Heart of a Stripper

by Harris, Cyndi

  “You’re not an idiot.” He retorted.

  “I am. I let the one guy I’ve ever truly loved go.” She said and he looked her in the eyes.

  “Loved?” he whispered.

  “Love, as in present tense.” She said clearly.

  “You said you didn’t love me.” He grumbled, revisiting the raw memory.

  “Well I did, and I still do. You’re the only person for me, and now we can be a family.” She insisted.

  “We can’t.” he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair again.

  “I said I was sorry.” She offered. “I want to try and raise this baby together.”

  “We can’t.” he replied again.

  “Why not?” she asked holding back tears.

  “Because you lost it.” He replied looking at her, and he saw the sorrow etched on her face.

  “What?” she whispered.

  “You lost the baby.” He replied as her tears finally drenched her cheeks.

  “No.” she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief.

  “Yes.” He said walking to her and grabbing her hand to comfort her.

  “No! I just found out! I couldn’t have lost it already.” She cried and he immediately climbed in the bed beside her and wrapped his arms around her.

  “I’m sorry.” He replied, crying along with her.

  He didn’t know what else to say.

  “I want to go home.” She cried.

  “I’m not letting you go back there.” He insisted. “You’re going to stay with me.”

  “I want out of here. I want to go home.” She sniffled holding him back tightly as her tears flowed endlessly.

  “Ok, I’ll get you out of here.” He nodded.

  Mitchell helped Nevaeh into the guest bedroom she stayed in when she had stayed with him before. He had fought tooth and nail to get her released from the hospital. The doctor on call was adamant that she needed to be kept hospitalized, but Mitchell refused to hear it. Nevaeh wanted to go home, so that what she was going to get. And home was now going to be with him, for the time being anyway.

  The ride home had been a little bumpy. Nevaeh had grown carsick and threw up twice before making it home. The doctor warned that her body was still going to go through the motions of pregnancy until the hormones fully left her body. That was torture in itself. Mitchell helped her upstairs to the bedroom she had when she had stayed there with him. She slipped into the bathroom and he watched as she grabbed her toothbrush.

  “Do you need anything?” he asked as she ran the sink water.

  Shaking her head, she grabbed the toothpaste.

  “Are you going to be ok in here alone?” he asked still watching her.

  She nodded as she put the toothbrush in her mouth.

  “While you shower I’m going to make you dinner.” He said running a hand through his hair. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you?”

  Glaring at him, Nevaeh narrowed her eyes annoyed and he got the message.

  “Ok, I’m going to cook and finish up the Christmas tree. You can join me if you want.” He offered before disappearing.

  Making it to the kitchen, he pulled out a frozen pizza and threw it in the oven. Seeing as how it was super late, he didn’t have time to prepare a full meal. Going to the Christmas tree, he started to decorate again. The process was going slow to say the least because his mind had been elsewhere. Like the fact that the same day he found out he was supposed to be a father just so happened to be the first day he lost his child.

  How screwed up was that?

  After a while of untangling the lights, Nevaeh came downstairs and walked to the stove. Grabbing the oven mittens, she slipped them on and pulled the pizza out of the oven. It was obvious that she had smelled it upstairs, and Mitchell had been so wrapped up in keeping busy with the tree that he forgot.

  “Sorry.” He sighed dropping the lights and walking over to her as she placed the pan on the counter top.

  “How was your shower?” he inquired as he grabbed a few glass plates.

  Nevaeh nodded slightly, meaning it was good. She hadn’t spoken a word since he’d given her the news about the baby. It was like she was in total shock, and he couldn’t blame her because deep inside he was just as hurt as she was. Well he was sure she was hurting more because she was the one to actually go through the traumatic experience. Grabbing the pizza roller, he sliced the pizza into eight. He handed her a slice of pizza and took his over to the tree.

  “Do you want to help me?” he asked looking over at her.

  Shaking her head, she sat at the counter and ate. She watched him eat and fiddle with the lights for a bit before she finished her slice. Watching him grow exhausted, she went over and grabbed the other end of the lights. Plugging the end into the wall, the lights lit up. She began to slowly wrap the tree from the bottom to the top. He had already done the hard part of unraveling them, so she did the next best thing.

  “I’ve never seen anyone do this method before.” He insisted.

  “I find it’s easier.” She shrugged.

  He smiled slightly because she had finally spoken after a few hours. At least it was a start.

  “Thanks.” He replied walking over to her.

  She watched as he raised his hand over both their head.

  “Mistletoe.” He smiled looking her in the eyes.

  Dipping his head low, he went to kiss her, but she drew away.

  “You don’t have to pity me Mitchell. We’re not having a baby anymore so stop being nice.” She muttered.

  “I’m not pitying you. Did I miss something here?” he asked putting his hand down.

  “What do you mean?” she asked wrinkling a confused brow at him.

  “At the hospital you said you wanted to be with me right?” he inquired.

  “Be a family with you. But since there’s no baby, you don’t have to be nice to me. For Christ sake, I broke your heart and you easily forgot me by crawling back to you ex.” She spat.

  “Which you asked me to do!” he shouted.

  Staring at her, he could that was what she was fishing for. She wanted him to hate her for the things that happened between them. But he knew he could never hate her. He loved her with everything he had despite everything.

  “Nevaeh, I’m not doing this with you.” He replied shaking his head.

  “Why not?! Don’t you blame me for everything? If I never left you, I would still be having our baby.” She finally cried.

  “Come here.” He replied walking over and pulling her into his arms.

  “It’s not your fault. It was an accident.” He sighed holding her tightly and caressing her head. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

  “How?” she sniffled.

  “It just will be.” He assured drying her tears. “It just will.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “What do you mean he took her home with him?” Bruce grumbled, glaring at Dr. Ferguson.

  “He took her in the middle of the night. There was nothing I could do.” Dr. Ferguson retorted, nervously.

  They were in Dr. Ferguson’s office, at the hospital. Bruce had come up early to see Nevaeh.

  “There was nothing you could do?! You were her doctor for a reason!” Bruce exclaimed, angrily.

  “He threatened to take legal action and I—I got scared.” Dr. Ferguson stuttered.

  “I was backing you.” Bruce grumbled. “Now we have a problem.”

  Running a hand through his hair, Bruce paced the room trying to find his next step. He and Dr. Ferguson had been buddies for many years, and he’d called him for a favor. Knowing the press would most likely hear word of the incident, Bruce called his friend to keep things under wraps. Being an OB/GYN, Dr. Ferguson went straight to the hospital. After examining Nevaeh, he reported back to Bruce.

  “I could lose my job.” Dr. Ferguson replied taking off his glasses.

  “No one’s losing anything.” Bruce protested, staring at his friend.

  “I lied a
nd said she lost her baby!” Dr. Ferguson shouted.

  “You can always say you read the sonogram wrong. She is still very early in the pregnancy.” Bruce insisted.

  He had bribed his friend to lie to Mitchell. He hadn’t anticipating Mitchell showing up to the hospital, but when he saw him, it threw Bruce for a loop. His original plan was to talk to Nevaeh and get her to abort the baby before anyone else knew she was pregnant. The fall she had luckily only hurt her, the baby had survived; but he didn’t want Mitchell to know that. That would only make him leave Kate and try to be a father, and Bruce wasn’t ok with that. So concocting a lie was the simplest explanation, but again he hadn’t intended for his son to do what he had. Taking Nevaeh from the hospital was not something he saw coming.

  “They’re going to find out soon Bruce and I could lose my license.” Dr. Ferguson sighed. “The looks on their face killed me Bruce. Why did you make me lie to him?”

  “That’s none of your concern.” Bruce gritted. “I need to find a way to fix this.”

  Mitchell walked aimlessly to his car. He was dead tired after the night he had. Sitting up all night, he and Nevaeh barely talked but consoled each other. Jaxon ran over to Mitchell, stopping him.

  “Mr. McCallister, hey.” He replied.

  “Hey Jaxon, what’s going on?” he asked concerned, unlocking his door.

  “I haven’t seen Nevaeh around in a few days. I was wondering if you heard from her or anything.” He responded.

  “She’s—she um—she’s alright.” He muttered not knowing how else to answer.

  “Is she sick?” Jaxon asked with a furrowed brow. “I mean—I know her dad’s a jerk, I’m worried he— Never mind I shouldn’t go there. I’m just worried is all; she was sick to her stomach for a few days then didn’t show up to school.”

  In that moment, Mitchell realized Nevaeh and Jaxon did in fact have a “relationship”. Sizing up the young male in front of him, he felt awful. They were pining for the same woman and had Jaxon knew of their past, it would probably end them.

  “So you really like Nevaeh huh?” Mitchell asked.

  “Yeah.” Jaxon gushed. “She’s incredible if you know what I mean.”

  By his answer, Mitchell came to the conclusion they must’ve slept together. Teenage boys really only wanted sex. Well most of them, and Jaxon’s friends sure were after ever girl who put out. Which meant Nevaeh lied to him back at the hospital.

  “Seems like you two have been past second base.” Mitchell grumbled jealously. He hadn’t meant to, but he just blurted it out.

  “Actually, no. She’s not like the other girls here, she’s making me wait. And trust me it’s not for my lack of trying.” Jaxon chuckled.

  Mitchell’s eyebrows rose in shock of his answer. She hadn’t slept with Jaxon, which meant the baby had really been his. Not that he ever doubted her.

  “Good. Wait as long as she wants you to.” Mitchell insisted opening his car door.

  “I will. She’s special, and when does finally say yes, I’m going to make sure it’s perfect. I think I’m falling in love with her.” Jaxon smiled.

  Rolling his eyes, Mitchell sat in his car.

  “Enjoy your Christmas break.” Mitchell insisted.

  “You too. Congrats on the wedding! It’s all over the TV every day.” Jaxon replied watching Mitchell as he started the car before waving and pulling off.

  Hearing about his wedding sure did put things in perspective. He and Kaitlin still had that to talk about. The wedding was still in fact on, and the guest had already been arriving in town. Canceling it for a second time was sure to make him look bad. But, he wasn’t sure where he stood yet. With everything going on, it left him more than confused. So instead of going home, he went to Kate’s house. After showing up, she instantly let him up with no questions asked. She wrapped her arms around him the moment she opened the door and he was still a bit standoffish.

  “I’m glad you came over.” She sniffled.

  It was more than obvious that she had been crying.

  “Well, we needed to talk.” He insisted, walking into the apartment and closing the door behind him.

  “Please don’t tell me you’ve come to break off the wedding again.” She replied tearing up more as they sat on the couch.

  Sighing, Mitchell looked down and ran a hand through his hair. Kaitlin knew exactly what that meant.

  “Mitchell please, I don’t want to lose you again.” She cried.

  “I don’t know what to do right now.” He sighed again as he stood up.

  “The wedding is in a few days. We were working everything out before this.” She responded as she watched him pace back and forth.

  “I know that!” he snapped. “That’s why I’m here.”

  “Don’t let her tear us apart again.” She begged.

  “You did that Kate!” he shouted. “I told you everything that happened so stop blaming her.”

  “I’m sorry.” She muttered.

  “I just—I’m really stuck right now.” He said truthfully.

  “It’s simple.” She whispered and he stopped and looked at her. “Do you love me or do you love her more?” she asked.

  Looking at her, he already knew the answer.

  “Tell me.” She replied as more tears fell.

  “Do you love me?” he asked staring her in the eyes.

  “What kind of question is that?” she asked and he sneered at her.

  Standing up, she grabbed him by the hands.

  “You know I love you.” She replied kissing him. “Mitchell we’re supposed to be together. She’s a kid. Let her live her life and find someone her age to love.”

  That struck a nerve as the conversation with Jaxon resurfaced in his mind. Closing his eyes, he sighed. It really didn’t matter how he felt about Nevaeh. No one wanted them to be together. Even Nevaeh had pulled away from him. Letting her go and be happy away from him and his crazy father would be best for her. She was too young to be caught up in his tangled web that he called a life. If he was meant to be miserable then so be it, but he couldn’t stand her to be in any more pain than she already endured.

  Looking at Kate, he knew his answer.

  Closing the front door to his penthouse, Mitchell took off his coat and hustled to Nevaeh’s room. He hated that he had to leave her home alone, but he had to work. Making it to her room, he saw her lying on her bed in the fetal position. Going over to the bed, he sat beside her and brushed her hair aside to see her face.

  “You ok?” he asked.

  “Is that a trick question?” she asked irritated.

  “You just look a little weak. Have you eaten today?” he asked ignoring her crabby attitude.

  “No.” she muttered sitting up.

  “Then let’s make you some food, or better yet I can take you to dinner.” He smiled staring into her beautiful brown eyes.

  “I just want to go home.” She insisted, shaking her head.

  “I told you, you can stay here as long as you need to.” He protested.

  “Or until you kick me out?!” she shouted jumping up from the bed and leaving the room.

  Mitchell followed her as she hustled down the stairs.

  “I would never kick you out.” He protested as they stood in the living room.

  “Yeah. Right. I’m sure your wife would love to move in here with me and you so we can be one big happy family!” she shouted pointing at a picture of him and Kaitlin.

  “Nevaeh—”

  “Save it. I just want to go home. I don’t need to be pitied by anyone! I’m not pregnant anymore so you have no obligation to me!” she shouted as tears burned her eyes.

  It was the same argument they’d had the night before and he wasn’t about to relive it.

  “For the last time, I don’t pity you. You’re the strongest woman I’ve met since my mother died.” He replied stalking over to her and caressing her face as he glared down at her.

  “You’re just saying that.” She replied looking away
.

  “No, I’m not.” He answered.

  “Still doesn’t change the fact that I want to go home.” She insisted.

  “Don’t do this again.” He begged. “I love you Nevaeh.” He blurted out.

  Nevaeh gasped as her eyes met his. That was the last thing she expected him to say. She had said those words to him on a few occasions, and he always sidestepped the situation. She never envisioned those words coming out of his mouth given their circumstances.

  “I need to get out of here.” She replied turning her back on him.

  “Why are you running from me?!” he shouted frustrated.

  “Because you—” she was shouting and caught herself.

  “I what?” he asked staring at her with the same heartbroken blue eyes that she was used to.

  “You’re getting married. So just take me home.” She insisted.

  “I just broke off my wedding for you, for us.” He stressed and her eyes widened in shock. “What part of hearing me say “I love you” didn’t you get?”

  Staring at him, the tension built as she tried to gather her thoughts. All she really wanted to do was run and hold him, but the rift between them was there. No matter how much she wanted to just believe being with him would be peaches and cream, she knew different.

  “I have a boyfriend.” She replied, as the doorbell rang.

  In that instant, she was happy to have the conversation end. Rushing to the door, she opened it to see Adam. He instantly felt the tension in the air as he walked into the penthouse.

  “Hey Nevaeh, how are you holding up?” Adam asked, giving her a hug.

  “I don’t know.” She said truthfully. “Adam, could you give me a ride home?” she asked.

  “Sure.” He said, as Mitchell bolted upstairs. “Um, give me a second to talk with Mitchell.” He insisted.

  “No problem, I’ll wait for you outside.” She said slipping out the door.

  Adam hustled upstairs and found Mitchell in Nevaeh’s bedroom, removing everything she ever touched.

  “Mitchell, what is going on?!” he asked, watching his friend throw everything on the floor.

  “I’m getting rid of everything in this room.” He grumbled.

  “I can see that, but why? Why is Nevaeh leaving?”