Past Sins Revisited

by Mary Goldberger

  “Ric,” Sophie pouted over the line, “when are you returning?”

  “Soon, Sophie,” he said as he put the car into gear pulling away from his office. “I need to get going, Sophie, as there is something I’ve got to do before I return to the hospital.”

  He hung up a few minutes later tossing the cell into the passenger seat and with a determined look he headed for Calida’s house to talk to the only people who could help him and the ones he would have to get past to see his Calida.

  “Did you drop the envelope off, Jake,” Wilma asked as he came out of the garage which was where he went after returning from Edric’s office.

  “I dropped it off at his office,” Jake confirmed with a small shake of his head as he went to wash his hands for lunch.

  They had just sat down to eat when the doorbell rang and they looked at each other before Jake got up telling them, “I’ll answer it.”

  Wilma and Marti started to eat when Jake returned and they stopped in surprise as Edric came in behind him.

  The envelope was in his hand as Wilma started to get up from her seat.

  “Ric,” she began only to stop as Edric ripped the envelope in half and then three quarters his green eyes intent on Wilma.

  “I don’t need Calida’s shares of the business because I now own more than half of the shares of Reseda Electronics,” Edric explained to them.

  He walked over and put the ripped pieces on the table as he said quietly, “I want, no I need, to see Calida and you” he looked around at Jake and Marti before returning his gaze to Wilma, “are my best hope of proving to Calida that what may had started out as revenge for my sister became even more than even I suspected.”

  Wilma studied him before she waved her hand to a chair and told him, “We are about to have lunch so let’s sit down and while we eat, we can talk.”

  Edric let out a slow breath as he nodded his head settling down at the empty chair while Marti got up and got another plate before coming back to the table as Jake returned to his own seat and Wilma took hers.

  “What about…” Wilma began only to stop as Edric reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out the folded up sheet of papers which he placed carefully on the table.

  “I will keep these,” he told her before reaching inside his shirt to lift out the chain with Calida’s engagement ring. “Her ring will stay on this chain until it returns to its rightful place on her finger.”

  “You used her,” Jake said roughly giving him a hard stare that Edric met with a slight grimace.

  “I did, but Calida wasn’t what I expected,” he admitted in a low voice.

  Marti glanced over at him seeing the shadow of anguish in his eyes before stating, “You fell in love with her.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I did,” Edric admitted without hesitation giving them all direct looks. “After my sister died, I lost the most important person in my life and I focused on my business, and getting the one responsible for her death. Once I met Calida and started to get to know her,” he shook his head a rueful smile crossing his face “I started to laugh again and even think beyond revenge.”

  “You read her letter, Ric,” Wilma reminded him.

  Edric placed his hand over the letter before he picked it up and placed it back in his pocket. “I did, but Calida and I still need to talk.”

  Wilma put her head down in one hand before she said, “Ric, there is something you should know that not even Calida knows at the moment although the doctor will be telling her today if I’m not mistaken.”

  “Tell her what,” Marti asked as they looked at each other before Edric frowned at Wilma.

  “Wilma, what is wrong with Calida,” he asked his tone full of worry and concern getting a sad look from Wilma.

  “Calida…” she began only to stop as a sob came out while Edric, Jake and Marti stared at her in shock and worry. “She didn’t know it because I know if she had then she would’ve thought twice before doing what she did.”

  “Know what, Wilma,” Marti said her tone angry as she reached over and grabbed her friend’s arm. “What is it that Calida didn’t know?”

  “She was about four weeks pregnant when she was shot,” Wilma told them in a tearful voice watching as Edric’s face lost all color his body stilling in his chair.

  She glanced at Jake whose face was in shock as she reached to grip his hand and then to Marti whose grip slackened as she fell back in her chair before she went on.

  “During the surgery she started hemorrhaging and the doctor couldn’t figure out what it was from until he got a report back from her blood work which they took before the surgery. There were levels of the pregnancy hormone in her blood although they weren’t elevated levels so the doctor surmises she had to have been in the early stage of pregnancy.”

  “Had to been,” Jake repeated closing his eyes and putting his head down as he gripped Wilma’s hand.

  “The shock of getting shot and the blood loss caused her to miscarry,” Wilma told them.

  “And sometime today…” Marti began her eyes filling up with tears.

  Wilma nodded her head as she stared at Edric whose green eyes were suspiciously bright and Wilma sighed heavily before telling him, “She didn’t want you to lose another person that you loved.”

  Edric stared at her with haunted eyes as the meaning of her words began to sink in and he gripped the table tightly the knuckles going white.

  “Can she have other children,” Edric asked even though it wasn’t what was on his mind except how Calida was going to take the news of their baby.

  Wilma smiled and told him, “The doctor assured me that she can get pregnant again without any problems and yet I don’t think you care one way or another if she can or not.”

  Edric cleared his throat before he admitted with a rough timbre in his tone, “As long as Calida is okay, you’re right I don’t care but something tells me that she will though.”

  Edric closed his eyes and took a deep breath to steady his mind as he began focus on the reason for him being here more determined than ever to see Calida now.

  “I need your help,” he said his tone slightly pleading even though he didn’t realize it.

  The three of them looked at him as he continued on, “I still plan on marrying Calida, but first I have to show her that she wasn’t wrong for believing in me.”

  Jake chuckled as Marti leaned forward her eyes bright with excitement but she warned him, “You hurt her again, Edric Walwyn, and you won’t get off so lucky.”

  Wilma gave her a laughing look before she said settling back in her chair, “You’ve been warn, Mr. Walwyn, so now,” she tilted her head and smiled, “what are you planning?”

  Edric glanced over at Jake who nodded his head to show his own participation although his eyes flashed with warning, and Edric relaxed in his chair although a sad light still lingered in his eyes as he explained what he was thinking of doing.

  In her hospital room, Calida stared out the window as the phone next to her rung and she let it ring not wanting to hear the soft taunting voice of Sophie again.

  Sophie had already called twice since Calida woke up that morning and she grimaced as she thought about those calls when someone knocked on her door.

  “Come in,” she called turning her head as the door opened.

  She smiled as Lida came into the room pushing an IV pole as she said, “Look, I’m free except for this contraception.”

  She indicated the pole with a grimace and Calida laughed shaking her head as she asked, “So what do I owe this surprising visit?”

  “The nurses told me I needed to move around so I decided to pay you a visit,” Lida told her as she walked over to the chair and sat down making sure that the IV pole was a comfortable distance from her. “How are you feeling?”

  Calida shrugged lightly as she said lightly, “Sore, but that is to be expected although…” she frowned as a feeling went over her before she shook her head erasing the smile from her face.

  �
�Something wrong,” Lida asked catching the frown and Calida shook her head as she relaxed back against the pillow.

  “So tell me how you’ve been doing,” Calida asked as if they were old friends while Lida choked back tears and began to tell her about her progress so far.

  Calida listened to her intently making small comments as Lida continued on and when she mentioned the detective, Calida raised her eyebrows at her only to watch in amazement as Lida blushed.

  “Well,” Calida said, and Lida sighed putting a hand to her head.

  “I like him, but I don’t think I’m ready for getting into another relationship especially with someone who…” Lida stopped suddenly as her head flew up and her eyes went wide with shock. “I’m sorry, Calida, but…well, he started talking to me and…”

  Calida waved her hand to stop her before she responded, “I think that’s a good sign that he is beginning to move on although don’t expect him to forget her.”

  Lida nodded her head as she said, “She was his first love and they are the hardest to let go when you separate but to separate in that way…”

  “Give him time,” Calida cautioned getting a weak smile from Lida.

  “What about you and Ric,” Lida asked only for her question to go unanswered as a knock sounded on the door followed by the entrance of the doctor.

  “I’m glad to see that you are doing well today,” he said as Lida stood up reaching for her pole. “And you, young woman, should be heading back down to your room before the nurse’s began to miss you.”

  Lida nodded her head giving him a smile before she reached out and touched Calida on the arm. “I’ll see you later, Calida, and maybe I can talk the nurses into letting us eating dinner together.”

  “I don’t think that will be possible at this time,” the doctor stated and Lida sighed before she chuckled patting Calida’s arm before heading for the door and out.

  She closed the door behind her and walked down to the elevators as they opened, and she smiled as she saw who walked out.

  “Hi,” she told Edric who nodded his head as Wilma asked, “Did you just come from visiting Calida?”

  Lida nodded her head as she said, “The doctor arrived so I thought it best to head back to my room before I get in trouble.”

  Edric’s face paled and he hurried down the hall as Wilma followed behind slower calling back, “Jake, help Lida down to her room please.”

  “What’s wrong,” Lida said seeing the looks on the face of the two people left behind and they smiled sadly but shook their heads.

  “Let’s get you back to your room, Lida,” Marti replied catching the elevator door as it began to close, and Jake ushered Lida into the elevator their eyes grave as the doors closed them inside.

  “So doctor,” Calida said once the door closed behind Lida, “when can I be allowed to leave here?”

  The doctor walked over to the bed remarking, “You are healing nicely, better than I expected actually, but I still want to give it a few more days before I release you.”

  Calida sighed leaning back wincing a little at the pull on her stitches and the doctor chuckled as he walked over to the bed.

  Calida stared at him seeing an odd look cross his face before he masked it and she said slowly, “Something else is wrong, isn’t there, doctor? I’ve been having weird feelings since I woke up.”

  The doctor ran a hand through his hair before telling her slowly, “The surgery was successful and we were able to remove the bullet, and you were lucky that it didn’t hit any vital organs…”

  “But,” Calida interjected a frown coming to her face. “I hear a 'but' in there so please tell me doctor, what is wrong with me?”

  “This won’t be easy for me to say, or for you to hear, Calida,” he said as Calida’s eyes widened at the use of her first name. “During the surgery, you started hemorrhaging and unfortunately I didn’t know that you were…”

  “I was?” Calida said shaking her head worry evident in her eyes.

  “I believe you were almost four weeks pregnant,” the doctor told her quietly.

  Calida stilled on the bed as the words rumbled through her and echoed around the quiet room before she repeated in a dazed voice, “I was pregnant is what you are telling me.”

  “We took blood when you were admitted but the blood work didn’t come back until you were in surgery,” the doctor explained watching her closely as her hands began to shake and her eyes filled with tears before she began to sob lying back against the bed.

  The doctor didn’t know what to do as the young woman began to sob her hands clenched tightly around the railings up on her bed, and he told her quietly, “I’m sorry. I wish there was more that I could’ve done.”

  Calida wasn’t listening as his words repeated through her mind while one hand released from the railing to lie across her belly. She had been pregnant, a baby from her and Edric’s time together had been conceived, and she hadn’t even known.

  “There would’ve been signs, symptoms,” she argued between her sobs.

  “Some women don’t show any signs or symptoms until later in their pregnancy,” the doctor informed her. “It is natural that you didn’t realize it although missing your period would’ve probably given you some hint.”

  Calida shook her head the hand on her belly tightening slightly as she told him, “I’ve never been regular and the last few months, I’ve had a lot on my mind so when it didn’t come on time I just assumed that it was going to be one of those months.”

  “Again, I’m sorry,” the doctor muttered as Calida turned her head away forcing her face into the pillow as she continued to cry and the doctor left shortly afterwards closing the door behind him.

  He stared at the two people who had been standing outside the door and he saw the look on the man’s face as they listened to Calida crying through the closed door.

  “Doctor,” Wilma said her hand going out to the man’s arm.

  “She is healing nicely as I told her, but with this added news, I want to keep her in to make sure that nothing goes wrong,” he said eyes shifting to the man before he returned them to Wilma. “I will be back later to check on her.”

  Wilma nodded her head as he was called away and she watched Edric’s hand reaching for the door before she said quietly, “Ric.”

  “I know,” he stated in a rough voice. “I know right now the last person she would want to see is me. Wilma…”

  She nodded her head and after giving his arm a squeeze, she opened the door and walked inside leaving the door partially open as Marti and Jake walked out of the elevator.

  “Calida,” Wilma said softly as Edric leaned against the wall next to the open door.

  Calida turned to her and cried in anguish, “I lost my baby, a baby I didn’t even know I was carrying.”

  Wilma felt tears fall down her face at Calida’s anguish and she rushed over wrapping Calida in her arms as she cried in pain and sadness.

  “That baby was a part of Edric so how do I tell him that in my attempt to save the woman he loved, I killed his unborn baby?”

  The low voiced question echoed around the room and Edric leaning against the wall clenched his hands tightly together as he listened to Calida cry and sob in her room, and he felt powerless wanting to go in there to comfort her but not knowing if seeing him would only make her sadder.

  “What do I do,” he uttered in a voice so full of desperation that Jake and Marti looked at each other unsure of how to answer.

  “Ric,” Jake said putting out a hand to his shoulder as Edric turned around leaning his forehead against the wall.

  “She doesn’t have to explain,” Edric said closing his eyes. “I’m the one that needs to explain, to tell her about my feelings which if I had then none of this would’ve happened.”

  Marti and Jake heard the anguish in his voice, but there was an underling note of determination in Edric’s tone as he lifted his head green eyes staring at the wall.

  Chapter 25

  A
lmost an hour later, Wilma came out of the room and Edric straightened from the wall he had been leaning against since they arrived at the room.

  “She is sleeping,” Wilma alerted them as Marti and Jake walked over from where they had been sitting, and Jake wrapped his arms around her.

  Wilma collapsed into his arms as Edric walked inside Calida’s room staring at her from the doorway seeing the pain and tears on her face before he quietly stepped back closing the door behind him.

  “Wilma,” Edric began turning to her his face a tense mask, “when do you think the doctor will release Calida?”

  Wilma wiped a hand over her face as she told him from Jake’s arms, “I’m not sure but I’m going to see if she can be released in time for Jeffrey’s funeral which I’m organizing out of respect for Jeffrey’s father and Calida. Even though she didn’t like her brother, he was still her brother and she would want to do this for him even knowing that he wouldn’t have done the same for her.”

  Edric’s jaw tightened but he nodded his head before he said, “Then after the funeral is when we will put my plan into motion.”

  “After the funeral,” the three of them said as one staring at him in shock.

  “If I give Calida time, what do you think she will do,” Edric asked his gaze direct at Wilma who bit her lip and turned her head. “Exactly, Calida will take off trying to distance herself from me and what she thinks will be the best thing to do and I won’t, no I can’t, allow her to do that.”

  “All right, Ric,” Jake told him in a firm voice. “But word of warning, Calida won’t like being maneuvered like this even though she loves all of us.”

  “I know, but hopefully that anger is what’s going to keep her from thinking too much,” Edric told them seeing understanding flicker on their faces as they began to see what he was hoping to achieve with this plan.