My Steps Are Ordered (12 page)

No,
Keith thought.

The truth would've further complicated matters.

The truth was bringing him heartache right now.

The truth had taken away everything he held dear in his heart.

Keith could not take any more truths. He knew that somehow once he'd reasoned things out in his mind, Michael would forgive Gina. After all if it weren't for Michael's affair with Karen, Gina wouldn't have slept with him. Also, Michael was the father that Trey knew.

But where did that leave him? Did loving his son meant he had to give him up?

“So what happens if I'm a match?” Jeff asked.

Michael stood next to him inside Dr. Milliner's office.

“If you're a match, there are options for being a transplant donor,” the doctor said. “You can either undergo an allogeneic transplant, where the bone marrow is taken from the back of your hip bones. The second option is what's known as leukapheresis. You'll be given shots over five days to help your stem cells move from your bone marrow into your blood. Then your blood will be removed using an IV line in one of your veins.”

After that lengthy explanation, Jeff gave Michael a reassuring pat. “We'll begin tomorrow.”

Jeff's eyes looked glazed, and Michael attempted to put him at ease. “Don't worry if most of this goes over your head. I'm sure the doctors will give you step-by-step instructions.”

After Keith and Gina's rapid departure from the hospital waiting room, the task of putting Jeff at ease had fallen on Michael's shoulders. He'd succeeded, with a lot of finesse and charm.

After the conversation with Dr. Milliner, Michael offered to take Jeff to a nearby diner so they could talk at length.

“I don't know how much pain you'll be in, and your recovery might be challenging,” Michael warned once they were seated in a booth and had ordered from the menu.

Jeff said, “Painful or not, I'll do all I can to help my grandson. I'll get tested tomorrow to see if I'm a match for my grandson.” Michael saw his eyes soften as he repeated the word
grandson.

“He's precious,” Michael told Jeff. Then he returned to the matter at hand. “Before all that, though, Dr. Milliner will put you through an extensive physical and blood work, because he has to make sure you're fit and well enough to do the transplant. But once you're cleared—and I'm speaking that into existence—Trey will start chemotherapy and continue it for two weeks to destroy all his bone marrow so he's ready for new marrow . . . yours.”

“Wow. I'm impressed with your knowledge. Poor Trey. He has a tough road ahead of him,” Jeff said. He sounded sympathetic. Michael saw him shudder.

“Yes, he does, but I have faith. I know in my gut that you're the donor. I would stake all of my businesses on it.”

“Well, when you put it like that, I'm obliged to believe you. My daughter is lucky to have you,” Jeff said, praising him.

Feeling a strong urge to ask Gina's father the burning question most prominent in his mind, Michael resisted and decided to bide his time. Michael wanted to know the reason why Jeff had been absent from Gina's life, but he'd leave that conversation for Gina.

Thinking of his wife, Michael felt the old resentment rise, but he made sure to show his pearly whites. “I feel the same about her. She's a good woman. She cares about others. In the first year of our marriage, she spent a lot of time volunteering and helping needy high school kids.” The lie rolled off his tongue, but then he realized that he had spoken the truth. He was shocked when he perceived his genuine love for and faith in Gina. This revelation strengthened Michael's resolve. He needed to remain committed to his wife, his son, and his marriage.

It would be difficult, and he wasn't about to pretend otherwise. He could forgive Gina, but he knew he'd never allow himself to love her with the same intensity as before. From the moment he'd put that ring on her finger, he had been faithful and had kept his vows. He lived every vow he'd made that day, but she had failed him.

While he and Jeff were eating dessert, Michael called his car service and arranged to have Jeff picked up outside the diner in twenty minutes and taken to his hotel. His ever-efficient secretary had secured five-star hotel accommodations for Jeff with specific instructions. The hotel staff was to cater to his father-in-law's every whim and would be well compensated for this. Michael intended to ensure that Gina's father was treated with style.

After paying the bill and escorting Jeff to the waiting limo, Michael hopped into his car and drove. Now that he was alone with his thoughts, he dumped most of the blame for Gina's infidelity on his brother. After learning about Karen, Gina had needed a shoulder to cry on, and Keith had taken advantage.

He turned at the light and glided onto I-285 for the short ride to Suwanee.

Michael's heart burned when he thought about his brother, whose actions were unbelievable and despicable. Keith had violated the man code, the brother code, and the friend code.
You cannot eat from the same pie. Bite from the same fruit. Eat from the same plate . . .
It was just not done. That was understood.

Punching the steering wheel column, Michael knew that somewhere underneath all that hurt, he still loved his brother, but he didn't want to see his face anytime soon—if ever. He couldn't see his brother without thinking about Gina in his arms . . . in his bed . . . and who knew where else?

Michael pulled into his driveway. He saw that Gina's car was parked in its usual spot in the garage. He sat behind the wheel, hesitating. He did not want to see her. He did not want to look at her face, knowing her deceit.

Michael twiddled his thumbs, lost in his thoughts. A part of him wanted revenge in some way. He wanted to make Gina pay. He wasn't sure if he could feel any natural warmth toward her, and he wasn't trying to pretend. There was a numbness around his heart because of her betrayal, and he didn't see that defrosting anytime soon. He knew for certain he would not trust her around Keith. He was going to sever that bond between Gina and Keith for good.

Michael supposed that it was due time for him to experience true heartbreak. He had caused a lot of it in his heyday. He didn't believe in karma, but this sure felt like it.

Michael got out of the car and slammed the door shut. He bent over and rested his head on his car. It hurt to even go inside the house. He didn't want to face her. He heard his front door open and turned his head to see Gina standing in the doorway. He read the uncertainty on her face.

“Gina,” Michael whispered. He crooked his finger for her to come to him. He watched her take careful steps toward him. Her gait was uncertain, but she came with a brave look on her face. With every step, his heart broke. How could he begin to get her to understand the pain that wrenched his soul? He had to try.

“Why Keith? Gina, why him?” Michael uttered with a ragged, pain-filled voice.

“I . . .” Gina trailed off. She could not look him in the eyes.

“I was a dog. I know that. I can understand why you felt the need to pay me back, but why Keith?” Michael demanded in a guttural growl.

Gina wrung her hands. The words were stuck in her throat. She could not drive a knife in his heart by acknowledging her intense love for Keith.

“Tell me the truth,” Michael said. “Do you love me at all?”

“Yes,” Gina answered. “I do love you, Michael. I didn't mean to hurt you. But that was before we were married. Keith and I . . . I didn't see the point in telling you. It's behind me.”

Michael looked at her as if he didn't buy any of what she was selling. Heck, she was having a hard time convincing herself, but Trey needed his parents united.

Gina waited, watching her husband process the information. He turned on his heels and walked into the house. Gina stood rooted in the same spot. Michael was hard to read. She didn't know what he was thinking. Michael turned suddenly and stretched out his hand toward her. With hurried steps, Gina joined him and placed her hand in his. The two walked into the house together.

Once they closed the front door, Michael turned to face her. His face had an inscrutable expression that made her knees shake. She had never seen Michael look like this. For the first time in their relationship, Gina saw the ruthlessness that Michael reserved primarily for business matters. Scared, she gulped and waited for Michael to talk.

“You will not have anything more to do with Keith,” he said. “Not a word ever again.”

“Yes, Michael.” She was too frightened to disagree.

“Trey is
my
son,” Michael said, emphasizing the word
my,
as if he felt the need to make that clear. He looked at her, expecting some sort of response. “Did you hear me? Trey is
mine.
”

Gina looked at him, experiencing a little confusion, but she was too penitent to ask for clarity. She was not sure where he was coming from, but she nodded her head in acquiescence. Gina was so glad that Michael was giving her another chance that she did not dig too deep for the reasoning behind his words. She was willing to eat crow.

“Good. That is all I intend to say about that. We will never speak of this again.” Michael stalked off without another word.

Gina found her tongue and raced after him, confronting him in the living room. “But . . . don't you think we should maybe get therapy or something?”

Michael stopped in his tracks. His expression was unyielding. “We don't need therapy for something that has already been resolved. You'll stay away from Keith. Understood?”

“Yes.” Gina was too terrified to offer another retort.

She wanted to ask if he was going to patch things up with Keith, but she held her tongue. Michael was giving her another chance. Gina was grateful for his forgiveness. She wouldn't let him down again.

Gina headed into their bedroom, undressed, and slid into bed. She felt the need to climb under a warm blanket to ease her shaking. Her teeth were chattering because she was so scared. Gina knew that things with Michael would never be the same. But she was the guilty party. She would have to pay the penance for her crime. Gina figured that she was going to pay for a lifetime, because that was how long it would take for her to get over Keith.

 

 

After Gina went upstairs, Michael strode into his study and closed the door. As he fixed a quick drink, he acknowledged that he had been tough on Gina. He knew that he had decided to forgive her, but thinking and doing were two different things. He needed time for the hurt to heal. But time was a commodity. Trey needed both his parents, and Michael was going to do everything to keep it that way.

As far as Michael was concerned, he was Trey's father. He wasn't giving up his son, biological or not. He viewed Keith as a sperm donor—a means to an end. He was the one who'd been there for all of Trey's milestones, not Keith. He was the one who'd found Jeff, the man who would save Trey's life.

Michael was glad that Gina had concurred with him on the issue of Trey's paternity—or so he thought—because he couldn't see Keith not telling her the truth about Trey. He was glad she had agreed that Trey was his, and he was glad that Gina was his. He was not going to give Gina up, because Michael knew that Keith would step into his shoes in a heartbeat. Keith wouldn't condone Trey growing up in a single-parent home. And he loved Gina too much to sit on the sidelines while she reared her son alone.

Michael wouldn't let that happen. He wasn't going to move out of the way for Keith to get the kid and the girl.

Michael smiled a vindictive smile. It appeared that for once, he was going to beat his brother at something. At the biggest game ever played. Love.

Michael had been waiting for him. He knew he'd come.

He wouldn't be Keith if he hadn't. His brother didn't care if it was midnight. He was here to get “his” woman. Michael knew that stance. Keith had entered his house like a man on a mission—a man who wanted it all. He wasn't surprised. He had expected this from his brother—had been waiting for it.

“Have you decided?” Keith jumped right to the point as the two brothers stood face-to-face in the study.

“I should think that's obvious,” Michael taunted.

“Gina!” Keith called. When he didn't hear an answer, he called again. “Gina!”

Michael watched Gina approach Keith from out of the shadows.

“So is that it, then?” Keith asked.

“What do you mean?” Her brows knit. She wasn't following the choppy conversation.

“Are you staying with him, Gina?” Keith spelled it out.

Michael feigned boredom and walked over to the minibar to pour a drink. But he was all ears.

“Gina, this is it. This is our chance,” Keith declared. “I don't want you to think too hard. I need you to follow what's in your heart. So, tell me, are you staying with him?”

Gina found the words. “No, Keith, I'm not doing this. I've got too much going on. Michael's my husband. I love him.”

Keith stepped toward her.

Michael felt the pulse in his head pound. He urged himself to maintain his cool demeanor. He did not want his brother to see him as anything but confident.

“Gina, the truth is out. It has set us free,” Keith pleaded. “Don't you see? We can be together. Go get your bags. Why are we even having this lengthy debate? You must've known I'd come. You should've been waiting.”

Michael grunted so Keith would know he'd better back off, but his brother ignored him. He refused to accept that she had chosen to stay. Michael smiled to himself. Keith must think that Gina knew he was Trey's father. Well, he wasn't about to rectify that assumption.

He saw Gina's reaction to the desperation in Keith's voice. She took a step toward Keith. Oh, no, he wasn't having this. He moved to stand next to Gina, staking his claim, marking his territory.

Keith's jaw clenched, and he walked right up into Michael's face. His brother was so close that Michael could feel his breath on his face. They were like two lions circling each other and waiting to pounce. Michael didn't care. He relished the mental tug-of-war. Welcomed it, even.

“I don't want this. I'm not an animal to be bartered between both of you.” Gina exhaled. “Keith, Michael is my husband and the father of my son. We're married. There's nothing else to say.” Michael saw her push against Keith's chest, but he wouldn't budge.

I'm not moving, either,
Michael purposed. She turned to face him and engaged him in a stare down. Michael didn't back down. He knew Gina would choose him. As seconds passed and his confidence grew, Michael grinned. He felt triumphant and gloated in Keith's direction. He felt so good that he wanted to do the victory dance from his college days.

“No, Gina. You're wrong,” Keith argued. “This is our chance. I don't care anymore. Gina, choose me. Choose us. We are right for each other. Nothing else matters.”

“No, Keith,” Gina yelled. “Trey matters! I have to consider him. Trey needs his father. He needs
both
parents.”

Above her head, Michael and Keith's eyes met. Understanding dawned in Keith. Neither of them had told Gina the truth. Keith opened his mouth.

He's about to confess,
Michael thought. His pulse quickened. His brother was about to tear his world apart.

Keith began, “There's something I've got to say. I thought that I was doing the right thing, but—”

Michael opened his mouth. However, before he could formulate the words, Gina raised one hand. “No, Keith. I have told you before, and I will say it again in front of Michael. I'll remain with my husband.”

Keith sighed. “Gina, you don't understand. There's something that you don't know.”

Michael experienced a moment of fear, because Keith was determined to tell her the truth. He knew it was time for drastic measures. He'd give Keith an eyeful. He grabbed Gina and kissed her. He ran his hands along her body and opened his eyes to stare at Keith.

Keith caved. He looked away.

Triumphant, Michael ended the kiss and demanded, “It's time for you to leave.”

To his relief and surprise, Keith complied. However, before he reached the door, he stopped. Keith turned to look at Gina. “This is it for me. You're the one I want. You're my everything. I love you. I need you. Sweetheart, please. I've never loved like this in my life.”

Gina swallowed her pain. Her regret was evident. “No, Keith.”

“Leave my house,” Michael demanded. “You've worn out your welcome.”

“As much I want to pummel you to the ground, little brother, this is between Gina and me. I'm not leaving without her.” With a locked jaw, Keith stretched his hands out, beckoning her to make a choice.