Chapter 10
Yosiah
When I pulled into my driveway, Xylina’s car was at the top of the circle still running.
I was finishing a call when I got out my truck and realized she had made no attempt to do the same.
I figured she must have either been on live gossiping with her followers like she often did or scrolling social media.
Bypassing her car, I headed for the front door, unlocking it and stepping inside.
It was a little after five in the afternoon.
I had just left from meeting with my lawyers and some investors for this new project.
Everything was working out as planned and the next addition to Blue Shield Innovative was expected to be announced by the end of the year.
“Mr. Bedford, I’m glad you’re here. I was just about to call you.” Mrs. Rose, the main housekeeper, met me at the door with Princess behind her. The squeak from the toy she was chewing on filled my ears before I focused back on Mrs. Rose.
“Did something happen?” I questioned, loosening my tie and undoing the arms of my suit jacket.
“It’s Mrs. Bedford.” She looked around me toward the door.
“Since I got back an hour ago she’s been in her car.
I tried to ask her if everything was okay but she shooed me away.
I’m starting to get worried.” Again, Mrs. Rose glanced at the door, this time with a concerned expression.
Mrs. Rose was a widow who gave off grandmother vibes.
She’d lost her husband around the time I hired her.
She was looking for something to keep her mind off grieving and get her out of the house.
Normally she minded her business, did her job, and went about her day.
So for her to speak up caused lights to go off in my head.
With my lips pinched and brows furrowed, I assured her I’d check it out before turning and heading back out the door. Xylina more than likely had gotten caught up on her phone and lost track of time.
Once at her driver side door, I reached for the handle but it was locked when I pulled it.
My mouth turned upside down when I attempted to open it again.
Xylina had tinted windows, but I could faintly see the outline of her body inside.
It looked as if she was slumped over. Panic flashed through my chest.
“Xylina!” I knocked on her window. When she didn’t immediately respond, I tapped on it with a bit more urgency. “Xylina, open the door!”
Panic sank in when she didn’t budge. I attempted to pull the door open again. Regardless of our relationship, I didn’t wish harm on Xylina. Her not responding and Mrs. Rose’s words caused dread to swarm the pit of my stomach.
Just when I was about to grab something to break the car window, the faint sound of the lock caught my attention.
Soon the door crept open and a liquor bottle collided with the ground.
I stared at the clear empty bottle before slowly lifting my eyes to Xylina.
Her forehead rested on the steering wheel, her eyes barely open as they settled on me.
A lazy, drunken, half smile formed on her mouth. “Hubby.” Her voice was raspy as she spoke.
I was taken back by her current state. Her eyes were red and swollen. Dried tears stained her cheeks. Her nose was red. It reminded me of when I came home and saw her passed out on the couch in a similar state.
“You want to leave me too, huh?” She sniffled and closed her eyes. “Everyone leaves me.” Her words were slurred, but I couldn’t miss the hurt laced within.
I wasn’t used to seeing Xylina so dismantled. Defeat bled from her body. It caused a sharp pain to pass through my chest. No matter how bad her attitude might be, even she didn’t deserve whatever caused her to resort to this state.
Knowing I wouldn’t get any answers from her in this state, I reached around her into the car and pressed the button to turn it off.
Next I worked on unbuckling her before grabbing her arm and pulling her toward me.
Her body went limp and she didn’t resist as I lifted her from the seat and held her in my arms. It was like déjà vu from the night I had to pick her up from the restaurant.
She laid her head on my chest and I could practically smell the liquor leaking from her pores.
Making a note to grab her things later, I walked back inside the house.
Mrs. Rose was still standing in the foyer, and when she noticed Xylina slumped in my arms, an alarmed look covered her face.
“She’s fine,” I assured her.
Princess barked a couple times, coming closer to wag her tail wildly. She swiped my pant leg with a whine. She must have felt something was going on with Xylina.
“I’ma take her upstairs and get her cleaned up. Can you make her something to eat to help sober her up?”
She nodded. “Oh yes, I know exactly what the misses needs. It’s an old family recipe for hangovers. Works like a charm.”
I gave her a half smile. “Thanks.”
Bypassing her to the steps, I headed up and straight to Xylina’s quarters. She mumbled a few things here and there, nothing I could make out directly. Her chin tilted upward and her eyes fluttered open. Her gaze was glossed over and heavy.
“You came for me?” she muttered.
I stared at her in confusion. “What are you talking about? Do you even know where you are?”
Out of nowhere, Xylina started to laugh. It was delirious then quickly shifted to her crying. She hiccupped and gripped my suit jacket.
“My life’s over.”
She was a blubbering mess, switching between laughing and crying. I wasn’t sure what she was talking about, but I wasn’t the tin man, I felt bad for her.
“You need to calm down before you make yourself sick.” I pushed her door open and stepped inside her room, heading straight for the bathroom.
“I’m broke! Can you believe it? Me broke?” Her outrageous giggle mixed with her hiccups and crying. She was slurring her words and mashing them together. I was lost but ignored the blubbering and reached inside her shower, turning it on and twisting the knob to cold.
“You’re about to be pissed, but you need to sober up.”
Stepping into the shower, I placed her under the water, causing her to yell out.
“Ahhhhh!” she screeched, squirming in my arms. I kept a tight hold on her as the cold water continued to penetrate her body.
After a couple more seconds, I turned the water off. Xylina was now shivering in my arms. Her teeth chattered as she tucked herself closer into me.
“Why-why-why would d-d-d-d-d-do that?” she whined with her teeth clanking together.
“You needed to sober up and calm down.”
Xylina blinked up at me with water dripping from her lashes. Pieces of her hair now stuck to her face.
Moving over to the shower seat she had installed, I sat her down and gazed at her.
“Are you able to clean yourself up?” I asked.
When I got no response, I sighed and shook my head.
Removing my now wet suit jacket, I turned to leave the shower. I was caught off guard when Xylina reached out and grabbed my pant leg.
“Chill. I’m just putting this up.” She stared up at me with a broken, somber expression.
Pushing a deep breath out, I softened some. “I promise I’m not leaving you.”
Finally, she let go and I proceeded to leave the shower. After placing my jacket on the hook near the shower, I returned to Xylina sitting stiff as a statue, staring into the distance. Her body still shook, but it seemed to be an afterthought now.
First removing her shirt and bra, I then kneeled to strip her out of her pants and underwear.
Thankfully, she seemed somewhat aware of what I was doing and lifted, helping me some.
The jeans were tighter, thanks to the water, but I managed to finally get them off.
Once she was naked, I turned the water back on, this time to hot, and looked around until I located her loofah and body wash.
Xylina didn’t say anything as I washed her. She stared at me with a blank expression. It made me wary. I hadn’t ever seen her this quiet before. The Xylina I knew would have thrown herself at me by now.
It didn’t take long to wash her up. Once done, I pulled her up and moved her under the running water so she could rinse off.
“Do I need to carry you out of here too?” I questioned.
When I got no response, I figured that was my answer. Leaving the shower, I located her towel and went back to her, wrapping it around her slim frame before picking her up and carrying her to her bedroom.
Truthfully, I didn’t know how to handle Xylina in this state. My first mind was to chastise her when I saw once again she was drinking and driving with no regards to her safety or others, but once I realized the distraught state she was in, my body just started moving on its own.
“Sleep this off and we’ll discuss everything in the morning,” I told her after drying her off and tucking her in. Princess was now on her bed, curled up close to her.
The words she mumbled earlier stuck with me. While she slept I would do some digging to find out what she meant.
“Why do you even care? You hate me,” she asked, barely able to keep her eyes open. Exhaustion now covered her face.
Bouncing my eyes over her face, I sighed and brushed my hand over her head. “I don’t hate you, Xylina. I just don’t understand the shit you do.”
“Just tired of being alone.”
It wasn’t the first time she had made a statement like that.
For too long I’d pushed her worries and pain out my mind, figuring she would handle whatever it was herself.
Staring down at her now made it clear to me that she had been drowning in whatever was bothering her for a while and it was starting to take a real toll on her.
“Go to sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.”
“You’re leaving?” Her eyes pooled with unshed tears.
I shook my head. In the state she was in, being alone wouldn’t be wise.
“I’m just gonna change and grab my laptop. I’ll be right back.”
Hesitancy spawned on her face. “I swear I’ll be right back.” This time my voice softened as I spoke to her.