by Kay Blake
“Good night,” I said.
“Good night, baby.”
The next morning, I found a note from Adrian saying he had to go, but he would call me later. I looked at the clock and realized I had to get to my office. I had to finish up some minor things so that Adrian’s spotlight would be ready to go for the next issue.
I took a cab to my house, showered, changed and made it to my office in about two hours. I had to make sure the spread on Adrian was perfect. And then Dana would give her final stamp of approval.
By the time the afternoon had rolled in, I realized I had quite a few text messages and voicemails. I checked them. They were all from Adrian.
Leah, we need to talk. It’s important.
He said that a few times as if he was worried that I was ignoring him. I wasn’t. I responded quickly.
I’ll head over there after work. I got a small surprise for you.
The rest of the day went by pretty smoothly, but I couldn’t shake that something was wrong. His messages seemed off, and I wondered if he really thought about what happened last night. Maybe he thought I was too much.
I made it to his office later in the day, and surprisingly so were his parents. Okay, this was weird. They all seemed so serious and another thing I couldn’t fathom what they were all doing here.
“Hey, Adrian,” I said cheerfully going to kiss him on the cheek. He nodded, but he was stiff and it made me feel off. Like he didn’t want me touching him.
“Is everything okay?” I asked him.
“My parents told me something really interesting today,” he said.
“Okay…”
“I was trying to figure out why you were so adamant about not bringing up the past, and then it all made sense.”
“What are you talking about?” I said agitated.
“Leah, you were pregnant?”
My stomach dropped, heart racing. The room started to spin. The one thing that I didn’t tell him, had finally gotten out.
“Yeah, but-“I whispered.
“You didn’t think I should know about this? Know that you were pregnant with my child.”
“No. It wasn’t like that. I was going to tell you the day I found out. It was the day you got hurt in that game. I was worried about you. I felt it was best if you focused on your surgery and getting better. I mean you were sleeping, so I kinda told you. Of course I was going to tell you when you got up, but she wouldn’t let me. I tried to tell you again, but that was the day you told me to get out of your life. You didn’t want to hear what I had to say. I tried. You believed what your mother had said. I was so angry with you. I left enraged. I wanted to hurt you. But, I couldn’t. I took my grief and your words, and I moved back to New York. After all of that, I didn’t think it was necessary to not tell you,” I said quickly.
“Why not tell me afterward?”
“I believed what you said. I was angry. I didn’t want to see you again. I wasn’t pregnant anymore. It didn’t seem that it mattered after that. The whole time you were there, your mother told me you didn’t want anything to do with me. She made it as if I hindered your recovery in some way. But, I swear I wanted to tell you.”
My eyes pleaded with him, hoping he’d catch on. Hoping he would talk to me in private.
“And you didn’t think I should know even now?” he yelled out, slamming his hand on the table.
“Adrian, calm down.”
“Mom, stay out of this!”
“No! I didn’t. I didn’t because I lost the baby. I went through so much after that. Alone. I had to move on,” I said, shaking my head.
“You lost the baby? I should’ve known that. Maybe I could’ve helped.”
“You didn’t need to be involved with that,” Anthony has spoken finally. I glared at him.
“Your mother knew. I told her. She knew. They both knew.”
His mother came from around the desk where she sat. She came in front of me, her eyes cold and hard like I remembered them before.
“I thought it could’ve been someone else’s. I didn’t know at the time,” she said smoothly.
“You didn’t know?” I said sarcastically.
“You were the one who told me to get rid of it. You tried to pay me off. You told him whatever and he believed you. He believes you now. I can see it on his face,” I said begging Adrian to believe what I was saying.
“As I said before, my son doesn’t need you in his life. He has better options. He had them back then. He can have any woman he wants without your baggage,” his father said callously.
“He didn’t need mine, he has his own.”
“I had plans for him. His mother wanted him to play professionally. Do you know what having a baby would’ve had meant at that time? He gets injured and then finds out he would’ve been a father? If he would’ve known, he wouldn’t have finished school or gotten into the family business. I did what was best for him,” Anthony said now in my face.
I waited for Adrian to say something. Anything. For him to come to my defense or at least understand. But he didn’t. His eyes gave him away. They always have. Even when we were two stupid kids in college, his eyes always told me how he felt whether if it was anger, fear or love, it was like he couldn’t hide that from me. And now as I watched the different emotions play in his eyes, I feared that I might have messed it up because I didn’t tell him. But as I looked at the smugness on his father’s face, I knew it wasn’t my fault. It was then that I knew, what I had to do.
“You know what I thought it would be different this time. But it’s the same thing. The only difference is you are all older, but obviously not wiser. Yes, I was pregnant and I miscarried. I miscarried in a horrible way. I had to deal with that alone. No, I didn’t tell you, and I apologize. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. That is the only thing that you were right about. But I never wanted to ruin your chances. I wasn’t trying to make it harder for you. But those were the damn cards we were dealt. As for you Anthony, I have a damn good career. I made my own name off of my work. I didn’t need any of you to get where I have gotten in my career. I knew I should’ve kept my distance.” I laughed bitterly then. Feeling nauseous and dizzy. I needed to get out of the office. I needed to get away from all of them. “Fuck all of you. Stay away from me. Don’t worry, I won’t be in your son’s precious life. It’s the same damn thing all over again.”
Remembering that I had the mockup of what the article would look like, I pulled it out of my bag and gave it to him.
“Here! It came out great. I’m sure it will bring more attention to you and your hotel. Your parents know a lot more than what they’re saying. But if I tell you what I know, you obviously wouldn’t believe me. You have a nice fucking life!” I said. I spun on my heel and walked out. I didn’t let the tears fall down my face until the door closed behind me. I made it to the nearest garbage can and threw up.
Adrian had been calling me nonstop for two weeks. I glanced at my phone and saw another incoming call. There was nothing left to be said. He picked his side. I spent enough time crying and wallowing in grief for a relationship that should have never started again in the first place. I watched my heart once again get stomped on because of his meddling parents. Meddling parents that stirred up shit one time too many. A small part of me wanted to know what he had to say or what he had to say. But it didn’t matter. I had to get used to the fact that once again I let this happen. And maybe this time it was for the best.
Chapter Twenty
Adrian
The hotel had been running smoothly. The numbers were great in the first week, but I couldn’t even focus on that. My mind was on Leah. I missed her. I didn’t understand why she kept her pregnancy from me after all this time, but I still couldn’t keep her out of my mind nor my heart. I called many times, but Leah refused to answer my calls.
The week after the hotel opened up, my mom came into my office. I glanced up at her, but said nothing. I didn’t want to hear any more of her nagging about Leah. She got wha
t she wanted so there was nothing else that needed to be said.
“Good morning, son,” she said. Her voice was soft, a far contrast to how she normally spoke.
“Hi, Mom. I can’t chat right now. I’m busy.”
“I wanted to talk to you about the pregnancy situation.”
“I think you and dad did enough. Leah is gone, what else do you want? I couldn’t become this big football star. You got mad about that. Dad was already mad that I wanted to play, and once he realized I couldn’t go pro, he wasted no time getting me into the hotel business. That was the only thing that was good enough for him. I had the one woman who I loved since 2004. I get another chance with her, and both of you made sure it wouldn’t work. Again. So, mom, tell me, what else can I do for you? You want me to sign something with my blood? You tell me!”
I was livid. I paced the floor of my office.
“I understand that. But I’m your mother and you will talk to me with some respect.”
“Respect? The things that came out of your mouth weren’t respectable so I don’t want to hear that shit right now. And it isn’t about you being my mom. It was never really about you.”
“I need you to listen to me.”
“Like you have listened to me over the years?”
“Leah did tell me she was pregnant. The day you got hurt. When you had your surgery, she came there. I could kind of tell. I guess a mom always knows. She seemed different. Leah confirmed my suspicions. I was angry though. You got hurt and couldn’t play in the Peach Bowl. It would’ve been your ticket to the NFL. I was mad that your father gloated that you could leave football alone. But I did tell him and he told me that he would handle it. I thought she took the hint. I heard nothing after a while, so I thought maybe she did what I suggested or, maybe she had the baby and chose to stay out of your life like I asked her to.”
“What are you talking about?” I shouted not caring if anyone heard me.
“Stop raising your voice son. We are in a place of business,” my dad said smoothly walking into my office and shutting the door.
“I get that you’re partially invested in this, but this is my office and this is my hotel, I do what the fuck I want to do. Mom was telling me you had something about Leah and the baby. What did you do?” I asked. I hadn’t been this angry in a long time. I was angry with Leah for keeping this a secret for so long, but my parents? They topped that.
“I did what any father would do to protect his son and his investments,” he said coldly.
“Investments? I’m your son. Not a stock or business deal. You talk about me like I’m some piece of property.”
“I hired two people to handle it. They were supposed to rough her up a little. They were to make sure she didn’t have the baby. She didn’t want to take the money and get rid of it. So, I helped it along. It helped that she disappeared eventually. I didn’t want you tied to a baby when you still had your whole life to live.”
It was quiet then. You could hear a pin drop. My mother turned to look at him, her hand over her chest, and surprise on her face. I realized then that even she didn’t know how cruel he could be.
“You did what?” I said, walking over to him and grabbing him by the collar.
“You hurt Leah. You killed my child because of some investment, I didn’t even know was there. I’m your son and you can hurt me like that? If I wanted a child, or if Leah decided that she did, what did that have to do with you? You had no fucking right. No right. I can’t believe this.” My fists tighten as I held him against the door. He started to choke, but I only saw red.
“Adrian! Please. He isn’t worth it. Let him go,” my mother said softly from behind me. I ignored her. Holding him to the door, not caring anymore. Not caring that he was my dad. What kind of parent would do that to their own kid?
My mom was crying by then, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to console her. I finally let go of him. I knew that even if they weren’t together anymore, she would be devastated if I hurt him or went to jail. He coughed holding his throat.
“Maika’I no au. I’m fine.” It was a lie. I was far from fine. I’ve never been this way angry in my life.”
“I don’t want anything to do with either one of you. Who knows what else you manipulated, but you won’t be doing that with me anymore. Get the hell out of my office. And, dad, your idle threats about you being in charge don’t work here as this is my hotel,” my voice coming out choked.
My father straightened his tie before walking out and slamming the door.
“I’m sorry, my son,” my mother had said, her face wet with tears. She brushed her hand over my face.
“Mom, please…leave. Even if you didn’t know about what he did, you were part of this from the very beginning,” I said going to my desk. “You watched over me like I was your husband and not your son. I could’ve had keiki of my own. You guys took that away from me. I need to be alone. Maybe one day I’ll forgive you, but I can’t right now. Just go! Please!”
She nodded. I sat down. She turned and walked out of the door. As soon as the door closed, I let out a scream that resembled a wounded animal. My father ruined any chance I could’ve had back then at having a family of my own. Having Leah the way I always wanted. And she eluded to that, but I couldn’t face it. I hurt her again. And now I had to make it right.
Chapter Twenty One
Leah
Near the end of summer, Dana would always throw a reception for the end of the magazine season. And the start of a new one. For her a new year would start in the fall, so she showcased the best pieces during the reception. It was also to give a sneak peek into what was next for the magazine. This time there was the big piece that I did with Adrian. The interview, photos and the background article into him and what his hotel brought to New York. It was a big hit with everyone. For Dana, it was the confirmation she needed for me to also do softer pieces while still remaining the writer I was for the magazine.
I knew Adrian had to be here. It was unfortunate on my end because even though some time has passed since that day with his parents in his office, I was still mulling over it. I didn’t want to be reminded about my heart being broken once again. I couldn’t.
Marcy came up to me in a fabulous red dress and pulled me in for a hug.
“These are always so nice. I loved what you did with Adrian’s piece. You almost talked as if you guys were good friends.”
I laughed sarcastically. “We’re not friends. I was doing my job,” I said, lying to her and myself.
“Uh huh. Whatever you say,” she replied with skepticism. She was on the right track. I was angry, but I still knew that I had feelings for him. Eventually they’d go away, but for now, I couldn’t think that far ahead. I was still pissed at what went down. At him.
“Have you spoken to Tommy yet?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Yes.”
“And? How did it go?”
“He wants to meet up with me before he goes to training camp.”
“Are you going to actually follow through this time?”
“I think so. It’s just hard you know,” she said with a shrug.
I nodded and hugged her again. “Yes. I do know. I know it all too well.”
“Can I have your attention please?” Dana’s voice carried over the room from the stage.
“I want to thank all of you for making this another successful year. I couldn’t have made this magazine shine the way it does without all of you. Every writer, photographer, editor, all of you. Thanks so much. Now, before we finish partying, I’d like to introduce Adrian Robinson.”
I didn’t even realize he was there already, but as he made his way towards the stage, I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He wore a black suit, with a black shirt, his hair tied into a ponytail.
“Wow! Time has been good to him,” Marcy said, causing me to turn towards her. “What? He looks great.”
Shaking my head, I looked back at the stage, as he looked around the room. Once
he found my eyes, he wouldn’t look away. Part of me wanted to move away from his gaze, excuse myself and go to the bathroom or something. Anything. But my feet stood planted onto the ground feeling all the things I didn’t want to feel.
“First, I wanted to thank Dana for reaching out to me to do the article. It has been a tremendous help with my hotel. And I am forever grateful,” he said.
Dana raised her glass as a thank you. And he smiled before continuing.
“I also want to thank Leah Hunter. Many people didn’t know before this, but we went to college together. And while I could tell so many stories of our time at OV, I will stick with how much she has grown with her writing. She put me in a light that I frankly don’t deserve. She wrote the article, effectively and efficiently, and the questions she asked were perfect. She’s perfect. I’ve never met a woman like her. One who fights to get what she wants and works harder than anyone I’ve ever encountered.”
I could feel the eyes of some of the attendees, but I kept my eyes on Adrian. Feeling that I would cry in a moment. Not, for what he has said, but because of the whole situation.
“Leah, I owe you an apology. I should’ve listened to you and sometimes I’m pigheaded and stubborn. But, I also know that having you in my life brought sunshine that hasn’t been there in a long time. You make me laugh and think, and I couldn’t let any more time go by without telling you that.”
Marcy grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “That is the sweetest thing, I’ve ever heard,” she whispered. Maybe it was but I couldn’t hear anymore. I needed air.
Adrian looked around the room, his champagne glass raised. “I wanted to thank all of you for allowing me to be part of this and for including me in the latest issue.”
With that, I turned and headed straight for the door. I needed time to process what he’d said. I made it to the elevator and pushed the button frantically, feeling as if it was delayed on purpose.
As the elevator doors opened, I got in and saw Adrian getting closer. But just as the doors were closing, he reached it putting his hand in the door. The doors opened back up, and he got in standing on the opposite side of the elevator. We were on the top floor and 20 stories up.