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My Destiny

Page 20

by Adrianne Byrd


  “I should have never doubted your strategy,” Theo marveled. “You are definitely the man.”

  “Whatever,” Wes said, as pride seeped into his features.

  “I better get going,” Miles said, turning to retrieve his gym bag from the side court.

  “We’ll catch up with you later, man,” Zack called after him.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Miles agreed. Anxious to see Destiny, he hurried to his car. He would be the first to admit that his excitement to see Destiny was a bit strange. After all, there was rarely a day he didn’t see her—but this was the first time he could be with her in a sort of silent possession.

  He smiled and allowed his thoughts to drift toward the future. He rolled off the name “Mrs. Destiny Stafford” and liked the sound of it. Why not? It wasn’t like they were rushing things. They had known each other for ten years, he reasoned.

  Thoughts of Destiny were the reason for Miles’s good mood and the reason he ran a red light. A horn blared and Miles looked to his right.

  “Dear God, no,” he said, seconds before a truck plowed into him.

  Chapter 29

  When Destiny received the call from Wes, her world tilted on its axis. She remembered screaming, but not collapsing in a heap on the floor. Thank God Lu Jin was still there. She had taken the phone from Destiny’s steel grip to speak with Wes.

  Snapshots of Miles flashed in Destiny’s mind. She remembered vividly the last time she’d seen him, kissed him and made love to him.

  “Come on, Destiny,” Lu Jin urged. “We need to get over to the hospital.”

  Destiny remained on her knees—promising the Lord everything, if he would just spare Miles.

  “Destiny?” Lu Jin said again. “He’s being taken to Grady Hospital. He’s not dead...”

  Destiny heard the word “yet” even though Lu Jin hadn’t said it. Her heart squeezed as tears drenched her face. “I can’t,” she choked out between sobs. In her mind, she already knew what she’d find once they made it to the hospital. “I can’t.”

  Lu Jin’s arms slid around Destiny as she grabbed her friend and held on for dear life.

  “It’s going to be all right,” Lu Jin murmured against her ear.

  Destiny shook her head, unable to bring herself to believe her friend’s encouraging words. The what-ifs had returned in full force and she suffered something akin to an anxiety attack.

  Through it all Lu Jin remained by her side. When she was finally able to pull herself together, Destiny realized that she was wasting precious time feeling sorry for herself. Miles needed her and her place was by his side.

  Minutes later, they were zipping through traffic in a rush to get to the hospital.

  * * *

  When Violet ended her call with Wes, she forced herself to remain calm but experienced a strong sense of déjà vu. But her facade didn’t fool Adele.

  “What is it?” Adele stood from her chair and moved over to her friend.

  Violet fought her rising tears and lifted her chin. “I need for you to drive me to the hospital. There’s been an accident.”

  * * *

  Grady Hospital’s emergency room was a whirlwind of activity. And for a long while no one could tell Destiny where Miles had been taken and Destiny thought the wait would kill her. For the time being they were directed to the waiting room.

  She asked Wes for the twentieth time if he had called Violet.

  “She’s on her way,” he assured her, and draped an arm around her shoulders.

  Lu Jin allowed Destiny to clench her hand.

  “How bad was it?” Destiny asked Wes, unable to bear another moment of not knowing.

  His hesitation wrenched Destiny’s heart.

  “I really can’t say,” he finally answered.

  The other guys, still dressed in their sweats and T-shirts, paced in front of her. She wanted to scream and tell them to stop. Their pacing was increasing her anxiety, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

  “Would you like for me to bring you something to drink—some water, perhaps?” Wes asked.

  “No, thank you.” She looked up at him and for first time noticed the deep lines etched into his features. He’d been Miles’s childhood friend—had teased him mercilessly about this silly family curse—and now this.

  She smiled and watched helplessly as a tear slid from his eyes.

  He jumped from his seat and mumbled, “I got to get some air.”

  Lu Jin dropped Destiny’s hand and stood, then as if in afterthought, she looked down at Destiny.

  “It’s okay,” Destiny assured her. “Go to him. He needs you,” she said.

  Lu Jin leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks,” she said, and then took off after Wes.

  Destiny watched her and wondered how long had she suspected something between them? She closed her eyes and shook her head. Did it matter?

  Standing, she walked over to the nurses’ station and asked yet again about Miles’s status. At least this time, there was some information about him in their system.

  “It looks like he’s in surgery at the moment,” the nurse named Theresa said, without taking her eyes from the computer screen.

  Surgery? Destiny’s heart slammed against her rib cage. “What type of surgery?”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m not pulling that information up. I’m sure that one of the doctors will be out here to speak with you soon.”

  With no other option, she turned away from the station and returned to the waiting room, all the while praying for a miracle.

  * * *

  Violet and Adele arrived at the hospital. Both wore the same stricken expressions. Destiny greeted Miles’s mother with open arms and Violet slid into her embrace quietly. Then Adele joined their embrace.

  An hour later, there was still no word from the doctors.

  “I can’t stand this,” Destiny said, and then pressed a hand against her mouth. Tears glided down her face as she prepared herself for the worst. Only bad news could take so long, she reasoned.

  “I need to get out of here,” Destiny finally said and bolted from the waiting room.

  “Wait. I’ll come with you,” Adele said, rushing behind her.

  Outside, Destiny inhaled Atlanta’s muggy humidity as though it was the finest tropical breeze while tears fell freely down her face.

  “Destiny?”

  She heard her mother behind her, but she wasn’t ready to slip her brave face back on—not yet. “It’s all right, Mom. I’m fine,” she lied, without turning to face her.

  Adele moved next to her and draped a supportive arm around her. “You are far from being all right,” she said.

  Destiny closed her eyes and pursed her trembling lips together.

  “Come on. You can talk to me.”

  Destiny gave a half laugh and pulled away. “Well, that’s a new one,” she said, unable to rein in her sarcasm.

  “W-what is that suppose to mean?” Adele asked, hurt echoed clearly in her voice.

  Destiny faced her. “Don’t you remember the last time we were here?”

  Adele’s face clouded.

  “I do. I remember it quite well actually. We were here waiting for the final word on Adam. Is this beginning to sound vaguely familiar?”

  “Destiny, don’t.”

  “Don’t what—talk about Adam? Hell, that should be easy, we haven’t talked about him in twelve years. But you know what, Mom? I want to talk about him. I want you to know that there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him. It kills me to know that you blame him for Dad’s death.”

  Adele’s usual calm demeanor was shattered and she looked on the verge of tears.

  “I’m sorry, Mom,” Destiny lowered her voice, regretting her outburst.

  “There’s no need for you to be sorry,” Adele said. “You’re just saying how you feel. You should never be sorry for that.” She reached inside her purse and removed a tissue.

  Destiny stared at her. “How do you feel?


  “Ashamed.” Adele flashed her a brief smile. “Ashamed because you’re right. I did blame Adam for Edward’s death. Pain has a way of easing itself when there’s someone to blame for it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anyone to blame for Adam’s

  death. It’s sort of a weird cycle I have going inside of my head. It’s stupid really.” She sniffed and blotted her eyes. “Really stupid.”

  In that brief moment, Destiny realized what she was doing; she was picking this moment to lash out at her mother to cover up what was going on now. She moved over to her mother and draped her arms around her. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  Adele reached up and caressed her daughter’s cheek. “And I didn’t mean to hurt you all these years.”

  They stood beneath the portico of the emergency room entrance for some time and when they returned inside, they were puzzled to find the waiting room empty of their friends.

  “Excuse me,” Destiny said as she once again returned to the nurses’ station. “Was there any news on Miles Stafford?”

  Nurse Theresa looked at her. “What was the name again?”

  “Stafford,” she said.

  The woman typed in the name, and then winced as she looked back up at her. “It looks like he’s been moved to I.C.U.—it doesn’t look like he’s regained consciousness.”

  Destiny nearly crumbled to the floor. “May I see him? I believe our other friends and family have already gone back there.”

  “Just follow the signs leading down that hall and it will take you to I.C.U.”

  “Thank you.” Destiny flashed her a weak and trembling smile. She and her mother turned away and headed in the direction the young nurse had pointed them.

  * * *

  Nurse Beverly returned to her chair and looked over at her coworker Theresa who was solemnly shaking her head.

  “What’s with you?” Beverly asked.

  “That poor woman. She’s here to see that shooting victim Miles Stanford up in I.C.U.”

  Beverly turned and caught a glimpse of the woman just before she turned a corner out of sight. “Humph. I thought she was here to a Miles Stafford.”

  * * *

  Miles smiled slyly at his family and friends, touched by their concern. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” he assured them. “I just have to wear this cast for a while—no big deal.”

  “You scared me to death.” Violet threw her arms around him.

  He winced in pain but didn’t dare to tell her to loosen her grip. He made a quick scan of the crowd and grew concerned when he didn’t see Destiny.

  Lu Jin followed his gaze. “Oh!” She perked up. “We forgot to tell Destiny you were okay. I’ll go get her. She’s just right outside.”

  Miles relaxed. “No, that’s okay. I’m free to go—I’ll get her.”

  “Well, we better hurry. She was a wreck when the nurses mistakenly told her you were in surgery.”

  Miles and the gang headed out of the hospital through the emergency room doors, and Miles was puzzled yet again when he didn’t see Destiny.

  “Well, they were out here a few minutes ago,” Lu Jin said.

  Miles frowned. “You guys, go ahead on. I’ll find Destiny and catch up with you later.”

  “Are you sure?” Wes asked. “We don’t mind waiting.”

  “I’m not leaving here without you,” Violet stated flatly.

  “Then you can help me find her,” he said. “The rest of you, go on. I’m fine.” After a few pats on the back and hugs, Miles was finally free to go and search for Destiny.

  Nurse Theresa looked thoroughly embarrassed by her big blunder and informed Miles that she had sent Destiny to I.C.U. for Miles Stanford.

  Guessing at the torment Destiny may be going through, Miles and Violet rushed in the direction the nurse had pointed.

  * * *

  Destiny and Adele finally made it to the intensive care unit and asked one of the nurses for Miles’s room.

  “I’m sorry,” Nurse Stacy said, ashen-faced. “Mr. Stanford has passed away.”

  “What?” Destiny slumped back against her mother.

  “I’m sorry, but if you want to talk to Dr. Bradley, he’s still talking to the other family members down the hall.”

  Destiny simply stared at the woman.

  “Thank you,” Adele said, and turned Destiny away from the nurses’ station.

  “I don’t believe it,” Destiny murmured. “He’s gone.”

  “Shh. Now, now.” Her mother led her a small group of chairs.

  Destiny collapsed in one and released a floodgate of tears.

  Adele pressed her daughter’s head onto her shoulder.

  “All this time, he knew. He tried to tell us, but we wouldn’t believe him.” She closed her eyes and wanted to crawl inside herself. “I don’t think I can handle this,” she said.

  “I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but you will,” Adele encouraged in a small trembling voice. “Trust me, you will.”

  Destiny shook her head. “It just isn’t fair. There wasn’t enough time.” She pulled away from her mother and tried to wipe away her tears, but her attempts failed as more tears slid from her eyes. Frustrated, she lowered her head into her hands and wept.

  Adele pulled her back into her embrace.

  “What am I going to do?” Destiny asked. “I loved him—and I waited too long to tell him.”

  “Shh, honey. I’m sure he knew.”

  Miles rushed up the hall, and the sound of a woman’s mournful tears reached his ears.

  “It’s not enough,” Destiny sobbed. “I wanted to grow old with him—and have his children.”

  Miles stopped in his tracks, surprised at what he was hearing.

  “I woke up this morning with everything,” Destiny went on to say. “Now, I have nothing.”

  “That’s not true, Desi,” Miles said. “You still have me.”

  Destiny and Adele jumped from the chairs and turned around.

  “Miles!” Destiny, unable to believe her eyes, raced toward him with her arms opened.

  He swept her up into his embrace and spun her around. When he’d finally set her down, he was stunned to see her still crying. “There’s no need for these.” He wiped at her tears. “I’m here and I’m never going to leave you.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that.” Destiny wagged her finger at him.

  “You do that.” He kissed her. “You do that.”

  Violet and Adele drifted toward each other, fresh tears springing from their eyes.

  “What do you think about a winter wedding?” Violet leaned over and asked Adele.

  “I think that only gives us a couple of months to plan—but it’s definitely doable.”

  And about that curse...

  Epilogue

  Three years later...

  Destiny and Miles returned to Violet’s house late in the evening exhausted. So much so, in fact, they collapsed on the sofa instead of journeying upstairs to the guest room.

  “What a day,” Destiny said, kicking off her high heels and enjoying the instant relief to her feet.

  “Tell me about it.” Miles yawned and draped an arm around her shoulders to pull her closer.

  Violet stuck her head around the corner to peek into the living room. “I thought I heard you two in here.” She smiled and entered the room carrying a large box. “How was the wedding?”

  “Wonderful...considering.” An instant memory of the day’s drama popped into Destiny’s mind.

  Miles chuckled. “At least it wasn’t us running around like chickens with their heads cut off.”

  “Yeah. It was sort of a sweet revenge to see Lu Jin and Wes go through the motions this time. Wasn’t it, hon?”

  Miles gave her a quick kiss. “Definitely.”

  “So everything went without a hitch?”

  Destiny and Miles looked at each other and laughed.

  “We didn’t say that,” Miles said. “Theo, of course, was one of the groomsme
n, but he had gotten drunk the night before and was still suffering a severe hangover. We didn’t think he was going to make it down the aisle.”

  Destiny jumped in. “Lu Jin had a bad case of wedding jitters. For a moment there I really thought she was going to leave Wes standing at the altar.”

  Miles glanced over at her in mild shock. “Wes nearly did the same thing.”

  They laughed again.

  Violet shook her head as she headed toward the vacant love seat beside the sofa. “Sounds like I missed quite a wedding.” She sat down and placed the box on the coffee table.

  “The minister was an hour late. The ring bearer tripped and the rings rolled under the pews—that took another thirty minutes to find both rings. And all the while, I had to try and convince Lu Jin that none of this was a sign of their marriage being doomed.”

  Violet laughed and withdrew a tissue from the table to blow her nose.

  Miles frowned. “Your cold hasn’t gotten any better?”

  Violet blotted her nose. “Actually, I’m starting to feel much better.”

  “I hope little Miles wasn’t too much trouble for you,” Destiny said, worrying.

  Violet waved off her concern. “Don’t be ridiculous. My grandson is always the perfect angel.”

  The exaggeration made Destiny and Miles laugh again.

  “But while he took a nap today, I did do something that I’ve been meaning to do for years.” She clapped her hands and beamed a smile at them.

  “And what’s that?” Miles asked.

  Destiny laid her head against her husband’s chest and slid her arms around his waist while she watched Violet bubble with excitement.

  “I cleaned the attic.”

  Destiny looked up at her husband, struggling not to laugh.

  “Well,” Miles said with a smile hugging his lips, “sounds like you really know how to let your hair down.”

  Violet leaned over and popped him on the knee. “Don’t patronize me.”

  Miles continued to smile.

  “Like I was saying—I was up in the attic and reminiscing about a lot of stuff that’s up there when I came across this box.” She pointed to the one on the table. “It has a lot of personal stuff about Richard—things I’ve never seen before.”

 

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