by Mary Smith
“Maybe you’re smarter than you look. You both are in it for the money. I’m right, aren’t I?” Aven looks between us.
“Yes.” Gable answers for us. “That’s all we’re in it for.”
Suddenly, and without warning, there’s a massive bang and the brightest light I’ve ever seen. The room is spinning, my ears are ringing, and I can’t figure out if I’m standing up or sitting down. I hear voices and what sounds like gunfire, or maybe a car is backfiring.
Instantly, I feel someone on top of me and it’s like I’m being blanketed. There are still spots in my visions and I make out numerous bodies, dressed in black, around me. I can feel someone tugging on my arm, and I’m trying to get up on my feet. I am almost dragged out of the room.
“Run, Dream.” It’s Bruce, I think. I can’t tell for sure, but I think it’s him. He pushes me toward someone and they catch me. We’re heading out the back of the building and when the door opens, I see Larissa.
“Dream.” She has on jeans, a polo shirt, and a large black bulletproof vest that says: FBI across the front of it. She pulls me toward the side of the building and pushes me against the brick wall of the building. “Are you okay?”
“Gable.” My ears are ringing and I can’t tell if she can hear me or not. I keep blinking my eyes trying to refocus my vision.
Larissa cups my face and makes me look at her. She’s examining me. “You’re okay.” She says and waves her arm. A man, who looks to be a paramedic, rushes over to my side and takes me with him to an ambulance.
“My husband.” I say and I know that someone has to hear me. “Gable is still inside.”
“It’s okay.” The man says and lifts me into the ambulance.
“I need him. Please,” I cry again. My vision isn’t coming back and I know I’m fading. I have to stay awake. I need to force myself, but my mind thinks otherwise.
~~~
I hear a faint beeping, and this time I’m able to focus on where I am. I’m in the hospital, but I’m alone. I’m hooked up to an IV and the beeping looks like a heart monitor of sorts. I reach around and see the call button for the nurse. I push it and hear the ding. As I’m waiting for them, I sit up and try to get out of bed. I’m in a thin cotton hospital gown.
“Dream.” The door opens and Bruce comes in. He looks worried and he comes right over to me.
I gasp. He isn’t who I expect to see. “Where’s Gable?” He stops and doesn’t answer me. “Bruce.” I can’t cry, because I don’t think I have anything left in my tear ducts. “Is he?” I can’t say the word dead.
“He’s hurt, but alive.” I fall back onto the hospital bed and cover my face with relief. “I can take you to him, but the doctor wants to check you now that you’re awake.”
“No.” I sit up. “Take me to him and tell me what the hell happened on the way.” The doctor and a nurse come into the room and try to stop me from leaving. “Let me go.” I hiss at them. “I’m going to Gable’s room. If you want to examine me then you can do it there, because I’m not sitting here another moment.” I reach for Bruce, and he helps me stand up. My legs are wobbling, and the nurse pulls over a wheelchair from the corner of the room. Bruce eases me into it and he wheels me down the hall to where two men that I have seen around the house are standing.
Inside, Gable is lying in the bed, but he’s facing away from me. I can see that he’s hooked up to several machines and IVs.
‘What happened?”
“He’s been shot, but it isn’t bad because it went right through and didn’t hit anything vital.”
“Aven?”
“She was aiming for you, but Gable jumped in front of it and protected you.”
“Where is she?”
“Dead.” Bruce says it with no emotion. “The SWAT team shot her when she began to fire at them.”
“Gideon?” Even though I know that he’s dead, I’m hoping that maybe I’m wrong for Mama and Gable’s sake.
“Gone.” Bruce affirms what I already know.
“Where’s Mama?”
“She just left about ten minutes ago. She checked on you, but she needed to take care of things for Gideon. Mrs. Stones is helping her.”
I nod and reach out for Gable’s hand.
“He’s asleep. They gave him several pain meds. He has several staples on his side, but he’s been more worried about you than anything.” I smile at Gable. I know that he cares. “Dream, everything that Aven was saying to you is a lie. Gable loves you. I’ve worked for him for many years and he’s only ever loved you.”
I gaze up at Bruce and nod. “Could you leave for a little bit? I need to be alone with him.”
“Of course. You only need to yell for me and I’ll take you back to your room.”
I lift one eyebrow. “Do you really think I’m leaving him?”
Bruce chuckles. “No, but if you change your mind then let me know.”
When Bruce leaves, I take Gable’s hand that isn’t attached to an IV, and touch my cheek with it. “Gable. Can you hear me?” I ask in a low tone. “Can you open your eyes?”
He doesn’t move or make a sound. His breathing is slow and even and I know he’s asleep. I shouldn’t disturb him, because I know the moment he opens his eyes that he’ll be stressed and worrying over everyone but himself.
I still can’t cry, but I’m concerned about him. Even though Bruce says it’s nothing serious, looking at Gable, who looks frail to me, it looks serious. I lift his hand up to my cheek and he doesn’t feel warm. He doesn’t feel like my Gable.
“Gable, please wake up,” I whisper again. I can hear the doctor outside, but Bruce is stopping him from coming in. My concern is only for Gable. I lay his hand back down at his side, but I keep a hold of it. I rest my head down on his thigh and close my eyes.
~~~
“Dream.” Mama is next to me, softly waking me up. “Let’s get you back to your room.” She starts to pull my wheelchair back.
“No.” I push on the brake. “I’m not leaving him.” I sit up, and my back hurts from being hunched over.
“At least let the doctor in and have him check you out. We don’t need you fainting anymore.”
“I’m fine.”
Mama takes a deep breath and quickly spins me around. “Dream, I know you are in pain and you haven’t eaten a thing since you woke up. Now, I’m telling you, you’re going to go back to your room, get examined, have a meal, and only then can you come back in here. Are we clear?” Her eyes tell me she means business.
“Is there any point in arguing with you?”
“Many have tried and all have failed.” She winks at me. She unhooks the brake on the wheelchair and begins to roll me out. “Wait,” I stop her. “Are you okay?” Mama lost a son.
I see the tears in her eyes and nods. “We’ll talk later. First, let’s take care of you.” She rolls me out the door and hands me off to Bruce, who takes me back to my room.
The doctor, who isn’t happy with me, examines me. I have scrapes and bruises, but nothing is broken or seriously damaged. The nurse brings me in some soup and a large cup of water. Once I finish everything, because I’m sure that Mama will come in here and check, I yell for Bruce to take me back to Gable.
He quickly comes in and this time I walk down the hall to Gable’s room. I have to move around and I can’t stand being in that wheelchair for another moment. Mama is still sitting by his side as I walk in.
“Do you feel better?”
“Yes,” I answer truthfully.
“Good. I need to run home, but I’ll be back in the morning.” She stands and kisses my cheek. “He should be awake soon.”
“Mama, do you want to talk?”
“No.” She walks past me and Bruce and heads home.
“Do you have men watching her?”
Bruce nods.
“Good.” I take the seat next to Gable’s bed and run my hands through his blond hair. He doesn’t even stir and it breaks my heart a bit.
What else is going
to happen to us?
What more can I actually handle?
Will I have a normal life?
Did I ever?
~~~
“Dream.” I feel my hair being stroked. “Dream, wake up.”
My eyes flutter open and Gable’s dark eyes are staring back at me. I gasp and practically leap from the chair into his arms.
Gable groans.
“I’m sorry.” I pull away from him, forgetting he had been shot.
“It’s fine.”
“You’re alive.”
“So, it seems.” His voice is dead.
“Are you in pain? Do I need to get a doctor?” I can see how pale he looks and I know he’ll try to play it off.
“I’m fine.” I roll my eyes. “Stop, Dream.” He growls at me. “Why aren’t you resting?”
“I was.” I hold his hand, but he doesn’t return my touch.
“Why don’t you go back to your room and rest?”
What? Why is he pushing me away? “I want to be with you.”
“Bruce!” He yells and Bruce obediently comes into the room. “Take Dream to her room.”
“Gable.” I gasp. “Why? I want to make sure you’re okay.”
My husband turns away from me. I don’t know if I should scream at him, hit him, or just leave. I stare at the back of his head for a moment before Bruce takes my elbow and lifts me from the chair.
Like an airplane on auto-pilot, I let Bruce lead me back to my room and help me into my bed. He looks as if he wants to say something to me, but I shake my head. He nods and leaves my room.
Once I hear the door close, the tears finally fall.
~~~
“Mrs. Butler.”
My eyes hurt from the tears I’ve cried. When I finally force them open, the doctor is looking down at me.
“Mrs. Butler.”
“Yes.” My voice hurt my throat.
“We need to discuss your labs.” He took a seat in the chair beside my bed. “You’re on birth control correct?”
I nod.
“And the last time you were...attacked...your family doctor put you on an antibiotic?”
“Yes.” I sit up, confused about where he was going with these questions.
“But, you still took your pill?”
“Yes. Why are you asking me these questions?”
The doctor sighs and looks at me. “Because you’re pregnant, Mrs. Butler.”
In the past, I’ve heard the expression about the rug being pulled from under you, but I never understood it until this moment.
“That...that...can’t be. I take my pills.”
“Yes, you do. However, have you taken the same time everyday? Have you not missed a couple here and there? Did you take all of the antibiotic?”
I drop my head into my hands. This isn’t happening right now. I’m in a dream. None of this is real. It’s the worst timing for me to have a baby.
“Does Gable know?”
“Your husband?”
I nod.
“No, this is your medical chart. No one else knows.”
“Don’t let anyone see that or find out, do you understand me?” I lift my head and give him the meanest glare.
“Yes.” He shrinks back. “I’m sending you down for an ultrasound and going to refer you to an OBGYN. They should be here soon to take care of you.” He stands and heads for the door.
“When am I being released?” I blurt out my question.
“If the ultrasound comes back fine, I can let you go this afternoon.”
I nod and he leaves.
Why can’t I have a stress-free day?
~~~
I want Gable to be with me as I head down to the ultrasound, but Bruce says he’s asleep. I didn’t tell Bruce where I was being taken. I’ll tell Gable myself.
The tech lets me see on the screen the small glimpse of my baby. It’s a tiny speck and I feel the tears well up. I cry because Gable isn’t here with me. This should be a happy moment, yet it comes at the time of chaos and loss.
Once I’m back in my room, my lunch is served, but I barely touch it. It looks disgusting and I’m too tired to eat.
The doctor comes in and tells me the baby is doing fine. I’m about 6 weeks along and he hands me a list of OBGYNs. He says a nurse will be in soon and I can leave.
The nurse comes in with discharge papers and I change into jeans and a large sweatshirt Bruce had brought for me. Even though I’m supposed to leave in a wheelchair, I walk past the orderly and head to Gable’s room. I brush past the guards outside his door and burst in.
Gable is sitting on the side of the bed in a pair of black sweatpants and a white t-shirt. His eyes connect with mine, but he says nothing.
“Are you going to speak to me?”
Gable only continues to stare.
“Fine. Be that way. I’m going home and you can sit here and in silence. When you’re ready to let me in and talk then call me. Oh,” I hold up one finger. “I’m taking Bruce and Trent with me, since Leo is dead.”
I saw Gable flinch at my harsh words. I don’t wait for an answer as I turn on my heels and head out of his room. Without a word, Bruce follows me out of the hospital. Trent is waiting for us at the entryway.
The drive to Butler Mansion is quiet, and I’m glad because I have too much spinning in my head to have any more added to it.
I don’t speak to anyone as I walk into our home. Is it still our home? Or is just a place? I head into the media room and flip on Gone with the Wind. I mindlessly sit there watching the scenes on the screen, but my thoughts are elsewhere. They are with Gable, our baby, our future, Gideon, Mama, and JE. Every memory leads to another one and there are more bad than good.
I can’t deal with a life of continued drama and death, especially with a baby on the way. I didn’t grow up like that and neither will my child. I love Gable. Our relationship has been a mess since day one, but I love him. I know he loves me because I can see it in his eyes. But can he get beyond all of this and help create a life for me and our family? Is there a future for us?
I didn’t know the answers. I hoped Gable had them.
Chapter 30
Two days.
It’s been two days since I’ve been home and it has a bad two days.
I have tried to see Gable several times, but he never talks to me, and the last time he refused to see me.
I made the decision to move back to Jackson Manor the last time I saw Gable. If he doesn’t want to talk to me, that’s fine, but I’m not going to sit in his house while he does it.
Mama decided to cremate Gideon without any type of visitations or services. I told her I would be there for her, if she needed, but she refused and did it on her own. Since Leo had no family, I took care of his arrangements. Like Mama, I cremated him, but I’m not sure what I will do with his ashes.
There have been numerous detectives taking my statement and I am finally tired of the same questions and start sending them to Mr. Nickerson to arrange an appointment. Needless to say, they start leaving me alone.
Mrs. Stones and I keep our focus on JE and our clients. I haven’t told anyone about the baby, yet. Gable’s should know before the world does. However, since he won’t even see me, that’s not something I can tell him.
“Dream.” Mrs. Stones brings me back to the present. “Bruce is ready to take you home.”
I nod and gather my things. Bruce is waiting for me at the elevator as I walk out of my office.
When Trent pulls into my driveway, I’m too busy reading my emails to even realize the Mercedes has stopped. When the door opens, I jump out, still staring at my phone, and walk into the house.
“So, you’re ignoring me now?”
I almost trip over my own feet as I whip around and see Gable standing in the foyer. He is in his black pants, black shirt, and red tie.
“I didn’t see you.”
“I opened the car door for you.”
“I’m busy.” I growl at him, waving my phone at h
im. “I’m sure you understand that statement.”
“I do.” He comes closer to me. “We need to talk.”
“Now, you want to talk.” I toss all my things on the center table. “There.” I point at everything. “I dropped everything for you. Like I always do.”
Gable pinched the bridge of his nose. He looks exhausted. “Dream, I don’t want to fight. I want to say my peace, okay?”
“I want to say something first.” I need to tell him about the baby. He needs to know.
“No. Not this time, Dream. I need to speak first.” His blue eyes look sad and for a moment, I’m stunned. I nod, wanting to know what he’ll say.
“Jacob, Aven, and Gideon are all gone now. You have no other threats against you or JE. Therefore,” he takes a deep breath. “We don’t need to stay married.”
My mouth drops.
“You’ve already moved out and I understand why. You will have Bruce and Trent by your side for as long as you want. Mr. Nickerson will be sending you all the paperwork to dissolution our marriage tomorrow.”
I feel as if I’ve been punched in the chest. “What?”
“This is how it should be.” He states firmly. “We both know this marriage is a sham.”
I shake my head. “You told me you loved me.”
“I’ve said a lot of things, Dream.” The invisible knife drives deeper into my heart at his cruel words. “I’ll make sure you’re well compensated for your time.”
“Get out.” The words left me quickly and I couldn’t even think about them.
“Dream, I’m-”
“Get out, now.” The first tear rolls down my cheek and I can’t stop them.
Gable pales and looks away from me. “Dream, please-”
“You don’t want me or this marriage. I left Butler Mansion to give you space until you were ready to talk. And this-” a sob escapes me. “This is what you want?”
He turns his face toward me and I see his eyes are wet. “Yes” he finally says.
“Then get out and I don’t ever want to see you again.”
Our gaze stays connected for a few more brief seconds before he turns and leaves. When the door shuts, I pick up the vase on the table, and with all my might, fling it across the room at the door. It shatters, as do I onto the floor in a sobs.
