Helen looked back at Christian. “I know but once Jay gets here you can go back to the office or hang with Shane.”
“Mom I am not going anywhere I need to be here for her.”
“Why are you acting like you guys are a couple?”
Christian shook his head as his voice raised. “Because we are dating, and have been since the ball.”
Shane stepped back.
“What?”
Helen moved closer to him.
“Christian you didn’t. I told you not to date her.”
“Mom please don’t start ok.”
Scarlett walked towards them with tears in her eyes.
“Angel is going to be all right she has a broken leg and some minor bruising they sedated her when they brought her in because she was screaming hysterically so she’s sleep. But um my mom…she’s not doing so well. I can’t be at both places so Christian I was wondering if it wasn’t any trouble.”
“Scarlett consider it done, I will help you in any way I can.”
“Devon is with her now if you could just check on them I should get back to Angel and Maggie.”
Shane walked closer to her.
“You’re dating my best friend?”
“Shane that is something I really don’t feel like talking about right now.”
“We were married…You can’t be dating my friend.”
“Shane I'm sorry it’s just.”
“It's just what Scarlett!” he yelled as he moved closer to her. Christian stood between them.
“Hey Shane calm that down… don’t yell at her like that…you do not know what’s going on here?”
“What I know is this is real foul.”
Scarlett’s face lifted as tears freely fell from her eyes.
“You want to talk about foul Shane? Really? You cheated on me with your ex-girlfriend because I was taking care of my mother and my daughter. You were upset because I wouldn’t let you adopt Angel well I couldn’t.”
She looked away. She had to say out loud what was meant to be her little secret but everyone knew. She told this story many times but never really admitted that she was raped by Angel’s dad. She exhaled.
“I couldn’t let you adopt her because I was still getting over being raped by her father. I was still hurt by what my father did to me and Danger did to me. I wanted you to be her father because at least she could have been proud of you. When she asks about him, I tell her he’s dead. Only Devon knows the truth. To Maggie and Angel, that’s their truth. I couldn’t face it after all those years and now I can. But I am not sorry for trying to protect myself and her. Now as for the Christian thing, I told you I didn't even know you and he were friends. And it's not my fault I mean who has a best friend your ex-wife didn't even know about it. Now that you have embarrassed me and made me to feel just a little bit more stupid along with all the other emotions I have I need to go check on Angel.”
“Scarlett.”
Shane grabbed her hand but she pulled away.
“Shane just don't you have done enough.”
Scarlett walked away and Christian saw red. He exhaled deeply then looked to his mom.
“Mom can you go check on Devon and Mrs. Hale for me please.”
“Christian I don't think.”
“Mom please just do this for me.”
Helen sighed as she walked away. Shane looked at Christian.
“Christian, how can you stand there and justify taking my wife away?”
“I took your wife away? First of all, you guys have been apart for what three years? You messed that up. When you told me she left you I told you that you lost a good woman.”
“I never wanted any of this.”
Shane looked at the double doors. “You know that was the first time I can ever remember her admitting that she was raped by Angel’s father. She never wanted to accept that she was betrayed by her father and Angel was as well.”
“She hasn’t since I have known her.”
Shane looked at Christian and frowned.
“How serious is it Christian?”
“I have fallen for her.”
“What do you mean fallen for her?”
“I mean I love her.”
***
Scarlett walked into the room and placed the flowers on the side table. She rearranged the daisies and looked over to her mother. She grabbed her mother’s hand and sat next to her. Scarlett felt an overwhelming urge to cry.
“Oh mom. I don't know what I am supposed to do without you. I have counted on you for everything. You have always been there for me, what am I supposed to do now?”
Scarlett wiped her eyes. “I was so horrible to you for no reason mom, I never blamed you I never blamed you for anything that happened. Mom I love you so much, you have been an inspiration to me. You were there when Angel was born you were there after my divorce. Mom no matter what you were always there for me and I am extremely blessed to have you. Don’t give up mom. We need you.”
Scarlett laid her head on her mother’s bed and cried.
“Your mother was so proud of you.” Scarlett turned to see Helen at the door. She was dressed in a pink sundress and jacket. Scarlett wiped her eyes and stood smoothing down her red polo shirt and jeans.
“Mrs. Waters.”
“How are you holding up?”
“I don't know it's been three days and no change.”
“I know it's scary but you have to have faith.”
“I do. We have been through so much and I am so heartbroken. It’s like if it's not one thing it's another. I never thought all this bad would happen to me.”
“It’s ok sweetie.”
Helen walked over to her and hugged her. Scarlett let the tears fall as she hugged Helen back.
“It's not fair. All she ever did wrong was love a jerk. She always saw the bright side always put us first. Why is this happening?”
“Scarlett I know it doesn’t seem like it now but everything happens for a reason. Your mom talked to me a day before this happened.”
Scarlett looked up to Helen. “What did she say?”
“Scarlett sometimes we never know what people pray for.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your mom told me she was tired of fighting the pain. She told me how proud she was of you and Devon and Maggie. And how she knew Angel was blessed because she was your daughter. You were happy finally. Living in a great house and have a great job. You are working so hard on making your life better. She was so proud at the woman you have become.”
“I was so mean to her once. I yelled I screamed I blamed her. I was angry at her. I didn’t understand how she couldn’t know what was going on in her own house. But she didn't and it wasn’t her fault.”
“She told me what happened. You know she understood the anger. She understood why you were so upset. She never blamed you either.”
“I'm just so sorry. She has to wake up so I can tell her. She has to wake up so I can explain to her how sorry I really am.”
“She knows.”
“How can she know? How can she know I never meant to take my anger out on her? How can she know I was just letting off steam?”
“Because mothers always know. She knows you love her and how lucky she is to have such a wonderful daughter.”
“Then why don't you like me?”
“What?”
“Why don't you like me? If you see that I am such a great woman then why don't you like me?”
“It's not like that.”
Before she could finish talking someone knocked on the door. They both turned to see an emotional Jay standing there. Scarlett looked at her and knew something wasn’t right she wore a pair of skinny blue jeans and an oversized USA shirt. Helen cleared her throat.
“Well seeing how Jayla is here you will be in good hands so I will be going.”
Helen gave Scarlett one last pat on the back before she walked out the door. Scarlett walked over to Jay and hugged her.
&nbs
p; “You ok?”
“No. Chris and I are done.”
“Wait done? What happened?”
“I walked up to his office last night he said he was working late he canceled on me again. When I got there I heard music playing and when I opened the door he was there with that blonde from the party.”
“What?”
“I can’t believe I was so stupid.”
“You can’t believe that he would hurt you.”
“I know what I saw.”
Scarlett moved closer to her. “So what did he say?”
Jayla threw her hands up. “Nothing I wouldn’t let him.”
“Jay you got to talk to him.”
“No I can’t. He is the worst kind of man. He made me believe that he was in love with me. That he wanted to be with me. He made me believe that we could be happy.”
“Look.” Scarlett pulled Jayla to a chair. “I know Chris that man loves you so much.”
“Then why was he with her.”
“Jay I don't know, that is why you need to talk to him.”
“I can’t.”
Someone knocked on the door and Chris walked in wearing khakis and collard red shirt.
“Oh Jay thank God you’re here.”
“Chris go away.”
“Jay it's not what you think if you would just listen to me.”
“No.”
Scarlett took a deep breath. “Ok look I don't have time for this so let's do this the fast and easy way Chris what was that blonde chick doing in your office?”
“She came up to go over some forms.”
Scarlett sighed. “What about the music and the dancing?”
“I wasn’t dancing with her. Look when she came up I had the radio on and I was trying to finish up my work. She came in and when we got done a slow song was on and we got up she pulled me to her and that’s when Jay walked in.”
“So nothing was going on?”
“No! Nothing at all.”
Chris moved towards Jayla. “Jay baby I love you there is nothing I would do to hurt you. Ever!”
“She is so beautiful.”
“You are beautiful.”
“Your mother loves her.”
“But I love you.”
Scarlett threw her hands in the air.
“Will you guys just kiss and make up please.”
Jay walked to the door. “No. I can’t do this. It's not the first time and it’s not the last. I can’t keep turning my head to this. I love you Chris so why isn’t that enough?”
“It is.”
“No it's not. If it's not your mother, it's some other woman. I can’t do this so leave me alone.”
Jay walked out the room and Chris followed. Scarlett looked back to her mom then went after them.
“Guys wait. Now you both listen to me and listen up. I am tired and I am angry so please don't get mad at me for being so rash but you both are being stupid. I know being in love is scary but you move through it. Life is too short for you guys to be going through all this. My daughter was hit by a car. My mother is in there fighting for her life. So you both get it together and work this out. I mean it.”
Scarlett walked away as Jay and Chris looked at each other.
Chapter 10
Time to let go…
Scarlett was sleep on the chair when Shane walked into the room with two cups of hot coco. He brushed her hair out her face and she awoke.
“You always were a light sleeper.”
“Shane what are you doing here?”
“Came to see how you were. I brought coco. I remember whenever you were worried or upset it would calm you down. There is extra chocolate and marshmallows.”
“You remembered that?”
“Yeah. I remember a lot…I'm sorry for getting so upset…it's just I was shocked about you being with Christian.”
Scarlett looked at a sleeping Angel.
“Shane when we divorced I wasn’t myself. I know I didn’t do all I could as your wife. I put my mom and daughter before you and I am sorry about that. It’s just…I have always been someone my mom could rely on and when she needed me I had to be there for her. She is my rock and I am hers. It was wrong of me to expect you to get that. It was wrong of me to take you for granted.”
“So why did you file for divorce?”
“I came back to the apartment. I waited for you for an hour. I figured you were out with Miranda I know it wasn’t a rational thought but I was there waiting and wondering where you were. And when you never showed up, I just figured we were better off apart. You deserved someone who got you. You and I both know that from the start we were not going to work with each other. We are too much the same person. I figured I had loss you so I should just leave.”
“But you didn’t lose me. If you would have called I would have been there I would have begged you to take me back because I have been miserable without you. You were it for me and now any woman I am with just doesn’t do it for me. I wish I could have made you trust me.”
“I do too. I loved you so much and I was afraid that you were just going to keep on hurting me.”
“I can’t say if I would have or not. But know this I loved you more than anything and I was just being stupid.”
“Is it because I didn’t come home when you wanted me too? Is that why you slept with Miranda?”
“I don’t know. Honestly, it was one of those things you just can’t explain. I didn’t want it to happen I even tried to stop it and I am so very sorry that it did happen. If I could take it back I would.”
“I wanted to wait longer you know. I was already to too. I got in the car and said I will give it another thirty minutes. I waited for about 20 minutes before my phone rang. It was Devon telling me that mom was getting worse. I had a choice to make and it was a tough one. But in the in the end I ended up being gone that same day. I always thought you would come after me. You knew where I was and if you wanted me, you would have come to me but you didn’t. So after a month I filed for divorce. After being home for a year and a half and seeing how bad my mom was getting I knew Shrines was the best chance she had. But I didn’t have any money. I couldn’t ask you to help seeing how I just up and left. So we packed up and sold the house. But it was run down and beat up the people who bought it were only going to tear it down. It was worth 75,000 we got 80,000. I sold my car but only got 2,000 for it.
And after paying off all the hospital bills and house bills, debts that I didn’t even know existed. Buying six plane tickets so the nurse could travel with us we had 25,000 left. Shrines cost 20,000 yearly. I had to find us a place to live and it was just all so very stressful. Then I went for a job interview and met Christian. He and his family have been so good to us.”
“The Waters are a wonderful family. They really do care about people. Christian seems to be taken with you.”
“Can I tell you something?”
“Yes you know you still can. Just because it’s been three years doesn’t mean I have stopped caring about you.”
“I still love you. I thought three years was enough time to get over it but it’s not. But then there is Christian.”
“You love him too?”
“Yes I do…but this is about us. I know we have both moved on but I made the mistake. Everyone deserves one get out of jail free card. I'm just sorry.”
“No I'm sorry.”
He moved to kiss her. He pulled her close to him. Scarlett kissed him back but after a moment, she pulled back.
“Shane I can’t.”
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have.”
“I love you but I’m not in love with you anymore. We have both moved on and grown and I still want you in my life.”
“I want you in mines too.”
She smiled as she heard Angel moan.
“Mommy?”
Scarlett looked up at Angel.
“Hey sweetie how are you feeling?”
“I'm ok. Where am I?”
“You're at the hospital
you had an accident.”
“Is Alex ok?”
“Alex? Oh, the other girl yes she is fine. You two were very lucky.”
“I was waiting for you and…”
“I know baby let’s not think about that.”
She looked over to Shane.
“Shane?”
“Yes, as soon as he heard you were hurt he came here to check on you.”
Shane walked over to her.
“How are you Angel?”
“I have been better.”
They all laughed.
“You are growing up to be a very beautiful girl.”
“Shane are you going to leave again?”
“Yes but this time I will keep in touch more.”
“Really?”
“Of course I got to make sure my favorite girl is doing ok.”
She hugged him.
“I missed you.”
“Missed you too Angel.”
Devon ran into the room.
“Scar we need you now.”
“Shane can you?”
“You don’t even have to ask. Go.”
Scarlett ran out the room and followed Devon. She went into her mother’s room and saw a Doctor trying to resuscitate her.
“What is going on here?”
“Mommy is dying.” Maggie fell against the door tears streaming down her face. “Scar mommy is dying.”
“Maggie it’s ok. Come here.”
Scarlett held her as they continued to work on her. Devon grabbed them both. Scarlett turned her head away as the doctors worked on her mother. None knew who cried the hardest when they pronounced her dead at 5:24pm On February 2nd 2007. They covered her body and Scarlett hugged Maggie and Devon. She pulled away but stopped in her steps when she saw her father at the door. Her face went from sad to angry.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“We wanted to see what was going on?”
“We?” Scarlett moved closer to him. “Who is we?”
“Me, your brother and Danger.”
“Danger. You brought that son of a bitch up here?”
“Scarlett watch your mouth.”
“No you watch your back. You need to get the hell out of here all three of you. We don’t need any of you.”
A Passion Rekindled Page 22
