Healed (Damaged Souls Book 3)

by Twyla Turner

  “Sorry, Annie. I was just waiting for you to stop talking.” Sloan laughed, as he dodged a smack from the feisty woman. “Annie, this is my girlfriend, Alexis Bolden. Alexis, this cantankerous woman is my nanny, Annie Graves.”

  “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Graves.” Lexi shook her hand and flushed at Sloan calling her his girlfriend again.

  “Oh sweetie, I ain’t never been married. Too busy taking care of this one, to worry about a husband. So no missus needed. Just call me Annie.” She said, kindly.

  “Hi, Annie.” Lexi corrected.

  “Come on in. No need in letting the flies in, standing here flapping at the gums.” Annie waved them in.

  “Where’s my parents, Annie?” Sloan asked, getting down to business.

  “Your daddy went out to play golf. Your mama is upstairs, taking her afternoon nap. They decided it was best to treat her here, where she’d be comfortable. So now, the doctors and a private nurse, make visits to care for her.” Annie explained.

  “My dad is out playing golf while my mom is slowly dying. That’s typical.” Sloan shook his head, angrily.

  “I think he hasn’t faced it yet. So he’s going on about his life like nothing’s changed.” Annie said, trying to justify his behavior.

  “Don’t make excuses for him Annie. He’s an asshole, and you know it.” Sloan grumbled.

  “Watch your mouth, young man! You don’t talk about your daddy like that. He might be difficult, but he still deserves your respect.” Annie scolded him.

  “Ha! Since when? He may have knocked my mom up, but that was it. He didn’t raise me, and neither did my mom. You’re basically the one that taught me right from wrong and encouraged everything I did.” Sloan said, placing an arm around Annie’s shoulders.

  “Well, I did do that. You were a wild little thing. You’ve grown into a fine man though, Sloan Stryker.” Annie reached for his hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. “But your father still put a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and paid for your excellent education. And that deserves to be respected. Just remember that.” Annie rationalized.

  “I know, Annie. I’ll try.” Sloan conceded.

  “Now tell me how you met this lovely young woman while we wait for your mama to wake up,” Annie commanded, walking up to Lexi and leading her into the large kitchen.

  ~~~

  Sloan walked into his mother’s bedroom, with a tray of food for her, a little while later. The tray consisted of; a bowl of broth, fresh fruit and a glass of orange juice, as well as a second glass filled with water. When he saw his mother, a pang of guilt, regret and sorrow came over him. Vivian Stryker had always been an attractive, and formidable woman. But now she looked pale, gaunt and much older than her fifty-eight years would suggest.

  He walked over to the side of her massive bed and placed the tray on the bedside table. He tried to be silent, but the clink of the tray alerted her to his presence, and she opened her silvery blue eyes. A warm smile spread across her face, at the sight of him. It was the warmest look he’d ever gotten from her, and he swallowed hard at the missed opportunity, to have a loving relationship with his mother.

  “Sloan.” She said weakly.

  “Hey, Ma.” He said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed.

  Her hand searched for his, and he reached for it, clasping it gently.

  “I’m so glad you came. Annie told me that she called you and that you’d be here soon.” She breathed, and then coughed a bit.

  “You don’t have to talk, Ma,” Sloan told her.

  “No, no. I’m alright. I haven’t spoken to you for quite some time. I’m not gonna waste it now. Help me sit up.” She said, as she tried to lift herself, but was too weak to do it herself.

  Sloan clasped her gently under her arms, pulled her up into a sitting position, and fluffed the pillows behind her, to make her more comfortable. She weighed next to nothing, which worried Sloan more than he thought it would.

  “How are you feeling?” He asked, gruffly.

  “Oh, I’m finer than a frog’s hair split three ways.” She teased him.

  “Then I’d say, you’re doing alright.” Sloan responded.

  “So I hear you’ve become a TV star.” Vivian smiled brightly at him.

  “I’m no star. I did get a TV show, though. We just started taping it, so it won’t be aired for a few more months.” Sloan said, modestly.

  “Oh, you’re a star alright. You just don’t know it yet. But I have faith that the moment everyone gets a good look at my baby, you’ll be a hit.” Vivian said, proudly.

  “I wish you would’ve had this much faith in me before. Maybe things could’ve been different then.” Sloan said, sadly.

  “Sloan sweetie, I am truly sorry for the pressure that your father and I put on you. That’s one of the reasons I’m glad you came, so that I could get this off of my chest.” Vivian took a deep breath and continued. “Being our only living child, I know we put the weight of the company, and its success…at least our idea of it anyway, all on you. We were hard on you, but it was only because we wanted you to succeed. We wanted you to be happy. But in hindsight, I can see that what we thought would make you happy, only made you miserable. You were such a caring and giving little boy, with no thought or care about how others perceived you. Your father and I, have always been driven to be the best at everything. To make the most money. To have the finest things. And struggling with this illness, I have come to realize, that all that means nothing when you’re coming to the end of your journey on this earth. Hell, all the money in the world, isn’t gonna stop me from dying. All that matters is: were you loved, and did you love in return.” Vivian took a labored breath and finished her speech. “I don’t want to be remember for having the biggest house. I want to be remembered for kindness and generosity, but I think it’s too late for that. But you have time. So make your mark in this world. And make it a good one.”

  “I’ll do my best, mama.” Sloan rasped, his voice filled with emotion. “And I’m sorry, for being so difficult. I know I wasn’t easy to deal with at times.

  “Oh, you were headstrong, no doubt. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re happier making your own way.” Vivian grinned at him.

  “Yeah, I think so. The business side of things was never my forte. I’ve always been better with my hands.” Sloan agreed.

  “I remember. We couldn’t get you enough Lincoln Logs and Legos.” Vivian chuckled, softly.

  “Oh God! I forgot all about that.” Sloan laughed with her.

  “Yep. My little builder.” Vivian paused, and then branched off to another subject. “So…I hear you’re dating someone.”

  “Yes. And she’s perfect.” Sloan said, proudly.

  “You do seem happy,” Vivian commented. “So your father said that she’s supposedly black.”

  “There’s no supposing. She is black.” Sloan said, without shame.

  “But do you have anything in common with her?” Vivian asked, uncertain.

  “More than you know. She’s helped me with my PTSD, and because of her, I’ve even started to go to therapy. And she is the only person that was willing to give me a chance at my construction career. If it weren't for her, I would’ve never gotten this TV show. She’s changed my life, Ma.” Sloan said, sincerely.

  “Then, that’s all that matters. I’m glad she found you. You definitely seem healthier than when you left.” Vivian conceded, to Sloan’s surprise.

  “That’s it? You’re not gonna freak out on me?” Sloan said, in shock.

  “I’m not a monster! And besides, life kinda gets put into perspective when you’ve got both feet in the ground.” Vivian said, with a raised brow.

  “Well then, I might as well tell you that…she’s here. I brought her with me.” Sloan admitted. “I just wanted to make sure that you wouldn’t embarrass me before I introduced her to you.”

  “I would never!” Vivian said, insulted.

  “Ha! Any girl that I brought home that wasn’t
Victoria, you both would humiliate before she could barely get in the door. And those were the white ones. If I brought any woman of color home; Black, Hispanic, Asian or otherwise, you had them running before they even cleared the driveway.” Sloan reminded her.

  “Alright. Alright. We were terrible human beings. But we thought that if you married Victoria, we could eventually combine our two companies and that it would benefit the Stryker-Sinclair dynasty.” Vivian defended their actions.

  “Victoria is a conniving, mean-spirited, hateful woman. She would’ve made my life miserable. The company is not worth my sanity.” Sloan said, with a look of horror on his face, imagining a life with Victoria.

  “She was always kind of a brat. I’ll give you that.” Vivian smiled, conspiratorially at him.

  “So do you want to meet her?” Sloan asked his mom.

  “Your girlfriend? Of course, I would. I have to make sure she passes my mom test.” Vivian smiled slyly, at the look of trepidation that crossed his face. “I’m just messing with you. I’ll be on my best behavior.

  “Thank God! I’ll be right back,” Sloan said, getting off of the bed, to go get Lexi.

  Sloan was deep in thought, as he walked down the stairs and headed towards the kitchen. He was actually enjoying the newfound camaraderie, he was sharing with his mother. He wished that it had always been that way. He actually liked the woman back in the master bedroom.

  He walked into the kitchen and found Lexi laughing hysterically, sitting at the kitchen table while Annie regaled her with the adventures of Sloan Stryker, the little boy, and teenager.

  “I told him not to mess with that rooster, but he did it anyway. I tell you, it chased him all around that petting zoo, pecking his poor little butt! And he screamed like a little girl, ‘til one of the workers was able to catch it.” Annie chuckled, at the memory.

  “Oh my God! I…I haven’t laughed that hard, in forever.” Lexi tried to choke down her laughter, seeing Sloan enter the room, as he gave them the squinty eye.

  “Uh huh. I leave you alone for a few minutes, and I come back to find you laughing at my pain.” Sloan smirked at them.

  “Oh, you’re fine now. Your butt is perfect.” Lexi teased him, as she walked over and playfully patted his behind.

  “Look here, woman! No emasculating me, in front of my nanny.” Sloan jokingly reprimanded her, as he kissed her on the temple. “Anyway, I came down to tell you that someone wants to meet you.”

  “Y-Your mother?” Lexi asked, nervously.

  “Yeah. Come on, she won’t bite. Well, she’s too weak to try, anyway.” Sloan took her hand and started pulling her towards the hall.

  “Oh, great. That makes me feel better.” Lexi mumbled, following him through the hall to the sweeping staircase.

  “It’ll be fine.” Sloan soothed.

  They walked up to the third level, and Lexi looked around in awe at the opulence of the mansion. Sloan stopped in front of a set of double doors and opened it wide. Lexi walked in hesitantly. She hadn’t known what to wear to meet his parents. She wasn’t sure if she dressed up too much, it would look like she was trying too hard. But she also didn’t want to look like a bum either. So she went for her go-to outfit. Her wide leg, high waist linen pants and flowing white hi-lo tank top. Not having much time after she’d taken a bath, to wash and style her hair. She took her half straightened hair and put it up in a messy bun, on top of her head. She hoped that her appearance was efficient enough.

  She walked further into the room that made her master bedroom look like a storage closet. Lexi saw a gaunt, translucent skinned, older woman in a large bed that practically swallowed up her slender frame. And as Sloan led her over to the bed, she could see where Sloan had gotten his beautiful eyes from.

  “So I hear you’re the one that has changed my son’s life.” Vivian opened.

  “Hopefully for the better.” Lexi smiled, shyly.

  “It sure does look that way. Now Sloan, introduce us properly.” Vivian instructed, still his etiquette strict mother.

  “Yes, ma’am. Mother, this is Alexis Bolden. Alexis, this is my mom, Vivian Stryker.” Sloan introduced.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Stryker.” Lexi reached out a hand, and his mother shook it weakly.

  “It’s lovely to meet you too, Alexis,” Vivian replied, politely.

  “You can call me, Lexi. Only Sloan, calls me Alexis.” Lexi rolled her eyes at him.

  “That’s because he’s stubborn as a mule.” Vivian teased him.

  “Ma!” Sloan grumbled.

  “My dear, you have the most extraordinary eyes.” His mother complimented Lexi.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Stryker.” Lexi flushed.

  “Oh, call me Vivian. No need to be so formal.” Vivian offered.

  “Ha! Since when?! Formality has been your life’s mission.” Sloan said shocked.

  “Since I started dying. What’s the point now?” Vivian reasoned.

  “Don’t talk like that, Ma.” Sloan swallowed at the reminder.

  “Why? I am dying, sweetie. There’s not a whole lot I can do about it, other than make sure I right a few wrongs before I go.” His mother said honestly.

  “What the hell are you doing here?! And with this trash!” A voice bellowed, from behind them.

  Sloan and Lexi whipped their heads around, to see his father standing in the doorway. Lexi instantly saw the striking resemblance, between father and son. Though the older man had deep blue eyes, and Sloan’s was pale like his mother’s, that’s where the differences stopped. The angry man standing in the doorway was Sloan in about thirty years. Dark hair, with silver weaving in between the dark strands. The square jawline with firm, shapely lips. Tall and broad-shouldered, and handsome as sin. Though Sloan’s scars made him look more rakish than his father.

  “Excuse me?” Sloan said, dangerously low.

  “I said what are you doing in my house, and with that trash?” Nathaniel Stryker, repeated himself, barely containing his rage.

  “First of all, you will not speak to her or about her, in any way that is deemed disrespectful. Or I’ll rip your tongue out, so help me God.” Sloan growled.

  “Sloan!” Both Lexi and Vivian said at the same time. And he held up a hand, to silence them.

  “Second, I’m here because you were too much of a worthless bastard, to call me and tell me that my mother was dying. So I had to hear it from the poor overworked housekeeper. And this is just as much my mother’s house as it is yours, and I’m here to see her, not you.” Sloan said, standing his ground his hands clenched at his sides.

  “I threw you out this house two years ago, and I told you never to come back, and I meant it. GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!” His father bellowed, red faced.

  Sloan started towards his father, his intentions clear when his mother’s voice reached their ears.

  “Sloan, don’t. He’s your father.” She said to him, and then looked at her husband with tears in her eyes. “Nathan, please. I need my son. I’d like to get to know the man he’s become before I leave this earth.” Vivian pleaded.

  “Viv, you’re not dying. So quit saying that!” Sloan’s father said, in heartbreaking denial.

  “Yes, I am. No matter how much you want to believe otherwise. Don’t take away an old dying woman’s wish.” She looked at him, sadly.

  Sloan’s father stared at them for a moment, before pointing to Sloan, and then Lexi.

  “Fine. You can stay, and visit with your mother. But she can’t stay here. I won’t allow it. I talked to Alistair Sinclair, and he told me what she did. I will not have a murderer in my house.” Nathan said, looking at Lexi with disgust.

  Sloan opened his mouth, ready to tell his father to go to hell, but Lexi stopped him before he could get the words out.

  “I can go, Sloan. It’s okay.” She placed a gentle hand on his arm, restraining him from attacking his father. “I have to get ready for my exhibit this weekend, anyway.”

  “Are you sure?” Sloan asked as he
looked down at her, his eyes asking for forgiveness.

  “Yes, I’m sure,” Lexi reassured him.

  “Alright, I’ll walk you out then.” Sloan smiled down at her though it didn’t reach his eyes.

  “It was lovely meeting you, Vivian.” Lexi reached out a hand and clasped hers gently.

  “Take care of him,” Vivian whispered, and Lexi nodded in response.

  Sloan placed his hand at the small of Lexi’s back and walked her towards the bedroom door, past his father. Just as they passed him, Lexi stopped and turned back to look at him.

  “I mean no disrespect, or maybe I do. But for a man of your age, you have a lot of growing up to do.” Lexi said, looking at him with pity in her eyes. “I wish I could say that it was a pleasure to meet you.”

  Lexi turned, and let Sloan lead her out of the house. Tank trotted up to them, taking a break from exploring the yard, as Sloan walked her to her car. Stopping at the driver’s side door, Sloan pulled Lexi into his arms and squeezed her tight. He pulled back to look at her and kissed her softly on the nose.

  “I’m so sorry for that.” Sloan apologized.

  “It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.” Lexi assured him.

  “God, he pisses me off! I would be leaving with you if it weren't for that fact that I owe it to my mom and myself, to spend some time with her. If I don’t kill my father first.” Sloan chuckled, without humor. “Now you go and get ready to knock ‘em dead at your show. Be safe on your way back, and call me when you get home. Oh, and take this beast with you, to look after you.” Sloan reached down, to scratch the big dog behind his ears.

  Pulling Lexi into his arms again, Sloan leaned in to kiss her deeply. His tongue stroked into her mouth passionately. His ardor for her going from zero to sixty, in a matter of seconds. Trying to cool his rising libido, he lightened the kiss, giving her a few more pecks on the lips.

  “I can’t believe I just got you back, only to have to let you go again for a few more days.” Sloan sighed, heavily.

  “I know. But if you don’t do this, you’ll regret it the rest of your life. Just come back to me, okay?” Lexi said, looking up at him lovingly.