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Second Installment of the "On the Right Path" series.
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Prologue
PRESENT
DAY
It couldn’t be.
No. It was impossible.
Immobilized,
Pastor Keith Ward felt suspended in time. His breath caught. His yellow tie,
sprinkled with tiny red polka dots, threatened to choke the life out of him.
The
voices of the choir faded in the distant echo. All around him people praised
and rejoiced while Keith felt the scales around his heart chip away.
Time
stood still.
No
wonder she’d been on his mind. Even on his way to the podium, Keith had had to
repeat scriptures to temper the need that filled his being. His psyche must
have known something. Leaning forward, Keith squinted to focus into the
distance. That’s her all right. She was here.
Gina
Ward.
His
brother’s wife.
And,
the mother of Keith’s child. Yes, he was a father.
Keith’s
heart slammed into his chest. Its beating sounded like thunder booming to his
ears. Gripping the handles, Keith eased his body out of the chair, intent on
pursuing the woman who twisted his insides and stole his heart.
He
had to go to her.
As
he stood, Keith felt a moment of disorientation; belatedly realizing the crowd
was standing and cheering. It seemed as if they were giving him a standing
ovation. Flabbergasted, Keith watched Gina leave. All of his thoughts about his
sermon left the forefront of his mind.
He
turned his head to see his assistant, Natalie Henderson, or as he called her,
“The Hawk,” gesturing towards the podium. She mouthed the words, “Go. Go,” with
frantic hands.
Keith
gritted his teeth, clenched his fists and closed his eyes. Lord, help me. Help me.
The crowd shouted praises, presuming he was
hearing something from God. Summoning every ounce of self-control he possessed,
Keith stepped up to the podium. He opened his Bible, worn from use—but he’d refused
to get a new one. This one had sentimental value. Then, with authority and
anointing, he addressed his parishioners waiting on a word from God.
Chapter One
Three
years earlier
“Say you’ll be here for Gina’s party. Colleen
and Terence can’t make it, so I’m counting on you to show your ugly face.
Trey’s been asking for his favorite Uncle Keith. ” Michael Ward threw in that
last tidbit for emotional blackmail.
Keith Ward grinned, picturing the little
rambunctious boy giving Gina a run for her money. “I’m his only Uncle Keith. Is
he still running like his pants are on fire?”
“Yup, and you should see Gina try to pick him
up when he’s already half her size.”
Sitting in a leather chair in his offices
located on Queens Blvd in New York, Keith propped his foot on another chair and
looked up at the ceiling. Going to Atlanta would mean that he would be seeing her again. Gina. His blessing, and his
curse. Who was he fooling? Of course he’d be there.
“Okay,
I’ll be there and let me know if you need me to take care of anything on my
end,” Keith offered. As soon as he ended the call, he grabbed his briefcase to
head to the courthouse located two blocks away. He’d gotten a call that the
judge was ready to make a ruling on the Harper case. After two grueling months,
he was glad a decision had been made.
While
he walked, he took a stroll down memory lane. Michael had been love struck when
he’d met Gina Price, at the time, at his business partner, Terence Hayworth’s
wedding. His brother tended to attract psychopaths so Keith had been prepared
to dislike and dismiss this new woman who had his brother spellbound. But the
moment he’d seen Gina Price, he’d gotten the shock of his life.
Before Gina, Keith hadn’t known that there
was such a thing as instant love at first sight or even real animal attraction,
but that was how it had been. Before her, he’d only been in love once, and
Vanessa Arnold had been killed by a drunk driver. However, his feelings for
Vanessa had paled in comparison, to what he felt for Gina.
Gina was like a fire that consumed him.
Keith
stopped. He stood at the foot of the ten steps leading up to the entrance of
the courthouse. He dragged his hands down his face, pulling on his cheeks as
his memories flooded him.
Twice. On two sweet occasions, he’d been
with Gina.
The
first time was right before his brother’s near fatal car accident. Gina had
found out that Michael had cheated with his crazy ex, Karen Newton, and had
broken things off with him. He’d rushed to her house. To Keith, that had been
fate, and he hadn’t had any reservations about professing his love. It sounded
like the plot of a cheap romance novel, but he’d been convinced that Gina was
his destiny. This was his time—his moment, he’d told himself, and his heart had
rung with joy when Gina confessed she’d felt the same way.
However,
for them there had been no happy-ever-after.
After
he and Gina had shared one of the most mind-boggling, emotionally charged
intimate experiences uniting their soul… Remembering, Keith felt the old guilt
begin to eat at him again… The call came. And he’d had her, for one sweet night
that he’d hoped would last forever. Little did either of them know, Michael,
guilty about cheating on Gina, while speeding to her house, lost control of the
vehicle and crashed, almost killing himself.
He
remembered how his body had shaken with fear when he’d learned that Michael was
in a coma. The wait had been agony. So, when by some divine intervention,
Michael had awakened with no residual brain damage, Gina patched things up with
him. At her urging, Keith and Gina agreed never to talk about what had
transpired between them.
Plagued
with guilt, Gina pressed, “It never happened.”
After
his near death experience, Michael had wasted no time in putting a rock on
Gina’s finger and wedding plans had commenced with so much speed that Keith
felt like he was in a time warp.
Keith
trudged up the stairs as her words pounded in his head. It never happened. He made a fist. But, it had.
And
then, again.
There
had been a second time. Keith shrugged. He’d better leave that as a secret of
the past.
Entering
the designated courtroom, Keith put his briefcase on the table, pulled out the
battered leather chair, and waited for his client, Harper Wills, to arrive.
Keith drummed his fingers on the table, his mind on Gina.
He couldn’t control the quivers of
anticipation that rocked his spine at the thought of Gina. He ached to see her.
Soon...soon he would. He felt like a kid who would be given an
all-you-can-eat-day in a candy store. However, lucky for him, none of his
thoughts showed on his face.
When
he left court, he was going to go gift shopping. It would be late, but he lived
in the city that never slept so he wasn’t concerned. He went through the
motions and entered an appeal and shot out of there as soon as the gavel hit
the desk. He knew just the perfect gift.
Days flew by and before he knew it, Keith
found himself bustling to catch the flight from JFK Airport to Atlanta. He only
carried a small carryon so he made it right before the final boarding call.
Keith settled in to his first-class accommodations. There was enough legroom
for him to stretch out.
As he watched the plane’s ascent, Keith
sighed. He was grateful Michael had planned the trip. He relished leaving the
hustle and bustle of New York, with its crazy, demanding work hours for five
days. Taking a deep breath, he settled deeper in the comfy seat first class
provided. He could feel the muscles in his neck and back relaxing already.
His flight landed without delay. With his
height of six-three, Keith had no trouble spotting Michael who awaited his
arrival outside the gate.
“Hey, big bro!” Michael gave him a hearty
hug.
“It’s been a while,” Keith replied, feeling
good seeing his brother. It had been almost six months since his last visit.
“I’ve missed you,” Michael declared, a little
misty-eyed.
“Same here, Bro,” Keith said.
“What about me?”
Keith
knew who the small voice belonged to. He looked down when he realized two
little hands were squeezing his trousers. Keith took Trey’s hand in his. His
chubby fingers were sticky. Not caring, Keith held out his arms.
“Hi,
Trey.” Trey jumped into Keith’s arms and he felt his heart expand with
indescribable joy. “You’ve gotten so big, Little Man.”
Trey
nodded and opened his mouth to show off his new tooth. Keith noted his
honey-colored complexion, curly hair and the hazel-green eyes that were a gift
from his grandma Gerry. At four, Trey was already so tall that Keith was
convinced that he would outgrow him.
“You
guys are going to have to watch the women.” Keith looked toward Michael. “He’s
probably breaking hearts in pre-school.”
Michael
chuckled. “Don’t I know it? I predict he’s going to be like you; a magnet for
women.”
“What
did you bring me?” Trey asked his uncle.
“Trey,”
Michael was annoyed at his son’s blunt request, but Keith laughed.
He waved off Michael’s rebuttal. “It’s okay.
I like the direct, upfront approach.” Keith adjusted Trey in his strong arms.
His biceps expanded.
Michael
poked him in the ribs and whispered, “Still affecting the ladies, I see.”
Keith
harrumphed. He looked around noticing a group of women eyeing him, before
ignoring them. He was here for his family, nothing else. “Don’t start.” He
warned and walked off.
Michael
grabbed Keith’s carryon and continued, “What?
You can’t blame them for being entranced with a movie star in their midst.”
“Spare
me the humor, Michael.”
“Well,
when you’ve got it, you’ve got it. I’m just saying you missed your calling.”
Michael listed Keith’s physical attributes all the way to his car. “You’re too
pretty for words, man.”
“Michael.”
Keith gritted his teeth as Michael clicked the locks to open the doors. Once
they were both inside, Keith closed his eyes and prayed for strength. Sometimes
his brother took a joke too far. “Enough. I think you have way too much fun
jabbing at me.”
Michael
surrendered and started the drive to his home. They moved on to safer topics,
mostly business, which Michael was much more serious about. He had expanded his
ventures from architecture to acquiring properties, fixing them and flipping
them for a profit. Keith was so proud of his success, and told him so.
“I’m
looking to get into investing next,” Michael shared.
“You’re
going to be the next Donald Trump,” Keith predicted. “I’m going to be watching
you on TV saying, ‘You’re fired,’ next.”
His
brother grinned. “And you know it! I’m just grateful to Tyler Simmonds for
giving me my first break in the big leagues. He and his wife, Camille, should
be at Gina’s party.”
Keith
nodded. Michael referenced the owner of Simmonds
Synthetics. He didn’t respond as Michael was pulling into the driveway of
his and Gina’s palatial house in Suwanee, Georgia.
The
front door opened, Gina stepped through it and Keith’s heart stopped. He didn’t
have eyes for the well-manicured lawn and the lilies. He didn’t mention the
beautiful landscaping that Michael had spent a fortune on to create and then
maintain.
No,
Keith only had eyes for Gina. She had her medium-length hair in big, bouncy
curls and she looked a little rounder from the last time he’d seen her. Her
extra weight only added to her appeal. In short, Gina was beautiful to him. Her
size was insignificant. Keith was in love with the woman...Her essence.
“Mommy!”
Trey squealed, holding out his arms.
Gina
came over to hug her son. “Mommy missed you,” she said, helping him out of the
car seat.
He saw her check him out from under her lashes and patted his
stomach. He was in top physical shape from working out.
“Hi, Gina, it’s been a long time.” Keith offered the
perfunctory salutation in a low, calm tone, but on the inside he was a
veritable mess. He didn’t know how he was able to stand there so poised when
the woman of his dreams stood mere inches in front of him. He commanded himself
to refrain from snatching her into his arms.
“Keith,” Gina breathed his name as she walked into his arms
and gave him a warm hug.
It was like she’d read his mind. Keith tightened the embrace.
He inhaled her scent. She smelled like a sun-ripened peach and he determined
never to let her go. If only…
“Hey, get your big paws off and quit mauling my wife,” Michael
joked. “You need to give some of that loving to the ladies ogling you at the
airport.”
Here we go again,
Keith groaned. The two fell apart with a small, awkward chuckle at his
wittiness. This was one moment where Keith was thankful that though his brother
was a shark in the business world, he was clueless when it came to matters of
the heart.
A blind man could see the combustion; the sizzling electricity
between Keith and Gina. It crackled and swirled around them like a tornado.
Michael, however, remained blissfully unaware, which made their guilt enormous.
How could he be so naïve?
“It’s a good thing I know I can trust you, big brother, or
it’d be on,” Michael said, reaching inside his car for Keith’s carryon.
Keith and Gina locked eyes but didn’t respond.
“I’ll help you, Daddy,” Keith heard Trey saying, but he was
still looking at Gina, who now had a slight blush grazing her face.
She was rubbing at her arms, and he knew she felt the loss
like he did. When she placed her finger over her lips, he knew exactly what she
was thinking.
“Stop reading my mind,” she mouthed at him.
Michael preceded them into the house with Trey in tow. Gina
gave Keith a thoughtful look as she took his hand to lead him inside.
“No, I haven’t found anyone,” Keith volunteered.
“How do you do that?”
Gina whispered.
“It’s always been like that with us,” Keith returned for her
ears only. He gave her hand a small squeeze. “Why should this instance be any
different?”
Gina nodded but didn’t comment, because she knew he told the
truth. It was how it was between them. A dormant animalistic urge that surfaced
every time they were within feet of each other.
They connected on a mental level that belied words. They
didn’t need small talk. They didn’t need anything… just each other.
Chapter Two
June 18
“Whoo-hoo!
This is how you bring in thirty-two!” Gina exclaimed, swinging her arms in tune
to the beat of Turn the Beat Around.
The deejay was on a 70s kick and she was loving it.
Her
actual birthday had been the night before, but Michael had taken her out to a
special dinner. The party had been a complete surprise. Wearing an Anne Klein
coral-colored halter dress that had been a gift from Michael, Gina had danced
with everyone at the party except for Keith. It was diabolical that the one she
yearned to dance with was the one she had to avoid. She was too afraid of what
might show on her face and what her body language would give away. She wanted Keith and she was afraid she
wouldn’t be able to hide it.
Those arms were folded across his chest as
he leaned against the wall. Their eyes met. She knew Keith had been checking
her out all night from under hooded eyes. It was disconcerting. She reached up
and twirled her hair with her fingers. Willing herself to look away and
maintain discretion, Gina sought Michael. She watched as her husband left from
a group of friends and walked over to his brother.
Since
Keith’s arrival, the two of them had been joined at the hip. They had taken
Trey all over town. It did her heart good to see them both so relaxed. They worked
hard and deserved the playtime. She had stayed in not wanting to intrude on
their time together.
Besides,
she treasured her solitude.
For,
once Trey was born, Gina epitomized the ultimate stay-at-home mom. But, it did
not give her much time to herself. She could afford at least ten nannies, but
wanted the hands-on experience. She did not want to miss any part of
motherhood. In fact, she and Michael were talking about more children. Growing
up an only child, Gina wished she’d had siblings, so she didn’t want Trey to be
alone.
Caught
up in her musings, it took a minute for her to register that someone was
calling her name, frantic to get her attention. “Gina! Come quick, it’s Trey.
He’s fallen!”
What? With instincts in overdrive, her feet catapulted
her in the direction of all the commotion. Since Michael and Gina had friends
with young children, like themselves, his invite had encouraged parents to
bring their children. He’d hired sitters
and set up entertainment for the children inside their basement. Trey must have
left the children to seek them out.
A
small crowd had gathered, but they parted like the Red Sea when Gina dashed
over to her son. She told herself not to panic, but that did not stop her quick
intake of breath and sheer terror seeing Trey lifeless on the floor.
“Trey!” She looked around. “What
happened to him?”
Michael
was right by her side. “Did he fall?”
“He
passed out,” someone voiced.
“Don’t
move him,” another cautioned.
Gina
wanted to do nothing more than pick him up in her arms, but she knew it was
best not to lift him. Her hands grazed her son’s face, and she ran her fingers
through his hair, willing her shaky hands to calm. She heard the distinct wail
of the ambulance rushing in the distance. Her heart hammered and she covered
her ears willing herself to calm down. She remained rooted to the spot until
the police and ambulance arrived. Her legs felt like rubber as she jumped in
the ambulance that would transport Trey to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
in Duluth, a six minute ride from their home in Suwanee. Keith and Michael
would follow behind.
Hours
rolled by. The emergency room physician called for a pediatric critical care
specialist, Dr. Newman, who ordered tests after tests. Trey was assigned a
private room. Gina’s head spun from the number of people who entered to do this
or that, and her mouth felt dry from having to repeat the same medical history
whenever a new face popped in.
“Yes,
Trey had been eating less and I don’t know if he seemed faint.”
“No, I wasn’t concerned.”
“His father and uncle had been running him all
over town.”
“No, I don’t know if Trey had had a
fever.”
“Don’t
you guys read the chart? And, isn’t it all on the computer?” She wanted to
scream. She wanted answers, but all they
had for her were questions. She was caving. She was going to lose it. She
dropped her head against her husband’s chest and he wrapped his arms around
her.
“He’s
going to be okay,” Michael whispered. “We have to wait for the tests to come
back, but we must remain positive.”
Gina
raised her head and nodded. Of course, Michael was right. Michael was always
right. She looked over his shoulder. Keith was leaning against the wall, one
foot against it and arms crossed. She’d been avoiding his eyes since he’d come
to her house, but he was staring at her with deep intensity. She allowed
herself to get lost in them, to find comfort in them.
“He
was with you guys,” she said. She recognized her own voice as weak and pitiful.
“Did you notice anything different?”
Michael
released her. “He was, I don’t know, maybe tired, but I thought that was from
all the running.”
Gina
pulled herself from Michael’s grasp and marched to Trey’s bedside. She gripped
the bed railing with both hands, closed her eyelids tight and tried to remember
what he’d been like when she was dressing him for the party, when she’d dressed
him earlier that day, at breakfast, at bedtime the night before. She shook her
head. She’d missed something. She’d had to. Kids didn’t pass out without some kind
of warning.
“I’m
going to step out and return mom’s call,” Michael said.
Gina
nodded. She didn’t care what he did. She didn’t care what anyone did except for
Trey. The door squeaked as Michael made his exit. Fatigue was setting in. She
used a hand to massage her neck. That’s when Keith put his hands on her
shoulders and squeezed for her. She let her head drop back against his chest.
She knew it was wrong. She knew Michael could walk in at any time, but she
needed to draw from his strength.
“He’s
going to be okay,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head.
“You
promise?” she clung to his words.
He
squeezed her shoulders again. “I promise.”
Gina
turned into him and began to cry.
Keith
tried to shush her. “Baby, you don’t want to upset Trey. You don’t know what he
can hear.”
She
nodded and accepted the tissues he’d pulled from the box on the table and
swiped under her eyes. “You’re right.” She willed herself to get it together.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“I
couldn’t be anywhere else. I love my nephew, and God help me, I love you.”
Not
knowing what else to do, she decided to take her best friend, Colleen
Hayworth’s, advice and pray for her son. She’d called her hours ago, and
Colleen and her husband Terence were storming heaven with their prayers. As she
whispered to God, the sobs welled up within her. Gina put her hands in her
mouth to keep from wailing. Her eyes remained pealed on the door as she willed
the doctors to come and tell her it was some kind of weird bug that could be
treated at home with medication and rest. The wait felt interminable.
“Do
you want me to go see what is taking so long?” Keith asked.
“Yes,
but, maybe Michael’s talking to someone. He’s been gone a while.”
Keith
covered her hand with his. “Maybe,” he said. The door swung open and Michael
reentered the room.
“Where
have you been?” Keith sounded annoyed.
“I…
I was sick. My nerves…” Michael replied.
“Come
here,” Gina beckoned to him. She had a slight whisper of a smile for her
penitent spouse. She had not eaten much of anything or she also would have been
throwing up. So, she could relate.
Michael
complied, and she found herself sandwiched between the two men. She moved over
and leaned on her husband. She’d hoped he’d hold her the way Keith had, but
true to who he was, Michael was caught up in his own grief. He wouldn’t be able
to comfort her. Not really.
Keith
shook his legs and stretched.
She
knew Keith wanted to be the one holding her. But, Michael was her husband and
the father of her son. He was the one who shared that bond of parenthood. Keith
could empathize, but she doubted that he would understand until he had his own.
After
an interminable time, Dr. Newman entered the room. Sensing their eagerness, he
didn’t belabor the point. “We’re still running some tests, but the preliminary
scans have me a little concerned. I don’t want to worry you, but I have to be
sure before diagnosing. I have ordered a complete blood cell count.”
Dr.
Newman sauntered over to Trey and examined his abdomen. He was of medium build
and average height with blond, curly hair, so Keith and Michael towered over
him, but Dr. Newman didn’t appear the least bit intimidated. He was the best in
his field and one of the leading Pediatric specialists in the nation.
Trey
squinted from the doctor’s touch but otherwise he remained still.
“Was
it something he ate?” Keith asked. “Could he have ingested something by
mistake?”
“No,
and we have already ruled out food poisoning and have found no foreign objects
in his body. We’ve also ruled out appendicitis,” Dr. Newman replied, already
anticipating the next question. “His liver and
spleen are swollen, so I’ve ordered a spinal tap as well. I’m waiting for the
result of the test. I should know more in the next few hours. I
will be back once all the labs are in and I have taken a look at them.”
Dr.
Newman gave them a curt, but sympathetic smile and left the room.
“That
told us nothing.” Michael slammed his fists on his lap. “I need to know what is
wrong with my son. Like yesterday.” He expelled a loud breath, and then tried
to eject humor in the situation. “Well, this is one party no one is going to
forget anytime soon.”
No
one smiled.
No
one responded. Awkward, Michael declared, “I’m going to call Mom,” before
leaving the room.
Chapter Three
As
soon as the door swung shut, Keith stalked over to Gina and pulled her into his
arms. He swept her in his arms and kissed her. It was short, but fiery, and
said everything he could not say.
“You
shouldn’t have done that.” Gina wiped her hand across her mouth. “How dare you make this about you and me when
my son is…”
“You’re
right. I’m sorry,” Keith said to appease her, though deep inside he wasn’t the
least bit apologetic. He had needed to make some sort of physical contact.
“A
hug would’ve sufficed,” she said, reading his mind. Gina looked into his eyes
and raised her hand to graze his cheek and he knew he was forgiven.
Without
breaking eye contact, she moved her hand down to his shirt. Keith had been
dressed in a light brown suit, but had discarded the jacket somewhere during
all the commotion. Her hand came across a small box in his pocket. Curious,
Gina looked at him.
“Your
birthday present,” Keith offered. He pulled it out and handed it to her.
Gina
looked at the box and bit her bottom lip. “I feel tacky taking a gift from you
while my son is fighting for his life.”
“Open
it,” Keith commanded. “Trust me. It’s okay.”
Gina
complied and with jittery hands opened the package. “It’s a locket.” She lifted
it with care and tried to pry open the small clasp. But she was all thumbs.
Some things never change. With a rueful
smile, Keith undid the clasp for her. He remembered another time when he had to
help her with her buttons. Gina was so graceful in many ways, but when it came
to fine motor tasks, she could become klutzy.
She
peered inside the tiny locket. “There’s a picture of Trey.” A fresh load of
grateful tears fell. “I love it, Keith.”
Keith
felt pleased that his gift had brought Gina some measure of comfort, and he put
the chain around her neck. Gina held on to the locket while Keith held her.
Michael
returned with news of their mother’s impending arrival. “I had my driver get
her.” He juggled three cups of coffee. Keith saw that he had also raided the
snack machine, buying a plethora of candy and chips, but no one felt like
eating.
It
was a little after dawn when Geraldine Ward rushed in the room. By then,
Michael had nodded off in a corner chair, and Gina had drifted in a light sleep
still resting on his shoulder. Keith smiled at the sight of his mother and
placed his finger over his lips before pointing to Gina and Michael.
He
saw her nod with understanding. Her silver-grey hair was styled in a
sophisticated bob. Dressed in black pants, a beautiful metallic grey top, with
silver earrings dangling from her ears and a matching necklace around a long,
graceful neck, Gerry looked years younger than her 58 years, and at times was
mistaken for Keith’s and Michael’s older sister instead of their mom.
Keith
eased Gina off his arm and her eyes popped open. He walked over to his mother.
He gave her such a tight hug that her feet lifted in the air.
Michael
stirred awake. “You made it,” he exclaimed and welcomed Gerry with visible
relief.
***
Gina
squirmed under Gerry’s knowing glance. She felt a moment of deja vu thinking
about another hospital and another time. When Michael had been in his coma at
Long Island Jewish Hospital, Gerry had walked in on her and Keith in a similar
embrace. She envied Keith’s nonchalance, then, and now. He wasn’t the least bit
bothered by what his mother thought, but, she was. Gerry knew how she felt
about Keith. The older woman had even advised her not to marry Michael out of a
sense of obligation. However, Gina had been adamant that she loved Michael.
And, that was the truth. Gina looked over at Michael and smiled. She did love
Michael, in a way.
She
was just a somersaulting crazy-like-a-fool in love with Keith. Breaking eye
contact, Gina shot to her feet and greeted her mother-in-law with a hug. Gerry
offered all the right sentiments, and Gina felt tears threaten again from her
maternal warmth.
It
was times like these that Gina missed her own mother, Lucille Price, who had
died from a sudden stroke. She’d been nineteen when her mother passed and the
pain hadn’t receded with time. Lucille hadn’t lived long enough to see Gina
married or to meet her grandson. Gina also yearned for a father to call, but
growing up she hadn’t known little more than his name. Feeling overwhelmed,
Gina excused herself to step outside the room to be alone with her thoughts.
“Are you all right?” Gina turned towards the
voice. Michael had concern written all over his face.
“Yeah,”
Gina said.
“What’s
wrong? Well, besides the obvious.” Michael bent. He tilted her chin upwards
looking directly into her eyes.
Gina
knew how perceptive he could be, but she wasn’t sure if she was up to talking
about it. She shrugged and released a small sigh. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s
never nothing.”
Gina
saw the question reflected in his eyes, and decided to explain. “Well, I know
my mother is gone, but I wish I knew my father. Because then I would have
someone to call like you did.”
“Oh,
baby,” Michael cradled his wife. “I know you’re terrified, and I’ve made
several trips to the nurse’s station to find out if there was any news. I know
that they’re doing their job but those nurses know what’s wrong. However, they
wouldn’t cave no matter how much I ranted.”
The
door swung open.
Everyone
gathered around the doctor with fear and dread.
When
they heard the news, Keith had to hold onto his mother to keep her from
falling. Gina fell into Michael’s arms.
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