mouth.
You ain’t my daddy, so I won’t hesitate to go in ya shit.
Don’t forget that shit. Just because I’m not in the streets anymore doesn’t mean that they ain’t in me.
” I was done talking to his ass. He was either going to shut the fuck up or do something about the shit.
I started to walk off and when I heard footsteps behind me, I knew it was Gary.
“Hold up, bro. I’m coming with you.” I stopped in front of the elevator and waited for him to get close before I pressed the button.
“Don’t let that nigga get to you. His ass has always been a hater. He’ll be the fuck alright.”
“Or he’ll get beat the fuck up. Don’t matter to me.” I watched the numbers light up on the elevator as we descended to the first floor. When we stepped off, he started the conversation back up.
“So, how you holding up for real?” he asked as we sat in my truck. Pressing my head against the headrest, I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath.
“Man, I feel so fucked up. She felt it was better to sneak off instead of talking to me. Yeah, we argued about the shit, but she didn’t talk to me. I feel like I should’ve just told her about the house. That way she would’ve understood.”
“You can’t blame yourself, though. You were trying to do something special for your wife.
There’s nothing wrong with that. I do agree that y’all need to communicate better.
Maybe she would’ve understood where you came from, and you would’ve understood her better.
I know it’s always been in your nature to provide, and you were taught ‘Happy Wife, Happy Life’, but what about you?
There has to be a balance, bro. How do you think that me and Shan made it this long?
Yeah, I kiss her ass and feet, but she allows me time to unwind and reset.
You’ve been on go grinding because you didn’t want to go back into the streets, and I get it.
But you were straight before prison and you’re straight now.
Take this time off with your wife and make her remember why she fell in love with you in the first place. ”
Everything that Gary said seemed so much easier said than done.
I wasn’t giving up on my wife or our marriage by any means.
It’s hard to ignore the fact that she obviously had.
Even though I was in my feelings, I was going to take his and the doctor’s advice and introduce my wife to the man that she fell in love all those years ago.
“You’re right, bro. I don’t know how long I’m going to be down with Chi, so I’ll need you to rearrange some things until I get back.”
“Already done. Make sure sis is good. I got the business and don’t worry about the money because it’ll still be there.
” I dapped up my brother, and we got up to head back upstairs to the room.
It was a little past eleven in the morning and it seemed like we’d been here forever, so I can imagine how Chi must feel.
When we stepped back into the room, everyone was quiet since Chi was still asleep.
“Hey, I’m about to go get some food while she’s asleep. You want me to bring you something back?” Chiquita asked.
“Nah, I’m straight,” I responded.
“When was the last time you ate anything, Gabe?” I looked at Shan but didn’t answer. “Exactly. I’ll go with you, Quita.” I watched as the ladies gathered their things and Gary handed her his card before they exited the room.
Once the ladies left, it was just me and Gary, along with Chiara’s parents. A few minutes of silence passed before Chiara’s mother, Sharon, spoke.
“Gabe, I want you to know that we don’t blame you for this.
I talked to Chiara earlier yesterday and told her she was being a spoiled brat and she needed to talk to you instead of throwing a tantrum.
I don’t know your reasoning, but I’m sure it has to be plausible.
” While she spoke, her husband, James, sat beside her with his face balled up, looking like shit.
“I appreciate that, Sharon. Chi has always been my top priority and everything that has been done has been for her.” James gruffed at my statement, but I ignored his ass, or he’d be lying in a bed next to his daughter.
After a while, he got up and left the room, which was a good idea.
I didn’t have time for his shit right now.
***
Later that night
It was almost six in the evening, and everyone had finally left.
Chiara’s mom had to go home so she could take her treatment.
It was a good thing that she had it set up to do at home.
They went back home tonight but would be coming back tomorrow and staying until the doctor released her.
Gary and Shannon offered to stay, but I told them it wasn’t any need.
My niece needed them more than I did. Now it was just me and Chiara sitting here in an awkward silence.
Thankfully, the doctor came in to break the silence.
“How’s my favorite patient doing this evening?” he greeted.
“I’m doing okay,” she responded with a small smile.
“That’s good to hear. I have your results, and everything looks good.
There was no swelling, so you can expect the headaches to go away soon.
As for your memory, I wouldn’t force it.
Let it happen naturally.” He looked my way before he continued.
“I suggest doing things that are familiar to see if anything comes back to her. I’m only going to keep you one more day and then you can go back home.
Even though the tests are normal, I rather be on the safe side,” he informed.
“Thank you, doctor,” she said.
“I appreciate you, Doc.” We both watched as he walked out of the room. A thought came to me, and I pulled my phone from my pocket. Opening it, I went to my photo gallery.
“Snook, I want you to look at something.” As I helped her sit up a little bit, I placed the phone in her hands and watched as she focused on the picture.
“We looked so happy…so in love,” she choked out. I didn’t mean to upset her, but I wanted to see if any of this would job her memory.
“Snook, why you crying?” I asked, wiping the tears from her eyes.
“It’s ju-I don’t remember any of this, and I feel bad. It looks like you did everything you could to put that smile on my face and I can’t remember anything.” She continued to cry.
“Shh…it’s okay, baby. I’m going to be right here to help you remember all the good things so we can get back on track. That’s if you want me to?” I peered into her eyes, and I saw a small glimmer of hope, and that’s all I needed.
“I can do that.” She smiled softly.
Lord, if you can get us back on track, I promise I’ll do better by her.