The Negotiation

  “Jules!” I ran towards her. “Where is she?”

  “They’ll be here in a minute.”

  “What the hell happened? How do you know it’s Emily?”

  “The paramedics found her license in her purse.”

  “Jules, they’re here,” Carter spoke as he ran down the hall.

  “Stay here!” Jules commanded.

  But I didn’t listen. I couldn’t. I had to see her.

  The paramedics quickly pushed her down the hallway and into the trauma room, where a team of nurses followed. I stood in the doorway and looked at her through all the chaos. Blood poured from her head. Her face was swollen and bruised as if she had been beaten, and a neck brace was secured around her neck. A sick feeling rose in the pit of my stomach and I began to shake.

  “She’s pregnant,” I heard Jules say to the team of doctors and nurses that were by her side.

  I nearly lost my breath when I heard her say that.

  “What?” I gasped.

  She looked at me and told me to leave the room. But I was frozen and it felt like my legs were paralyzed.

  “We’re losing her!” Carter yelled. “Get the crash cart!”

  “Jackson, you can’t be in here.” Jules ran over to me and grabbed hold of my arm.

  Tears filled my eyes as I placed my hands firmly on my sister’s shoulders and stared at her.

  “You have to save her, Jules. Don’t let her die! You have to save her.”

  “We’re doing everything we can. Lisa, get my brother out of here!” she yelled as she went back over to attend to Emily.

  I stood outside the room and watched through the window as they took the paddles and placed them on her chest. A tear ran down my cheek as I watched the monitor and held my breath waiting for some sign that she’d come back to me. After two shocks, the flat lines began to move up and down and my sister let out a sigh of relief as she placed her forehead on Emily’s and then walked out of the room and over to me.

  “We have her stabilized, but she does have some internal bleeding and her arm is broken. Carter is taking her up to surgery in a few moments.”

  “And the baby?” I looked at her.

  “I’m sorry, Jackson, but we couldn’t find a heartbeat.”

  I swallowed hard as my eyes wouldn’t stop filling with tears.

  “How did you know she was pregnant?”

  “She came to me because she was sick. She was going to tell you when she got back from Montauk.”

  “Is that where she was going?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about the baby?”

  “Doctor-patient confidentiality. I couldn’t and you know that.”

  Carter pushed Emily out of the room, stopped, and looked at me.

  “Hang tight, Jackson. She’s in good hands,” he spoke.

  “Take care of her, Carter.”

  “I will.”

  I went up to the surgical waiting room, put some money into the coffee machine, and leaned my forehead against it while the coffee poured into the cup. I couldn’t believe this had happened to her. I had planned on going to see her tomorrow to talk things out. I could no longer take her being out of my life and, now, she almost was forever. The thought sickened me to the point where I wanted to vomit.

  “Hey, man.”

  Lifting my head and looking over my shoulder, I saw Samuel standing there with his hands in his pockets.

  “How is she?”

  Grabbing the cup from the machine, I took a seat in the chair and he sat down next to me.

  “Carter is in surgery right now with her. She has some internal bleeding.”

  “I’m sorry, Jackson.” He placed his hand on my shoulder.

  I leaned forward, placing my elbows on my knees while I took a sip of coffee.

  “She was pregnant,” I spoke, staring straight ahead.

  “Was?”

  “They couldn’t find a heartbeat.”

  “Gee. I’m sorry. She didn’t tell you?”

  “She was going to when she got back from Montauk. I guess that’s where she was headed before the accident. Shit. I have a phone call to make.”

  I pulled out my phone, called Katie, and told her to call Emily’s father. In an instant, she was panicked and told me she was on her way.

  I sat there, in a daze, silently praying to God to let her be okay. A feeling of loss swept over me as I thought about our baby. A baby I didn’t even know about, and yet my heart ached for him.

  Chapter 41

  Jackson

  Jules, Samuel, Katie, Alex, Evelyn, and I all sat and waited for some word about Emily’s condition.

  “Jackson,” Carter spoke as he walked into the room and removed his scrub cap. “I stopped the bleeding and now she’s in recovery. She’ll be sleeping for a few more hours, but you can go in and see her if you’d like.”

  “So she’s going to be okay?” I asked.

  “As long as no other complications arise, she’ll be fine. She will be observed for the next twenty-four hours.”

  “Thank you, Carter.”

  “You’re welcome. She’s a fighter.” He smiled. “Come on; I’ll take you to her room.”

  I stood inside the doorway and stared at her for a moment before going to her bedside. Her head was wrapped in a white bandage, her arm in a cast, and the wires that stuck out of the hospital gown she was wearing were hooked up to machines that made a soft beeping noise. She looked fragile but at peace.

  Walking over to her bedside, I lightly took hold of her hand and took a seat in the chair that was next to the bed. Leaning over, I placed my head on her arm.

  “I’m here with you, Emily, and I’m never leaving your side again. We have so much to talk about and I have so much to say to you. I almost lost you tonight and that would have destroyed me because I never got to tell you that I love you and that I’m sorry for being such an asshole. I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me and never wanted to see me again, but at least I got the chance to tell you.”

  “She doesn’t hate you, Jackson,” Katie softly spoke as she walked into the room.

  “Did you know about the baby?” I asked her.

  “Yes. She just told me the other day and she was going to tell you after she got herself sorted out in Montauk. You have to believe that she wasn’t going to keep that from you.”

  “I’m going to make it up to her, you know.” I looked over at Katie.

  “I’m sure she’ll like that. She never stopped loving you.”

  All of a sudden, Katie began to cry. I got up from my seat and wrapped my arms around her.

  “Shh.”

  “She could have died.”

  “I know. But she’s here and she’ll be fine and that’s what we need to focus on. Not the ‘could haves’ and the ‘what ifs.’”

  I held her for a few moments until she composed herself and then she walked over to Emily’s bedside and kissed her forehead.

  “I’m so happy you’re going to be okay,” she spoke.

  A few hours had passed and Emily still wasn’t awake. As my head was lying on her arm, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

  “Why don’t you go home and get some sleep?” Jules said. “I’ll call you when she wakes up.”

  “No. I want to be here. I’m not leaving her again.”

  “Can I get you anything?”

  “No. I’m fine.”

  “I’ll stop by in the morning.” She smiled as she kissed the top of my head and walked out of the room.

  I lay my head back down beside her and felt her fingers move underneath my hand. When I lifted my head, she opened her eyes and looked at me.

  “Jackson?” she whispered.

  “I’m here.” I smiled.

  “Where am I?”

  “You’re in the hospital. You were in a bad accident.”

  She placed her hands on her stomach.

  “The baby.”

  Tears filled my eyes as I looked into hers and saw nothing b
ut fear. This was the moment I dreaded the most.

  “I’m sorry, Emily. The baby didn’t make it.”

  “NO!” she cried as she turned her head away from me.

  I sat on the edge of the bed and carefully wrapped my arms around her, holding and comforting her the best I could while she sobbed until she fell asleep.

  ****

  Emily

  I was in so much pain. Not only physically, but mentally as well. My body hurt from the accident and my heart and mind hurt at the loss of my baby. I couldn’t cope very well, so I fell asleep to try and escape the pain I felt.

  I opened my eyes to the sounds of voices in my room.

  “Good morning, Emily.” Carter smiled. “How are you feeling?”

  “Terrible.”

  “That’s to be expected. You’ve been through quite an ordeal. I’m just going to check your incision. I used glue to close it, so you don’t have to worry about scarring or getting it wet. It looks good.” He winked.

  Jules walked over to my side and held my hand.

  “You had us so worried.” Tears filled her eyes.

  “Sorry,” I whispered. “The baby.”

  “I know, sweetie, and I’m so sorry.”

  Carter and Jules left and Jackson sat down on the edge of the bed.

  “I’m sorry, Emily. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  My head was filled with so many thoughts that I couldn’t sort them all out. All I could remember was the pain and heartache I felt when he walked out of my apartment that night and never looked back. I was also angry that it took something like this for him to see me. The tremendous amount of guilt I felt over the loss of our baby overwhelmed me and I didn’t make for very good company. I didn’t want anything from Jackson because I was past that point. I was going to tell him about the baby when I got back because he had the right to know. But I was also going to tell him that I was relinquishing him of all parental duties and that I’d be raising the baby alone, just like my mother did with me. And now, he was here, apologizing and doing everything possible to make me believe that he was sorry. But what he didn’t know was that my shattered heart was once again surrounded by a protective wall so I would never experience that kind of pain again.

  ****

  Jackson

  Emily wouldn’t respond to my apology and she was distant. I knew she was upset about the baby and I didn’t want to bring it up to her. But I wasn’t going to stop trying. I loved her and I was going to get her back no matter what it took. She was my life and I realized that and I would spend every single day letting her know whether she wanted me to or not. Emily Wade was going to be my girl. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not in a month. But we would be together as a couple in time.

  Chapter 42

  Emily

  I had spent a week in the hospital recovering, and each and every day, Jackson walked in with a smile on his face, a new bouquet of flowers, and a box of chocolates. He was irritating me. I was so wrapped up with the accident and the loss of the baby that it was all I could focus on. My dad and friends visited me every day, and Katie and Noelle assured me that the store was in good hands and that they were taking care of everything.

  I left the hospital with a cast on my arm and I wasn’t allowed to go back to work for at least another week. I still had to be careful with the injuries I had sustained. As soon as Jackson opened the door to my apartment, I looked around at the two suitcases that were sitting in the hallway.

  “What are those?” I asked.

  “Those are mine.”

  “Why are they here? In my apartment?”

  “Because I’m staying with you.”

  I let out a light laugh. “No you’re not.”

  “Yes I am. I wanted to take you back to my place, but I knew you’d be more comfortable in your own home, so I decided that I’m moving in until you’re one hundred percent better.”

  “You’re not in charge of me and you’re not my keeper.”

  “Actually, I am. I appointed myself, and your friends and father agreed.”

  I took in a sharp breath. All I wanted was to be alone.

  “I’m fine,” I spoke through gritted teeth.

  “No, Emily, you’re not. You heard what Carter and Jules said. You need total rest this next week to heal properly. End of discussion. I’m staying here and taking care of you and I don’t want to hear another word about it. Couch or bed?”

  “Couch. I’m sick of lying in a bed.”

  “I think the bed would be more comfortable for you,” he spoke.

  “I said the couch!” I yelled as I headed towards it.

  “Okay. The couch it is.”

  “I don’t understand this, Jackson. We are not a couple. You are not responsible for me.”

  “Not yet we aren’t.” He winked.

  “Excuse me?” I shot him a look as I tried to get comfortable on the couch.

  “We will be, Emily.”

  “The hell we will. I no longer believe in relationships. You can thank yourself for that.”

  He sighed. “Yes, I know, and I’ve apologized a hundred times to you.”

  “Doesn’t matter. The damage is done. You walked out on me when I told you that I loved you, and guess what, Jackson? Time passed and I don’t love you anymore.”

  He rolled his eyes as he walked into the kitchen.

  “You will, and you know why? Because I love you.”

  “Stop it!”

  “I love you, Emily.”

  “Stop it, Jackson!”

  “I love you.”

  I threw my head back on the pillow and closed my eyes. I didn’t have the strength to argue with him right now.

  ****

  Jackson

  She fell asleep, which was good. She had a bad attitude and, hopefully, she’d be better when she woke up. She said she didn’t love me, but I knew she did. She was punishing me for walking out on her and I didn’t blame her one bit. I wasn’t worried. She fell in love with me once and she’d fall in love with me again. We were good together and I wasn’t stopping until we got back to the way we were.

  I took my suitcases into the bedroom and hung up my suits in her closet. Grabbing my laptop, I took it over to the loveseat across from the couch where Emily lay so I could do some work. About an hour had passed and there was a knock on the door.

  “Hello, Terrance. Thank you for coming.”

  “Hello, Mr. Caine. My pleasure. How is Miss Wade feeling?”

  “She’s feeling a little bit angry.”

  “To be expected. She’s been through quite an ordeal,” he spoke as he headed into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

  “Jackson?” I heard Emily call.

  “I’m right here.” I walked over and took a seat on the edge of the couch.

  “I need a pain pill.”

  I gave her a small smile as I kissed her forehead. “Coming right up.”

  “Don’t do that again.”

  “Do what?”

  “Kiss my head.”

  “Would you rather I kissed you somewhere else?” I winked.

  She placed a pillow over her face and screamed into it. I couldn’t help but laugh as I went and got her a pain pill.

  As soon as dinner was ready, Emily got up from the couch and took a seat at the table.

  “Thank you, Terrance. This looks delicious. I’m so sick of hospital food,” she spoke as she smiled at him.

  “You’re welcome and I’m happy you’re okay.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ve also prepared lunch for tomorrow. It’s in the refrigerator.”

  “Thank you.” I placed my hand on his shoulder.

  Taking a seat next to Emily, I reached over her to grab the basket of rolls and she stabbed my hand with the fork.

  “Ouch. What was that for?”

  “It’s rude to reach over someone. You could have asked me to hand you the basket.”

  “I was afraid to talk to you. But I guess if I had, I wouldn’t have gotten stabbed with a fo
rk.” I cocked my head and a small smile crossed her lips.

  There was so much I still had to say to her, but it wasn’t the right time. I tried to talk to her in the hospital, but she wasn’t having any of it. We needed to talk about the baby. I wanted to let her know that she wasn’t the only one suffering. Plus, I wanted to know how the hell she got pregnant on the pill.

  After we ate, Emily went and sat on the couch while I cleaned up.

  “What about your job?” she asked.

  “I’ll work from here. It’s not a problem. Can I get you anything?”

  “No,” she replied.

  I grabbed a box of chocolates and took them over to her.

  “I bet you’d like one of these.” I grinned as I held the box in front of her.

  She looked at me with a narrowing eye and then down at the chocolates.

  “Maybe just one.” She took a truffle from the box.

  Chapter 43

  Emily

  I turned on the TV and glanced over at Jackson while he finished cleaning up from dinner. I looked at how sexy his arms were with his sleeves rolled up as he washed the dishes and put them away. The way his ass looked in his pants that were tailored to him perfectly and the way he told me he loved me even though I didn’t want to hear it.

  I was flipping through channels as Jackson sat down on the love seat and opened up his laptop. Even though I had this love/hate thing for him, I was happy he forced his way back into my life. I turned the TV off and stared at him as he typed away on his laptop, trying to find the words that I needed to say.

  “I was going to tell you about the baby when I came back. And I was also going to relieve you of your parental responsibilities and raise the baby on my own.”

  He stopped typing and looked up at me.

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Because you had no room in your life for me, let alone a baby, and I didn’t want to further complicate things for you.”

  His eyes burned into mine for a moment before he shut the lid to his laptop and walked over and sat down next to me.

  “I always had room in my life for you, Emily. I was just scared because I was afraid of losing you down the road if things didn’t work out. So I thought it would be easier to cut ties right then and there before we became more than what we already were.”