Stronger Than Ever (My Best Friend)

by Ancelli

“The doctor said really soon.”

  “Jason, we’ve been through so much, but before you I had no one, no family, and really no friends. If it wasn’t for us, I don’t know where I would be. My life with you is a dream come true. You gave me my own family.”

  “Baby, you’re my dream come true. You’ll always have me. I’m yours.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Four days later, Jason and Kay finally got to take Jeremy home.

  They were seated in the living room on the couch, and Angel caressed Jeremy’s cheek while Kay breast-fed him.

  “Mommy, I love him.”

  “He loves you, too.” Kay said, leaning down to kiss her nose.

  Jason came walking out the kitchen “It’s time for bed, princess. I’ll help you get ready.”

  Angel kissed Jeremy on the forehead and kissed Kay. “Good night, Mommy. ’Night, Jer.” She’d already given him a nickname.

  “Good night.”

  Jason picked her up and walked to her bedroom. He gave her a bath and got her ready for bed. He sat on the edge of the bed and read her a story, when she stopped him. “You still love me, Daddy?”

  He was surprised by her question. “I will always love you, princess.” He held her hands. “Why do you ask?”

  “We have a new baby.” She stared at him. “Do you love him and not me?”

  “I love you both with all my heart. Angel, you will always be my little girl, my only princess.” He tucked her in, noticing her eyes were getting heavy. He leaned down, kissed her cheek, and caressed his nose with hers.

  She smiled. “I love you, Daddy.”

  He took her hands and kneeled on the floor. “Let’s say our nightly prayer.”

  “God, thank you for my baby brother, Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, and Cara. Take care of them all. Amen.” She opened her eyes.

  “Amen. Good night.” He got up, turned off her lights and blew a kiss, then walked out of her room.

  He walked out to the living room where Kay was burping Jeremy. “Can I put him down?”

  “Sure.” He leaned down and took him from Kay gently, and walked to his nursery, and sat in the rocking chair. He turned him over his shoulder and started burping him. “You’re already getting so big.” Jeremy burped a couple of times. He changed his position so he could see Jeremy’s face. His son was staring at him with the beginnings of a smile. “I’ve waited for both of you all my life. I have my little girl and you, my son.”

  ***

  Two weeks later

  Kay had just taken a shower and was wrapped in a towel, wondering what in her closet might possibly fit her by now.

  “Don’t get dressed.”

  She turned and smiled. “What do you have in mind?” Jason looked at her and raised his left eyebrow. “We’re supposed to wait.”

  “I know, but that didn’t stop us last time. I can still taste you.” He walked toward her.

  She took his hand. He grabbed her towel and let it fall to the floor.

  “You look so good, for just having my baby,” he said with desire. She went to cover her stomach. “Don’t. Your body is perfect. My baby was in there.” He leaned down and kissed her belly. Jason walked her backward to the bed, making her legs bump the mattress. He lifted her up over the edge and got in between her legs and pushed them apart.

  “Damn, baby, I can’t wait to taste you,” he said with a smile.

  “I think we have a problem,” she said between laughs.

  “What?” he asked with a naughty stare.

  “I want to taste you, too, and I know a position that will work.” She sat up and scrambled to the middle of the bed.

  “I like the way you think.” He climbed on the mattress.

  She got up on her knees. “You lay down.” He got on his back as she climbed over him until her pussy was over his mouth. Spreading her legs apart, he grabbed her waist and pushed her down on his face, then gently sucked on her clit.

  She took his dick and stroked him up and down, as she bobbed her head and sucked his dick, twirling her tongue. Jason moved his hips up, thrusting into her mouth.

  He devoured her pussy with his tongue and fingers, and her juices were all over his chin.

  “Come for me, baby.” He took her clit in between his teeth, gentle sucking on the erect nub.

  “Oh, Jason.” She stopped sucking his dick. The pleasure he gave her hit her like a ton of bricks. She turned around and kneeled in front of his crotch, putting his dick in her mouth and licked around the base and playing with his balls. His balls started getting tight. He gently grabbed her hair and helped guide her up and down. She deep-throated him and he groaned in ecstasy.

  “Baby, I’m coming.” He pulled out of her mouth and came on her legs. “Damn, baby,” he said, leaning toward her. “You’re incredible.”

  Jeremy’s crying came through the monitor. “I’ll go get him while you wash off,” he told her over his shoulder as he went to the bathroom to wash his dick and hands. “Don’t get dressed. You know what he wants. He’s a greedy baby.” He headed out the door.

  Kay took another shower and stepped out. When she opened the door, Jason was on the bed with Jeremy. “Mommy, I’m hungry.” Jason looked up.

  “I bet he is. He’s going to drain me.” She got into the bed, reaching as Jason handed her Jeremy. She put her nipple in his mouth and he was in heaven. She looked over at her husband. “Your mom is so excited about taking care of Jeremy, she can’t wait for me to go back to work.”

  “That’s all she talks about, taking care of her grandson.”

  “She’s the best babysitter,” she said, staring at Jeremy.

  “Baby.”

  “Yes?” She looked up.

  “Angel asked me if I still loved her.”

  “Why would she ask you that?”

  He climbed into bed with her. “Because of Jeremy, I guess. She thinks since he’s here, I would love her less or not love her at all.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I reassured her that I love her with all my heart. I told her I love them both equally. I think she just needed to hear me say it.” He fluffed his pillows.

  “You always know how to calm her and make her feel special,” she said, combing Jeremy’s curls with her fingers.

  “She’ll always be my little girl, no matter how old she is, or how many kids we have.” He kissed her forehead.

  “Do you want more kids?”

  “I’m happy either way. I’m complete,” he said with a smile.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Two months later

  The family had a new routine down. Kay took Angel to school and dropped Jeremy off at his grandparents in the morning and Jason picked them up after work. If anything came up, they would call each other.

  Kay’s secretary buzzed in. “Mrs. Anderson, you have a call on line one. The gentleman said it’s urgent.”

  “Okay, pass it through. Good afternoon, this is Mrs. Anderson. How can I help you?”

  “Don’t hang up. It’s very important,” came the voice of Tommy Blake, her ex.

  “I’m listening.”

  “Kay, my son is very sick. He has sickle cell anemia and he needs a bone marrow transplant.”

  “I’m sorry to hear.”

  “I’m calling you because I’ve used all my resources. The doctors have tested all my kids, my wife and me, but we’re not a match. Kay, I know your daughter is mine. I need you to please have her tested. He needs this transplant.”

  “Tommy, I’m sorry for what you’re going through, but Angel’s not your daughter. I…I can still have her tested to see if she’s a match. Give me the doctor’s number so I can ask him questions and he can explain the procedure to me. You do know I have to ask Jason?”

  “It’s 555-6615. I know she’s my daughter, Kay, and if Jason gets in my way, I will have no other choice but to go to court and petition an emergency blood test. You shouldn’t have lied to Jason.” He hung up the phone.

  Staring at th
e handset, she dialed the doctor’s number and made an appointment for the following day.

  ***

  As she sat waiting in the doctor’s office, all Kay could think of was Jason’s hostility upon hearing about the conversation she’d had with Tommy.

  “No, no, no, Kay!”

  “Jason, can you at least come with me to the doctor’s office? I’m not doing this for him. I’m doing it for the little boy.”

  “Kay, I’ll go. I’ll sit and listen to the doctor and my answer is going to be the same.” He stormed off toward the back yard.

  The doctor came into the office introduced himself and shook both their hands.

  “My name is Doctor Stephen Ford. I’m told you’re here to talk about donating bone marrow for Tomas Jr.”

  “What are the risks to marrow donation?” Kay asked.

  “I want to assure donor safety, but no medical procedure is risk-free. A small percentage of donors experience a serious complication due to anesthesia or damage to bone, nerve, or muscle tissue in their hip region.” They looked squarely at Kay. “Who would be donating?”

  “My daughter. She’ll soon be five.”

  Jason, as he’d promised, listened without saying a word.

  “Ma’am, I told Mr. Blake that the only way I would allow a child to donate bone marrow is if there is no adult match. I really wouldn’t recommend a child.”

  “Can she be tested just as a precaution, in case they don’t find anyone else? He told me his kids were tested already.”

  “His kids haven’t been tested yet, but even if they were a match, there are a lot of legal grounds he would have to go through. He would have to prove that we did everything to find an adult donor.”

  “Sir, thank you for your time,” Jason said, standing up and extending his hand to the doctor.

  Kay looked aghast at Jason. “But—”

  “There are no buts, Kay. Angel is not doing this. End of discussion.” He opened the door and walked out.

  “I apologize for my husband,” Kay said, looking at the doctor in embarrassment.

  “Ma’am, I don’t blame him. You’re asking him to risk his daughter’s health.”

  ***

  How can she even think about putting our daughter’s health in jeopardy? There were so many other options. Jason had just gotten tested to see if he was a match. He was coming around the corner, when he saw Tommy and who he guessed was Tommy’s wife, and the woman appeared furious. Jason slowed his stride so he could listen.

  “Look, I didn’t know,” Tommy told his wife.

  “You didn’t know you had another daughter?”

  “It was a one-night thing. She didn’t mean anything to me.” He grabbed the woman’s hand. “If she’s a match, she could save his life.

  “Then what?”

  “I don’t care about that little girl. She’s nothing to me. If she is a match, after the procedures she’ll be out of our lives.”

  Jason stalked up to them. “Excuse me.” At that moment he realized the woman was the same one who’d stopped him from beating Tommy up five years ago.

  “What do you want?” Tommy asked.

  “I’m going to tell you this in the nicest way possible. Angel is not getting tested. Find another way.” He stared him down. “She’s my daughter.”

  “Whatever. It’s not your decision, it’s Kay.”

  “You think.” He looked over at the woman. “Ma’am, how long have you two been married?”

  “We’ve been married six years. Why?”

  Son of a bitch. He was married when he was with Kay. She had no idea.

  “Well, my daughter is four. So I guess that means he cheated on you, if she is his.”

  The woman stared at Tommy. “You didn’t tell me she was four, you fucking bastard. How could you?” She looked over at Jason.

  “Ma’am, I’m so sorry to hear about your son and I hope you find a donor.”

  ***

  Later on that evening, Jason went into the house, placed his briefcase on the side table, and walked toward the kitchen. “Did you eat?” Kay asked him.

  “No, I’m not hungry. Where are the kids?” He opened the refrigerator.

  “They’re sleeping. Do you realize what time it is? Where have you been?” She had her hands on her hips.

  He grabbed a bottle of water, opened it with a loud crack, and started drinking.

  “Jason, I’m talking to you.”

  “I had to work late.” He left the kitchen.

  She followed him. “Why didn’t you call? I was worried.”

  He could see the fear in her eyes. “Sorry. I was consumed with work.” At that moment, Jeremy began to cry. Kay began to walk toward the sound.

  “I’ll get him.” She stopped as he went past her to Jeremy’s room.

  He stepped in the room, over to the crib and smiled. “Hey, boo bear.” He picked him up and kissed his cheek. “Are you hungry? Yeah, you are. You’re getting so big.” He walked out the room.

  “I’m taking Angel to get tested,” Kay said without looking at him.

  “The hell you are.” Jason snorted, remembering what he’d overheard Tommy say.

  “Jason, I’m only testing her. There’s no risk in doing that.”

  “So what if she’s a match, then what?”

  “If that happens, then we’ll discuss it.”

  “I said no.”

  “Excuse me, I have no say? She can save a little boy’s life,” Kay said.

  “Kay, this might sound cruel, but I couldn’t care less. My daughter comes first.”

  “How could you say that? What if it was your son?”

  “I would never put another child’s life in danger when there are other options. Do you think he cares what happens to Angel?”

  “I’m not doing this for him, and yes, I do think he cares. He’s changed.”

  He gave her a sarcastic smile. “Really.” He handed her the baby. “He’s hungry.”

  Kay took the baby and settled him against her chest.

  “Kay, if you go through with this I’ll take you to court.” He stormed off to their bedroom.

  She looked at Jeremy. “Did he just say he’ll take me to court?”

  She went into their bedroom. He was already in bed, reading a magazine. She climbed into her side of the bed. “Look, we need to talk.” She leaned into him.

  He closed the magazine. “There’s nothing to talk about. I meant what I said.” He turned his body from hers and turned off his nightstand light.

  Chapter Twenty

  He stormed into Kay’s office and slammed the door. “What the fuck, Kay?” Jason yelled, moving toward her desk. “You went behind my back and got her tested.”

  She jumped out of her chair. “It’s not want you think. I just got her tested. That’s it.”

  “When did you get her tested?” He stared at her.

  “It’s been a week.”

  He shook his head and laughed. “A week, a fucking week. Right after I told you not to do it.”

  “You don’t give me orders. She’s my daughter.”

  “Oh, now she’s your daughter, not ours. You sure aren’t acting like a mother.”

  She was hurt by his comment. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “You went behind my back!”

  “You didn’t leave me any other option.”

  “You know what I see, you wanted Tommy to finally know Angel was his daughter and you found the right moment to do it!”

  “Why do you always think less of me when it comes to him? It’s not my fault you’re insecure.”

  “Now I’m fucking insecure.” He stopped, and looked at her. “When you get home today, my shit will be gone.”

  “What?”

  “I can’t take it anymore. Ever since he came back into our life, all you’ve done is hide things from me. I love you, but I need some space.”

  “Jason, look at me.” She grabbed his hands. He stared at her. “You’re going to leave me
and the kids.”

  “I’ll always be there for the kids and you. You know that, Kay.”

  “You need fucking space, then I’ll leave. It’s your house. I’ll move out.” Kay released his hands.

  “It’s your home. I would never ask you to pull them out of their comfort.”

  “Jason, don’t do this,” she said, crying.

  “I have to do this, for us. I’ll call you so we can talk about visitation. If she is a match, I will find out. The next step will be court.” He turned and walked out.

  Kay went back to her desk, sat down, put her face in her hands, and cried.

  “Kay, are you okay?” her assistant asked. “Do you want me to reschedule your next appointment?”

  She wiped her face. “I’m okay, Miriam. Don’t cancel.” This too shall pass. Be strong.

  ***

  “He left me,” she said between tears.

  “Are you sure, Kay? Did he say those words?” Sophia said the words calmly from her perch in front of the desk.

  “No, not exactly. He said he needed some space from me.” She moved her fingers over the keyboard.

  “Well, Kay, what you did was wrong. You went behind his back, knowing how he felt.”

  “I see, so you’re on his side now.”

  “No, Kay, I’m on your side. But a friend will tell you the truth no matter what.”

  “I want you on my side. He thinks I did it because I still have feelings for Tommy, but Sophia, I don’t. Jason is everything to me. It’s a kid’s life we’re talking about.”

  “Do you have unresolved feelings for Tommy?” Sophia stared at her.

  “Fuck no. Sophia you’re the only other person that knows what he did to me. I don’t have any feelings for him.”

  “Did you ever sit back and try to see it his way? The doctor told you they didn’t use all their resources yet. You should have waited and not taken Tommy’s word for it. You already know he lied to you about getting his kids tested. In Jason’s eyes, you chose Tommy over him and Angel.”

  “That’s not true. All I did was take her to get tested.”