The Precious Topaz (The Precious Trilogy Book 2)

by C Renee

  “I’m okay, just a little tired and sore.” I play with the little box edges that still sitting on my stomach.

  “That’s good to hear. Your father and I were wondering if you wanted to come back home, in your old room and live with us.” Mom looks over to Seth and dad and I’m not sure what they are planning but I don’t like it already.

  “Um, thanks for the offer mom but I think I would feel much better if I was living with Steph. I just want my old life to continue where it left off.” I look over at Steph and she’s nodding her head.

  “Yeah Julz, I agree with Louise. I think it would be good if she came back home with me. You’re more than welcome to come visit anytime you want.” Steph has put her foot down and I know she will be stubborn about this.

  “Besides, Lou’s position at work is still there. We just hired a temp until she was ready to come back.” I could kiss her right now but I won’t. She truly is the sister I never had. She is the best.

  “Thanks Steph, you and Andrew didn’t have to do that.” I reach over and squeeze her hand for a silent thank you.

  “Okay honey, if that’s what you want to do. We moved back into our old house so you know where to find us. We rented it out just in case we had to move back home. Seth will be staying around for a while anyway.” Mom leans over the bed and kisses me on the forehead.

  “It’s time for us to leave, but we will check up on you tomorrow morning before you are discharged. Have a good rest honey.” She moves out of the way so dad and Seth can take turns in hugging me and kissing me on the cheek and forehead.

  I watch as they leave the door and Steph slouches in the chair.

  “I’m so glad they are gone now, so thank you for agreeing to come back home with me.” She smiles up at me. Oh God, what is she planning now?

  “I’ll come home with you, on one condition.” I say with a little smirk too.

  “What is that?” She asks.

  “No parties until I say it’s okay?” I can’t hold back my little giggle. I know she has something planned along those lines and I’m really not up to celebrating right now.

  “Fine, but when you get home tomorrow we are talking about what the fuck happened and I want to latest gossip about Mr. Sex on Legs aka Alex.” I roll my eyes at her and agreed.

  She gets up, gives me a hug and a few kisses on the head. She’s overprotective but I love that about her and watch her leave.

  Thank goodness, some peace and quiet.

  Finally.

  Chapter Four

  Alex

  I LEFT LOUISE IN the room with her family, she seems happy to have them there. I’m happy for her but I can’t seem to breathe.

  I need to get out.

  I need to get out now.

  I can’t believe I just told her about Tiffany, I can’t believe I didn’t tell her about the real first time I met her. I’m not sure how I want to process the fact that she probably won’t have any children, ever. Where does that leave things for us? I sure as hell want to have babies with her but I don’t want her to think I will leave her after that terrible news. I didn’t say anything like that because I didn’t want to scare her away. I can’t and won’t lose her.

  Oh shit.

  Hearing the news about Louise not being able to have children has brought back memories about Jackie and the claim she has over me. I can’t tell Louise any of that, not now.

  I walk away from her room to try and find the cafeteria. I think food is the only option for me right now. I walk down the corridor that leads to the elevators, I’m sure that the cafeteria is near the hospital entrance and I can’t believe I have missed it all this time.

  I walk past the waiting room, there aren’t many people sitting there but a sobbing woman is holding onto what I assume is her husband, I don’t want to stare so I keep my head down and continue for the elevator.

  There isn’t anyone standing with me waiting for the doors to open so I hope I have it all to myself.

  The elevator pings, the doors open and I step inside with my head still on the floor. Once I’m inside I look around me at the button panel and press G for ground floor and then that’s when my wish didn’t come true.

  There standing right behind me is Dr. Sin. Can this get any worse. I exhale a breath and cough under my breath.

  Of all places I had to run into her it had to be in an elevator.

  “Alex, is that you?” Dr. Sin calls from behind me.

  I turn around and I try not to feel my cock grow in my pants. This can’t happen.

  I’m with Louise, well I have feelings for her and I want to make her mine. I can’t have growing boners for other women, that isn’t me anymore, but this woman looks like a wet dream.

  “Yeah…” I clear my throat and turn back around. I adjust myself slightly, hoping she didn’t notice.

  “I didn’t expect to see you here in the hospital, let alone my work place. Why are you here?” The air in the elevator has gotten very thick with chemistry. I need to get out now. I will not let anything happen.

  “I was visiting a dear friend of mine, and now I need to get back to my parent's house.” My palms are getting clammy and I’m starting to sweat.

  Shit.

  I need this elevator to hurry up.

  Like right now.

  “Oh, I hope your friend is okay, and about your father. Since now is not a great place to discuss the results, why don’t you follow me to my office and I’ll be happy to show you them.” I get the feeling the results isn’t what she wants to show me. I have the urge to tell her yes, but Louise’s smile filters in my head and immediately I want to smack myself.

  “Ah, no thanks. I think I would like to go home to my family and hear it from them.” The elevator doors open just in time and I step out.

  “See you around doctor.” I walk away from her and all of a sudden I’ve lost my apatite. There is no way I can eat food now when my thoughts turn dirty. I don’t want to imagine the doctor naked; I think I need a strong drink instead. I look down at my watch and it’s only four o’clock in the afternoon.

  Fuck it.

  I’m going to call up Reece and see if he’s up for a drink, after the day I have had but first I have to call mom and let her know I’ll be home for dinner and to talk about dad’s results. I still don’t know what’s wrong with him. I have a feeling in my gut that it’s bad.

  I walk past the cafeteria and find the exit doors. I have my phone in my hand and my mom’s number is already dialing.

  “Alex, is everything alright?” Mom picks up on the second ring.

  “Hey mom, yeah everything is good. I’m just calling to let you know that I’m headed to the bar with Reece for a few drinks but I’ll be home for dinner.” I’m now at the driver’s side door of my Jeep and I pull out my car keys.

  “Okay… honey… see you then.” She pauses to let a few sobs in. Oh, God.

  I don’t want to go home and comfort her just yet; I know she will be more upset if I do go. She needs this space to be with her husband and to let whatever news she received to sink in before she tells Damon and me. I wonder if he will come home to be with his family or be that bastard who abandoned his family. On the other hand, it would be good if he did return home, only if it was for a little while. I’m sure my parents miss him even if they think he doesn’t deserve to be apart of this family.

  I’m sitting in the hospital parking lot, having these feelings and thoughts running havoc in my mind and I don’t know how I can deal with this.

  My life has turned upside down and I wish it were the way it was a month ago.

  I was happy.

  I dial Reece’s number hoping he isn’t on duty saving lives.

  “Hey man, what’s up?” He says into the phone.

  “Hey, nothing just a shit day. Want to meet at La Crush and have a few beers?” I wait for his answer.

  “Yeah alright, but I have to go down to the station in a few hours. You probably should come with me, talk to Big Bill about ge
tting more shifts now.”

  “I would but the doctor came to my parent's house with the results but I had to leave so I promised mom I would have dinner there. Meet me there in 15 minutes.” I disconnected the phone call and started up the Jeep’s engine. I love the first purr of the car; she is ready to go when I pull out of the parking lot.

  I can’t wrap my head around the fact that Louise is awake. I finally gave her my gift and she loved it. Who knew she was obsessed with Gemstones.

  The drive to the bar was short; I had a few minutes to wait before Reece showed up.

  I knew I could count on him showing up to support me and to listen to me rant about the confusing day I’ve had and I can guarantee that it won’t get any better.

  I hear a knock on the passenger side window and there stands Reece with the infamous smirk he wears.

  “You going to sit there all night or are we going to have a few beers?” I watch him walk a few steps towards the bar.

  I turn the engine off and get out of the car. I lock it on my way out.

  “About time man.” He chuckles.

  “Fuck off.” I flip him my middle finger but he just shakes it off.

  We walk into the bar and it’s packed for an early evening on a Thursday night. It’s the after-work drinks, I’m now kicking myself. This was bad timing, I do not want any woman coming up to me tonight. If they do, I’m not sure if I can hold myself back or if I will politely turn them down.

  I’m just not in the mood.

  This day is fucking shit.

  “Over there.” Reece points to the back booth away from everything and everyone. Perfect.

  I follow him to the booth and I slide in opposite him.

  “Why is your day shit so far Alex?” Reece doesn’t waste time to ask the question.

  “Oh you know, a sinfully sexy doctor showed up at my parents to give us the test results of what’s wrong with him but before I could hear what she had to tell us my phone went off and it was Louise’s mom. She was calling to tell me Louise is awake. So I went to the hospital to check up on her. She looked perfect. I told her about Tiffany, I gave her the necklace but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her how I first saw her. Then when I was leaving the hospital the sinful doctor was sharing the same elevator as me. Holy fuck the atmosphere was sexually charged. I felt her wanting me and I got hard for her. I feel disgusting, I feel dirty and I wish I didn’t feel that way. I want Louise and I am trying so hard to not fuck that up.” I take a sip of the beer that’s sitting in front of me. I’m not sure when that appeared but I’m grateful.

  “You sure have had a fucked up day, will it get better or worse?” Reece takes a sip of his drink.

  “Ah, I’m pretty sure it’s going to get worse. I’m having dinner at my parent's house and I’m 100% sure they will tell me the news about dad. I don’t think I’m ready for that and if Damon is there then it will get fucking worse.” I sit back in the seat and remember the last time I saw Damon.

  It was three years ago when I last saw Damon. He wanted to come back home, he checked up on our parents and me. He didn’t like that I had just lost the love of my life and he was too damn busy to come out to see us when the accident actually happened. Damon flew out the day before thanksgiving and was going to spend the week at home. My parents were thrilled to have him home for the holidays.

  There was a knock on my parent’s door, I really hoped that’s Damon; he should have been here over an hour ago.

  I opened the door and I was relieved to see that it was in fact Damon standing there. About fucking time.

  “Hey brother.” I greeted him with a hug and patted him on the back.

  “Hello Alex.” He felt awkward when he returned the hug.

  “Mom and dad are pleased to have you home for the holidays.” I pulled away to let him through the door.

  “Yes, it’s good to be home, but I’m afraid I can’t stay the full week. I have to fly back to England in two days.” Did he seriously just say he wasn’t staying the full week? He sure sounded really sad about that.

  “You can tell our parents that yourself.” I led him through the hallway and up the stairs to his room. It is the same room he had as a child, nothing had changed except a bigger bed and the toys have been packed up and stored away.

  “Well this is you, I’ll let mom and dad know you’re here so they can say hi.” I started to walk away but Damon caught hold of my arm to stop me.

  “Thanks for everything brother.” He held onto my arm a second more before releasing it. I stepped away and nodded before I exited his room.

  He has never shown anything emotional since I’ve known him and that’s all my life. I wonder what had gotten into him to show a little spec of emotion.

  I walked down the remainder of the upstairs corridor to my parent’s bedroom to tell them that Damon had arrived and they should go and talk to him.

  I stood outside of their door, waiting to knock when I heard my mother raise her voice.

  “No you can’t tell either on of them that you’re sick. You can’t tell them yet, I forbid it. This is the time of year to be happy and that’s what I’m going to get. Do you hear me?” She sounded really pissed off. I wondered what they had to tell my brother and me.

  I knocked on the door three times before one of them answered the door. It was Dad.

  “Hey son, what can I do for you?” He leaned against the doorframe, waiting for me to answer him.

  “I just wanted to let you know that Damon is here and in his room.” I watched as his face fell when I told him about Damon being home.

  “Thanks son, I’ll let your mother know.” He shut the door in my face, I don’t know what I should have felt but it shouldn’t have been a disappointment.

  I made my way back to my room and I just sat on my bed thinking about dad’s reaction and what I had overheard. It didn’t make any sense what so ever.

  I woke up with a start, I didn’t even think I had fallen asleep but I heard my name getting called from downstairs and it sounded like it was coming from mom. I got up from the bed and I stretched my muscles. They felt tight after that unexpected sleep. I needed to hit the gym either tonight or tomorrow to give them a bit of a workout.

  I changed into a different pair of clothes, the ones I had on were all creased and they smelled. I put on a new pair of black jeans, a fresh shirt and made my way down the stairs.

  I reached the bottom of the stairs and I saw mom hugged Damon. His face seemed like he was in pain with the scrunching of his nose and the look in his eyes. He should be grateful that our parents care for him still, after so many years of not seeing him.

  “Alex honey, come here I want to hug both of my boys.” Mom said over the top of Damon’s head.

  Argh, I didn’t want to be hugged from the both of them at once. I rolled my eyes at her but obeyed.

  I stepped into my mother’s arms and hugged her back through Damon; he must have hated me then. We made him be in the middle of us. Dad grunted but didn’t join in on the feelings fest. That was typical of dad. He was the complete opposite of mom, he hated expressing feelings but mom was all about kissing and hugging everyone.

  Mom pulled us both away from her and looked between the both of us.

  “It’s so good to have both of my grown son’s home for the holiday. Please don’t ruin this for us.” She walked away but Damon stopped her.

  “About that mom, I can only stay for two days max. I have to fly back to England because I’m scheduled to do a few lectures.” Mom looked shocked and sad. Why on earth did he have to drop that bombshell then?

  What a selfish prick.

  “Okay honey, I’m just glad you’re here now.” We watched her walk away and then followed dad. I thought she took that well, but I could have been wrong.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you Damon?” I turned towards him.

  “Nothing, it was better for her to know now than when I actually have to leave.” He looked at me once more before he left.


  I stood there in the living room all by myself. Did that seriously just happen? I hoped my mom would be okay about this, but I have a feeling she took that pretty hard.

  * * *

  After the whole thanksgiving dinner with mom, dad and Damon it was time to head off to bed. The whole three days Damon was here it was civil and calm, but they always say ‘it’s always calm before the storm.’

  I kissed mom goodnight and I shook dad’s and Damon’s hand before I headed off to bed.

  “Goodnight everyone, I’m grateful for that wonderful meal but it’s time I headed to bed.” I started to head off to bed when Damon and dad started to yell at each other.

  “You will stay another couple of days because your mother loves having you around.” Dad’s voice was growing louder than usual.

  “No, I have to get back home. This is not my home!” Damon shouted back.

  “Honey, no need to raise your voice. This is your home, not where you are staying in England” Mom intervened. I wished she wouldn’t, it would have made things worse and it did.

  “Mom this isn’t my home, it has never been my home. All throughout my life you both wish I wasn’t around. You both favored Alex and I am sick of it. Alex did this, Alex did that.” Damon took a breath before he continued.

  “Do you even appreciate what I have done in life? Or do you only think about Alex because he’s the golden child? All my childhood I wish I belonged to someone else, maybe then I wouldn’t wish for you both to die!” Whoa, he had taken that too far now. He had always been a selfish child, who couldn’t handle being the second born or the second favorite. I didn’t plan on being the apple of my parent’s eye but Damon grew up with envy and I wish he didn’t. I turned back around to defend my parents but everything happened too quickly.

  Damon was up in dad’s face, I watched as he swung his clenched fist back and pushed it forward into dad’s face. Dad then grabbed Damon by the throat and threw him on the table. Plates, glasses and cutlery broke and dropped to the floor.