New Beginnings (7 page)

“How are they holding up?”

Mr. Rutherford shook his head “as well as can be expected given the circumstances.  They could use all the support we can give them.”

The Rutherford’s hadn’t really had the opportunity to acknowledge the young woman standing next to Franklin “We’re sorry, Franklin never introduced us to his fiancé, we’ll forg
ive him this time, April right?”

Franklin looked incredibly uncomfortable and Sandra was slightly amused at his embarrassment. “I’m sorry no.  I’m Sandra Catchings, a very close friend of Vicky’s.  Jason thought she might want my support and Mr. Roth was gracious enough to allow me to fly down with him.”

Miriam being ever the master of smoothing out uncomfortable situations took over the conversation “Well, I’m glad you’re here.  It’s nice to meet you.  Vicky could use all the support we can give her.  Anyway, John and I were just on our way to order a late lunch.  If you two haven’t eaten we’ll order for six instead of four?”

“That sounds lovely Mrs. Rutherford.” Sandra admired the way she handled that situation.  It was obvious she got plenty of practice in taking care of things.

A few more pleasantries were exchanged and the Rutherford’s finally left to grab a late lunch.

Sandra watched them go.  She hoped one day she’d find someone that she was
so in sync with just like the Rutherford’s seemed to be with each other.  Franklin interrupted her thoughts “You ready to go inside?”

“As ready as one can be I guess.”

“Well, just remember we are here to be support for Jason and Vicky.  No matter what it looks like in there...no tears.”

“Are you kidding me? No tears? How does someone in your position be so sexist?” Sandra pushed passed him and walked inside.

After Sandy pushed passed Franklin and walked into Angel’s hospital room, she
stopped dead in her tracks.  She truly wasn’t prepared for what she saw.  She couldn’t even recognize little Angel.  She was lying on her back with nothing on but her little panties.  Half of her head was shaved and it looked liked it was exposed.  There were bandages and tubes coming from her side.  Not just her side but everywhere.  All Jason had time to tell her was that Angel had been in a very serious car accident and that she was in surgery.  The sight before her took her breath away.  Franklin stood right behind her.  He was so close she could feel his breath on the back of her neck.  He grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

“Jason? Vicky? We’re here.” They both turned at the same ti
me.  Vicky and Jason exchanged hugs and kisses with Sandra and Franklin. Vicky held onto Sandra for just a bit longer than necessary.  Sandra whispered into her ear “How are you holding up?”

“I
honestly don’t know.”

“That is to be expected. Why don’t you get up for just a minute and walk with me
if for no other reason than just to stretch your legs?  I’m sure you’ve been sitting in this same position for hours.”

Jason was surprised when Vicky paused for a minute before she nodded and made an effort to get up and out of her chair. Sandra grabbed her hand and they walked out of the door. 

They made their way to a private waiting room before finding a couple of chairs to sit down.

“Now…how are you really doing? I see you have an admittance bracelet on your wrist and…oh my goodness a rock on your finger!”

“With the stress of everything, my blood pressure went through the roof and…..the baby caused me to pass out.”

“So, it’s finally official.”

“Yes, it’s official.  I want to be happy for the baby but it just feels so wrong to feel anything other than worry for Angel right now.  I can’t even think about anything else.  And, I swear if one more person tells me to eat, or rest, or you’ve got to take care of the baby, I swear I’m going to snap!”

Sandra just sat and lis
tened to Vicky release all her pent up emotions before she whispered, “Sandy, Angel could really die.  I don’t know if I could survive that.”

“Vicky, I know things look badly right now but Angel is a strong and a healthy
little girl.  She is going to fight.  She just needs you to…”

Vicky cut her off.  “Sandy, they need to perform another surgery! Before they can operate
, Angel will need blood for the procedure. She has a very rare blood type.  Everyone has been tested but we don’t have all the results back at this time.  So far, we haven’t been able to find a match.  The doctors have told me that without the surgery, she may only have 24-48 hours to live!” Vicky broke down and started to cry.  “I’ve called everyone, my aunt and even her father.”

“Are they coming?”

“Shirley should be here at any time and Ryan...I don’t know if he is coming or not. At least, not willingly.”

“What do you mean you don’t know if he’s coming or not? Why wouldn’t he? You have to drag his ass here even if
that means kidnapping him.”

“I needed to spend some time with Angel before I put my plan in action.  I’ve been thinking it through the whole time. 
I don’t know if you knew this but Ryan was married when I conceived Angel.  I didn’t know it at the time.  His wife probably still doesn’t know about her.  But, it might be about time she found out.  I’m hoping she’ll help me get him here.”

“What if she doesn’t help you?
”

“
Well, then I’ll have to go nuclear.”

“That sounds ominous.  Just what does that mean?”

“I haven’t told you everything about Ryan.  He still thinks I’m that naïve little girl I was when we met and that’s fine.  I can show him better than I can tell him.  I’ve changed.  I’ve done my research in the years since Angel was born.”
Sandy raised her brow in that way only she can that said “Really?”

“I just wanted to be able to tell Angel about her father when she was old enough
. No more, no less.  He has no idea that I know who he really is and that I am aware of his political ambitions. 

“And just who is he?”

Vicky didn’t answer Sandy just yet “…And that his wealth was amassed through his marriage.

Sandy sat up in her chair, “I don’t get nervous very easily but just
WHO
is this man?”

“It’s state senator, Ryan Carter.”

Sandy didn’t shock easily but this threw her for a loop. “His wife is Alicia Carter!?! That is a very powerful family.”

“Yes, I know.  His wife’s
family is a political one and they are from old money.  But can’t you see? Nothing is more important to them than reputation.  How do you think they would take it knowing Ryan fathered a child outside of that marriage?  Not just a child, but a black child?”

“Does Jason know anything about this?”

“He is aware that Ryan was married when I conceived but I don’t think he is aware that he’s senator, Ryan Carter, the up and coming politician.  Sandy, Ryan was a chapter I just wanted to close.  I don’t really think or talk about him.  I’d hoped I’d never have to until Angel was old enough to ask questions about him.  He didn’t want her.  He wanted me to terminate her.  Angel is MY daughter.  I never thought we’d need him for anything.”

“I
can understand that.  But, what I will tell you is if that is your plan you will need the Rutherford’s name prominently behind you.  The Foxworthy’s are very powerful family and they’ll do whatever they have to do to squash you and protect themselves.  All in all, I think it could work.  Well, whatever you need me to do just name it.”

“Well, for one, please get tested.  I know it’s a long shot but maybe you’re a match.  It can’t hurt.”

“That goes without saying.  He’s a bastard for not doing the right thing.  So, I say if blowing up his world is going to save the life of your daughter, BLOW IT UP.”  Sandra reached out and hugged Vicky.  Vicky held on tightly.  She’d never had a sister but in this moment Sandra was closer than any sister could be.

They were still embracing when there was a knock on the door.  It was Jason.  Vicky looked up bewildered.  Why wasn’t he with Angel?  Then, her heart stopped.  Was Angel ok?  Jason quickly reassured her with his eyes.  “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.  There is no change with Angel.  I just wanted to let you know that….Shirley is here.”

Vicky didn’t have much time to get herself together before her aunt, Shirley Martin walked into the waiting room.  Jason and Sandra immediately understood that the two needed some time alone.  

Jason gave Vicky one heartfelt look.  It was an unspoken word between the two that let her know that if she needed him he would be right there.  After a moment both he and Sandy went back to sit with Angel.

It had been 10 long years since Vicky had seen her aunt. It was almost like looking at an older version of her mother.  Vicky hadn’t been prepared for that.  They both just stood there drinking in the sight of each other.  Those large doe shaped eyes seemed to be a mirror unto her soul….and Angel’s.  Shirley’s hair was grey but at one time seemed to have been a beautiful chestnut brown.  She was much heavier than Vicky remembered.   She also looked a lot older than she should.  Both of them seemed afraid to move or speak.    Finally, it was Vicky that walked toward her aunt before laying her h
ead onto her shoulder.  It was like a little girl who was lost and hoping and praying that her aunt Shirley would wrap her arms around her and just love her.

Vicky hadn’t
realize until that moment what she needed.  She needed
her
family and Aunt Shirley was the only family she had left. Aunt Shirley wrapped her arms around Vicky and held her tightly.  It was Shirley who started crying first. “I am so sorry Vicky.  Please forgive me.  I never meant to hurt you.  I was so lost back then.  I was so lost.  Your mother was all I thought I had.  When we lost her, I felt like I’d died too.  I was so consumed with my own hurt and pain.” It was as if she had been holding everything in for so long and was afraid her opportunity to speak would be taken away.  The words just continue to spill out “I turned to everything I thought would dull the ache, men, drugs, and alcohol.  Every time I looked at you I saw your mother.  It hurt too much.  Then, as you got older, I saw how the men I’d bring home would look at you.  You weren’t safe with me back then.  I was slowly killing myself with all of that.  I didn’t know what would happen to you if I fell into one of my black outs.  I couldn’t even take care of myself back then. There was no one that I knew who could take care of you.  I thought the only thing I could do was to take you someplace where you’d be safe.  Safe from me, safe from drugs, and safe from the all the destruction I had all around me.  Once I got myself together, I tried to find you.  I promise I did all I could to find you but I couldn’t. No one had any information about you.  Please forgive me Vicky.  Please forgive me for not being strong enough.”

Through her tears Vicky managed to speak, “For so long I was so angry, for so long
I felt so alone, but I’m tired Aunt Shirley.  I’m tired of being angry and feeling like a little piece of me is missing on the inside.  I’m tired of feeling like I’m not good enough, that I’m unlovable, and most of all of tired of not being able to trust anyone.” Vicky wiped away her tears and looked into her aunt’s eyes.  She saw the sincerity in them before finally whispering simply, “I can’t pass this baggage down to Angel or to the child that lives deep within me.  I forgive you.” 

Aunt Shirley
pulled back to looked at Vicky’s stomach somewhat surprised and smiled before they continued to hold each other.   They continued to cry and released all the tears they’d both held on to for so long. 

A
fter a few moments, Aunt Shirley gently held Vicky’s face in her hands.  She looked deeply into a face that was really a younger version of her own “I wasn’t able to take care of you all those years ago but I’ll do whatever I can for you and my great niece now…if you’ll let me.”

“Thank you A
unt Shirley.”

“Now, no time like the present to get started.  So, let’s dry these tear
s of ours and go get me tested.”

Vicky was back in Angel’s room.  Jason had been there with her the entire time.  He was so in tune with her every need.  She was feeling so drained after her talk with her aunt.  There was so much she had been forced to deal with on this day.  Jason had been her rock.  He had shown her what real love looked like and it was beautiful.  Finally, someone who she could count on that wouldn’t let her down.  Vicky knew she needed to talk to Jason about Ryan.  Time was slipping away from her.  So far everyone had been tested and no one was a match.

The room was
so quiet other than the sounds of the pumps and machines.  “Jason, I need to speak to you but not here.”  He nodded and helped her get out of her chair.  Then, they walked back to the private waiting room.  Once inside he closed the door and locked it.

“You ok?”

“I can’t answer that question right now.  I’m so numb.  I feel like this is all a bad dream and I’m sleep walking through all of this.  It’s hard to believe that it was only this morning you proposed to me.”

Once they sat down Jason pulled Vicky into his lap and kissed her.  What started as a gentle reminder that she was still living and breathing turned primal.  Vicky needed more as she devoured his lips and he devoured hers. She thrust her tongue down into the cavern of his mouth.  She couldn’t get close enough to him as she wrapped her hands into his hair desp
erately trying to pull him closer and deeper.  Their breathing became labored each wanting more yet not being able to get close enough.  Jason had the presence of mind to reluctantly pull away.  Vicky was in no condition for where that kiss could lead.  He touched his forehead to hers while they both tried to catch their breath.