A Private Affair (18 page)

“It hurts so bad,” Lina whimpered, grasping onto her husband like a pitiful child. “And she won’t do anything.”

He sent Carissa a glare, but the look she sent him quelled any rebuke. She had a stronger will than he did and he knew it. He returned his attention to his wife. “Lina, you’re being ridiculous. Are you ready to go now?”

Lina bit down on her lip and let a contraction pass then said, “No.” She shifted her glance to Carissa, the look of excitement and triumph gone from her face. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“I’m not doing anything. You’re the one who’s punishing yourself. By now you could be in a comfortable hospital bed with your husband by your side.”

“I want you there.”

“I’ll be there later.”

“I want you there
now
. I want you to drive us—”

“No.”

Lina sat forward, resting her hands on her thighs, sitting in an inelegant pose. She hung her head and let out a deep breath.

Glenn reached for her. “Lina.”

“Get me some water,” she snapped.

“But—”

“Now!”

He hurried into the kitchen.

She looked at Carissa. “I liked you a lot more when you were with Morris. You weren’t so selfish and uncaring. I don’t know what’s come over you, but since you got your new look you’re not the same and I don’t like it. You think because you now have a rich man and get a couple of expensive gifts that you’re above us?”

“No.”

“The Carissa I knew before wouldn’t watch me in pain and do nothing about it.”

“Let your husband take you to the hospital.”

She pointed to herself. Her face was flush, her hair plastered to her forehead by sweat. “Do you see this? Do you see what I’m about to do? I’m about to bring new life into this world. And you refuse to be there to support me? You’re not doing anything more important than this. You owe me.”

Glenn came back holding a glass of water and handed it to his wife. She took a long swallow.

“I think you may have to carry her to the car if she keeps this up for another hour,” Carissa said. “Although the contractions do seem to come in different time intervals, so there’s space. And her water hasn’t broken yet.” She looked at Lina, flashing a sour grin. “And my couch thanks you.”

Lina glared at her. “Don’t be a bitch.”

Carissa shot her brother a look of disdain. “Are you really going to let her keep this up?”

“Carrie, please.”

Carissa surged to her feet. “No, this is the last time I’m going to tell you about the husband you need to be because you’re soon going to be a father and you need to exert yourself.” She walked over to Lina. “Because you’re a lot stronger than she is and she’s not thinking rationally so you have to do that for her. You take her under her arm and yank her to her feet,” she said demonstrating, surprising them both. “Then take her to the car and drive her to the hospital.”

Lina yanked her arm away. “My man treats me like a princess. He treats me with kid gloves. You’re the problem. Do you really want me to give birth in your living room?”

“No.”

“Then why can’t you do this one thing?”

“Because I’m sick of you. I’m sick of you taking me for granted. How dare you say that I owe you. You and my brother decided to have a child. That’s your choice, not mine. My life is just as valuable. I am proud of it. It’s not perfect, but I’m glad I broke up with Morris, and I’m glad I’m wearing new clothes that make me feel good about myself.”

“Carissa all I want—” Lina bent forward, lowered her head and squeezed her eyes shut as another wave of pain hit. She then released a breath and screamed, “Why are you doing this to me? You’re supposed to take care of me! You’re the only one in the family who cares about everybody else more than herself. That’s the Carissa we love. And it will be your fault if anything happens to me or my baby!”

“No, it will be your fault. It will be your fault if you have to tell your son you gave birth to him on his Aunt’s living room floor because you were too stubborn. Because you always want to have things your way. It’s time to grow up Lina. This is the time you stop thinking just about yourself and start thinking about others. You’re soon going to be a mother and have someone fully dependant on you. You won’t be the center of attention anymore.” She turned and looked at her brother. “And it’s your fault too. How can you just stand by and watch this without doing anything? Stop acting so helpless. Your son is in there, ready to come out. Will you be there to catch him? Or are you going to let your wife try to hold him in so that she can prove a point?”

Glenn grabbed his wife’s arm in a grip that made no allowance for struggle. “We’re leaving now.”

“I’ll make you pay for treating me this way,” she said as her husband dragged her to the door. “It’ll serve you right if anything happens to me or my baby. I’ll never forgive you for this and I’ll make damn sure that you never see your nephew,” she said, and she would have walked out of the door in a cloud of victory if another contraction hadn’t seized her causing her to lean heavily against her husband as her knees buckled under the pain.

Their eyes met over Lina’s bent head and she saw her brother’s pleading gaze. Carissa knew what he planned to do next and she would help him, because he knew her limit. Carissa grabbed the suitcase and opened the front door while he lifted Lina in his arms and carried her. She followed him to the elevators and pushed the down buttons. As they descended she saw Lina wrap her arms around Glenn’s neck and rest her head against his shoulder. She caught a small satisfied grin. Lina had a right to be pleased with herself. Glenn was a wonderful man and truly loved her. Soon she’d have a son who’d love her just as much.

Her hateful, spiteful words still rang in Carissa’s ears. Even if she hadn’t meant them, even if it was just the pain talking, they had wounded her.
You owe me. What do you have better to do?
She spoke to her as if her life was less valuable. She envied their love. She couldn’t imagine Kenric carrying her to their car. They were both too practical for such romantic gestures. She’d likely meet him at the hospital. He wouldn’t bend over backwards to please her as Glenn did. Maybe Lina had a right to feel so entitled, woman used to being so loved likely felt superior.

Once they reached the main lobby she saw Kenric coming through the front doors. He looked at them surprised and held a door open.

“Did something happen?” He looked at Carissa, taking the suitcase from her. “I thought you’d be back from the hospital by now.”

“It’s a long story,” she said.

He followed them to the car and placed the suitcase in the trunk while Glenn settled his wife inside the passenger seat.

“Talk to you later,” Glenn said to Carissa then jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off.

“Are you going to follow them in your car?” Kenric asked.

I’ll make damn sure that you never see your nephew
, Lina’s words sliced her because she knew she probably meant them. She knew her sister-in-law could be vengeful enough to deny her one of her greatest joys. She’d hosted her baby shower, cooed over all her photos showing her expanding belly, helped her shop for baby items and thought of names and now she wouldn’t be able to see her brother’s son. She turned to Kenric, seeing the look of confusion on his face. “No,” she said, then covered her face and cried.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “Let me guess. You and Lina had a fight.”

“The worse we’ve ever had.”

“Want me to take you away for a few days?”

She shook her head.

Kenric held Carissa in his arms, the brilliant rays of the setting sun painting the sky above an array of different pinks and blues, but all he saw was gray. He’d never felt so helpless and it angered him. He hated not knowing what to do. That he couldn’t stop her tears. He could buy a lot of things, but not what she wanted. He wanted to protect her, shield her from the callousness of others, but he knew that was impossible. He wanted to take her away, to get her mind off things, but he knew part of his desires were selfish. If she was estranged from her brother that would make things easier for him. He wanted York out of his life—their lives. But Carissa had refused his offer to take her away and he’d run out of ideas.

“She’s right,” Carissa said in a choked voice.

“About what?”

“If anything happens to her or the baby they’ll blame me. I’m just so tired of being used.”

“I’m sure everything will be fine,” he said, hating the sound of his own voice and how pathetic and empty his words were. He didn’t know what the future held and knew he couldn’t make promises.

She sniffed then paused, then sniffed again, leaning closer into his jacket. “What’s that smell?” She sniffed again. “It smells like chocolate.”

“It’s nothing,” he said drawing away.

But she didn’t believe him. She opened his jacket, reached inside his inner pocket and pulled out a designer chocolate bar.

He’d remembered her telling him the story of how during the summer, she’d save most of her babysitting money to contribute to her family’s household expenses, but her one treat she didn’t spare was buying herself a gourmet chocolate bar. It was one of her few luxuries. He’d hoped to treat her with one.

She stared down at the bar, running her fingers over the elaborate logo, then sniffed it. “Is this for me?”

“Yes. I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate becoming an Aunt.”

Carissa wiped her eyes. “It’s just what I need.” She unwrapped the bar then broke a piece off and ate it. She squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh, it’s as good as I remembered.” She opened her eyes then broke off a piece and handed it to him. “Try it.”

Kenric shook his head. “Watching you enjoy it is good enough for me.”

“Fine,” she said popping another piece in her mouth. “I won’t force you,”

The chocolate had been an inspired idea, but he was glad it had stopped her tears, at least for a little while. “Do you want to go inside?”

She shook her head.

“Want to sit in the car?”

She shook her head again, then looked up at the sky. “I just want to stand right here and finish this while the sun sets.”

“Okay.”

She ate a few more bites then took one piece, rubbed it against her lips, then she kissed him. “That was my special chocolate kiss. Did you like it?”

He licked his lips. “I thought it was delicious.”

“Would you like another one?”

“Yes, but only when we’re inside. Are you ready?”

She looked up at the building and took a deep breath. “I’m afraid of what I’ll remember. I’m afraid of thoughts running over and over in my mind and the words she said.”

“You don’t have to be afraid. I’m here with you and if you give me another chocolate kiss, I’ll make sure that the only thing you’re thinking about is me.”

“That’s a big promise.”

He smiled. “I like to deliver on my promises.” And moments later he did.

***

“Why aren’t you here?”

Carissa knew the call would come, so she’d been prepared for it. However, she’d expected the pleading tone of her mother, instead of her father’s demanding voice. “Is Lina okay?”

“If you were here you’d know.”

“Glenn’s there. You can depend on him. Despite what you think, he’s a good man.”

She heard something shatter in the background. She hurried to the kitchen and saw Kenric picking up pieces of broken glass.

“Use a broom or you’ll cut yourself,” she said, pointing to the closet.

“Sorry,” he said.

“Who’s there with you?” her father asked.

“None of your business.”

“Are you there with a man? Are you that shameless? You’d prefer to be with some man rather than at your sister-in-law’s side?”

“Yes, Dad. So what name are you going to call me that I haven’t heard before?”

He fell silent.

“How many pounds?” she couldn’t help asking.

“He hasn’t come yet. There were complications.”

“What kind of complications?”

“Women’s stuff. How the hell would I know?”

“Is mom there? Put her on the phone.”

“If you really want to know what’s going on, get your ass over here.”

He disconnected.

She swore. She wouldn’t put it past Lina to get sick just to spite her. She wanted her at the hospital one way or another. “I’m not going,” she said aloud. “There’s nothing I can do anyway.”

Kenric came into the room. “What’s going on?”

“My father said there’s been a complication, but he won’t tell me what. He’s as bad as she is.” She dialed her mother’s cell phone but she wouldn’t answer. She left a message for her brother, not expecting a reply. She paced then screamed in frustration. “I don’t want to care, but I do!”

“I’m sure if something was really bad, your mother would have called you.” He pulled her close and held her.