“Brian, sweetie can you please hurry up? I don’t want to be late for work.” Brian was quite groggy. He had just woken up and was not in the mood. He dragged himself out of the shower and quickly put on his clothes. He sighed. He hated this. He wondered why she was so scatter-brained sometimes. He prepared himself and headed down the stairs begrudgingly.
“Brian, I need you to hurry up! Please!” he quickened his pace and was finally downstairs.
“Here I am.”
“Good, now let’s leave.” She hurried him out the door and into the car. It was a 2007 Green Honda Accord. He sat himself comfortably in the front. She got in the car, locked the doors and turned on the ignition. She was going to drop him off first and then head to work. In the middle of the journey, she encountered traffic.
“Ahhh!” she groaned. She was going to be late for sure. She called her boss and informed him that she would be late. He didn’t seem to mind. He ended the call. She relaxed a bit knowing that her boss didn’t seem to mind. She was one of the best workers and he knew he could never find another person like her. Her body eased as he once reminded her of that. Once the traffic had eased up, she began to turn right and approached the building. Brian got out of the car and waved at her. She got out and hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
“Hey! Not in public, you are embarrassing me!”
“I will embarrass you all I want, young man,” she said as she handed him his lunch, “Have a good day sweetie,” she said as she planted another kiss on his cheek.
He wiped it off and ran inside. He met up with his friends and then the door close.
At least he wasn’t late. She turned the car around and headed to work. She was glad that she got Brian to school on time. She needed to devise a strategy in order to become more punctual. She finally arrived to work. Irv, the security guard greeted her and told her where to park. She thanked Irv and once again told him that he was sweet but he needed to lay of the sweets.
“But, Tina, I am what I eat.” He said as he took another bite out of his donut. She finally found a place to park. She grabbed her briefcase out of the car and locked it. She then headed to the office and eased herself into the car. Five seconds later, Stephanie, the receptionist told her that the boss would like to speak with her.
She got out of her chair and headed to her boss’s office. He seemed to be quite calm over the phone. So why was he calling her now?
She sat herself into one of his office chairs. Oh! How she wished she could get a chair like this! She almost felt herself falling asleep as she was comforted by this amazing black leather chair. She was about to drift off when Herbet Morris entered the room.
“Hi, Tina!” She was startled. She immediately fixed her posture and made herself appear alert.
Morris looked at her. He realized that she looked tired and stressed.
He leaned over and asked her, “Are you ok?”
“Yes, I am fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am. I am fine.”
Morris sighed. He knew she was lying. He sat down next to her and looked at her.
“I know you have a lot on your plate. You have a kid and you are one of the hardest workers on the team. But I am concerned that you have been coming to work late and seem to be unaware of contracts and clients’ needs. Now, I don’t want to fire you because you bring in a lot of clients but you do need to get your act together.”
“Look I am sorry that I am so busy but I will try to get it together.”
Morris smiled at her, “I know you will.” He then asked her politely to leave the room.
Tina left the room and headed to her office. She rested her head on the desk. She really did need some order. She just wanted some assistance. She checked on some of her clients and realized that she needed to check up on Mr. Smith. She dialed the number and he never picked up the phone. She groaned. Nothing seemed to be going right. She just wished her life was different. She picked up the files and read over the contracts to make sure that everything was ok. It was. She smiled. At least, the contracts were fine. She tapped her pen on the desk and wondered if she had made the right decisions and met the right people, would her life be different? She groaned and began to take a nap.
She was immediately interrupted by the ringing of the phone. There was an emergency at the school and she needed to head to the hospital immediately. She left a message for her boss with the secretary and hurried to the Beacon Centre hospital. She asked the nurse for her son and immediately headed towards his room. She saw him hooked up to some breathing tubes. He had an IV in his arms. He looked pale. She began to cry and worry. She paced around trying to make sense of what had happened. A nurse approached her and tapped her on the shoulder. She also looked concerned. She told her that he had passed out due to strenuous activity. He should be fine but the doctors are just running tests before they can let him go. She was relieved to hear that. She rushed to his bedside and held his hand. She looked at him and realized how fragile he was. He was only 11 and looked so small and thin. She wondered if she was a good mother to him. She hated looking at her son in this state. She squeezed his hand and stroked his forehead.
“Mom?” he asked. He was wide awake and looked at her. She planted a kiss on her forehead.
“Yes, Brian?”
“What happened?” He looked around and realized that he was in the hospital. He lay in the bed taking in everything.
“Mom, why am I in the hospital?”
She sighed. “According to the nurse, you were playing and then you passed out. When you didn’t wake up, they brought you here.” She stroked his arm and continued, “They are just running some tests and then you will be out of here.”
He looked up at her and said in a low tone, “I’m scared, mom. I don’t really like hospitals.” He looked around at the strange equipment. He did not feel comfortable in this environment at all.
“I understand. Mommy doesn’t like hospitals either. How about we go for ice cream as soon as this is all over?”
He beamed. A huge smile was plastered all over his face. “Yeah!” he exclaimed, “Ice cream!”
She laughed at his reaction. “Good!”
She was about to leave when Brian looked at her, “Mommy, will you please stay?” She turned around and said, “Sure sweetie.” She immediately turned around and held his hand. She never felt that fear; that potential of actually losing him until today. It was jarring. She was just glad that it wasn’t serious. When Brian fell asleep, she stepped outside and called her boss. Her boss understood what she was going through and told her that she still needed to get her life in order. He then ended the call. She headed back inside and looked at Brian sleeping peacefully in the bed. He was so precious. She remembered everything. She remembered when he was first delivered and when he took his first steps and said his first few words. A tear fell from her cheek. She wiped it off. The nurse rushed right over to her with the results of the test. She was relieved. She can carry him home.
Chapter 2
Brian seemed to enjoy his ice cream as his mother tried to get in contact with her clients. They all seemed to be busy. She groaned. She wished she was born into money. She had been working hard all of her life and never seemed to have enough. She had enough saved to get by but remembered that she also had to pay for the hospital bills. She needed to find another way to make money or to work longer hours. She looked at Brian and knew that she would do anything to make sure that he had everything that he needed. She was concerned that he didn’t seem to have a father figure. He was getting older and soon would be asking a lot of questions that she couldn’t answer by herself. She sighed. It wasn’t like she wasn’t trying. She had been on numerous dates. The guys were always suave and sophisticated and were so romantic and patient and loving and loyal. They were also charming and charismatic. But the moment that she mentioned she had a son, they would immediately disappear.
Brian kept licking the ice cream until it plopped over. He l
ooked at it sadly.
“It’s ok, mommy will be you another one.” She headed to the shop and bought him another one. He beamed. He was so happy with his replacement. He began licking it right away. She smiled at him. She may not have been a big success after college, but he was her biggest achievement to date. They left the shop and continued their journey. Brian was heading to his grandparent’s house. He happily walked alongside his mother and smiled. He had a milk mustache from the ice cream and could not be prouder of it. As soon as they reached the house, she immediately noticed it and tried to wipe it of but it was stuck to his face. She knocked on the door and her mother answered.
“Hi, mom. I need to use the bathroom.” She immediately headed to the bathroom and blotted a piece of napkin with water. She then called Brian to the bathroom and began to wipe off the somewhat indelible moustache. When his upper lip was clean, they then exited the bathroom.
“Hi, pumpkin! Oh look how big my grandson has gotten!”
“Grandpa!” exclaimed Brian as he ran towards her father.
She smiled, “Hi dad!” His free arm stretched out as he beckoned for her. He then hugged the both of them and then let them go. He was always happy to have guests.
“I am glad that you found time to visit your old man and you brought my favorite person,” he said as he asked Brian to give him a high five.
“Hey! I thought I was your favorite person!”
He looked over at Brian and lifted him up and carried him around like an airplane. Brian was amused and helped his grandfather with the sounds.
He then looked over at Tina and responded, “Not anymore.” He continued to play with Brian and then when he was tired, rested him on his feet.
“Again! Grandpa Again!” he exclaimed jumping up and down on the floor.
“Sweetheart, grandpa needs a break.” He reclined himself on the Lazyboy and put his feet up. Her mother came into the room and looked at them suspiciously.
“So, what brings you here, Tina? You hardly phone or visit. So, why did you suddenly decide to visit?”
Tina looked around and sighed. She felt like a horrible daughter.
“Mom, I am so sorry. I have been so busy with work and Brian that I just can’t seem to do everything. I promise to call and text and visit more often.”
“Mhm. That is what you said the last time.”
“Come on mom, life is just rough me for right now. It’s not easy being a single mother. I have all of these responsibilities and no help.”
Her mother cleared her throat. “Child, we are always here to help. If someone could just put their pride aside and ask for it, she might actually get it.”
She looked at her mother, “fair enough.”
She then slightly bent over and looked at Brian, “Does anyone want cookies?”
Brian screamed, “Yay! I do!” she then grabbed his hand and headed to the kitchen. Before she left, she looked at Tina and said, “Sweetheart, you know that we always love you and are always here to help.” She then headed into the kitchen. The relationship between her parents was always quite strange after she became a mother. Her parents always had high hopes for her future. She was intelligent and ambitious and had her whole life ahead of her. They expected her to become a successful businesswoman and now she was a mother. She always delayed visits because she could feel the tension in the air. When she did visit, she made sure that they were brief because she could not stay in this awkward environment for very long. She walked into the kitchen and saw her mother giving her soon one of her organic cookies. Her mother used to make very fattening dishes filled with sugar when she was growing up, but ever since she got older, her diet changed. Her mother had a knack for making amazing and healthy foods, even down to the desserts! She never worried for a minute about her son’s diet when she brought him over. While Brian was busy eating, her mother walked over to her and said, “I think Brian is a bit skinny for his age. Is everything ok?” She looked at him. He did seem a bit skinnier than usual but it was no call for concern.
“I know but he normally looks like that.”
Her mother looked at him again, “Honey, look at the bags under his eyes! You can’t say that those are normal for a boy his age! I think those doctors in the hospital are not giving you the full story. I think you need a second opinion.
She groaned. She knew her mother could be a nag but maybe she was right. Maybe she should carry him to another doctor.
“But where am I going to find the money?”
“What part of “we are willing to help” don’t you understand?”
She sighed, “But I don’t always want to depend on you for everything.” They both looked at Brian as he began to cough. “Right now, I don’t think you have much of a choice.” Tina immediately ran to Brian’s side. She got him a glass of water and rubbed his back while he drank it.
She then looked at him and said, “Why don’t you go lie down while mommy talks to grandma and grandpa?”
He was hesitant at first. All he did for the entire afternoon was lie down! With some convincing from his mother, he begrudgingly headed upstairs, slowly putting one foot in front of the other. When he was finally upstairs, she sat down and spoke with her parents.
“I know that child is sick. I can feel it. Something is wrong with him,” said her mother.
Tina was inclined to believe her. She had a sixth sense about these things.
“I understand but where should I take him? Where am I going to find that type of money?”
Her father looked at her and said, “I have some money saved up and I can lend you some to pay the medical bills. I think the life of our grandson is more important. I would be willing to help you out with this.”
“So would I. Your father and I have also made some successful investments and we would not mind helping you out at all.”
Tina smiled. She was fortunate to still be able to depend on her parents after everything, she was grateful for everything that they had done. Her phone than rang. Her boss wanted her back at work. She groaned.
“Mom, dad, can you look after Brian please? I have to get back to work.”
She decided to head upstairs and to tell Brian that she was leaving.
“Brian, mommy has to get back to work, I will see you later, ok?”
There was absolute silence. Brian did not respond.
“Brian? Brian?” Only quiet responded to her cries.
“Brian!” she ran up the stairs and her parents followed. They went to the guest room and were stunned by what they saw. Brian was lying on the floor and blood came out of his mouth. Her mother immediately called the ambulance.
Brian was once again hooked up to the machines. Tina was worried. She was back here again in less than 24 hours. Something must be wrong with Brian. The same nurse entered the room. She seemed very scared. She looked at her and then immediately bowed her head.
“Hi, Ms. James, I am sorry to tell you this, but it is our fault. We just acquired some interns from medical school and they seemed to have mixed up the charts with another 11 year old. Your son is very sick. His bloodwork is showing some abnormalities and we are currently running multiple tests.”
“That’s what you said the last time! I could sue this hospital for this! This is my son’s life that we are talking about here!” She knew she was shouting. Her parents who had accompanied her to the hospital, tried to calm her down. She was enraged by the nurse’s announcement and felt like she had every right to be. She hated that they did not pick up on it sooner. Her parents pulled her away and carried her to the seat. She immediately began to cry. She hated the fact that she couldn’t do more to help her son. Her parents began to comfort her and reassured her. She wiped her eyes and sat up. She never expected something like this to happen to her son; her own flesh and blood. Her eyes were still red and her face was stained with tears. She excused herself and headed to the bathroom.
She washed her face and took a good look at herself in the mirror. She wished that he
r son did not have to suffer. She just wished she knew what it was. The uncertainty was doing more damage than the actual diagnosis. When she had finally composed herself, she left the bathroom and headed back into the waiting room. As she was walking back to her parents, the nurse approached them.
“Hi, are you Brian’s mother?” Tina nodded. “Yes, why? What’s the matter with my son?”
“I think you all should have a seat.” She sat down nervously in her chair. She knew it was bad words. She looked at the nurse and knew that she was trying to find the right words in order to explain the situation. Then she finally did.
“I am sorry to tell you this but your son has leukemia. We need to start chemotherapy right away.”
Chapter 3
“Hey Tina! Why don’t you take a break from your studies and go to that frat party five blocks down?” Tina’s roommate Jessie was a party animal. She had to be at every party on campus. She was beautiful with long, straight black hair. Her parents were rich so she could do whatever she wanted. She was guaranteed a smooth ride throughout life. Tina, on the other hand worked for everything she wanted. Her grades were one of those current tasks. She wanted to leave college and get a good job. She wanted to have an amazing life and be her own boss. Distractions such as drinking and parties were simply not necessary. She was one of the top students in her class and worked very hard to get there and even harder to stay there.
Jessica always thought she was a bit weird. Tina just always had her nose in a book and refused to move it from that resting position. She enjoyed learning and read even in her spare time. Ideas of business and commerce, Psychology and Philosophy always grabbed her and consumed her. She didn’t have a lot of friends although she and her roommate were quite close. She was happy and comfortable in her solitude. Jessica was the opposite of her and always needed to go out. This time, she was intent on bringing Tina with her.
HIGHLANDER: The Highlander’s Surrender Bride (Scottish Alpha Male Pregnancy Romance) Page 65