Hidden

by Ancelli

  “In and out.” He stepped back, looking at her scrubs sprinkled with blood. “Why are you in this?” He touched her shirt.

  “I’ve been in surgery. We saved a baby tonight,” she said proudly. “It was amazing, bringing a new life into this world.” Her happiness faded in an instant. “At the price of her mother.”

  “I thought you were suspended?”

  “I am, or was. I’m not sure.” Rayn rubbed her hands together. “I’ve decided that I want to specialize in neonatology.”

  “I’ve learned one thing about you,” he touched her nose, “anything you put your mind to, you will achieve.”

  “Babe.” She took his hand in hers. “We had to send a Red Cross message to your friend.”

  “Who?” His eyebrows met.

  “Morgan’s wife just passed away.” Rayn watched as the door behind Ethan opened.

  “What?” Ethan brushed his hair back with his fingers. “He just left her.”

  “We tried.” She shrugged. “And you won’t believe who she’s related to.”

  “Rayn.” Colton walked up to them.

  “I’m warning you.” Ethan pushed Rayn behind him. “This time I will not stop.”

  “I come in peace.” He placed his hands in the air in surrender and then dropped them. “Rayn, thank you for trying to save my sister and for saving her tiny legacy.” He ambled off to the elevator, she assumed to the NICU.

  “What the hell just happened?”

  “It’s a long story.” She entwined their fingers. “I’ll tell you on the way to see my dad.”

  ***

  Rayn stared at baby Wright, the tiny miracle God had allowed her to be a part of saving her life. Nothing the doctors did could’ve saved Sommer’s life. She was gone before she reached the hospital. Baby Wright was hooked up to so many wires and tubes, one helping her breathe and another feeding her, others monitoring her vitals. Three days had passed from that dreaded night. Morgan was on his way; it had taken him longer than expected to get home from the middle of nowhere. And during that time, Dr. Barbara had sat down with Rayn and explained what could probably happen. They were gearing up for a lawsuit just in case Colton’s family sued the hospital for malpractice, even if the team wasn’t in the wrong. Rayn had been in the OR because Colton had begged her to be, but ethically that choice was somewhat questionable, due to her suspension. That day they had been incredibly short-staffed due to the pile-up, and, Dr. Barbara explained, that the family had been lucky to have Rayn volunteer as an OR nurse. And the next day, the hospital dropped Rayn’s suspension as if it had never happened.

  She glanced over at the empty incubator on the far left, and her heart filled with sadness and joy as she thought of her friend. Kaliyah had also been involved in the pile-up on the interstate. The impact was causing complications with her pregnancy, last she knew Kaliyah was being prep for a Cesarean Section. Rayn said a little prayer for friend. Hopefully soon she would be holding her little boy. Becoming a mother changed everything. Rayn hadn’t been prepared for the explosion of emotions she felt the first time she held Alex. It was overwhelming, the love she felt for her son, and some day she would experience that same feeling again. She smiled, hoping for a little girl.

  Her cell phone buzzed and she dug into her blouse pocket. Reading the text, she chuckled.

  I’m needed in San Diego. They need to release me.

  Her dad was driving the nurses crazy, already trying to get out of bed. He was a stubborn old man, set in his ways. He was having a hard time taking orders, since he was usually the one barking commands.

  “She’s beautiful.”

  That voice made her smile fade away and the hair on her arms stand up. Rayn couldn’t control the way she reacted to his presence. Her palms instantly became sweaty. Nothing Colton did or said would erase the internal scars he’d inflicted on her. However, she wasn’t going to let him know he still made her nervous. It had taken Rayn time to heal from the wounds of the past, and she wasn’t going to allow his presence to deter her from being happy.

  Colton placed his left hand on the thick glass.

  Rayn rapidly moved away from beside him.

  “I’m not going to hurt you.” Colton swallowed like he was contemplating what to say next.

  “That’s supposed to make me feel better?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “No, it’s not,” he replied softly, and, she supposed, honestly. “I’m here for her.” Colton pointed at his niece. “I couldn’t save my baby sister.” His voice cracked as he continued. “My family almost lost my niece over the color of a doctor’s skin.” He cast his gaze downward as he shook his head. “I can’t change how I was raised. It’s too late for me, but she’s an innocent baby.”

  She assumed he was talking about baby Wright.

  “It’s never too late.” Rayn placed her hands in the front pockets of her scrubs. “Hate is taught. Compassion is a natural emotion. You should try it,” she added sincerely.

  Colton gave a half smile as he continued to watch his niece. “My family won’t be suing.”

  Rayn had to admit, his words took a load off her shoulders. Even so, if she never saw Colton again, it would be too soon, she thought as she walked away.

  Epilogue

  Three years later

  “Surprise!” Everyone screamed loudly as Ethan, Alex, and Maverick walked up the steps. “Feliz Cumpleaños.”

  The corners of Ethan’s mouth quirked up and he started laughing, watching his newfound family. Behind him, Maverick yelled the loudest. Ethan searched through the crowded house, looking for his wife. Yep, there she was, throwing confetti at him. The colorful pieces of paper hit his face and then fell to the wooden floor.

  “They made me do it.” Maverick tapped Ethan’s shoulder, sidestepping him into the house. “Buenas.”

  “Welcome to Cuba!” His aunt Marisol opened the door to her house even wider. “Tu familia.” Love filtered through the house. He was greeted with a house full of family members he’d never seen or met before. Spanish and African roots were evident in everyone in the room. He had family members that looked like him, and others much darker. He was proud of all the races running through his blood. Strains of exotic rhythms, the rumba beats emanating from every corner of the small house, had people swaying from side to side. The scent of delicious Cuban cuisine invigorated his senses, making his stomach grumble. His mouth was watering for a taste.

  “I hope you like rice and beans,” another woman said, walking up to him and wrapping her arms around him. “I’m your cousin Veronica.” She kissed his cheek. “We’ve waited a very long time to meet you.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Ethan hugged her back. Their English was very good. His maternal grandparents made sure their children spoke English. Veronica was his aunt’s daughter. He’d spoken to some of his family over the years, but never actually met the ones in Cuba.

  “He likes anything that can be eaten.” Rayn winked as she walked by with a loaded-up plate. “Little Maggie is loving this food.” She rubbed her protruding belly. “I need this recipe!” She licked the fork. She’d been practicing in the kitchen since she’d found his mother’s recipe book in one of the farm’s kitchen drawers.

  Earlier that day, Rayn and Elena said they were going to get some souvenirs in town. He should have known they had something up their sleeves. He caught a glimpse of his father in the kitchen, talking to his uncle. He couldn’t ask for a better birthday: Rayn had made another one of his mother’s wishes come true.

  They were staying at a mega-resort in Varadero, hours away, surrounded by powdered white sand and a perfect azure sea. Cuba was rich in culture, beaches, art, and architecture. They’d visited his mother’s childhood house a few hours ago. It looked just like his mother described, even with the damage the years and bad weather had bestowed on the structure. He’d strolled out to the back of the small home, and the ocean was the view. Ethan and his dad sat on the sand and stared out into the ocean. His father
kissed the gold urn before standing up and walking into the cool water. He said his goodbyes and scattered her ashes, just as his mother had requested years before. She said no matter how long it took, she wanted to be free, back at home. Ethan’s lips curled up. He could see his mother dancing in the water with her hands up in the air, singing one of the Spanish lullabies she used to sing when he was a child. Now he had the scenery to add to his mother’s stories and memories. Magda de Monet was finally at peace.

  “Love you, Mom…”

  Ethan swallowed, gazing at his wife. Every day that passed by, he fell deeper and deeper in love with his Rayn. She drove him and Alex crazy at times with all her nagging, but he couldn’t see his life without her. She’d planned this trip for years. She’d contacted his mother’s family and taken care of all the details until finally all the paperwork, passports, and visas came through. They’d found out Rayn was pregnant after everything was already booked and paid for. Rayn didn’t let her pregnancy and the morning sickness stop her from getting on the plane, and here they were, standing in his mother’s twin’s home in Santiago de Cuba.

  “Your wife is funny.” Veronica inched away. “Habla muy bien español.”

  “Yes, she does. She speaks better Spanish than me.” He walked through the humble home. Pictures hung on the wall celebrating the Fernández family and their rich culture. He stared at a picture of his mother and her twin from when they’d been about Alex’s age. Ethan glanced at his now seven-year-old son; he resembled his mother a little bit more every day.

  His family spoke in their native language. Ethan picked up on some things and for others, he was lost.

  “Dad.” Alex pointed at another photo. “Is that you and Grammy?”

  “Yes.” There was a portrait of his parents and Ethan when he was a kid. “I was about five in this one,” he pointed and then at another, “and that’s high school graduation.”

  “You were the first to graduate college,” his aunt said proudly, pointing at a picture taken when he’d received his college degree. “We are so proud.”

  It seemed like forever since he’d walked past that podium. Memories of that day resurfaced. On that day he made his parents the proudest, he’d made a fool of himself and gotten his heart shattered into pieces. Everything happened for a reason. If it wasn’t for Rayn’s rejection, he wouldn’t have striven to prove her wrong. Rayn’s laughter brought him back from the past.

  “Magda’s dream was for you to experience where she came from.” The woman, his mother’s twin, had a strong Spanish accent, just like his mother. Her eyes twinkled as she stared at him. She cupped his face. “You are the only piece of my sister I have left.” Tears ran down her chubby cheeks. “I hadn’t seen Magda in over thirty-five years.”

  Ethan looked at his aunt. “I’m sorry.”

  She gave him a smile that made his heart jump with joy. It was the same beautiful, lopsided smile his mother had. “Ella fue feliz hasta sus últimos dias. Me entiendes?”

  “A little.”

  “Americano.” She chuckled. “Magda was happy even in her last days. She told me so herself. I didn’t get to hug her one last time, but I did get to tell her how much I loved her. Your mother never abandoned me even though she thinks she did. I begged her to stay with Alexandre and build a life for herself when I was detained. Magda wanted to turn herself in and get deported too.”

  This was all new to Ethan. He hadn’t known his aunt had migrated to the States, too.

  “One of us had to live the American dream.” Marisol touched the picture. “She helped me, even when she didn’t have to.”

  “She was an amazing woman,” he replied proudly.

  “We didn’t get to celebrate her life with you then.” Her eyes shined. “We can celebrate her now.” Marisol turned, looking outside. “He has been waiting to meet you from the minute you were born.”

  Ethan looked in the direction his aunt was staring, and an older man sitting in a rocking chair in the back yard, smoking a cigar as he tapped his right foot to the beat of the salsa song that was playing. Ethan was finally going to meet his grandfather in person. His mom had spoken about him often, and all that he’d done to support their family. It was he who’d made it possible for his mother to migrate to the U.S. Ethan watched his grandfather, Pablo, closely. He was almost a hundred years old. His abuelito was still living, and he was about to spend time with him before it was too late.

  “Papi.” Marisol began to walk toward the back of the house. “Mira quien llego a verte.”

  His grandfather placed his cigar on the ledge and turned. His eyes widened. “Ethan.”

  “Si.” He stepped out as Pablo slowly stood.

  “Ven aqui.” He lifted his hands in the air.

  He obeyed and got closer, and his grandfather wrapped his fragile arms around him. “Dios mio.” His embrace got tighter. “I waited so long for this moment.”

  Ethan couldn’t contain the tears blinding his vision. He didn’t want to let this man go.

  “Mi pedazo de Magda,” his grandfather mumbled.

  “Si.” My piece of Magda, Ethan repeated in his head, gazing at his son. Soon Ethan would be holding another piece of his mother, his own baby girl. He stepped back, holding a smiling Pablo by the shoulders.

  “I told her,” Pablo cupped Ethan’s face, “I would live to meet you.”

  THE END

  Ancelli’s Books:

  My Best Friend

  Stronger Than Ever

  If Only We Knew

  Forgiveness & Second Chances

  Love In Strange Places

  Barely Breathing

  Love Through Pain

  Love’s Sacrifice

  Not Always

  Perfectly Mixed

  Only You

  Finally Home

  Vacation Love

  Craigslist Lover

  My Forever

  No Way Out

  Christmas Miracle

  Through Thick and Thin

  About the Author:

  On my spare time, I love scribbling and making my words come to life. I love writing romance stories about couples that go through trials and come out stronger. Love is never easy, but it's worth all the hard work. I would like to hear your opinion whether good or bad, you can leave your comments at:

  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Interracial-Romance/423055121069489

  https://www.facebook.com/writer.ancelli

  Or

  ancelli55@live.com

  Twitter: @Author_Ancelli