Broken Dreams (Franklin Blues #2) (11 page)

I give him one last kiss before it’s really time for me to go, get in my car, and look in my rearview mirror. I hate leaving him, but once this job is over I think I’ll only take local jobs, that way I can still be near him. I can’t bear the thought of leaving him like this all the time.

I guess it’s time to face forward and go back to the place that sent me to Lance in the first place.

Amy

It’s a long two hour drive to my hometown. When I left, I didn’t want to be too far from my parents’ graves, which is my first stop once I hit the town. I pull up to Rosegate Cemetery and cut the engine. I sit in my car a few minutes before stepping out.

I walk down the path that I have walked so many times before I could find them in my sleep. When I finally reach them I look at the headstones and then sit down in between them. “Hey Mom, hey Dad, sorry I haven’t been back in a while. Life has been crazy. As you know, I left Jeremy. He couldn’t stay faithful during the hardest time of our lives. He got my ex best friend pregnant, so I left town and went a couple hours south to Franklin. I remember we went there once on vacation and I loved that little town. I always said if I were ever to live anywhere I’d want to live there. Well I did, and I couldn’t be happier. I met someone, and he’s the most amazing guy I have ever known. I know that you guys would love him. He’s polite, funny, smart, charming, and a true gentleman. He’s everything you could ever want for your daughter. He loves me and I love him, and one day I know we will get married. He makes me so happy, and now we are expecting a baby together. You know what it’s been like for me to get pregnant, I thought it would never happen, but the first time we finally let ourselves be with each other it happened. I know now that it wasn’t meant to happen with Jeremy.”

I sit there for a few more moments before I stand up, I’m not sure how long I’ve been here but the sun is starting to set. I’m sure Lance is probably blowing up my phone because I was supposed to check in as soon as I got here.

“Okay, I better get to my job, but I want you both to know how much I love you. I will not be gone as long this time I promise. I’ll come talk to you guys more often. You both deserve it.”

I kiss my hand and touch both of their headstones. They shouldn’t be here; they should be celebrating the pregnancy with me. A few tears fall and I wipe them away. I will always miss them, but I know they wouldn’t want me to live in the past.

I walk back to my car and pick up my phone. As I figured, Lance has blown up my phone. I don’t bother reading the messages or listening to the voicemails, I’ll call him. Of course he answers on the first ring.

“Amy, oh my God, you’ve had me worried. You were supposed to arrive four hours ago. I was getting ready to come out there and make sure you weren’t lying in a ditch somewhere.”

I feel bad that I made him worry, and for some reason I start crying. I guess it’s the hormone changes that I saw Hailee have.

“Amy, Baby, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell.” Hearing his voice soften only makes me cry more. God, I can’t get over these mood swings.

“Lance, it’s me that’s sorry. I don’t even know why I’m crying. I guess its hormones, and it will probably get worse. I know it’s not something that you are doing wrong, it’s totally me, but it is half your fault because you did this to me. So, I will let you take the blame for part of it.”

He laughs into the phone. We talk for a few more minutes before I pull up to the old Miller house. I’m not sure who lives here because it was abandoned long before I left. I tell him I’m here and that I’ll call him before I go to bed to let me know how the client is.

I get out of the car and walk up to the front door. I take a deep breath and knock. I wait, and wait, but there is no answer. I look at my phone to check the time and see it’s well past six in the evening. My stomach starts to growl and I decide to go get some dinner at the local diner that I used to love as a kid.

I pull into the diner and walk in. Everything still looks the same, from the red leather seats to the 50’s style décor on the walls. I take a seat in a booth, and look up to see Lisa. She used to be like a second mom to me. She was mom’s best friend. She never married or had any kids so I spent a lot of time over there.

“Well holy hell, if it ain’t Amy? Where have you been girl? It’s been what, almost three years since I saw you?”

She walks around the corner to give me the best hug I’ve had in forever. I have missed her dearly and feel horrible that I’ve not been around for her. I know my mother’s death was hard on her too, and I wish the courts would’ve let me live with her after their deaths, however, Mom and Dad never had a will so there was no proof that they would’ve wanted me to live with her. We got close again after I moved back into town after I was removed from the system.

“Hey Momma, I’ve missed you too. I ended up moving to Franklin after I left Jeremy. I met someone.”

I proceed to tell her all about Lance and our relationship. I even tell her about the baby. To say she’s excited is an understatement. I tell her why I’m back in town, and she gives me this look.

“What Momma? I know you and I know that look.”

She looks at me and tells me it’s not her place to tell me and that I will find out soon enough. She does say to make sure that I don’t let Jeremy try and talk me into coming back and that she can see how much I love Lance.

“Okay? That was a tad confusing, but I need to get something to eat before I head back to the old Miller place, so can I have the BLT extra bacon and curly fries? Oh, and a giant side of onion rings.”

She laughs at me and walks to the back to put in my order. I totally forgot to tell her what I wanted to drink, but before I have a chance to get her attention, she returns with a side by side chocolate and banana milkshake. Man, she still knows me too well. I was craving one of her milkshakes, and the chocolate and banana has always been my favorite. When I look down I also see that she put like six maraschino cherries in it. I laugh to myself while I eat them. I’m so addicted to these things.

“Hey, Momma, what ever happened to Jeremy and Jessica? Did they have the baby?”

She looks at me, but doesn’t answer my question as she hands me my plate of food.

Hmm, that’s weird. I wonder what’s going on there.

~**~

I drive back to the house after I eat and visit with Lisa some more. It was so good to catch up with her. I never really realized how much I missed her until she hugged me. It was like I was home, however Franklin is now home to me. I promised her that I would visit as often as I can while I am here, and when I leave town again, I will come back to visit her. I did mention that she could always move to Franklin but she brushed it off.

Pulling up the house I see a car in the driveway that wasn’t there before I went to the diner. The time in the car says it’s about 8:30pm. Hopefully, they are here now. I walk up to the door and knock. I never expected to see who answers the door, Jeremy, and he’s smiling like he’s been expecting me.

Amy

I’m standing here, staring at the man I used to be so in love with that I’d do anything for him; the man who tore my heart into shreds when he fucked my best friend behind my back and got her pregnant.

“Amy, it’s so nice to see you again. Please come in,” he says with a smile and for the first time I notice he’s leaning on crutches with a sling on his right arm.

“There must be some mistake. You’re my client? You’re the one who kept sending the other nurses away until you finally got me? Why are you doing this? Any of the other nurses could’ve helped you and you know it,” I yell while standing in the middle of his front porch. I turn around to walk to my car when he yells for me to stop.

“Amy, please stop. I can’t run after you, but I want to explain why I wanted you to come help me. I’m lost without you, and I was hoping I could get you to come back to me. We used to be so good together, and I want that back. Please come home. Jessica was never pregnant; she lied because you had what she wanted. I only slept with her because she came onto me in a time of weakness, we had found out that the IVF didn’t work and I was upset. She took advantage of that. I’m so sorry baby,”

“Don’t, you don’t get to call me Baby anymore. I’m done with you and your bullshit. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going home to the man that I’m in love with. Lance is twice the man you will ever be and I fully intend to spend the rest of my life with him. I hope you’re happy, I really do, but I’m going home!”

As soon as the last word is out of my mouth I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. No, no, no this can’t be happening. I know exactly what’s going on because I’ve had a miscarriage before. I go to walk to my car when the pain intensifies and I can feel the blood between my legs.

“Jeremy call 911! I’m having a miscarriage, and it’s worse than before. Please help me!” He runs to my side, holding his cell phone to his ear as he talks to the dispatcher. It doesn’t go unnoticed how he didn’t really need his crutches, but right now I can’t focus on that. The last thing I remember before my world goes black is yelling out for Lance.

~**~

My eyes are heavy, and I can hear voices in the room, one I recognize as Jeremy’s, but I’m not registering the second one. I slowly peel my eyes open, look over, and I see a man that looks like Lance except he’s in doctor’s scrubs.

“Lance, is that you?” My voice is raspy like I haven’t talked in quite a while. Both men come over to my bedside.

“No ma’am, my name is Dr. Underwood. I was the doctor in the ER when you were brought in. You had a miscarriage, and I’m so very sorry for you and your husband’s loss. We had to perform what we call a D&C to make sure nothing was left, so you’re waking up from the anesthesia that was given to you.”

Once he gets closer I notice that his eyes are like steel, not the chocolate brown ones that I have fallen in love with.

“Yes doc, I know what a D&C is, I’ve had one before. This isn’t the first miscarriage I’ve had, and this is not my husband, he’s my ex-husband and this was not his baby.” I turn and glare at Jeremy. How dare he say he’s still my husband? “I’m sorry doctor but you look almost exactly like my boyfriend from back home. You even have the same last name. It’s really odd, and this might come off as weird, but do you know a Lance Underwood?”

The doctor looks at me like he’s seen a ghost, and when I look at his name badge I see his first name. Aaron. Holy shit, I’ve found Lance’s brother!

“Um, I’m sorry, but did you say you’re dating Lance Underwood?” He’s looking at me with so much hope in his steel gray eyes.

“Yes sir, I did. We’ve been together for a couple months; it was his baby I lost. He’s going to be devastated when I tell him.”

I look over at Jeremy who is looking at me in so much confusion. I ask him to give us a moment and for him to go home and shower. He tries to argue at first but finally gives in. As soon as he’s out the door, I turn and look at Aaron.

“I can’t believe I found you. I was told about you yesterday, but I feel like I know as much about you as I know about Lance. He’s going to be so excited that I found you.” I’m crying but I can’t help it. I’ve lost my baby, our baby, but I found the one person that can help Lance move forward with his life more than anyone.

“Amy, you can’t tell Lance you found me. I’m sure he feels the same way my parents did when they found out about me. I can’t risk that; I can’t be hurt again like that. So please don’t tell him.”

“Are you still with Tyler? How long have you lived here? When did you become a doctor?” I keep asking questions, and his face lights up at the mention of Tyler’s name.

“Yes, Tyler and I are still together. He’s been my rock with everything I’ve been through. I’ve lived here since I did my residency in the ER here at Rosegate Memorial Hospital. I’ve been a full time ER doc for about three years. Now can I trust you to keep my secret?”

I’m shocked he doesn’t want to know Lance. Lance loves him so much and he wants his big brother back. “Aaron, I’m not sure I can do that. Lance told me your story, and he misses you so much. He wants you back in his life. He loves you. He doesn’t care about who you love as long as you’re in his life.”

He goes to say something but his pager starts buzzing. He goes to walk out the door when he turns and says he’ll think about it and get back to me.

I really hope he does think about it and gets to know his little brother.

Lance

I’m back to being on the job, but something doesn’t feel right. Amy is off doing her job, and the house is empty without her. I want to call her, but am trying to stop worrying so much so I went to bed. However, sleep never came.

I woke up and checked my phone. Nothing from Amy. Now I’m worried. I start to dial her number when my phone starts vibrating with an unknown number. Now I usually ignore them, but since I haven’t heard from Amy, you can bet your ass I’m answering it.

“Hello?”

All I can hear is crying in the background. I’m getting really worried and that worry only intensifies when I hear her voice.

“Lance, I’m so sorry Baby. I lost the baby and it’s all my fault. I let myself get too stressed, and I miscarried. Please don’t hate me, I’m so sorry.”

My heart is breaking; she lost our baby. I can feel my eyes start to tear up but I have to be strong for my girl.

“Amy, Baby, of course I don’t hate you. I could never hate you. It wasn’t meant to be. Where are you? I need to come be with you right now to see for myself that you are okay.”

She rattles off the name of the hospital that she’s at, and I tell her I’m on my way. I call the chief and let him know what’s happening and he tells me to take as much time as I need and that I need to take care of my girl. I call Hailee to get advice on how I should treat Amy now. She tells me, between sobs from crying herself, to reassure Amy that I’m not going anywhere. I think I can do that because come hell or high water, that woman is going to be my wife one day.