My Way to You (Brothers in Law Book 1)

by Lyndell Williams

  The bathroom door squeaked. “Simon?” His heart wrenched at the sound of her tremulous voice. He tossed the book on the table and placed his plate on top of it. Regina was holding her shoulders and staring in the mirror, the pain evident in her profile. The creaking sound of the bathroom door being fully opened reverberated down the hall. “I’m here, babe.”

  She looked at him through the mirror. “I can’t reach the zipper. It hurts too much.”

  “I’ll do it for you.” He tried to restrain the fury building at the sight of long red marks on her neck left by Jeremy’s fingers. The opened zipper exposed even more. Another, faint purple discoloration spanned across her lower back. I wish I’d killed him. He let the gown drop. “Do you want me to unhook your bra?”

  She sighed and nodded. he held his breath and maneuvered the clasps. Regina’s arms flew to hold the garment. She turned and buried her head in his chest, sobbing. Fear and concern joined his anger as he hovered and shifted his hands trying to find a spot to hold her without irritating the contusions branding her body. She was so fragile. He gazed down her body in the mirror. “Where are your panties?”

  “They kept them.” It was as if every bit of her physical and emotional strength was spirited away from her.

  He laid his hands on her back. “Come on, take your shower, and I’ll get you something to eat.”

  He started to leave the bathroom, but Regina gripped his shirt at the sides and cried harder. She pressed him against the wall. The bump where their unborn child was nestled pushed against his abdomen and ripped at his insides. “I won’t leave, Gina. How about I help you?”

  “Okay,” she sobbed. She wrapped an arm around his waist. She wouldn’t let go, so he moved them to the bathtub and turned on the water. Steam filled the room. They had so much hope earlier. A chance to finally be content was stolen. It was time to try and get some of it back.

  Simon pushed his shoes off at the heels and stepped on each sock until they lay at his feet. The shirt, undershirt, and belt joined the other clothes. “Let’s get in.” Pants still on, he drew Regina under the warm water with him and shivered when his back touched the cool tiles. He kissed her forehead and rocked from side to side until her sobs eased and his tears—hidden by the flowing water—ceased.

  “I’m ready to get out.” Regina lifted her head and stepped a shaky leg in a puddle on the floor. Simon steadied her at the hips, noticing the water dripping from the bra against her chest. He lifted a towel from the rack to wrap around her shoulders. “Thank you.” She let the soaking garment fall to the floor and wrapped the towel around her body.

  Light chased the bedroom shadows away and familiarity hugged Simon. It’d been months since he was in the lilac room and laid under the soft blankets talking with and holding Regina. He pulled out a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt from the dresser then reached over to Regina’s side and opened a bottom drawer. She stopped next to him and placed a hand on his back. “You’re cold.”

  “I’m fine.” He warmed away the bumps prickling her arms. “What would you like to put on?”

  Regina clenched the front of the towel with one hand and touched his shoulder. “I can dress myself I think.” She stretched her arm to select from the bottom draw and winced, closing her eyes tight and baring her teeth. “Maybe I can’t.”

  “How about you tell me what you want, and I get it?” Simon stroked her chin with his finger. She was going through so much. “Then I’ll get changed in the bathroom.” His soaking dress pants scratched his legs when he bent and opened the drawer. Every muscle tensed against the increasing cold sensation running down his body, but that didn’t matter. He had to get Regina resting.

  “No stay. I’m gonna need help. It’s just that—”

  Simon got her favorite plush pajama bottoms from the drawer and stood to search her face. There was clearly something she wasn’t telling him. “What is it?”

  She turned her head to the bedroom window. “I didn’t want you to see.” A tear trickled down her cheek.

  Simon couldn’t help but gasp when she opened the towel and he saw a wet white bandage with a spot of blood covering her right breast. Fucking animal. “What happened?”

  “The son of a bitch bit me,” she shot through chattering teeth. She snapped the towel shut. “I’m glad I scratched him. I wish I coulda clawed his eyes out. I can change the bandage, but I’m not going to be able to put my clothes on by myself. It still hurts to breathe.”

  He hugged her. The anger in her words actually loosened a knot in his gut. She was still a fighter—down but not out. “We’re going to get you dressed and then you need to be in bed.”

  Once he got both of them dried and garbed, Simon darted around the apartment getting everything necessary for Regina to settle. He eventually towered over the bed with his chest puffed out watching her snuggled between blankets and pillows and sipping tea from a mug with a list of Black women historical figures on it. “There, sure you don’t want me to heat up some of the food Toni made?”

  “No, even drinking this tea is a struggle.” She held her side and pressed the back of her hand against her mouth. “Anyway, I’m too tired to eat.”

  Simon took it and set it on the night stand. He shifted the blankets and pillows around as she slid deeper under them. “That’s fine, but you definitely have to eat in the morning.”

  “I promise. Oh.” Regina’s swollen lips stretched upward.

  “What?”

  She reached her arms under the blanket. “The baby’s moving. I can finally feel it again.”

  “Good.” It was a wonderful sign. She’d stressed since the attack that she couldn’t feel any fluttering. The doctor assured her that it was probably because of the trauma. Even though they both saw the little one kicking around on the ultrasound screen and heard the heartbeat, Regina still worried. Now she didn’t have to, which meant neither did he.

  “Can you make eggs? The baby likes eggs.”

  He smiled. “Is that why there are dozens of them in the refrigerator?”

  She yawned again and grimaced. “Yeah,” she answered with increased drowsiness, “a little salt and no pepper and butter not oil.”

  Simon eased next to her and sighed when she pulled his arm across her stomach. “You got it.” He closed his eyes and buried his nose in the silk scarf on her head.

  “No brown. If I see brown, I get nauseous.”

  “Not a speck.”

  ***

  Simon’s eyes flew open. He slipped his numb arm from under Regina’s slumbering body, praying the pounding at the door wouldn’t rouse her. Who the hell? I just got her to sleep. Bumping between walls and furniture, he managed to traverse the cold apartment floor on legs, rickety from a night of tribulation and squinted through the peephole. More thumping ensued.

  “Would you stop trying to beat the door down, Marc. They’re probably asleep.” He caught sight of Toni yanking her husband’s burly arm away.

  “I don’t care. I can’t believe y’all kept this from me.”

  “No one kept anything from you, man.” Simon peered at Marcus through one eye, rubbing his finger into the other. “Can you please stop banging on my door?”

  Marcus raised his eyebrows. “Your door?” He scowled and barreled passed Simon. “Regina? Where is she?”

  Simon jerked Marcus’s arm to keep him from going any further. “Keep it down,” he shot with a strained whisper. He became a barrier between Marcus and the hallway. “She just fell asleep.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Marcus peered at Simon. He was in his usual overprotective brother mode, but this time, Simon wasn’t backing down.

  “I told Toni. Gina didn’t even want me doing that, but I decided that you should know. I asked Toni not to tell you until the gala was over.”

  “So, you think I care more about raising money than family?” Searing pain shot through Simon’s tender shoulder where Marcus jabbed it.

  Tension mounted at the base of his neck. Not Marcus
or anyone else was going to interfere with Regina’s recovery. The ER doctor said that stress could trigger contractions. He wasn’t going to let that happen. “I was a little too busy to give a damn about what you think. Gina didn’t want anyone coming to the emergency room, and she wanted you to focus on the gala. He fixed his stare at Marcus. “Take that up with her, after she’s feeling better. Right now, you have to leave.”

  “Oh, I’m not going anywhere until I talk to Gina.”

  Simon folded his arms. “You can’t. She doesn’t want you seeing her.”

  “What? That’s bullshit.” Simon steeled his muscles, preventing Marcus from plowing past him. “God damn it, Simon, she’s my sister.”

  “Well, she’s my fiancée and she’s having my baby. I’m looking out for both of them.” Simon reared his shoulders and lifted his chin. “You’re not seeing her.” He moved in closer until his forearms came into contact with Marcus’s heaving chest. “Now, you can be mad about that, but take your yelling and screaming into the hall.”

  “Both of you need to stop acting like idiots.” Toni stepped next to Marcus. “I’m in no mood to try and keep you two from tussling. When two bulls fight, it’s the grass that suffers.” She gazed down at Marcus’s pocket. “Answer your phone, Marc.”

  “It’s Ma.” Marcus put it to his ear and swerved away from Simon. “Hi, Ma. No, Simon won’t let me.” Toni caught Simon’s gaze and rolled her eyes. Marcus was trying to stoke the mother bear in Adrian Kent with his simpering tone. Marcus smirked and hovered the phone under Simon’s chin. “She wants to talk to you.” It obviously worked.

  Simon snatched the phone and whispered, “punk.” He bowed his head and shifted from leg to leg with one hand on his hip. “Hi, Mrs. Kent.”

  “Simon. You know, you’re about to make me a grandmother. So, how about you call me Adrian?” His future mother-in-law’s pointed speech intimidated him as much as everyone else who crossed her path.”

  “Hi, Adrian.”

  “That’s better. Tell me about my daughter.” Everything in her words sent the message that she wanted to know all the details with no holding back.

  “She’s in a lot of pain.” Simon paced the living room. “At first, we thought she was losing the baby, but the doctor ran a bunch of tests and did an ultrasound. The baby is fine. He said the pain is from sprained muscles. She also has two bruised ribs. They monitored her for a few of hours. Fortunately, she didn’t have any contractions.

  “That’s good to hear.”

  “Very. The doctor wanted to keep her, but she refused to stay.” He crossed the living room and stopped at the bedroom doorway. Regina’s soft snoring did his nerves good. She must be exhausted to sleep through all of this.

  His muscles relaxed at the sound of Adrian’s laugh. “That sounds like her.”

  “I tried to convince her to let them observe her overnight. I would’ve stayed too.”

  “No, she hates hospitals. I blame Marcus and all those horror movies.”

  Simon chuckled as he turned off the light and closed the bedroom door. Toni was holding Marcus’s arm. The finely-dressed couple stuck in their places. He looked at them while he continued to talk to Adrian. “Well, the doctor released her, but he said she needed rest and no stress, and to come back if there is any cramping, bleeding or anything. She’s hasn’t had any. I have to take her to the obstetrician tomorrow.”

  “Has she eaten?”

  “No, but she promised to in the morning if I made her eggs.” Toni let out a small laugh and sniffled. Simon strolled to her and took hold of her slender fingers, presenting a reassuring smile. They all loved Regina as much as he and were just as worried.

  “You’re doing a splendid job, Simon,” said Adrian. Her reassurance strengthened his resolve.

  “Thank you. She showered and is sleeping. I want to keep it that way.”

  “As you should. Can you put me on speaker phone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can everyone hear me?”

  They all confirmed.

  “Good. Sounds like Simon has everything under control. We should give him and Gina some space and quiet. They’ve been through a huge ordeal.”

  “Yes Ma’am,” the three replied in unison like school children.

  “Simon, will it be okay if Gina’s father and I call tomorrow?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then we’ll do that, and don’t worry. None of us will attempt to see her until she’s ready.” Adrian sent the clear message that no one is to interfere with how Simon was caring for her daughter-—including Marcus, who practically pouted.

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “Good night.”

  Simon dangled the phone in front of Marcus. He allowed his twitching lips to draw back into a full grin of vindication. “Here you go, man.”

  Marcus yanked the phone and glowered at him. “You’re enjoying this.”

  He grabbed Marcus by the back of the neck. “Immensely.”

  Marcus plopped on a stool and scratched his head. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

  Toni positioned herself behind her husband and massaged his shoulders over his coat. “I find it impossible to believe that Jeremy hurt Regina.”

  Simon exhaled and sat on a stool next to his friend. “Well, he did.” He put his elbow on the counter and massaged his temples. “When I ran into the office and saw him on top of her, I wanted to kill him.” He held his palms in front of himself. “I had his head positioned just like Quinn taught me, but the police stopped me.”

  “That’s good. You belong here with Gina, not in a jail cell.” Toni stepped from behind Marcus and hugged Simon. “You go get some rest. We’ll call tomorrow afternoon to check on you guys.”

  “Yeah.” Marcus stood and extended his hand. “You keep them safe.”

  Simon accepted the hand and hug that made his shoulder sting again. “Okay, man.” He definitely had a big responsibility to handle and wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Chapter 35

  Eggs with Alice

  Alice let out a sigh and pulled the keys from the lock to her son’s apartment. She opened her Michael Kors bag and let the ring fall to the bottom. That habit has to go. There was a new woman in Simon’s life, which meant mama was now a guest, and guests knock. She hooked the purse in her arm, shifted her weight on one of her three-inch designer heels and poised her fist. What am going to say to her?

  Simon called and asked her to visit Regina, who she hadn’t seen since pushing the shocked woman into the very hall in which she now stood. She’s going to slam the door in my face.

  Please, Ma. I have to work and I don’t want Gina alone all day. Her heart tugged at the memory of the strain in her son’s voice. It hadn’t been long since Regina was attacked by some horrible man at that awful little center, where Simon insisted on volunteering. Regina did not want any visitors, and their tumultuous past made it easy for Alice to avoid talking to her, but Simon’s request made it impossible to stay away any longer. It was past time that she comforted and got to know her son’s fiancée. Alice chuckled into the empty hall.

  It seemed like yesterday when she first saw a half-naked Regina dripping water onto the hallway floor. She thought the tall, beautiful Black woman was just another fling. Now she’s inside with an engagement ring on her finger and a baby in her belly. Simon was usually reserved, so the speed at which he took on the roles of boyfriend, fiancée and father made her head spin, but he’d made his feelings for Regina clear when he rushed to find her while he was still sick.

  Since he was not easily besotted, she was pretty sure that Simon loved Regina, which meant she had to make nice with the woman who possessed her son’s heart and carried her grandchild. Facing the door again. She knocked and braced herself. Things were going to be bumpy.

  The door swung open. Regina was already walking away from it. “Hello, Mrs. Young.” Her voice oozed ire.

  “Alice, dear, please.” She’s not going to give me an inch. I c
an handle that. Alice retrieved the shopping bag she’d set down earlier and glided into the kitchen. “You’re about to be my daughter-in-law.” She peered into the dimness. “Why is it so dark in here?”

  Regina’s dark skin soaked the glow of the screen in front of her. “It helps me write better.”

  “Nonsense. You’ll go blind.” Alice tugged the thin white cord hanging on the side of the window frame and let in a burst of afternoon light. “There. That’s better.” She opened her mouth slightly when her gaze fell on Regina holding one hand against the brightness. Blackness surrounded one, and blood clots reddened the outside corners of both squinting eyes. “Oh.”

  Regina curved her back over her protruding belly and brought her forehead to her fingers. “Don’t, okay. I’ve had enough oh’s for a lifetime, and I can’t hear them from you of all people.” She cast a suspicious glance at Alice. “Simon’s not here, so why are you?”

  Alice took a sponge from the sink and approached the counter. “Your rudeness is more than warranted after the way I treated you. I apologize for my behavior. I was worried about my son and didn’t know how important you were to him.” She made purposeful circles along the marble, gathering errant crumbs. “I could pretend that I thought it might be nice to pop in for a visit, but I won’t insult your intelligence.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “Simon sent me. He’s concerned about you,” she stopped her task and concentrated on Regina, “and now I fully realize why. Are you okay?” The women became locked in a stare. Alice’s question was ridiculous, but she couldn’t help asking it. There was no reason for Regina to even speak to her let alone divulge her feelings.

  “Fine.”

  “Really?” Even with a scowl and bruises, there was no discounting her loveliness. No wonder Simon fell so hard, so quickly.