by Kane, M. J.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?” I kissed her ring finger.
“How do you always seem to read my mind?”
I chuckled. “I’ve spent the last few months learning everything about you. You hide behind a wall, but when we’re together, it’s like…your eyes talk to me.”
She smiled. “Yours talk to me, too. Every emotion you have is there. Like now,” she ran a finger over my face. “Right now they say how much you love me and what we’re doing is real.”
I closed my eyes and soaked in her touch. “I’ll never pretend with you. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Yasmine shrieked. “We need to tell your mom!”
I glanced at the bedside clock. “We’ll tell her in the morning. I’m sure she’s asleep by now. Besides, I want to spend the rest of this night making love to my fiancée. Once you two start talking, she’ll never get off the phone.”
Yasmine’s laugh was seductive. “Good point.” Her head cocked to the side as she studied me from head to toe.
My manhood began to swell under her inspection. I settled back and put my arms behind my head giving her full access to my body. “Like what you see?”
She nodded. “Mmm…yes…I’ve got a few things I want to do to my man,” her eyes flashed wickedly as she straddled me again.
“Do whatever you like…just stay in our bed all night.”
My words made her pause. “Our bed?” Recognition of what our marriage would provide her must have been the last thing on her mind. She looked around the room. “This will be our place. Wow…I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
I laughed. “Do whatever, as long as you start here first.” I indicated my mouth.
Yasmine complied, giving my body her full attention. I wrapped my arms around her and let her have her way. She was a master with hands as soft as silk, a mouth hot and demanding, and a body made for sin.
I closed my eyes and reveled in the fact I’d found my life partner. If my father were alive, I know he’d appreciate my achievements and my fiancée.
My mother would be ecstatic.
For the first time since she’d become ill, I could understand exactly what she meant. Her illness did not facilitate the break up between Melissa and me; it brought out her true character. If not for the illness, I would have married her. Where would I be right now? Would I be happy? I would have slaved to give her what she wanted, but what about me? Would she take care of my needs? Sexually, there was no doubt, but what about all the things that mattered most?
“Yasmine…,” I ground out as she traveled across my body, working me until my eyes rolled back in my head. Without a doubt, meeting Yasmine was the best thing to ever happen to me. “Inside…baby, I need to be inside…”
Yasmine gave me what I needed in every possible way.
Oh yeah, I was happy with my life.
Chapter 27
I awoke with mind numbing pain; the medication wasn’t working. For weeks now, I had doubled the dose, but to no avail. My doctor warned me this would happen.
I struggled to sit up. Another dose would temper it just enough to be bearable.
I needed to get to the bathroom.
What time was it? I checked the time on the clock on my nightstand; it was four A.M. I’d lain in bed for hours before drifting off to sleep. Though my mattress allowed me to adjust the softness, it didn’t matter. No amount of fluffiness, or pillows helped me find comfort.
I made my way to the bathroom, my hands pressed against the wall, the dresser, anything available for support. My doctor suggested the use of a cane weeks ago. I had no interest in the use of any exterior signs of what went on inside of me. No one needed to know the toll my illness was taking on my already weakened body.
In the bathroom, I lifted my arm to turn on the light; it felt as if it weighed a ton. I felt worse now than when I went to bed.
Pill bottle in hand, I struggled to get a firm grip on the cap and twist. Unable to gather enough strength, it took longer than usual. Why did the pharmacy insist on giving childproof caps on medicine prescribed for people in this stage of their illness? Didn’t they know there would not always be someone available to remove the cap?
I was losing the last of my dignity.
I’d been on my own since the age of seventeen. I never expected someone to be available to take care of life’s menial tasks. Not even when I endured chemotherapy. Having my son hold my hand day after day was hard to watch. Zachariah was too young to expect or ask to care for my physical needs.
In the end it cost him a wife.
On the other hand, I had no doubt it saved him from a marriage filled with unhappiness.
Cursing, I put every ounce of energy into removing the cap. I succeeded, but lost my balance. The cap flew in one direction, while the pill bottle slipped out of my hand. Medication flew everywhere, over the counter, down the uncapped drain, and onto the floor. Instinct made me reach out to save as much of the expensive medication as possible. The sudden move cost me.
I heard the snap before I felt the pain. I cried out and dropped to the floor. I don’t know how long it took before I stopped seeing stars, but eventually I stopped yelling. I was alone. If Yasmine were here, she would have come to my aid.
Both my home phone and cell sat beside my bed. In my stubbornness, I refused to use the Life Alert necklace Zachariah bought me; it sat in my jewelry box on my dresser.
There was no way for me to call for help.
If Yasmine was not here, she was with my son. If they were together this late, his plan must have worked. The thought alone was the only thing keeping me sane. If they were now engaged, he’d found the support he would need.
I leaned against the cabinet on the cold linoleum floor and prayed Yasmine would return in the morning.
Chapter 28
My eyes opened to a magnificent sight; Yasmine as she smiled and stretched. “Good morning.”
I memorized her true beauty. No make-up, no perfect hair.
And no clothes.
“Good morning.” I leaned in to kiss her, but she stopped me with her hand and covered her mouth.
“Oh no, morning breath.”
I laughed, my breath wasn’t fresh either. Who cared?
“After all we’ve done, do you honestly think fresh breath is an issue? I’m just glad you’re here.” I attempted to pull her close, undeterred by her playful swats as she laughed and rolled away. We wrestled before I pinned her down and kissed the hell out of her. In the end we both gagged.
“See?” she laughed and kissed my nose after I rolled onto my side. “You don’t have a spare tooth brush do you?” She tossed the sheets aside and walked towards the bathroom.
I focused on her naked backside. “No, but you can use mine.” The disgusted face she shot me made me smile from ear to ear.
“Uh…no. I’ll swish with mouthwash for now. What’s the plan for this morning?” Her voice floated from the bathroom.
I checked the time and got out of bed. “We should shower and go to my mom’s for breakfast and share the good news.”
She was gargling with mouthwash by the time I reached the bathroom to take a leak. I grinned, taking in the moment; both of us naked in the bathroom taking care of nature’s necessities.
I washed my hands before angling in for another kiss.
She stopped me with a hand on my chest. “Oh no, I swished, you brush.”
“It’s like that?”
“Oh yeah. Once I get fresh, you have to, too.” She ran water in the shower, reached past me for the body wash I’d given her, winked, and stepped in. The smell of jasmine flowers permeated the air bringing memories of last night to mind. I wanted her again. I would never stop wanting her.
My teeth brushed in record time, I walked over and hauled the shower curtain back. The sight of her wet skin, the fragrant soap running over every curve and between every valley of her body forced me to forget about bathing.
“I suggest we cons
erve water and—”
Yasmine dragged me into the shower.
We’d get clean….eventually.
***
A wedding date had been set by the time we left my place. Yasmine was determined to make our day a big event. She’d always dreamed of being a June bride, but it was already late May. There wouldn’t be enough time to plan for what she wanted. We settled on November, right in time for Thanksgiving. It would give the holiday a whole new meaning.
As much as I wanted her to move in, we decided it was best she stay at my mother’s awhile longer. At least I didn’t have to wait until Friday night to be with her. She would stay over anytime she wanted, or when I convinced her to.
Once we told my mother the good news, she would tell her parents. I’d seen them from a distance the night of her friend’s wedding but never officially met them. She assured me they would fall in love with me the moment we met. Then there was her younger brother, Brandon, who she informed me thought no man would ever be good enough for his sister.
Yasmine, being an avid planner, decided to have a big dinner at our place on Sunday for our families to meet. The idea of having an extended family was exciting. Since my family lived in Maryland, it would be great to have family nearby.
I parked in my mother’s driveway behind Yasmine. She got out of her car and waited for me. We walked hand-in-hand to the front door. Since she didn’t return last night, I expected my mother to open the door with a big smile on her face.
Yasmine rang the doorbell to announce our arrival, then opened the door with her key.
The house was silent and devoid of the smell of fresh coffee.
“Hello? Mom?”
There was no reply.
I walked past the living room; the TV was off. I met Yasmine in the kitchen. There was no sign of recently used dishes. In fact, everything was the same as when I had left the night before.
Yasmine’s expression mirrored my own. “She didn’t say she had plans to leave today.”
“I know. None of her friends were supposed to come by. I’m sure she would have told us if she had a change of plans. She always does.”
I picked up my pace, checked each room, and called her name. Yasmine was right behind me.
We reached the end of the hall; my mother’s bedroom door was closed. I paused for half a second and peered over my shoulder. Yasmine nodded and put a hand on my shoulder. I knocked softly, not wanting to scare her if she were still asleep.
We waited; no reply. I swallowed hard and twisted the knob. “Mom?” Her bed was empty, the sheets in disarray, but she wasn’t there. I spied the light on in her bathroom, took two steps towards the door, and froze.
My mother lay on the floor, her eyes closed.
My legs were lead weights. My worst nightmare had come true. I stared at my mother and willed back time.
“Oh no…Ms. Belinda?” Yasmine brushed past me into the bathroom. She was on the floor in seconds, testing my mother’s pulse. “Wake up…Zack, she’s breathing! Dial nine-one-one!”
Everything happened in slow motion. I walked to the door; phone in hand, unable to dial, and dropped to my knees. My mother appeared so fragile. She lay on the cold floor, eyes fluttering, and her breath labored.
“Oh God…Mom…,” I ran a hand over her face. There didn’t appear to be any blood so she couldn’t have hit her head.
“Zack…” Her eyes opened, but her voice was a whisper.
“Mom…”
I was vaguely aware of Yasmine when she removed the phone from my hand.
“What happened?” I angled my body on the floor next to her and gently lifted her head into my lap. Yasmine left the bathroom and returned with a throw blanket from the bed.
“Don’t try to move her, she may have a broken hip,” Yasmine said, unable to disguise the worry in her voice even though she held it together while I reverted to the emotional state of an eight-year-old. “The EMTs are on the way, Ms. Belinda. Hold on, okay?”
My mother managed a weak smile. “Thank you.” Her eyes closed for a moment; when they opened again, she studied our faces. “I’m okay, don’t worry.”
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here last night. How long were you on the floor?” Yasmine asked.
A wave of guilt plagued me. Damn. I should have called when Yasmine suggested. If she didn’t answer, we would have dressed and been here in no time. This was my fault. If I hadn’t been selfish and …damn.
“The two of you…were together last night?”
“Yes.” My throat tightened from the admission. “Mom, I should have—”
A slow wave of her hand silenced me. “No…no, it’s okay.” Her eyes traveled over to where Yasmine’s hand rested on her arm. “Oh…,” she gasped as tears sprung from her eyes.
Yasmine looked at the ring on her hand. “You were right.” She smiled, her eyes now wet. “I do love him.”
My mom reached for my hand that sat on her shoulder, her grip weak. I tried to hide my fear. “We’re getting married.” Words I’d been excited about moments before were strangled in my throat.
How could I be excited about marriage when my mother lay on the bathroom floor?
“Mom, how long have you been like this?”
“Don’t worry about it, Zachariah. I just lost my balance and fell, that’s all. I have old joints so it doesn’t take much to break a frail bone. And before you say it, I should have been wearing the medical alert necklace.”
I hadn’t realized it was missing. I opened my mouth to speak, but she’d closed her eyes again and grimaced.
“Did the paramedics say how long it would be before they get here?” I asked.
“No, but I’ll go stand outside so I can direct them in.” Yasmine patted my mom’s hand. “I won’t be gone long.” She kissed her cheek before walking out of the bathroom.
As we waited, I noticed pills were scattered across the floor. I squinted to read the label of the empty bottle near the toilet. I knew she still took medication despite the cancer being in remission, but the prescription wasn’t one I recognized. I would have questioned her, but didn’t want to disturb her rest, she’d been through enough.
But the moment we arrived at the hospital, I would contact her doctor and find out what was going on.
I cursed. This was why I didn’t want the job so far away from home. Even with Yasmine living here, it wasn’t enough. The moment my mother needed us, we failed.
Never again. No matter what else went on in my life.
Discovering what was going on with my mother’s health and making sure she had everything she needed would take precedence.
I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost her.
I damn sure was not about to find out.
Chapter 29
“What the hell is taking so long? Don’t they understand what ‘emergency’ means?” Zack ground out, wearing a hole in the floor of the small room where his mother was being held in at the hospital.
I glanced over at Ms. Belinda. She was in pain, but resting as much as she could. We’d been at the hospital for over an hour. The paramedics explained to the staff on hand about the suspected hip fracture. We were awaiting a gurney to take her to x-ray to confirm the extent of the damage.
“Baby, calm down.” I walked over to where Zack stood glaring out of the curtain separating the bed from the one next to us and the nurses’ station.
“Why? They’ve done no more than check her vitals. She needs something for pain.” He shook his head, clearly unsatisfied. “Mom, I’m going to go find someone. This isn’t right.”
“Zack, wait…” He ignored me and kept going.
I’d never seen him this upset before. I empathized because I felt the same way. Storming around the hospital wasn’t going to make things move any faster. Since she wasn’t bleeding or experiencing heart or lung problems, an x-ray for the possibility of a broken hip was not a priority.
“Let him go,” Ms. Belinda murmured.
I walked over to
where she lay. Her coloring was way off. She appeared paler than usual. “Can I get you anything? Would you like some water?”
Her head dipped low. “No, sweetie, there’s nothing you can do.” Her eyes opened.
“I feel so awful. I wish I had come home last night.” Unable to keep my tears inside, I let them fall.
To my surprise, a light laugh emerged from her. “No you don’t. You were with the man you love. I don’t fault either of you for following your heart. In fact, it makes me happy to know you did.” She patted the bed next to her.
I sat slowly, not wanting to jostle the bed. She reached for my hand.
“You know, I’ve viewed you as a daughter since the day we met. I knew you were the one for my son.”
I forced out a laugh. “That doesn’t surprise me one bit. You were singing his virtues the moment we kicked him out of the room.”
“Yeah, I did, didn’t I?” A small smile lit the corners of her pained face.
“Yes, ma’am, you did. I’m glad to be marrying him. And now I’m gaining the world’s best mother-in-law.”
Those words brought sadness to her face.
“There’s something I want to talk to you about. Do me a favor, do you see Zachariah anywhere?”
Confused, I slid off the bed and peeked into the hall. “No.”
“Good. We only have a few minutes and what I have to say is for you alone. I need you to promise me what I’m about to tell you stays between us.”
My eyebrows creased. “Okay…”
She studied me for a moment. “I’m serious, Yasmine. What I’m about to tell you, no one knows, not even my son. I need it to stay that way. Do you understand?”
Nervous, I nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I promise.”
She watched me for a moment longer then reached for my hand again. “I’m dying.”
I blinked. “What?”
“The cancer metastasized. I’ve already had several second opinions. There’s nothing they can do. No amount of chemo is going to stop it. It’s in my bones; that’s why I broke my hip. Well, if it’s not broken, it’s never going to fully heal.” She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth as if hit by another wave of pain.
