Brick (Double Dippin') (38 page)

Overwhelmed with joy and astonishment, Brick hovered over
Misty. “Shane was right, baby. It’s not your time. You belong here with your family that loves you.”

“He said…my life partner…waiting…when I return.” She frowned slightly, cleared her throat and swallowed. “He’s supposed to… to guide me through. Through challenging times…ahead.”

Brick smoothed back the hair that had fallen in her face. “Don’t worry, Misty. Everything’s gon’ be all right.”

Perplexed, she crinkled her eyebrows. “Was he talking about you, Brick?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m here for you. You’re my first love, Misty. You know you always had my heart. Nothing’s changed,” Brick said while tears ran freely from his eyes.

A young nursing assistant entered, responding to the call. “Can I help you with something?” she said to Brick. The nurse stopped cold when she noticed that Misty’s eyes were open. “She’s awake! I have to get the charge nurse, and call her doctor.” She rushed out of the room.

“What about you and my mother?” Misty asked after the nurse left.

“She hates me. Can’t forgive me for giving you the pills. Our marriage is over,” he said solemnly.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s for the best. I cared deeply for your mom, but the whole time we were married, I never stopped loving you. Trying to be a good husband, I tried to bury my feelings for you. But I couldn’t.”

“But I’m paralyzed, Brick. Can’t do anything for you. My face…it’s all messed up. How can you be happy with a disfigured invalid?”

Brick cupped her face, caressed the side that was injured. “Having you back makes me happy. And your face? You’ll always be beautiful to me, don’t you know that, Misty?” Brick said with conviction, assuaging Misty’s insecurity and fear.

He clasped her hand tighter. “Misty, listen…most people don’t get a second chance in life, but for some reason, we get to try it again.”

“I’m gon’ show you that I’ve changed. I learned a lot about love.”

Brick eyed her tenderly. “I can feel the change, Misty, baby… and I love you, girl. I always have; always will.”

Misty smiled faintly. “I’ve always loved you, too, Brick. Just had a dysfunctional way of showing it.”

“Forget about the past, I promise you…we’re gon’ get it right this time,” he said, looking at her with love and adoration.

In those brief moments before a team of doctors and nurses made a stampede to Misty’s room, a stunned Thomasina stood in the doorway, holding a fresh bouquet of flowers. With her mouth agape, Thomasina listened as her husband and her reawakened daughter declared their undying love for each other.

Thomasina’s hand dropped limply to her side. The flowers that she’d lovingly clutched to her chest began to fall to the floor, one by one.

Brick looked up and saw his wife in the doorway; he saw the hurt and pain in her eyes. With Misty’s hand in his, he looked at Thomasina with sympathy and apologized with his eyes.
I never meant to hurt you. I’m so sorry. I love Misty; I can’t help myself.

Thomasina’s hand covered her mouth as she held back sobs. She whirled around. Whisking past doctors and nurses that hustled into Misty’s room, she made her way to the elevator.

Why?
Thomasina asked herself.
I’ve done everything for that child of mine. Everything! But all she does is bring me pain.

What kind of monster comes out of a coma, scheming and conniving? Baron is too blind to see what I’ve known all of her diabolical life. He’s destined to find out the hard way, that Misty is incapable of loving anyone but herself.