Fight For My Heart (16 page)

I shake my head at her and say, “No.” It comes out weak, but she seems to understand because she stops right before she can reach me. “You said you came here because the man you’re dating is from here, not for me, if Cadence wouldn’t have called you, you would had never even shown up. Now, daddy tells us that everything we’ve ever thought was a lie? We believed you when you told us he broke your heart and was leaving to heal, we were pissed and hurt you left, but I have always tried to somewhat understand your reason. This whole time it was a lie.”

Vin moves in front of me and takes my face into his hands pulling me away from looking at her. “No tears baby, our princess doesn’t need you to stress, please try to calm down.” He searched my eyes trying to see if his words are breaking through to me. I take a deep breath then kiss his lips softly before giving him a tight smile. Tony has my hand so I give him a big squeeze as well.

My father appears next to Tony, his face etched with worry. “I’m sorry sweetheart, but I was so mad to see her here. I know this isn’t a good time to have brought this all up.” He apologizes and holds Tony around the shoulder with his arm.

“Knock knock.” A voice calls from the doorway of the hospital room. I know that voice, and to better reiterate my knowledge of it, I feel Vin visibly stiffen. He slowly turns his head and body in the direction from which it came from.
“Oh hell fucking no! This is not the time for your bull shit bitch.” Cadence jumps right into Carmen’s face with Ant at her back, taking ahold of her elbow just in case. I forgot her and Ant were even in the room this whole time. I guess that’s what happened when shit drops into your lap.

“Excuse me, but I was only looking for Simone.” I look from her to my mother and back again. She gives me an evil smile.

What the hell is going on right now?

“How do you two know each other?” Vin asks, his voice steeled.

“Wait, how do you know everyone?” My mother seems to have finally found her voice. She looks just as perplexed as the rest of us.

“Oh there you are dear, you got out of the car so fast I had to send Carmen after you.” Oh no, please don’t tell me.

“Frank, darling, this is my daughter and son, Taleah and Tony. She is the reason I needed to get here so quickly. I’m sorry to have worried you.” She looks to him affectionately grabbing his hand and bringing him closer to her. This is a nightmare, I mean you cannot just make this shit up. Even my most horrid dreams cannot describe the knife twisting into my back right now.

“Get. The. Fuck. Out.” My father speaks to the four of them, his eyes blazing in hatred for my mom. “You have finally crossed the line Simone, if you sit there and think that you knew nothing of who these people are, and what is going on with everyone in this room, you fucking stupid.” He hisses at her. I have never seen my father so mad before, and to be honest it’s quite scary.

Vin moves forward, but I grab his hand, he looks to me and I plead with my eyes not to do anything.

Carmen stands there with a evil smirk on her face watching me, waiting for me to freak out. But I’s definitely not me who she should be worried about. “Come on mom, let’s go.” She says placing a hand on her arm and smiling sweetly. She really shouldn’t have turned her back on Cadence though, because next thing you know…

“Bitch!” Cadence screams, grabbing Carmen by the back of the head and pulling hard. Carmen doesn’t expect it because she falls hard, dragging my mother down with her.

“Argh! Let go you psycho! What the hell is wrong with you!?!” Carmen screams trying to get her hair loose from Cadence’s clutches. Vin jumps into action trying to help Ant soothe Cadences fists and talking her down.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a flash of movement before my father tackles Frank you the ground, hit him while he pins him down. Tony jumps into action as well trying to pull my dad off of Frank, but I see Tony give Frank a quick kick to the ribs come from him, before he can finally pull dad away.

I think I may be in shock as nurses and doctors come into the room yelling “Stop!” and “Security!” It’s a complete mad house in here, all I wanted was to go home and relax, the my mother shows up, the truth comes out, Carmen comes in, Frank shows up, my mother in bed with the enemy, and lastly the brawl from hell. All in one private hospital suite.

Everyone is finally pulled apart. Carmen, my mother, and Frank are dragged from the room spitting curses at us. Cadence is clearly overcome with adrenaline because she shaking while Ant rubs up in down her arms and speaks quietly to her. Tony grabs my dad’s hand when he goes to reach into his jacket, knowing most likely what he’s looking for. Vin rushes back to and starts stroking my hair. I just watch and take all of it in.

“Reese’s I’m here!” Rico appears at the door smiling at me. He’s carrying a teddy bear as big as a 4 year old child that has a big pink bow around the neck and a clear balloon (you know the ones you get for Valentine’s day that have candy and confetti in them) that reads ‘Get Well Soon’ on the front, inside it has Reese’s peanut butter cups in it. He stops when he hear shouting and looks down the hall. I guess he sees who it is, because his eyes are wide when he turns back around.

“Oh pumpkin, let me look at you.” He pushes Vin out of the way and grabs my hand. “What the hell did I miss?” He doesn’t even notice the glare to the back of his head, I laugh at him and lean up to kiss his cheek. “Now that’s some lovin’” He turns a smirks at Vin.

Vin can’t help but roll his eyes and laugh. Soon everyone is smiling and shaking their heads at him.

Just like that Rico saved the day. Never thought that would happen. XoXoXoXoXo

After leaving the hospital I finally got my damn sandwich. My dad was too shaken up when he came into the room to notice he never handed it to me. I will not say I am mad at him. I understand how he was sidetracked. Everything that happened was a lot to take in and my poor sandwich was neglected in the process.

“It’s ok I’ve got you. I will never treat you bad.” I whisper to my Turkey and Swiss, taking another big bite. Everyone shakes their heads at me, but fuck it, I’m hungry. I will not let them ruin this for me. “What? I was hungry, stress makes me eat more.” I tell them, popping a strawberry into my mouth. I sigh happily and lean back into the seat of the SUV.

“Happy baby?” Vin asks. He’s been watching me since we left. I guess he think I’m going to break down or something.

“It’s ok. Thank you sweetie.” I kiss his lips and offer him a strawberry. He takes it and sucks my finger, getting the juices off of it.

“Hey! Reese’s I am right here. I thought we had a moment after that kiss. You wound me women.” Rico states sadly from the front passenger seat, sending a glare to VIn. My dad smacks him on the back of the head from the driver’s seat where he’s driving. “Oh you know I love you Rico, but this is my man.” I smile and let out a giggle. He swore he had to ride with me so he insisted Tony drive his car back to my townhouse. He said and I quote “I have to make sure she actually leaves Vin for me this time. I think I finally broke down the bubble that seems to always surround the two of them. I may have a real chance.” Tony just shook his head and walked away. What else was there to say to him?

“Bro, Te is and will always be mine, go find your own candy.” Vin puts his arm around me a lightly kisses my neck. My father clears his throat and eyes Vin from the rearview mirror. “Sorry Anthony.” Vin says quickly while adjusting his position from me, but makes sure to grab my hand instead.

We pull up into the driveway with Cadence and Ant pulling into her spot next to us and Tony pulling in behind them.

Vin helps me step out of the car while everyone goes ahead of us. When we all walk into the living room and sit down we’re all quiet. I know we have to talk about what happened. No one takes the opportunity to speak.

Finally, I decide to go ahead and start, just as I’m about to open my mouth there’s a loud “pfffffffffffttttttt” I look to my left where Rico insisted he sit, and he’s laughing quietly. There are tears in his eyes. I look at everyone else and they are realizing the same thing I am. I take a second to really try to understand what that sound was, then I smell it.
“Oh god! RICO!!” I crawl off the couch while everyone cracks up. I’m laughing so hard that my stomach starts to cramp up. Not bad like before, but you know when you laugh so hard you have to take gulps of air to breathe? Yes. That’s how I feel. “That…was…nas…ty!” I laugh and shake my head. Vin gets off the couch and take a seat behind me reaching for a pillow to put behind my back, then pulls me back into his chest and his arms around me his hands rubbing up and down on my belly.

We finally control ourselves enough to start talking and again I start to speak.

“Ok, I just want to say this once. Dad I love you so much, but you shouldn’t have taken the blame for what happened to your marriage. I do not ever want you to feel like you need to protect mom ever again. She was a horrible women then and as far as I can see she is a horrible one now. No more lies from now on. As for what you told us at dinner, I don’t think Vin had anything to do with what they were planning with those women, now I know you two have already discussed everything, but I don’t want to know.” I take a deep breath and relax back into my man. He kisses the back of my head.

“I agree with Te, it’s over, but this time I don’t want anything to do with that women. She’s dead to me, I don’t have a mother anymore, but fuck do I have one amazing dad.” Tony smile at our father and gives him a chin lift.

“Thank you, you two. I love you both so much, I know I wasn’t always around for everything, but y’all are the reason I even used to get up and work so hard every day. I just hope you both understand how proud I am of you.” He gives us warm smiles. “Now as for Vin, like I said we have spoken and I am happy with the outcome. You say you don’t want to know sweetheart and that is just fine. I know Vin is taking care of you baby girl so I have no worries for my granddaughters future.”

“Anthony! Come on you were supposed to be on my side!” Rico complains, crosses his arms and sits back sulking. I really need to find that man a girlfriend.

My dad chuckles and shrugs his shoulders sending me a wink.

“Aww damn you guys look what you did to Cadence.” Ant states while holding his sobbing girlfriend.

“Sorry I’m ok, you all just mean so much to me. I’m ok really. Whew.” Cadence laughs and pats Ant’s face. Looking at him adoringly.

This right here is what family is really all about. We spend the rest of the night talking before I get too tired to stay awake. I kiss my dad and brother good night and then head up the stairs to finally go to sleep. Changing into one of Vin’s t-shirts I climb into bed.

I pat my belly and say, “Well nugget that was a crazy hospital stay. Hopefully next we’re there it will be a beautiful day.” I close my eyes and finally fall asleep.

As the weeks went past it was closer to my due date. Things got stressful for me as well.

That night after we all had a sit down and tried to talk about what had just happened at the hospital was everything I needed to say. When it comes to my mother I’m done. I had nothing more to say. But, she’s still in town and keeps trying to get me to talk to her. She calls my phone, comes by my house, and leaves notes in my mailbox. What doesn’t she understand about “leave me alone?” I talked to Tony about it, he said she’s reached out to him as well, but after popping up at his football house and getting thoroughly embarrassed by her own son, and she seems to have given up. Maybe I should curse her out in front of 50 people, during a party as well.

“Hey you okay?” Cadence steps into the kitchen and leans over the bar top to look down at the study session that is happening on the living room floor. I hadn’t even noticed her come in.

“No, I’m tired, I’m fat, I miss Vin; he’s been gone for days now, and my mother will not leave me the fuck alone.” I tell her exasperated with everything going on in my life.

Cadence comes over and sits next to me on the floor. “I know I didn’t know you that well when your mom left when we were kids, but I always saw that you and Tony weren’t suffering. I never knew how much her leaving affected you. We’ve been friends since middle school and I have never once seen her. Your dad was awesome to you guys, so why the sad face when you mention her now?” She is right, me and Tony always put on a front for everyone. We didn’t have a bad life, we were spoiled and our dad was always there for us if we called, but those times when something great happened and she wasn’t there; that’s when the sadness would creep in and hit the worse.

“I was used to Tony, Dom, and I. We all knew my mother left and we understood the reasoning, but now after knowing the real reasons she left us behind, I guess I feel hurt, because I would never do that to my own baby. I wish she could have helped me get through all of this.” I’m trying to explain this to her in a way that only a female would understand.

She contemplates her next words like she doesn’t want to give me a bad response. “Te, you have had me, Tony, Marco, Vin, your dad, and even Ant here for you this whole time. She’s been gone for a long time, not to be mean, but you should been used to it by now. The people who love you are still here for you, so I say, fuck her and let what she did go. Maybe not today or even a month from now, but try to realize you have been really lucky without her. You’ve had an amazing life girl. Yes, You have had ups and downs in the last year, but you have truly been blessed.” Her voice is firm and she means what she says. I understand what she’s saying. I have been lucky and I love my family that have supported me and have been here for me even when she wasn’t.

“Now as for Vin! He’ll be back tomorrow, right? I still don’t understand why they don’t let pregnant women fly, that’s just ridiculous. You seriously aren’t that big, plus you’re really freaking short, you wouldn’t have taken up that much room.” I smack her in the back of the head for that last comment. “Hey! What the hell was that for?!” She half-whines, half-laughs, as she rubs the now tender spot where I smacked her.