Chapter Twenty-Nine
BELLA
Realizing Micaela should have woken me up by now to eat, I lean over and see she’s not in her bassinet.
In panic mode, I check the floor because it’s not like my six-week-old daughter is getting up and walking around the house.
Oh my God! Where is she? I jump out of the bed and run toward the front door only to be stopped in my tracks by Marco sitting on the couch holding our daughter.
Duh! He’s home! Hence the flowers and candy in my room.
He’s speaking softly to her and I can see her arms flaring in excitement.
“Seriously?” I bite out.
“I can explain about yesterday.”
“I don’t give a fuck about yesterday. I do care about the fact that I woke up to find my daughter gone. You want to run away without saying a word? Fine! Run! It’s what you do best. But do not take my damn daughter out of her bassinet without letting me know!”
Marco looks at me for a moment in shock. “I’m sorry. She woke up, so I brought her out here to feed her so you could sleep in. Did you see the flowers and candy next to your bed?”
“I did. And coming from a caring, selfless man all of this would be super sweet, but since it’s coming from you, it’s called guilt.
Now please give me back my daughter.” I put my hands out, waiting for her because seriously…
you don’t run and then the next day take my baby without saying a word. I almost had a damn heart attack.
“Bella,” Marco says as he hands Micaela to me. “Please give me a chance to explain.”
“There’s no explanation in the world other than you being kidnapped that would make walking out the door without telling me, okay. Were you? Were you kidnapped?”
Marco sighs and shakes his head.
“Let me ask you one question,” I continue. “Did you get drunk or high while you were gone?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“Don’t dodge the question. Did you get drunk or high? It’s a yes or no question.” Knowing a fight is about to ensue, I lay Micaela down in her crib in her nursery and give her the pacifier, knowing she always falls back asleep after her morning feeding.
Then I walk back out to the living room. “Did you get drunk or high?”
“No, I didn’t get drunk or high.”
“You. Are. A. Fucking. Liar.”
“Bella, listen to me, please. Logan went into cardiac arrest. His sister Reese said he might not make it so I drove to the hospital.”
“And what? You ended up drinking at Dexter’s and getting high with Janell?”
“Tristan fucking texted you?” Marco hisses
“Tristan?” I’m confused, not sure what Tristan has to do with any of this. “I haven’t spoken to Tristan in months. Don’t bring him into this.”
“Who told you about Dexter’s?”
“Gina.”
“Well, maybe that coke-whore should get her facts straight. Yes, I had a drink. One drink. But then pretty boy showed up and stopped me.”
“Really? You’re going to call her names when it wasn’t too long ago you were hanging out and doing the same drugs she does.”
“Yes! Because I know firsthand, she doesn’t care about anything except her next fix. She’s starting shit because Tristan chose you over her. He was supposed to be her meal ticket and you got in her way. So now she’s going to cause problems.”
“She wouldn’t be able to cause problems if you were home where you belonged.”
“Bella—”
I cut him off needing to remain in control of this conversation. He’s not about to veer it toward Gina and her issues. “So, Gina and Tristan both saw you drinking? And this was before you went to hang out with Janell?”
“I didn’t hang out with Janell. I went to a party to—”
“Jesus, Marco! Do you hear yourself? It was posted on social media.
Gina saw you drinking, Tristan knows you left, and Janell was posting goddamn photos of you!
You promised! And you still left. How can you say I'm enough and then walk away from me so easily?
You put me last. While I was scared and worried, you were putting everyone else first. You didn't stop drinking for me or for your daughter!
Tristan stopped you. I can't do this. I have a daughter I have to protect from being hurt.” I sigh in defeat, refusing to let any tears come through.
“It’s not like that. Please listen to me.
” Marco stalks up to me. “I get that I fucked up. I should have told you I was leaving. I got the call about Logan and my phone died. I set it on the dryer and left it! I got there and he was in such bad shape. I lost it and went to Dexter’s.
I shouldn’t have had that drink. Tristan stopped me and then I went back to the hospital.
I ran into Logan’s sister Reese and she said Kaitlyn, their younger sister, was in a bad way so I went to find her to bring her home, and Janell was at the party.
But Belles, I swear to you, I didn’t touch a single drug. ”
“I’m sorry about your friend.” I can’t even imagine having to watch my best friend from the bedside while he remains in a coma, slowly deteriorating.
“Bella, I’m so sorry.” Marco places his hands on my arms. “Please forgive me.”
“I—I just,” I begin, when I hear my phone ring. I run to grab it and see it’s a number I don’t recognize. “Hello?”
“Bella, this is Daniel West.” And just as my dad said would happen, Daniel offers me a chance at another fight, which I accept.
When I hang up, I check on Micaela then get dressed because I just can’t deal with Marco and his shit right now.
If I’m going to win this fight and make a name for myself, I’m going to need to take training seriously and since I’ve made the decision not to go back to school until next fall, I can give my training one hundred percent.
After Micaela wakes up, I feed her and then put her in her car seat.
“Where are you going?” Marco asks from the kitchen, drinking his coffee.
“I’m going to the gym to train. Daniel West offered me a chance at another fight.”
“That’s awesome. I can watch Micaela while you go.”
“That’s okay. I’d rather my mom watch her.
I can’t risk the chance you just up and leave.
I mean, would you leave her here? Or would you take her with you?
I could come home and my daughter’s photo could be blasted on social media.
” Realizing how mean that sounds when Marco’s face drops in defeat, I add, “Look, I just don’t trust you.
” And without waiting for another excuse or apology, I walk out the door.
I drop Micaela off at my mom’s and she asks me to come inside for a few minutes. We sit on the couch together. “I need to talk to you about something, but first, is everything okay with Marco? Have you found him?” my mom asks.
I let out a long sigh, shaking my head. “No, I mean yes, I found him. Marco’s home but everything is far from okay.
I’m just so upset with him. He left for California and he has all these excuses for not telling me and they sound legit.
His friend, the one in the coma, went into cardiac arrest. Marco drove there to be with him and I get that, I do.
But there were photos of him at a party and it’s all just too much.
I can’t trust him, and I don’t know if I will ever be able to. ”
“Oh, sweetie.” My mom envelops me in a much-needed hug. “Maybe you both need to take a step back. It sounds like it’s coming at you guys from all angles.”
“I know. That’s why I left. I need to just focus on this fight Daniel West offered me, and on Micaela. So, what was it you needed to talk to me about?”
My mom frowns and I mentally prepare myself for bad news. “Elsa is sick. She’s getting older and your dad and I think it’s time to put her down. Your dad brought her to the Vet this morning and she’s in a lot of pain.”
I knew this was coming, but my heart still breaks. “I feel like I just keep losing my heart. Tristan, Marco, Elsa. Does it ever stop?”
My mom gives me a sad smile. “No, it doesn’t,” she says honestly. “Life is full of love and laughter, but it’s also full of heartbreak.”
“When will they put Elsa down?”
“She’s at the Vet now. I thought you would want to say goodbye to her.”
“I do. I’m going to go there now. I want to be there when they put her down. I need to be.”
I give my mom a hug goodbye then drive over to Elsa’s Vet. When I walk through the door, my heart aches knowing this is the last time I’ll come here for Elsa. She’s been coming here since we got her.
“Oh, Bella!” Peggy, Dr. Rowes’ wife and assistant comes around her desk to give me a hug. “She’s hanging on, sweetie. Go say your goodbyes.”
I’m completely choked up, so I simply nod and follow her to the back.
Dr. Rowes is there with Elsa. She’s lying on a soft dog pillow, and when she sees me, her tail wags but she doesn’t get up.
“Oh, puppy,” I cry, petting her head softly.
“I’m going to miss you so much.” Images of all my years with Elsa float to the surface as I sob into her soft fur.
“Can I stay, please?” I ask Dr. Rowes. “I don’t want her to be alone.
” He gives me a sympathetic look and nods.
I don’t watch anything he does after that.
I just lie on the ground next to my dog and pet her face, speaking soft words to her until Dr. Rowes says, “Bella, honey. She’s gone.
” I give her one last kiss, then I stand and lose it.
Dr. and Mrs. Rowes hold me while I cry in their arms, mourning my best friend.
After I’m done crying and they assure me they’ll have her cremated so I can have her ashes, I drive to the gym. It’s already the afternoon but I need to work out. I need to do something to get my mind off everything. I jump onto the treadmill and do five miles before going in search of my dad.
I don’t find him right away, but I do see Caleb. “Bella, get over here!” Caleb gives me a hug. “Your dad told me about your upcoming fight. You here to do some training?”
“Yeah, I was just looking for my dad.”
“I think he’s out back dealing with a delivery. Everything okay?”