Chapter 26 – Morgan
MORGAN
My parents and I now had Charlie living with us, and I’d made a good start on the full custody forms with the help of our social worker, Marc.
It had been the best week ever, having my son at home with me every day and night was wonderful.
I was there for each and every moment, and it was perfect. There was just one thing missing—Andie.
It was the day before Andie and the girls were due home from Spain, and I’d decided I would be at her house as soon as the car pulled into the driveway to see her. I couldn’t wait. What I had to say couldn’t wait. I’d been to the barbers for a haircut and a shave. I wanted to look my best for her.
I was at Andie’s house with Jonathan and Baz. We’d become good friends since I’d started spending time with Andie. My father had offered to have Charlie for me to have an hour out. We were watching boxing on the huge tv in her living room and having a couple of beers.
“So, Andie and I have been texting.”
Baz and Jonathan looked at me. “And?” Jonathan asked.
“And we’re going to talk tomorrow. I want her back, fully this time.
I’m going to wait until the evening, set the lights up on the bar.
I’ve planned exactly what to say to her, and I’m going to give her this.
” I’d bought her a diamond tennis bracelet.
It wasn’t the ring I wanted on her finger, but it would be good enough, if she said yes.
“That’s beautiful. I’m sure she’ll love it,” Jonathan said.
“Yeah, just gotta get her to say yes.” Baz laughed.
“Yeah, well, the texts have been going well so far. So, keep me in your thoughts tomorrow night.” I smiled and put the little blue box onto the side table.
“I’ll make myself scarce. I should be over at the club anyway. Should be there tonight actually. Don’t tell her, okay?”
“I promise,” I replied.
“How many clubs do you two have?” Baz asked.
“I have one in Manchester that’s just mine; AJ’s is hers, then we have one just outside London, one in L.A. and one in New York. They’re all called AJ’s, though.”
“Fuck me, you have money. I mean I knew you had money, but damn, you have money,” Baz said.
“That makes no sense, but I know what you mean,” I told him. I had no idea they had so many clubs and in hotspots too.
“Yeah, the first couple of years we worked seven days a week, day and night. It has lessened now because we have staff we can trust, but Andie still works hard. She treats that club like a baby, she thinks that’s all she has left.” He made a pointed look at me.
“Yeah, well that’s not all she has. I don’t have much to offer, but I would give her anything she wants.”
He looked at me for a few moments before nodding. “She doesn’t need money, she’s got that. She doesn’t even need protection; trust me she can look after herself. She needs someone to love her.”
“That’s all I want to do, Jon. She just needs to give me a chance.”
“Yeah, she is stubborn sometimes. But Max, her ex, hurt her. She thought they were endgame. Then he fucked his co-star, and it really messed Andie up.”
“Fucking asshole,” Baz said.
“Yeah, but his loss is my gain.” I smiled smugly, puffing out my chest and held up my bottle. Both men grinned back and clinked their bottles against mine.
“Right, let’s get this match going. I need to see someone hit someone,” Baz said, picking up another bottle of beer.
We were just settling in for the next match when Jonathan’s phone pinged. He looked down, read the text and I saw the colour drain from his face. He looked up and directly at me with a look of pain on his face.
“Jon, what’s wrong?” I asked, dread forming a large pit in my stomach.
“It’s Andie. She’s been rushed to hospital.”
My heart seized. “I need to get to her.” I jumped up and started pacing the room.
“Already booking you tickets. Go home and get your passport. I’ll get the car service to take you to yours, then straight to the airport.” Jonathan was furiously typing on his phone.
“Are you coming?” I asked him.
“I’ll get cover sorted at the club then follow you out in the morning.”
“Okay.” I ran out of the house to wait for the car.
I hoped she was okay. I paced back and forth along the driveway, my hands shoved into my jean’s pockets.
My mind kept conjuring up the worst-case scenarios.
Tears pricked at my eyes, and I tried to blink them away.
I felt a ball of dread settle in my stomach and my throat felt painful.
I needed to get to her, to hold her, to see with my own eyes that she was okay.
“Hey, try not to worry too much. Your mum and the girls are with her. I’m going to head home but let me know how she is, yeah?” Baz said, clapping me on the back.
“I will. Thanks, mate.” I pulled out my phone and tried to call her, but it went straight to answerphone.
The car pulled up and I jumped in. “You know where to go?” I asked the driver.
“Yes sir. Screen up or down?”
“Up please,” I replied and waited until he had put the screen up before I tried to call her again. Still, it went to answerphone. I was about to call my mother when we arrived at my house. My father was waiting on the doorstep. “Dad?” I ran down the steps to our house.
“Your mother just called me; she’s spoken with Jonathan. No time to talk, you have to go. Here’s your passport and a change of clothes, it was all I could grab in the time.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I was all choked up. “Are you okay to have Charlie?”
“Yeah, of course. He’s my grandson I love spending time with him.”
“Thanks, Dad, I’m so worried about her,” I choked out.
“Hey, come here.” He pulled me in for a hug. “She’s okay. Call your mother from the car and she’ll fill you in.” I gripped him harder; I needed his hug more than anything.
“Okay.” I clapped him on the back and ran back up to the car.
“Airport, sir?” the driver asked.
“Yes please, as quick as you can,” I croaked.
“Yes, sir,” he replied and put the screen back up.
I called my mother, it rang once and she answered, “Hey love.” She sounded tired and sad.
“What’s going on, Mum? Jon read a text and told me he’d booked me on the next flight because Andie is in hospital,” I said quickly.
“She is love. She’s okay now, but—” My mother broke down crying.
My heart was in my throat and my hands were shaking so hard I had to grip the phone tighter to keep hold of it. “Mum?”
“She...” I heard her shuddering breaths. “She had a miscarriage, love. I’m so sorry. She’s lost your baby.” My mother broke down.
I heard her saying she was sorry again before the phone slipped from my hand and I broke down into tears.
I was on auto mode, ‘she’s lost your baby’ replaying over and over in my mind.
My heart was breaking, but I couldn’t imagine how Andie was feeling.
I needed to get to her, to hold her, to tell her I was sorry for everything and that I loved her.
The beeping of a horn ripped through the turmoil of my mind. The driver slammed on the breaks, shooting me forward before we hit something from the front. A vehicle slammed into the back of us, and we were in a skid. I was thrown from side to side, until finally, we were hit again from the side.
My head bounced off the window. Then, there was nothing but black.