by C. L. Roman
Oh my God! This was incredible. I kept the internal cheering section in my mind at bay—or should I say, I kept it at a healthy level in regard to displaying my excitement.
“I would love to work for your company. Thank you, Mr. Harcourt. I would appreciate any opportunity you can provide me with.”
Gabe’s eyes widened, his gaze going between me and his father’s as we spoke.
“And you know what? I’m not going to press you for information about Foley since you seem to be so tight-lipped and hesitant about giving it to me. When he finds out you’re working for me and I thus have access to knowledge about the goings on in his office, he’ll leave you alone because then he would have to deal with me.”
Ah, now I get it. “So you’re only hiring me to get back at Foley?” A surge of disappointment flowed through me.
“No. I’d hire you either way. Employees that have worked for me for years don’t question me the way you have during dinner tonight. That takes courage. I would like to have someone on board who isn’t afraid to speak to her mind.”
Wow, what a great answer. I also felt better that he had let me off the hook and hadn’t pushed me to spill Foley’s dark secret. No matter how unethical Foley was, I still had morals and had to live with myself. Betraying someone’s trust didn’t sit right with me, no matter how awful the person was.
“Then I’d love to work for your company, as long as it’s not a conflict of interest.”
His father quirked a brow. Gabe did as well.
“The whole mixing business with pleasure thing…Gabe and I are together, and he will be working for you as well. What if things don’t work out between us?”
“Not to worry. It’s a big building.” Edward chuckled.
“Thanks for looking on the bright side, Dad.” Gabe smirked. He took my hand and shook it to get my attention. “Things are going to work out between us, that I can assure you. Remember when I told you I never question or doubt my instincts? My instincts say you’re the real deal.” He winked at me.
Holy cow. My emotions were now on the part of the roller coaster where the car climbs the tall hill, hangs out for a second or two at the top, then goes soaring down. It was a total head rush.
His father shook his head in disappointment. “Since when did you become such a sap?”
Gabe raised our joined hands and kissed the back of mine. “Unlike you, Dad, I’m starting to believe one woman can be enough for me.” He stared into my eyes while saying this.
“Point taken.”
I didn’t see the expression on his father’s face because Gabe and I were still intently gazing into each other’s eyes.
The waiter arrived with our main course, popping our little bubble. He removed the salad plates. I told him to leave mine as I was still working on it. I hadn’t even taken a bite yet.
The conversation turned trivial. I managed to get a decent amount of food down, my stomach now feeling odd for a different reason. Was it possible to love someone so soon after meeting him? All I knew was I had never felt this strongly about another person, other than my sister and grandma.
After dinner, Gabe and I drove back to his place.
“You know what? This was our first public appearance together.” He glanced over at me.
“You’re right. So much has happened. It feels like it’s been months.” It baffled me that Gabe and I had been through such a whirlwind of events over the course of a week’s time. Crazy.
“In a good way. I more than plan to make it up to you—that is, if you’re into being wined and dined.” He raised his brows.
“Sounds heavenly. So does sleeping in your arms and waking up with you in the morning. I’m just happy to be with you, Gabe, no matter what we’re doing, where we go, or where we are.”
“I think you’re the sappy one.”
I shook my head. “No, you’ve pretty much got that territory covered.”
Chapter Fourteen
Gabriel
A week later
“How was your first week at Harcourt Enterprises?”
We sat together in the dining room, eating Chinese takeout.
“Amazing. The staff in the marketing department is awesome. It’s a great group to work with.”
“I’m glad. You look happy.”
“I’m ecstatic.” She beamed. Her phone signaled a text. She glanced down to read it, and her hands started trembling. The sunlight all but dimming on her face.
“Abby, what is it?”
She didn’t respond. I jumped out of my chair and took hold of her phone to read the text.
Mom: Bad news. We’re home from the hospital. Things aren’t good. Irma’s levels changed significantly before we left. The hospital wanted to keep her there, but Irma wanted to come home. She’s sick and tired of being sick and tired. I don’t blame her. You should probably come see her because I’m starting to give up hope. I think she is too, the poor soul.
“My mother didn’t even have the decency to call me and tell me this news in person. She sent it in a text. My God, she must really hate me—and why didn’t Irma reach out to me?” Abby spoke with a combination of sadness and disgust.
“Why don’t I take you to see her and you can ask her yourself?”
“All these years…treatment after treatment…experimental procedures—all for nothing!”
“It’s not for nothing. You’ve done everything you could to help her. It’s an awful situation no matter how you look at it. Come on, let me take you to your mother’s house so you can see Irma.”
She nodded. The strong woman I had come to know and, yes, love—though I hadn’t verbalized it to her yet—didn’t seem so strong right now.
Once in my car, she gave me directions, and we were on our way to visit her sister.
Her mother opened the door. Before letting us in, she held her hand up to stop us from entering, giving me a thorough inspection. “Who is this man, Abigail?”
Christ. One would think I looked like a serial killer.
“Mom, this is Gabriel. He is my boyfriend.”
We hadn’t verbalized that concept yet, but it was assumed. I mean, hello? The woman was staying at my place and we had yet to discuss her moving out.
“Your boyfriend? Since when do you have a boyfriend?”
“Can you please stop with the inquisition and let us in the house?” Abby pushed her mother aside, tugging me along with her by my hand.
“I don’t allow strange men in my home, Abigail. You know how I feel about that.” She followed us during her rant. I kept my focus forward, unsure of how to behave.
Abby snapped around to face her mother. “Yes, you’ve made it all too clear how you feel about that my entire life. God forbid you think I have good enough judgment to choose a man with morals and values similar to my own. Oh, wait a minute—you think I have sinful morals and values. Sorry, Gabe. In my mother’s eyes, that means you do too.”
Oh boy. I wasn’t about to get involved in this showdown, so I remained silent. Personally, I would have preferred to remain outside and let the two women duke it out on their own, but Abby still had my hand firmly locked in hers, so I wasn’t going anywhere. Plus, I wanted to provide support, even if it was just with my presence.
“I will not have this discussion with you in front of this man.” Ms. Winters pointed at me as if I was pure evil.
Abby had been right about her.
“To be honest, there’s really nothing to discuss. I’m here for Irma. I’ve always been here for Irma and I will continue to be.”
“Are you insinuating I haven’t been?” Her mother put her hand on her hip.
“I’m not insinuating anything. I know in my heart I’ve done everything in my power to help her get well and will never have to blame myself for not trying.”
Abby pulled me toward a hallway where the bedrooms were located. We stopped in front of a closed door.
“Do you want me to stay out here so you can have some private time with your sist
er?” I didn’t want to impose.
“No. I want her to get to know how wonderful you are. It will make her happy to see me happy.”
I cupped her cheeks and kissed her lips. The two of us then entered Irma’s bedroom. The lights were dimmed, and soft music played in the background. Irma was reading on her tablet. Her eyes widened upon seeing us, and she weakly sat up.
“Abby.” Irma stretched her arms out to hug her sister.
Abby ran to the bed and sat next to her. The two of them embraced each other. I was no doctor, but Irma didn’t look so hot. I had no clue if she was terminally ill, but the air in the room felt as such.
“Irma, this is Gabe.” She extended her arm to shake my hand. I stepped closer to the bed and shook hers.
“It’s nice to meet you, Irma. I’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about you and know your sister thinks the world of you.”
Irma grinned at Abby. “I know she does. I feel the same way about her too.”
Abby draped her arm around Irma, who rested her head on Abby’s shoulder.
“Guess you heard the news, right?” Irma whispered. “I’m not doing so great.”
“Yeah. Mom sent me a text.”
Irma frowned. “I’m sorry. I should have called you myself. I’ve been sleeping for hours and I guess it slipped my mind. I’m so exhausted. It would have been nice of her to at least pick up the phone.”
“It’s okay. I don’t expect miracles from her anymore.”
Irma took hold of Abby’s hand. “I know I kind of stole your life from you by being sick. I want you to know there hasn’t been a single day I haven’t been grateful for everything you’ve done for me. It wasn’t fair for Mom to put the burden of me onto you.”
Abby squeezed Irma’s hand. “Let’s get one thing straight: you have never been a burden to me.”
“You don’t have to say that. You missed out on a lot because of me.”
“Now’s not the time for this.”
I stood to the side as if invisible. Part of me felt forgotten in the wings, standing there all my lonesome. I didn’t want to walk out and interrupt their intimate conversation, so I remained still.
“I’m so tired of suffering. I’m tired of infusions, injections, tests, scans—I’m tired of all of it. I’m ready to rest and be at peace.”
Shit. Things were getting heavy. I really wanted to step outside, the air in the room becoming stifling.
“I don’t want you to leave me, but I know it’s selfish of me to wish for you to stay when you’re not experiencing the quality of life you should have. I’m sorry that wasn’t in the cards for you. A part of me feels guilty it happened to you and not me.”
“No, don’t feel guilty. Please don’t ever feel guilty. You did everything for me. You went above and beyond. I’m so happy you brought Gabe here today. It gives me peace to know you found someone who can put a smile on your face. You deserve happiness more than anyone I know.” Irma acknowledged me, her face lighting up. Mine did the same in return, even though I felt overheated and queasy.
Abby flashed me her winning smile, without its usual oomph, her mental and emotional state visibly withering by this sudden turn of events. “He does make me happy.”
I approached her and kissed the top of her head. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to get a glass of water from the kitchen.” Wherever it was in the house, I’d find it.
“I’m pretty thirsty myself,” Abby said softly. “Why don’t I get both of us some? Irma, do you want something from the kitchen?”
“I’ll take some apple juice, please.”
“One apple juice, two waters, coming up.”
Abby rose from the bed. I wasn’t about to stay alone with Irma. No offense to Abby’s sister; it’s just that I wanted—or rather, needed—air, feeling uncomfortably warm from the happenings taking place around me.
I followed Abby to the kitchen, where her mother was preparing tea. We saw a syringe in her grasp and Abby stilled, putting her hand on my chest to stop me as well. She put her finger to her lips to signal I shouldn’t speak.
What were we supposed to be watching?
Fuck! Her mother reached into the under-sink cabinet and pulled out a bottle of cleaner. She filled the syringe with some and proceeded to drop it in the tea. Abby’s mouth fell open, but she didn’t move. Her mother mixed the liquid in the mug, retrieved the cup, and turned around to find us standing at the entrance to the kitchen.
“What are you doing, Mom?” Abby took a step forward, blocking the doorway.
The woman’s face paled. “Oh…I’m bringing Irma some tea. She loves herbal tea.”
Abby stepped deeper into the kitchen, stopping in front of her mother. “That wasn’t sweetener you put in it. What was it?”
“What are you insinuating, Abigail?” The woman stood taller, her lips tight.
Abby zoomed over to the sink and swung the cabinet door open. She pulled out the bottle of cleaner her mother had just handled. She read the label on it, her hands trembling. She held it up. “What the hell, Mom?” Abby’s coloring matched the white bottle of cleaner. Her mother’s did as well.
“Do not say curse words in my home, Abigail.”
“Give me that tea!” Abby flung her hand out to take the mug from her mother, who held it firmly and refused to let go of the handle. It ended up spilling on her mom and on the tile floor. Bloody hell! The blue color of Ms. Winters’s shirt began to lighten where the cleaner landed.
“Ouch! It’s hot, Abigail. You intentionally burned me, didn’t you? You are evil! An evil, evil girl! May the Lord forgive you…” She raised a hand and stared up at the heavens.
“Shut up already with your preaching!”
Slap!
Abby’s hand shot to her cheek.
“Gabe, call 911!”
“Don’t do this, Abigail. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Gabe, now! Call now!”
Fuckin’ A! It took everything I had to dial the three simple numbers. It’s not easy when your hands are a quivering mess. What the hell was I supposed to say to the operator, that a possible murder was taking place?
Abby grabbed the phone from me. “My sister’s been poisoned. Send help right away!”
Her mother dashed out of the room, and Abby shoved me away to follow her. Shit! Now I was chasing the lunatic, who ran to Irma’s room and slammed the door behind her. The lock clicked. I kept jiggling the handle and pounding on the door.
“Open up! Let me in!”
“Mom, it’s Gabe. Let him in.” Irma’s voice could be heard through the thin paneling.
“Quiet, Irma.”
“What’s going on?”
“Your sister has lost her mind. That’s what’s going on. The devil has finally seized total control of her. I’m taking you to safety, Irma. Abigail’s sick.”
“Ouch! Stop pulling me, Mom. You’re hurting me!”
“I said to be quiet. Now stop fighting me and do as you’re told!”
“Mom, please! I can’t breathe!”
Fuck this.
I stepped back and kicked the door as hard as I could.
Nothing.
Abby came sprinting down the hallway, completely out of breath. “Why is the door closed?”
“Your mother locked herself inside the room and Irma’s saying she can’t breathe.”
Abby pounded on the door. “Open the door, Mom! Your sick game is over! The police are on their way. Now open the damn door!”
“Abby! What’s going on?” Irma screamed. “Ouch! Mom, stop it! No, I don’t want lemonade. Take it away!”
“Drink it, Irma!”
Abby jiggled the handle harder. “Don’t drink it, Irma! Whatever you do, don’t eat or drink anything she gives you.”
Shit! Glass shattered on the other side of the door.
Irma cried. “What’s happening?”
I stepped back and kicked the door again and again, finally making a hole. I stuck my hand through the sma
ll opening and unlocked it, cutting myself on the splintered wood. Fuck! It hurt like hell.
Abby pushed the door and the two of us stormed inside. Their mother stood in front of Irma, blocking her from us, standing on pieces of broken glass with her slippers.
“Irma, Mom’s been poisoning your drinks! That’s why you’re sick!”
“What! Mom…?” Irma cried.
“Evil! Pure evil! Get out of this house, Abigail! You live a life of sin. I don’t want you to come here ever again!”
“No need to worry about that. Neither Irma or I will ever return to this hellhole.”
“How dare you! This is a house of the Lord. You will not refer to it in such a vile manner. Irma’s not going anywhere with you. She’s too sick.”
“She’s sick because of you, you crazy bitch!” Abby charged toward her mother and knocked her against the dresser. It was a good thing she had her shoes on with the crunching of glass underneath their feet. She grabbed her mom’s shirt and began shaking her, tears pouring down Abby’s cheeks. “What’s wrong with you! How could you have done this to her!”
Irma climbed off the opposite side of the bed, stumbling from weakness. I didn’t know who to attend to first, but decided Irma required the most assistance. I whizzed over to her, not wanting her to fall, and sat her on the bed. “I’ll help you in a second. You’re safe now.”
“Safe from what?” she cried.
“From Mom!”
I flew over to Abby and pulled her off her mother. She was slapping the woman like mad.
“Stop, Abigail! Let the authorities take care of her.” I wanted her to get control of herself in anything but a controlled situation.
Abby put up a good fight, but I was finally able to separate the two women. Her mom stood hunched over, out of breath, sobbing along with everyone else.
A banging sounded on the front door. Abby bolted from the room to answer it, and a moment later, paramedics raced into the room to assess the scene.