Red (A Brett MacLean Duet)

by J. M. Walker

  “What are your names?” I asked the two officers when they sat in front of me.

  “I’m Officer Scarn,” the taller cop said. “And this is Officer Ries. Under normal circumstances, we don’t usually drive the spouse or family member to the hospital but this…”

  “Is different,” Officer Ries added for him. He ran his hand through his short blond hair, his deep blue gaze slipping to mine. “You see, your husband has had an impact on both of our lives.”

  “Really?” I asked, my eyes widening. “How so?”

  “My wife and I went to The Red Love for our tenth anniversary dinner a few months back but everything that could go wrong, did. I forgot my wallet at home so I couldn’t pay for the meal. My wife spilled wine on her white dress. It was a shitshow and I tried my hardest to make my wife have a good night. But your husband is the one who made it better. Our meal was on the house and he rented a hotel room for us at one of the best hotels in the city. We couldn’t thank him enough.”

  I sat back in awe. “I remember him saying something about meeting a couple who was celebrating their anniversary but he didn’t say anything more about it.” I glanced at Officer Scarn. “How did he help you?”

  The older man met my gaze in the rearview mirror. “He cut me off.” He blew out a slow breath before continuing. “It was a bad couple of weeks at work. I’ve been doing this for a long time but some cases just get to you. It started weighing on me. Did I make a mistake? Could I have done better?”

  “Officer Scarn is trying to become a detective,” Officer Ries explained.

  “So, I was under scrutiny. A lot. I ended up making a mistake due to lack of sleep. I ended up at your husband’s club and got shit-faced. It was the drunkest I had ever been. He cut me off. Told me to go home and not drown myself in the bottle because it didn’t do shit. Somehow, he got through to me and I’ve been sober ever since. That was a year ago.” Officer Scarn shrugged. “I knew I had a problem but I didn’t know how bad it was. Your husband saved my life.”

  Tears burned my eyes. Brett was such a good man but he didn’t believe it. He had spent years telling me that he didn’t deserve me but he was selfless. He was an asshole at times and hard to work for, but he loved with all of him. Once you got into his heart, he was never letting you go.

  And now… “Please drive faster.”

  Officer Scarn nodded, glancing at me in the rear-view mirror. “He’s a good man.”

  “He is.” I just wished he knew that.

  ***

  (Brett)

  I had been asked over and over if I was nervous. I heard rumors that Evvie wasn’t going to show up on our wedding day. She had cold feet. She was second-guessing everything. But I didn’t believe any of it.

  As I stood at the front of the church, I knew. There was no way that either of us were not going through with this.

  Whispers sounded around us as the time neared for Evvie to make her appearance. She probably got caught in traffic or her makeup wasn’t up to her standards. Nah. The latter wasn’t possible. Evvie hardly wore any makeup at all. It was her natural beauty that had drawn me in and the fact she called me an asshole. I fell in love with her instantly. Now we were getting married. Our love was fast. Hard. And so damn strong, I didn’t want to go another day without having her as my wife.

  We would go through life together. Go through hell. Have ups and downs. But we would be there for each other. I promised her that the day I proposed and I would promise it for the rest of our lives.

  When the music changed to the one announcing the bride, a hot shiver raced down my spine. And when she finally appeared, I knew this was where I was meant to be. Evvie Neal was who I was meant to be with for the rest of my life. No matter what we went through, there would be no one else for me.

  Evvie came toward me. Her eyes were focused solely on me and no one else. Her father held her up because I knew if he let go, she would run toward me.

  I had wanted a fast wedding but she insisted on having the princess fairy-tale one. I of course complied.

  She was beautiful in her wedding gown and flawless makeup.

  I love you, I mouthed to her.

  She smiled, mouthing it back.

  She was my one.

  My only.

  And I promised myself from that moment on, that I would spend the rest of my life showing her exactly how much I did in fact love her.

  Evvie

  WHEN WE ARRIVED at the hospital, Officer Ries and Officer Scarn dropped me off. They wished me well but by the way they were fidgeting, I realized they didn’t like hospitals. This was odd to me seeing as they were cops and probably made an appearance to our local hospital quite often.

  Once I reached the double set of doors to the large building, I sent up a prayer, begging for them to make my husband better. I didn’t know how severe his injuries were. The officers didn’t know either. Or they weren’t telling me anyway.

  Muttering up all the strength deep inside of me, I pushed through the doors and headed to the floor he was on. Thankfully Officer Scarn felt comfortable enough to give me that information at least.

  “Ma’am?”

  I turned to the sound of the feminine voice and found a young woman sitting at a desk.

  “You need to check in,” she said gently.

  “I’m here to see Brett MacLean,” I told her, my voice cracking.

  The woman glanced down at her stack of papers. “Oh yes. I’ll have the doctor come see you.”

  “I can’t see him now?” I asked, all hope lost.

  “No. I’m sorry. He’s still in surgery.”

  “Oh.” I swallowed hard, my throat working its way past the lump lodged inside it.

  “Evvie?”

  I jumped, spinning around on my heel and came face to face with our lawyer. “Baxter.” I clutched my throat, easing the racing of my heart. “What are you doing here?”

  “Let’s talk,” he said gently before turning and heading back the way he came from.

  I thanked the woman who couldn’t stop staring at Baxter.

  She nodded, her cheeks flushing.

  I couldn’t blame her. Baxter was gorgeous and in a lot of ways, he reminded me of Brett, just younger.

  Baxter stopped at a vending machine. “Coffee?”

  “No thank you.” I came up beside him. “What are you doing here?” I repeated, needing the distraction.

  I had only met him a handful of times but he was always respectful. He was in his late thirties and had been Brett’s lawyer ever since he graduated from law school. He became mine when Brett gave me my own club, Evvie’s . But it still didn’t explain why he was there.

  “I was talking to Brett tonight.” Baxter’s jaw ticked. “I gave him some upsetting news and now we’re here.”

  “H-how did you know he was here?” I asked, following him to the waiting room.

  “Officer Ries called me.” Baxter stopped once we reached the entrance. “If I wouldn’t have given him that news—”

  “Don’t,” I told him. “It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault. The other driver was distracted. It could happen to any of us. I’m just sorry that they were killed.” I would have to send flowers. Do people even want flowers anymore?

  Baxter let out a hard sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. “Your husband is a good man. I know he’s hard to work for.”

  “He’s not easy being married to sometimes either,” I murmured.

  Heading into the waiting room, I slumped onto a couch and dropped my head in my hands.

  “He’ll make it out of this. He’s a strong mother fucker.”

  I laughed, wiping the fresh tears from beneath my eyes.

  Baxter winked.

  “Tell me why you’re really here. I haven’t seen you in a while but I imagine Brett still sees you?” God, even my words weren’t making sense.

  “Yeah.” Baxter stretched his long legs out in front of him. “I came here because I wanted to make sure that you were okay.”


  “Really?” My heart warmed. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  He shrugged, his cheeks reddening. “It’s no big deal but I’ve learned very quickly that not having any empathy can ruin…” He cleared his throat. “Well anyway.” He stood. “I should go.”

  “No.” I grabbed his arm. “Please. I need someone here with me. Someone who isn’t biased and will tell me how much of a dick my husband is.” I needed someone with me who wasn’t on the inside or seen what we had gone through for the past several months.

  “I know about what happened.” Baxter sat back down beside me. “Brett told me everything.”

  My head whipped around. “Really?”

  “It surprised me actually because in the beginning, all he did was bark orders but now…I respect the hell out of him. I always have.” Baxter cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck again. “Listen, this shit isn’t easy for me.”

  I gave him a soft smile. “You sound like my husband.”

  “I take that as a compliment.” He smirked.

  “You’re a good man, Baxter Vos.” We sat in silence, weighing our thoughts and praying, or at least hoping with everything in us that Brett would make it out of this.

  A young man came into the waiting room dressed in white. He was looking down at his clipboard before he noticed we were there.

  “Mrs. MacLean?” he asked me.

  I stood, bracing myself for bad news. “I’m Mrs. MacLean,” I whispered.

  “I’m Dr. Stanley…” He paused. “Care to take a walk?”

  I looked down at Baxter.

  He nodded.

  I took a breath and followed the doctor out of the room. “Can I see my husband?” I asked him once we made our way out into the hall.

  “You can. That’s where I’m taking you.” Although the words he said gave me a breath of relief, I didn’t feel any better.

  “Why do I feel like you’re going to give me bad news?” I didn’t know how much more I could take.

  Dr. Stanley stopped once we reached the end of the hall. “I will be honest with you. Your husband is very lucky to be alive, but I want to also warn you that some of his injuries could be very upsetting.”

  “I’m expecting that.” My heart picked up speed. “He needed surgery. What for?”

  “His spleen was ruptured.”

  “Oh…” I swallowed past the bile that had reached my throat. “God.”

  “Mrs. MacLean.” The doctor placed a hand on the doorknob leading me to my husband. “He was also severely burnt. We’ll need to take skin grafts from his thighs.”

  “Where was he burnt?” I asked, ringing my hands together in front of me.

  “His left side.” Dr. Stanley pushed open the door. “He had some nerve damage in his left hand as well that he’ll require physiotherapy on, but after what he went through? He’s damn lucky.” Dr. Stanley shook his head. “So damn lucky.”

  “He won’t care about the scars but he’s left-handed. Will he get use of it again?”

  “He will.” The doctor nodded. “In time. We also gave him some morphine for the pain, so he might not be coherent when he wakes up.” He stepped into the room. “He’s still sleeping. Will you give Mrs. MacLean some time alone with her husband please?”

  I followed him, noticing a nurse standing by…a gasp escaped me. I was told what to expect but I didn’t expect to see Brett…I rushed to his side, falling to my knees.

  “Brett.” I sobbed, grabbing hold of his right hand. His good hand.

  His left hand was wrapped in bandages. Dark blue and purple bruises marred the left side of his face. He looked rough but somehow at ease. I didn’t know how. I couldn’t quite explain it but every time I saw Brett sleeping, he looked at peace. Like he was no longer fighting the demons threatening to destroy him.

  Somewhere off in the distance, a door closed but all I could focus on was my husband. He was so still, his usually tanned skin, pale and ashen. It made the gray in his beard more pronounced.

  “Oh, Brett.” I kissed the back of his hand. “I love you. I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry for the things I’ve said and for pushing you away. I’m sorry for leaving without telling you.” Tears streamed down my cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I never should have doubted you. I know…” My heart jumped. “I know you would never cheat on me. I know you didn’t sleep with Claire. I…” Guilt laid heavily on my shoulders. How could I doubt my husband? A man I had been with for almost fifteen years. A man who gave me three beautiful children. The tears streamed harder down my cheeks, my chest tightening. “I don’t deserve you.”

  “Fuck that,” came a deep gravely reply.

  My head shot up, my eyes widening. “Brett. You’re awake. Do you need a doctor?”

  “No. I’ve already woken up but the morphine knocked my ass out again.” His piercing blue eyes looked right into my soul. “I may be drugged up to the nines, but I know I heard you correctly, Evvie. You don’t deserve me ? Hell.” He shifted, his brow furrowing. “Fuck me.” He winced.

  “Don’t try and move.” I rose to my feet, moving the pillow behind his back, ignoring his questioning stare.

  “Evvie.” He blew out a slow breath. “I would die for you.”

  I looked away when he grabbed my wrist.

  “I mean it.” He tugged my arm. “Look at me. Please.” His voice cracked.

  I swallowed excessively, trying to get rid of the hard lump lodged in my throat.

  “Please,” he whispered.

  I met his gaze. He blurred in front of me. The tears I had been trying to hold back fell freely down my cheeks.

  “Evvie.” He tugged me onto the bed beside him. “I don’t remember much from last night but I think that’s what I was trying to do.”

  “What do you mean?” I sniffed.

  “I wanted to tell you that I was going to fight for you. I was going to beg.” He cupped my cheek. “I meant what I said when I married you. I’m only doing this once. If I had any doubts that we wouldn’t last, I never would have put my ring on your finger. I love you, Evvie MacLean. With every single inch of me.”

  “I love you too,” I whispered, needing to tell him everything that I felt but not knowing how.

  “Evvie, come closer. Please.” He fingers brushed over my arm. “Lay down.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Nothing hurts as bad as the idea of you leaving me.”

  “I’m not leaving you. I promise I’m not.” I covered my face. “I just…I’m a horrible person. I know you didn’t sleep with Claire. I know this. I don’t know how I know this but I feel it with everything in me that you didn’t fuck her. It doesn’t explain Storm but I don’t care right now.”

  “Evvie.”

  I continued, ignoring Brett. “And then I took your kids away from you. God, you must think I’m a monster.”

  “Evvie,” Brett said, his voice firmer that time. “Stop. You are not a monster.”

  “But—”

  “Look at me.”

  I slowly met his gaze.

  “You’re right,” he said softly. “I didn’t fuck Claire.”

  Evvie

  “YOU DIDN’T?” I asked, stunned at this new revelation.

  “No.” He cupped my hands, pulling me even closer. “I remember. I don’t know if it’s because I hit my head but I know I didn’t have sex with her that night. I can’t explain anything else but I know that part to be true.”

  A heavy weight lifted off of my shoulders. We still had questions that needed answering but this was a start.

  “I am sorry for everything. For taking your kids away.” I looked down at my hands laced in his. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  He kissed my head, letting his lips linger. “I get it. I shouldn’t have driven when I was emotional like that, but I couldn’t think straight.”

  “Do you remember what Baxter told you?” I asked, looking up at him.

  “He mentioned something a
bout the state thinking I’m unstable, that’s why I haven’t been able to see Storm and that’s why they’re delaying the DNA test.”

  “I’m sorry.” I squeezed his hand.

  “Baxter is on it but I need you.” He released my hands and cupped my cheek. “I need your strength. I need your love. Please don’t leave me again.”

  “I won’t. I promise you I won’t.”

  I would move our clothes from my brother’s place to back home.

  “So…is this what talking feels like?” I asked, covering his hand with mine and kissing his palm.

  “Yeah.” He smirked. “I guess it is.”

  ***

  (Brett)

  A week after my accident, I was still stuck in the hospital. It was like a never-ending time loop. I would get woken every couple of hours to make sure I was doing okay and for the nurses to check my vitals. My vitals were fucking fine and I wanted to go home. I needed to see my kids. Evvie wouldn’t bring them by the hospital and I was fine with that. All the more reason to go fucking home.

  “Brett.” My nurse came farther into the room, her sing-song voice grating on my every last nerve. It wasn’t her fault. She was doing her job. I just hated everyone at that moment.

  “What?” I snapped, throwing my phone onto the bed in front of me when I couldn’t send a damn text because the cell service was shit.

  “Are we in a better mood?” the nurse asked, checking the machines to make sure they were running properly and doing their thing.

  “I’m still here aren’t I? So no, I’m not in a better mood.” The pain from my surgery had diminished some but the burn on my side still hurt like a bitch.

  The nurse laughed. She actually fucking laughed.

  “Something funny?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “You are actually my nicest patient so far today.” She sighed, placing her hands on her hips. “Someone is here to see you.”

  “Really?” My dick jumped at thoughts of Evvie showing up. Good thing that part of me was still working. She had been by my side day in and day out for the past seven days. Until I told her to go home and spend some time with our kids. As much as I missed them, I didn’t want them to see me like this. Their father who had made it his life mission to run the fucking world only to be laid up in the hospital after a car accident.