Sheila got into her car and started to drive. If Amber was with Eduardo, then they were at a motel. Amber gave her addresses to three of the motels they often went to just in case of an emergency with Valentina or Adrian. Just in case, she told her mother. Just in case at times like these? Times when she felt something horrible had happened? She couldn’t shake off that awful feeling.
She parked her car at The Rose Motel & Gardens. Got out of her car and ran around the parking lot searching for Amber’s white Volvo or Eduardo’s silver Porsche. They weren’t there, but did that mean she wasn’t there at all? Sheila still had that unpleasant ache.
Sheila got back into her car and drove down two more miles towards The Ocean Front Motel; there was no ocean around the vicinity and Sheila laughed sickly at the sight of the seedy baby blue building. Again, she got out of her car and ran through the few cars that were parked there in the parking lot. No trace of Amber or Eduardo’s vehicles.
Sheila closed her eyes in frustration. Was she just imagining it? Was she just wasting her time? What was it? It was a dreadful, terrible feeling deep down in her gut that kept her in pursuit. She finally reached The Motel Coronado.
Oh my God! Sheila found Amber’s car. Sheila ran around it and into the motel and yelled at the manager, “Where’s my daughter!”
The office manager looked up from his paperwork. “Uh? What? You need someone missy?”
Sheila was out of breath and was on the verge of delirium, “My daughter, her car is outside; I know she’s here, I need to see her!”
“Now ma’am, please calm the hell down, you know I can’t give out any information on who’s staying here, it’s against procedure and against the law.”
Sheila pounded on the counter in front of him, “Listen idiot! My daughter is in trouble so if I don’t find her now I will have every biker here on your doorstep demanding free room and board for the next twenty years!”
The office manager doesn’t like that word biker and ran through the roster of names and offered the frantic woman a few room numbers filled with single women. Sheila sighed when she realized there were only three rooms to visit. “Thank you.”
Sheila stopped over the rooms one by one, knocked on the first door and woke the woman up from a deep sleep, a prostitute obviously, looking for her next ‘John’.
The second, a battered wife with a bruised face. Oh God, Sheila realized, what kind of dives did this asshole take her too?
Sheila finally reached the last door. Knocked, no answer. She had that horrible, frightful mother’s perception slapping her in the face again. She banged on the door. Tried for the knob, it was locked. Goes to her purse, searched for a bobby-pin, tried to pick the lock. And by some miracle (the marvel that she was even there miracle) forced the door to unlock. She threw the door open and noticed the bathroom light still on and called out, “Amber?” No answer.
Sheila quickly scanned the room. There were her clothes, her purse, and the cell phone taken apart on the floor. There were three letters left on the dresser. Oh my God! The three letters were all addressed! Fear spread throughout her body.
OH MY GOD!!
Sheila ran towards the bathroom and gasped at what she saw; Amber’s lifeless body had sunk underneath the water in the tub making it red as a rose. Blood apparent on the tiled walls, it dripped over the edges and trailed onto the floor causing the white linoleum crimson as well. Sheila reached for her daughter’s body, “Oh my God!”
Sheila managed to pull Amber’s unresponsive body up and out of the water and held her to her chest. Her life was gone…her spirit…her heart, her will to live. “Oh Amber, why, oh baby, please...please wake up, please? Oh God, not my baby….oh God please, Amber no!”
Twenty-Nine
If You Eat It You Will Choke
Sheila sat alongside her daughter’s comatose body. Amber was in a coma caused by lack of oxygen to the brain coupled with extreme blood loss. A few minutes later, a centimeter deeper, she would be burying her daughter rather than hovering by her bedside. Sheila then focused on the surgical wrap around Amber’s left wrist. It was an obvious display of what had happened. What would possess her daughter to do such a thing, a suicide attempt? What a horrible awful insight; her once sane daughter…her normal daughter, the one she always believed was more practical and stronger than herself?
“I’m gonna kill him,” Sheila conceded, “Or at least make him bleed.”
Molly tugged at her mother’s sleeve, “Make who bleed Mom?”
Sheila forgot that Molly was in the room, forgot about a lot of things. Sheila was so distraught, unrecognizable.
Sam Fitzgerald came as soon as he got off the phone with Sheila. An intimidating sort if you weren’t friends with him first, he was a tall thin leather-wearing biker with coal black hair pulled back with a band with hazel eyes under dark sunglasses. Sheila closed her eyes at that moment and wished to God Amber could see that her father still cared about her and that he never did abandon her completely.
“Will she be OK?” Sam asked, walking over to Amber’s side.
“She’s in a coma Sam...” Sheila whimpered.
Sam goes for her and wrapped his large arms around her body and held her close. “I’m so sorry,” he apologized now for deep-rooted regret. “I should have been there for her.”
“I know...I know you are,” Sheila gave back to him. “But you’re here now.”
“I hope it’s not too late,” Sam said, still holding Sheila within his arms.
Molly goes for her father as well and gives him a hug. “Thanks for coming Dad, I know it would mean a lot to her knowing that you were here,” she said clutching him close too.
Victor suddenly entered the hospital room and walked over to his wife and surveyed her body lying there. Disbelieving what she’d done. “Sheila . . .Sam?” He asked in a defenseless voice.
Sheila broke away from Sam and viewed Amber’s unconscious body, nodded her head in disbelief. She knew in her heart what to say, but didn’t quite know how to express it.
Victor grabbed Amber’s motionless hand and stared down at the bandage on her wrist. Never a clue...Nothing was wrong. It was life as usual. She was stressed from work, but who the hell wasn’t? He was never demanding, never forced her to do anything that she didn’t want to do, or asked to do. She was always allowed to go anywhere she wanted. Free to go shopping, to the movies, get her nails done and work late, out to see her friends, Leticia. He loved this woman, he showered her with affection, comforted her when she wept, felt lonely. What did he do? Why did she want to end it all? The kids…him, what was so wrong?
Eduardo rushed into the hospital room out of breath. It was Eduardo alone detached from Leticia. He was always with Leticia, and there he was…solo. Victor looked his brother up and down. Why was he here anyhow? How could he have known? He didn’t call him, why would Sheila call? Eduardo was so concerned about Amber and Victor watched his brother as he slowly staggered over to Amber’s bedside; inspecting his wife, practically dying at the sight of her in slumber.
“Eduardo?” Victor barely got out.
Sam raised an eyebrow at Sheila. Sheila’s stone face and tight lips were all he needed to validate that these two men adored his daughter. Sam walked over to a nearby corner, crossed his arms and enjoyed the show. Molly went with him.
Sheila sat silently back down. She knew this day would come eventually. But she never thought, never dreamed that Amber would do something so drastic to make it all come to pass.
“Is she…all right?” Eduardo expressed, holding back tears. “Is she gonna be OK?” He demanded from Sheila at that moment. “What do the doctor’s say? How much blood did she lose?”
Sheila gazed at Victor’s quizzical expression and forced herself up to escort his brother out of the hospital room. “Eduardo, you’re making a scene,” she let out shoving his body against the wall in the hallway.
“Is she gonna be OK? Will she be all right?” He repeated.
“She’
s in a coma,” Sheila started to cry, releasing tears of sorrow. “We don’t know yet if she’ll regain consciousness.”
“Good...God,” Eduardo expressed, rubbing his hands through his hair, he was going to throw up; he never felt emotions so terrorizing. He closed his eyes and found a nearby water fountain, splashed water on his face. Turned around—
Sheila slapped Eduardo across his cheek. “Damn you! Look what you did. Amber told me what happened, what’s been going on, how could you do this to her?”
“I—I, couldn’t help it,” Eduardo managed to get out.
“You dirty cheat. You used my daughter and played with her affections for years now...you’re so God damned selfish!” Sheila began shouting, “Get outta here! Go away! You don’t belong here!” She didn’t care that Victor was within hearing distance; all she cared about was Amber—to protect her daughter from further harm. Eduardo was the damaging influence now and Sheila wanted to shield Amber from any further pain. What kind of man would allow his loved one to self-destruct? Sheila slapped Eduardo across his face again. Wanted to kick him in the groin when—
Victor suddenly appeared, eyed his mother-in-law hitting his brother, his face drawn—in shock. “Eduardo—Sheila? What the hell is going on?”
Eduardo shot a look at Sheila…Sheila managed to reach Victor’s side; caressed his shoulder then let out a huge sigh. The truth had to come out one-way or the other. She just couldn’t believe that she would be the one who would liberate the infidelity. In a calm voice, she allowed herself to say, “I’m so sorry Victor, but the reason he’s here is...is because they were having an affair.”
Victor’s face went vacant. Eduardo gulped, looked beyond Sheila—froze.
Sheila wandered out of the moment and did a double-take at Amber’s in-laws: Fabrizio, Rosalba—their faces white with shock.
OH HELL!
She didn’t mean to let The Family know as well! Victor, Eduardo, Rosalba and Fabrizio were all in disbelief now.
Eduardo? Did she just say that Eduardo was sleeping with their daughter-in-law? “Que?” Rosalba let out, shaking with trauma, “Usted hombre estúpido! What were you thinking?”
“Su hijo de esposa, Leticia, don’t you love your wife?” Fabrizio asked angry.
“You’re the devil Eduardo, el Diablo, hurting your brother this way,” Rosalba cried, crumbling in her husband’s arms.
“Look what you did to your brother Eduardo, look what you did to his wife,” Fabrizio stated, sadly unable to look at his eldest son.
Eduardo walked away from his family at that moment and doesn’t worry about what they think of him…Good God, he doesn’t care? With his head down he contemplated his next move. How to get back in to see Amber, how to wake her up, how to tell her he’s sorry, how to tell her to hold on. “But I love her.”
Sheila thought she almost missed it, like a whisper from one of the nurses down the hall. “What did you just say?” She could not believe it. Maybe didn’t want to allow herself to believe when she heard those particular words.
“I’ve always loved her,” he replied, staring at Sheila’s doubtful gaze.
Sheila scanned his attire, all business-like…so fashionable, with the best coat and ties, the fancy shoes, hair all neat and combed, so unlike Victor. “And when were you planning on telling her that?” She threw at him, a laugh still in her words. Sheila was wise. After all the husbands and lovers, and men, she had to be shrewd. It was armor she wore well; a medal she cherished and was proud of.
“She knows I love her,” Eduardo confessed honestly. “I tried to make her come back. To tell her that I was sorry...I was going to leave my wife.”
Sheila started to express amusement. “You are a piece of work, you know that? Keep shoveling those hearts and flowers out you bastard, but it’s still after the fact now isn’t it? She almost killed herself today!”
“It’s the goddamn truth!” Eduardo angrily yelled back at her, the harsh attorney now emerging. “I’ve always wanted to take care of her, Sheila, always wanted to be near her. I’m the one she should have married,” he motioned, pounding his chest. “I’m the one who should have fathered her children. I love her more than anyone here could ever imagine!” Eduardo shouted back at Sheila in addition to everyone in the hallway. The Family heard everything that was hollered. He didn’t need to be so complacent about it. They all nodded their heads in shame. Rosalba crying uncontrollably, Fabrizio tried to calm her down, disbelieving his brother’s proclamation, Victor ran out of the glass doors nearby.
“Eduardo, even I don’t believe you...When Amber wakes up I don’t want you near her. I want her as far away from you as humanly possible. You’re going to have to live with your guilt. Amber was going to sacrifice everything for you today, her marriage, her children, and her life…because she loved you. It’s obvious to everyone here you didn’t love her; she wouldn’t be lying unconscious if you did…I hope you’re in hell right now, a special kind of hell.”
Thirty
Making Things Right
“We’re going to send her to county,” the doctor stated, “It’s a good facility there; she’ll be tended to well.”
Sheila eyed Amber’s body. Amber was still in a coma and it was going on four weeks now with no relief in sight. Hospital bills were mounting and Amber’s HMO denied any further benefits directed to an out of network hospital; she would have to be moved to another hospice where her insurance could cover an all-inclusive residency. “Anything, I just want her well.”
“I’ll have it arranged.”
It was the only solution really, Sheila didn’t have the resources; neither did Sam after spending practically his life savings on getting remarried in the Bahamas. Amber needed a full-time nurse and the watchful eye of monitors and medications.
Two days later, Amber’s body was wheeled away into a transport van ready to be sent to the county building. Sheila was by her side…but the Sanchez family was nowhere in sight. Amber had been abandoned once again. The family she once loved, cherished had suddenly turned their backs on her. In a sudden rage, Victor had gathered up all of Amber’s belongings and stuffed them inside suitcases and plastic bags, banishing them to the garage for Amber to pick up when she awoke and was out of the hospital.
“You her mother?” The medic asked Sheila, who was standing near the ambulance door.
“Yes,” she replied concerned.
“You can follow me if you’d like. We’re just transporting her to another location,” the medic stated, properly shutting the rear doors and getting back into the driver’s side.
Sheila turned away. It was raining. It was appropriate. No crisp sunny days for her little girl from now on, Amber would hereinafter be thought of as unsound…unstable even around her own children, forever having to explain the scar on her wrist when she woke up. If she ever woke up. That comprehension overtook Sheila with emotion as she opened up her car door. She was just about to get in when Eduardo reached for her as she tried to sit down.
Sheila rolled her eyes and choked back tears, “I told you I never want you near her again.”
“I can’t Sheila,” Eduardo broke down in front of her crying. “I know I don’t have to continue to justify myself to you...but that’s my wife in that van.”
Even in the rain, Sheila witnessed the redness in his eyes and permitted tears of her own when she actually felt his grief. She covered her mouth with the understanding. “Let her go,” she breathed through heart-rending sobs.
Buckling over in pain, Eduardo went for her body and grabbed her into him.
Sheila cried a few more seconds within Eduardo’s arms—then suddenly pushed him away. As much as she truly wanted to loathe the man, she was so grateful that someone other than herself sincerely cared enough to be there for Amber’s transport.
“How is she?”
Sheila gazed over to the back of the van. “She’s still the same.”
Eduardo choked back more sorrow. “I miss her so much, what are you
doing with her?”
Sheila wiped the water away from her face, away from her eyes. “I’m taking her to Valley Hospital.”
“Valley Hospital?” Eduardo expressed delicately, a bad taste in his tone. “What about her insurance? Victor’s insurance? There are no other possibilities? Goddamn it—this can’t be right!”
Sheila couldn’t believe it, but Eduardo’s dominating presence shot through her entire body. It was an electrifying response, his authoritative tone. She could see why Amber was so drawn to him; Sheila herself was suddenly being pulled in by his magnetism. “What can I do? They won’t cover her stay any longer; I have no other choice but to send her to a public facility.”
Eduardo eyed the van again; he just couldn’t grasp the fact that Amber was half-dead in that back cargo. “Keep me informed of her recovery...will you do that for me please?”
Sheila noted his sincerity. “Sure.”
“I mean it Sheila. Amber’s not going to be there for very long. I’ll make sure of it.”
She nodded her head just to get away from him. Sheila then opened up her car door and finally got inside; honked at the van that was waiting for her patiently in the rain and drove off.
Eduardo pulled himself back together and ran his hands through his wet hair, watched as the van pulled away while Sheila followed directly behind it. What absolute terror; his future bleak, driving away to a county hospital no less. Sheila asked him to let her go. Let her go? Impossible. He wanted what was his. He would never abandon Amber. Never.
Unsuitable Obsession - Part One Page 23
