Remember Me (14 page)

He turned to face the window and stuck his hands in his pockets, jingling around some loose change. “You don’t understand. That property wasn’t for sale. We were working with the banks to purchase the land. It needs to be torn down, Ashley. You can’t live there, not now and not ever.”

“Stop actin’ all concerned for my health and safety and tell me the real reason why you were there. Why don’t you want us there?”

“This is bigger than you and that boy you’re with. Find another place. That’s all I’m goin’ to say. And as far as you walking in here earlier, it stays between us.”

I turned like I was going to leave, but then froze in place, slowly moving my body to face him again. “No. I don’t think so. Not this time. This time you messed with my family. That’s right, Dad, I said my family. Shayne bought us that house to start our future in and we’re goin’ to make it work. We love each other and I know that house is perfect for Eli and Beka to grow up in. You can’t tell me where to live, who to love, and what to do with my future. I make my own decisions.” I pointed right at him, the same way he’d done it to me. “I’m here to tell you to stay away from us. Stay out of my business and my life. You’re not the man that I thought you were. You make me sick with your hypocritical actions.”

“Don’t you dare threaten me.”

“Oh, just shut up! Just shut up and listen to your only daughter for once. You’ve never been there for me, not when I needed you. Now I’ve got my own children and I’m watching their father love them. I’m watching him miss them and want to spend every second with them. You never wanted to be like that. All you’ve ever done is buy my love. You’re pathetic and I’m over it.”

He put his hands up l
ike he was starting to feel guilty. Knowing how much of a fake person he could be, I ignored him.

“You won’t keep us from moving into that house.”

Finally, he looked down at his desk and shook his head. “That house is standing right in the middle of the new proposed highway. If we can’t tear it down then we’ll have to reroute and draw up new plans. The bank never should have allowed the sale. We had an agreement.”

“Well, it sounds like they think you’re a liar as well. That new highway ain’t happenin’.”

“You could live in so many other houses. We’d buy it back from him. He’d get his money back and you could find a place that didn’t need so much work. This error could cost me my job.”

I’d never wanted something so badly as I wanted the house now that I knew he was after it.

Spiteful?

Yes.

“Do me a favor, Dad. Don’t call me anymore. Don’t stop by my home, or assume that I’ll change my mind. I’m done with you choosing your job over your own daughter’s happiness. Finally, I have someone that adores me and my children. If you think I’d let you ruin that, you’re ridiculously mistaken.”

“If you walk out that door, you’re cutoff, young lady. Do you hear me? I’m done with you.”

I turned and put an innocent smile on my face. “No, Dad. I’m done with you!”

“You know you don’t mean that. Don’t walk away from me.”

“You’ve walked away from me for as long as I can remember. Stop actin’ like you care. You didn’t even want me to have the twins. You think I could ever forget that? I’ll never forget it. I meant what I said. Don’t call me, and don’t stop by. We’re all better off without you.”

I slammed his door on the way out and held up a hand to wave to his secretary as I walked out of the office building. As
shaky as I knew I was, I felt so alive. It was invigorating getting my feelings off of my chest and also discovering the real reason my father didn’t want us in the house.

Someone had messed up and in turn Shayne was able to purchase the house
next to nothing. We were making it into our dream home and there was nothing my father was going to be able to do about it.

“You alright?” Peyton asked when I climbed back in the car.

“Yeah, just tired. Thanks for keepin’ them in here.”

We started heading home, but I never divulged any information to Peyton about what went on. The conversation was for me to tell Shayne and nobody else.

Chapter 18

Shayne

I’d received great news about the farm house. No Asbestos had been found and I was given the go-ahead to proceed with the renovations. After learning that the kitchen cabinetry was going to take a few weeks to come in, I decided to start conquering the remodel on the upstairs. Before leaving the property I set up the drop cloths and paint buckets to allow me to get an early start the next morning.

With such good news on my mind I couldn’t wait to get home and tell Ash. Since I hadn’t spoken to her all day long, I was eager to get home to them to celebrate. To make things even easier I picked up Chinese and even a little something special for my girlfriend, to brighten her day.

When I pulled up in the driveway my sister’s car was already gone. I had to admit that even the slightest image of Ash being naked always awakened my dick. By the time I’d made it to the door I was horny and ready to take her as soon as I walked inside.

I swear that there was no greater excitement for me than coming home and knowing there was someone so beautiful waiting for me on the other side of the metal door.

I should have assumed it wouldn’t work out that way.

When I entered the apartment it was filled with two wailing infants. Ash had wheeled their
bassinets to the living room and she was sitting in between them on the couch. Both of her hands where covering her head near her temples and she was also in tears.

I rushed to her side, first, realizing the twins were at least safe. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

She shook her head and spoke in a whisper. “It’s my head. It’s poudin’. Peyton left a while ago and the twins won’t stop cryin’. I’ve fed them and changed them, Shayne.”

Her eyes looked tired as she finally opened them. I patted her knees. “Go take a shower and I’ll get them calmed down.”

“You worked all day. It’s my job,” she insisted.

I smil
ed, knowing that she meant well, then changed my voice to be appealing to a baby. “Please go take care of yourself.” I looked down at my precious little girl. “Daddy is home and he’s happy to take care of the kids and their mommy.”

She tried to smile, but I could tell the pain was beginning to be too much for her to take.
“What would I do without you?”

“You never have to think about that. You’re stuck with me.”

I watched as she walked into the bedroom and shut the door behind her.

It took me a while
to get the twins to both calm down. After maneuvering to pick them both up and hold each like a football, I turned on music and we rocked around the room until they settled down. Eli fell asleep first with his little fingers wrapped around one of mine, while Beka was still wide awake, displaying real tears out of the sides of her little eyes.

“Why are you so sad, princess? Are you sad because Mommy doesn’t feel good?”

She stared up at me, with no real expression on her face. Then, out of nowhere, she smiled. Dimples on both cheeks added to the moment of me seeing her first real, un-gas related, smile. It was so beautiful and I wondered if Ash had already seen it happen. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her as we rocked silently together.

Finally, I had two sleeping babies to lay down. After doing so, I turned down the volume of the music and noticed that the shower water was still running. Knowing that the hot water was always limited to about twenty minutes, I walked into the bathroom to check things out.

Disbelief set in when I saw the shower curtain had been pulled down. Ash’s hand was drooped down from the tub and she was face first against the hard porcelain of the old tub. “Oh my God.” I stooped down, shoving away the curtain to get to her. She didn’t move as I flipped her unresponsive body around and started lightly tapping her on the cheek. “Ash, wake up. Open your eyes, baby.” I repeated it again and again with no response. After checking her breathing, I picked her up and carried her to our bed where I grabbed my phone and called for an ambulance.

I was freaking out, still trying to get
her to come to. All I wanted was to see those pretty blue eyes looking back at me, but they never opened.

After I hung up with the operator, I called my parents. I needed someone to care for the twins while I went to hospital. When they didn’t answer I tried Peyton. With another unanswered call, I dialed the next person out of habit and prayed they would pick up.

“What’s up, Shayne? You callin’ to back out of our deal?”

“Ford, I don’t time for small talk, man. It’s Ash. She’s unresponsive. The ambulance is on the way and I don’t know what to do. She fell in the shower. I can’t
get her to wake up. Please, you’ve got to help me. I called everyone else already.” I was frantically begging my cousin, not even giving him any time to answer.

“I just walked in the door. What do you need from us?”

I closed my eyes for a second, so grateful that he didn’t hang up on me. Ford may not have cared about Ash, but we were blood and I was desperate. “I need someone to sit with the twins. Please, I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t out of options.”

“We’ll be there in ten to fifteen. Is the ambulance there yet?”

“No. It’s on the way.”

I heard knocking at the door and hung up the phone, realizing it was probably the paramedics. When they came in they asked a dozen questions and most I had no knowledge of. The most important was that she wasn’t using drugs. That I knew was the truth.

In all of the chaos I hadn’t thought about putting clothes on my girlfriend. The paramedics, one being a woman, rushed in and started working on her. Embarrassed for what she might think, I hurried and found a pair of sweatpants and a zip up jacket. I couldn’t put it on her arms, but handed it to the medical worker just in case. She smiled while checking her vitals. After that was finished her partner started lifting up the gurney for transport.

In all of the commotion, I hadn’t even heard one of the twins crying. Without explanation I hurried into the living room and picked up Beka. By the time I got back into the bedroom Ash was strapped and they were beginning to wheel her out. “What hospital are you takin’ her to?”

“Salisbury.” The male paramedic announced.

I reached for Ash’s hand, even though she was still unconscious. “I’ll be right behind you, baby. I promise, I’m comin’.”

I watched them load her inside and close the doors. In seconds they were pulling out of the driveway and heading down the road. The sirens only reminded me how serious the situation was. I started to panic, wondering what I was going to do if something was seriously wrong with her.

Ford came running in through
the door, Sky right behind him. She rushed to my side, taking Beka out of my arms. “Where’s the diapers and formula.”

I pointed to the kitchen counter as I gra
bbed my keys and started my beeline towards the door. Maybe I should have stayed to explain everything to them, but my mind was on one thing and nothing was going to keep me from getting to her.

I made it to my car before I noticed that Ford was behind me. “Shayne, hold up.”

I turned, feeling like every moment wasted was going to come back to haunt me. I didn’t know why, but I had this terrible feeling that something was very wrong. “I need to go.”

“Was she sick? Is she poppin’ pills?”

“No!” I said defensively. “She doesn’t use drugs. She’s a good mother, Ford. She’s not the person you used to know, man.”

He held up his hands. “Sorry. I was just askin’. The twins are fine. Sky’s great with babies. Just call me when you know somethin’.”

I climbed in the car and took off down the road. I had no idea what her condition would be like when I got to her, but all I could do was pray this was just some viral infection that would soon pass.

My mind kept going back to the internet searches on headaches and how so many different
scenarios of what could be wrong were coming into play. I hoped that she wasn’t contagious, worrying about the twins and how they couldn’t tell us if something was wrong.

I thought about the farm house, and if something there had really triggered this to happen to her.

There were too many unanswered questions running through my head. After parking my car in the lot, I rushed to the emergency department and was shot down when they wouldn’t let me through to see her. I wasn’t her immediate family and we didn’t share the same last name. Then, with little regard for caring about a lie, I told them she was my fiancé. Figuring that would be the key to getting through, I stood there waiting for them to open the doors. That’s when someone came walking out towards me.

“My girlfriend was just brought in by ambulance. She’s unconscious. Can you please get me in there so I can be with her?”

“Sir, I’m sorry but you’re going to have to wait here. The doctor’s are going to run some tests. As soon as they get her into a room and settled, we’ll come out to get you.”

“She needs me. I’ve got to be in there with her.”

“Sir,” the nurse grabbed my arm, making me look at her. “I promise that we’re doing everything we can for her. I will come find you myself when we know something. If I were you, I’d take this time and let the rest of her family know she’s in the hospital.”

She walked away from me, leaving me to think about calling her asshole father. With all due re
spect, he deserved to know that she was ill. As much as I hated the idea, I was certain it was the right thing to do.

I scrolled down and found his numbe
r, looking at it for a few seconds before walking outside to call. While it rang, I stared through the glass window, waiting for that same nurse to come back out to get me, but it never opened.

It wasn’t surprising when his voicemail picked up. He was probably ignoring our calls after our confrontation the other day.

“This is Shayne. Ashley’s been rushed to the hospital by ambulance. I found her passed out and unresponsive in the shower. When you get this please come to Salisbury. I don’t know anything else. Please, just get here.”

I hung up the phone and paced around the outside of the building. It was horrible being so close to her, yet so far away that I didn’t know what was happening. Every couple of minutes an ambulance would pull up bringing another person inside. I wondered if the people were experiencing the same symptoms, and if they were, was it
something that they could treat?

I supposed I was in denial. I mean, who wants to think the worst when there’s so much hope left in life? I surely didn’t want to think that it was going to be bad news, and certainly not the last time I’d ever see her again.

Chapter 19

Shayne

Hours of waiting, pacing and thinking the worst had played havoc on my mind. I was exhausted, but unable to give up hope that someone was going to walk through that door and give me some good news. I’d begged for someone to help me, but got no result.