Promiscuous (Book 2 in the Fixer Series) (3 page)

“There.  It’s all better now.”
  I laughed as I hugged him.

“You’re such an ass Dylan.”

“I’m your ass though and you love it.  Princess, you don’t have to worry about other women.  I know you’re really on edge right now, but please don’t let stupid shit bother you.”

“We need to talk about where you
were all night.  I was worried about you.”

“Brooke, now is not the time.  We’ll ta
lk about it later and I promise I won’t hold anything back.”

“Okay.  Hey, do you mind if we stop by the chapel on our way back up?”

“No.  Come on, let’s go.”

We entered the tiny little chapel just outside of the surgery waiting room where Stephanie was.  The room was decorated in beautiful burgundy red and a cross was hung at the front of the prayer altar.   I kneeled down as tears streamed down
my face and Dylan wrapped his arm around me. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I don’t know what I did to deserve such a wonderful man in my life but thank you.  He means everything to me; I couldn’t do this without him.  Father I also pray that you would be with Stephanie and wrap your healing arms around her.  I love her so much.  Please bring my family justice and let the person responsible be punished for what they have done.  I ask Lord that you would hold my parents tight in your embrace and keep them strong as they go through this difficult journey.  I ask these things in your wonderful name.

Amen

I stood wiping my tears away, hoping there would be good news when I reached the waiting room where my parents sat.

***

Things remained quiet as we waited for Stephanie to get out of surgery.  My father was finally sobering up and consoling my mother.  I still couldn’t understand why she would stay with a man like him.  He was nothing but abusive to both she and I.  I guess love makes a person do strange things.  I vowed that I would never stay with a man who treated me or my children the way my father did us. 

Stephanie’s surgery lasted five and half hours.  We waited and waited for a doctor, nurse, for someone to come and talk to us.  Finally, Dylan went over to the front desk and pulled some strings.  It wasn’t long and Dr. Chan came out to talk to my family. 

“We were unable to repair your daughter’s spleen, she was beaten pretty badly.  She lost a lot of blood and required a blood transfusion, in which we used the blood your other daughter provided for her.  We were also able to drain the fluid from her brain to prevent more swelling.  However, she had a stroke on the operating table and she flat lined twice.  We were able to revive her, but she is still in a coma.  I am very sorry.  The next forty-eight hours are crucial and will tell us what her chances for survival will be.”

I put my arms around my mom as she sobbed.  I also saw tears in my father’s eyes.

“Is she going to make it doctor?” my father asked. 

“At this time, I really can’t say
.  Like I said, we won’t know anything for the next forty-eight hours.  As soon as they move her into the ICU, you’ll be able to see her.  Only 2 people at a time will be able to visit though.”  I took a deep breath knowing that it was going to be a long night.  I wouldn’t leave my sister regardless of what anyone said.  If that upset my father then so be it.  I refused to let him hurt me anymore. 

“Is anyone getting hungry?”
Dylan asked.

“Not really, but I suppose we should all eat something.”

“Well, let’s all decide on what we want to eat and I’ll have Tristan go pick it up; that way we can all be here when Stephanie is out of recovery.”  My mother pulled Dylan aside and gave him a hug. 

“
Thank you Dylan, for being here for Brooke; for us.”

“It’s my pleasure Mrs. Stone.  I love your daughter very much.”

“Yes, I can see that.  I’m glad that she finally found someone worthy of her time.  Treat her well.”

“I will.  You’ll never have to worry about that.”

“Oh and Dylan, please call me Mary.”

“Okay Mary.  What would you all like to eat?”

Given the circumstances and since no one really had an appetite; we agreed that sandwiches would suffice.  Even my father was being cordial.  I couldn’t put my finger on it but something was up with him.  He was never this nice for this long.  I had seen him on his phone and assumed that he had been conversing with Stefan.  I had to push my suspicions aside because I figured that my father was having Stefan look into Stephanie’s attack.  Something I was sure Dylan was also looking into.   

My sister was tucked nicely into her room in the ICU.  It was a heart wrenching scene to take in.  She was hooked up to every machine imaginable; including one that was bre
athing for her and her face was bruised so badly it was beyond recognition.  I was sitting next to my sister holding her hand when I heard yelling outside of her room.  I recognized the voice that came booming through the walls.     

“What the hell are you doing here
?”  I heard my father say.

“I’m here to see my niece.”

“You’re not welcome here.  You’ve caused enough damage to this family.”

“Thomas, this is not the time or the place to have this argument.  What can I do to help?”

“You can leave.  That’s how you can help.”

“I’m not going anywhere until I see my daugh… my niece!”
  I stepped out of the room and looked into my uncle’s angry face.

“Uncle Bobby?”
I said.  I went over and hugged him.

“Hey pumpkin.  How are you holding up?”

“As good as to be expected.”

“Is your mother here?”

“Yes.  She’s in with Stephanie.  She won’t leave her side.”

“She’s a good woman Brooke.  You’re a lot like her.”
  My father scoffed.

“Bobby you need to leave.  I don’t want you anywhe
re near my daughter and take
her
with you!  She’s not welcome here either.”  Dylan’s face turned red.  I could see how pissed he was but he remained calm.

“Gentlemen,
this is not the place.  You’ll disturb the other patients.  You need to take this elsewhere.”

“Screw you, you little punk.  This is between me and my brother, stay out of it.”

“No sir, you need to leave and calm down because you are not going to do your daughter any good by acting this way.  If you care for her at all, you will do what’s best for her.”

“Do you question my love for my daughter Prescott?”

“Yes Thomas, I do.  I question your love for both of your daughters.  Like I said, this is not the time or place to have this discussion.  Now, if you’d like to go somewhere private and have this discussion, I’d be more than happy to oblige.”

“I think it’s time the truth came out don’t you Bobby?” 

“Thomas, I didn’t come here to fight with you.  I just came to see if Stephanie and Brooke were okay.”

“Bullshit!  You came to see
Mary.”

“You’re right.  I did.  I came to see if my sister-in-law needed my help.” 

“Well she doesn’t.  She has me and I will take care of her from now on.”

“No one ever said you didn’t Thomas.  This shit has to end.  You’re angry and bitter over nothing.  For crying out loud, you are taking the past out on your daughter.  Do you hear the way you speak to her?  You don’t deserve to even have her in your life.”

“Get out!”

“No!”

I had no idea what either of them was talking about.  Dylan looked at me confused.  No one could stop the two of them from fighting.  That’s when I saw my mother walk out of my sister’s room.  She looked more pissed than I’d ever seen before.  I was almost scared. 

“You two knock it off!  I’ve had enough of this bickering.  I
’ve listened to it for the past thirty-seven years.  What happened is not Bobby’s fault and it isn’t Brooke’s either.  Thomas, you need to let this go.”

“I will never let this go.  Everything is his fault and hers!”

“It’s time to go,” my mother said.  Dylan, would you mind driving Brooke and Bobby over to our house?”

“No problem Mary,
I’ll have Tristan stay with Stephanie, he can update us if there’s any change while we’re away.”  My mother leaned in and kissed Dylan on the cheek then did the same to Tristan.

***

The ride to my parents was eerily quiet.  Dylan reached over and squeezed my hand.  “Do you have any idea why we’re doing this Brooke?”

“I haven’t a clue Dylan.”

“Your mom looked really pissed.”

“I know.  I’ve never seen her so mad.  If there’s something going on between my dad and my uncle, I don’t know how it involves me.”

“I was thinking the same thing.  Maybe she wants us there for moral support.”  My uncle gave a loud cough in the back.

“Uncle Bobby, what’s going on with you and dad?”

“You’ll find out soon enough Brooke.  Some things are just better left in the past.  You’re dad constantly brings this shit up.  It needs to be dealt with.  I imagine your mother has heard about it every day of her life for the past thirty-seven years.  If I’d only known, I never would have…”

“You never would have what?”

He looked down at his hands and quietly said; “you’ll know soon enough.”  I was nervous as we pulled into my parent’s driveway.  They had since moved after my sister and I left home.  They now lived in a small two bedroom, ranch styled home.  The outside was very charming with its light yellow exterior and white trim accents.  It always reminded me of a doll house.  Walking in now reminded me of being in hell.  I could feel the tension resonating through the door. 

When we entered, I knew immediately that my father had started drinking. 
Every time he drank, his demeanor changed.  He wasn’t a fun drunk, he was a mean drunk and it was absolutely terrifying being around him.  My mother motioned for us all to sit in the sitting room.  I sat between Dylan and my uncle.  If my father thought he was going to get to me, he would have to think again.  Being around him, in their home brought back terrible memories of when I was a small child.  I started to shake and Dylan put his arm around me for comfort. 

“You okay Brooke
?” he asked.

“Yeah
,” I said in a low tone.  “I’m just remembering some things.”

“I’m here princess.  I won’t let anything happen to you.  I promise.”
  I looked into his beautiful blue eyes; they were filled with confusion and love.

“I know cowboy
,” I said as I smiled.

My mother sat in her beautiful floral, wing backed chair while my father stood against the wall.  He glared at all of us. 

“Brooke,” my mother said.

“
Yes mom.”

“I don’t even know where to begin.”

“How about you just start Mary and tell her the truth for once.”

“Thomas, you need to be quiet.”

“Don’t tell me to be quiet bitch!  This is all because of you and Bobby!  If you two would have just…damn it!  She is just like you!   Always seeking attention.”

“Fuck you Thomas!  This was your idea in the first place.  Just shut the hell up!”
  My father stomped toward my mother as my uncle jumped up and went face to face with him. 

“Enough!  You will not lay a hand on her.  Sit your ass down, you coward.”
  My father fell back on the couch as my uncle pushed him.

“Brooke, when your father and I were first married we tried to have children and we couldn’t.  We went to specialists that we thought could help, but couldn’t.  They ran every test possible on me and the problem didn’t lie with me.  The problem was with your father.  He was injured pretty badly while playing football when he was a teenager.  The injury had long lasting effects on him and he was unable to father children.”

“What?  Then how?  I mean, you had me and Stephanie.”

“Yes darling we did, and y
our uncle wanted to help so he offered to donate his sperm for the procedure.”

“
What?  Oh god, I’m going to be sick.  Mom, how could you?”

“Brooke, it was the only way we could have children and we wanted them so badly.  Your father wanted children more than anything else in this world and he couldn’t have them.”

“Are you kidding me?  He has treated me like shit from day one and you allowed it!  Don’t give me this stupid story about how he loves me and how he wanted me.  He sides with a man that put a hit out on my life!  Mom, he used to lock me in closets and whip me with the belt for no reason at all.  Just don’t fucking sugar coat it anymore mom.  I lived in hell and now I’m reliving it.”  I was so angry I couldn’t see straight.  Why couldn’t my mother see him for the piece of shit he was really was?

“Brooke I’m sorry.  I can’t take back the past but you deserve to know the truth.  We were so happy when the procedure worked and we were able to
conceive Stephanie.  The artificial insemination worked perfectly with her.  We were so happy with the results that we decided we wanted to another child.  Your father hoped for a boy.”  I rolled my eyes.  “Well we all know how well that went now don’t we daddy!”