I tilt my head and stare at the two most important people in my life, my husband and Casper. After a few minutes, when I don’t get a response, I ask again. “Why was Evan calling you?” Mark shifts his weight back and forth on his feet while steam rises from the pans behind him on the stove. My happy face is gone and instead, I now wear a stern one. I give Mark a pointed look and step into the kitchen. “Are you going to tell me what you and Evan were talking about? Or do I need to call him myself and pry it out of him?”I shift my gaze to our precious son and his worried look. A smile tugs at my lips as I walk towards him. “Did you have a good day?”He hesitates for a second and glances back up at his father before his concerns fade away, and his face lights up. “I had fun.” He scrunches up his face and a small pout appears as his eyes drift back to his father. “But daddy and grandma won’t let me make any more cookies today.”His sweet voice grows harsher with each word, and
MarkI march through the hallway towards my office. My heavy footsteps bounce along the walls and warn people I’m coming. The pictures of the mysterious guy talking with Katie flicker through my mind and pull me back to it every chance it can get. A weight presses down on me, but I don’t know if it is from the mysterious guy trying to find my wife or from my issue with Tiffany thinking she is going to marry me. Every time I think about Tiffany, my skin crawls. Tiffany isn’t remotely close to my image of an ideal wife. Only Katie can fill those shoes and no one else. I take a deep breath as I walk past my assistant’s desk. Jack looks up from his computer monitor while his fingers hover over his keyboard. “Your important items are on your desk. There are a few things in your email which needs to be addressed right away. I’ve marked them urgent so you can easily find them. If you have any questions, just let me know.”I slow down briefly and nod. Jack motions with his chin t
I clamp my mouth shut and force the bile back down my throat. This has been an awful morning, but the medicine is helping. I just hope my constant nausea slows down soon. I reach the ER doors at the same time the exterior door slides open, and a couple of stretchers are pushed inside with badly cut up and injured people on each of them. Blood oozes down both their faces. Their clothes are also covered in blood. The woman is semi-conscious, while the man appears to be unconscious.Little shards of glass spark under the lights and cling to their clothes. Another car accident. How many has this been this week? Like the previous ones, I might not be able to recognize most of the injured people. They have too many cuts and their faces are swollen and bruised. I take a deep breath and silently pray I can keep my churning stomach under control. The injured people need me now.I scurry over to the closest bed where the EMS worker has just stopped. “What do we have here?”As we tr
MarkMy heart races as I bolt out of my office and run through the building. My mind is in turmoil. Is Katie alright? Is the baby fine?I jump in my car and zoom through the streets, hoping I will get there as soon as possible and that nothing happens.My finger taps the steering wheel. How much longer is it before I get there? Ring…ring…ring…My breath hitches, and a wave of panic slams against me. Am I too late?My finger quickly taps the button in the car to answer my phone. “Hey, is she alright? Don’t tell me something else happened to her.”My breathing shallows out and turns into short pants. My world is falling apart. Why now? It is just starting to move in the right direction. “Wow. Calm down, son. Did something happen? Where are you?” Shit. I didn’t want them to know, and I’m the idiot for letting it slip and not looking to see who was calling first. I run my hand through my hair while I glare at the traffic in front of me, wishing I have the power to make t
Mark leans down and kisses the top of my head. “Are you sure about this? Evan says your father is in bad shape. Your doctor also said you need to reduce your stress.”My fingers wrap around the wheelchair’s armrests. “Yeah. I’m sure. Is my brother here?”He kisses the top of my head again. “No. Evan said there hasn’t been anyone who has showed up for them. You will be alone with them.”I glance back over my shoulder at him. “You are going to be there.” He gives me a small grin. “Yes. I’m not letting you out of my sight right now.” His father steps up on my other side and puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’ll be there too. Even though I can’t talk with them, I still want to meet these people. If they wake up and get out of line, I also want to be there to help protect you. I haven’t talked to Wanda or her father yet about your father and his job there.” He pauses for a moment and squeezes my shoulder. His voice softens. “I had asked if they could look into giving you
I lean forward. “Mom?”Mark pushes me along the side of the bed, and I gently grab her hand. “Mom, I’m here. Don’t talk if you hurt. I’ll be here for a bit.”She turns her head towards me, and her eyes flutter open. A tear hangs on the corner of her eyelid, almost daring to fall. My eyes sting, and I take a shaky breath. She squeezes my hand. “How are you here?”I never told her I was coming back here, or I got a job in the hospital. My heart feels heavy. “I moved back with my husband, Mark.” I reach a hand back over my shoulder. Mark takes it and steps around to the side of the wheelchair. He gives her a small grin. “Hi, Mrs. Hunt. It is nice to meet you in person.”Her eyebrows knot together as she looks up at him. She stares at him for a moment before her gaze drifts back to me. The disappointment in her eyes slices right through my heart. Mark wraps his arm around my shoulders. “I’m so happy to finally find her. It was my dream that when she returned, I would a
MarkI walk past my assistant Jack’s desk and mumble, “Anything important.”My mind and my heart aren’t really with me right now. Both are still worried and concerned about Katie and the baby, but she and my mother have shooed me out of the house this morning when I was trying to take care of my wife. Katie is home from the hospital, but she isn’t fully back to being herself, and Evan won’t let her return until her doctor says she is fine, which hasn’t happened yet. Personally, I think Evan is putting pressure on her doctor, but I’m sure the doctor wouldn’t keep anyone from their duties if she thought they were healthy. Jack whips his head up. “Oh! You’re here. I thought you were working from home again.”I snort and shake my head. “No. I’ve been booted out of my house. Katie told me I can’t miss my meeting today, which I think I could get it rescheduled if I need to, but she won’t allow it. So, here I am.”He stares at me for a moment. “You don’t look or sound too pleased
KatieMy stomach grumbles slightly as I make my way to the kitchen to find myself something to eat, but my feet suddenly stop, and I freeze in my spot when I hear Mark’s mother talking. My husband’s office door is slightly ajar. “Are you sure it is because Mark married Katie? There can be a lot of reasons why someone would refuse to sign a contract with our company. I know we were really hoping this would go through, but we can’t hold anything against Mark for this. The potential client is crazy, just like Tiffany.”A mix of emotions races through me. Did Mark lose the contract? And because of me? He was looking forward to this. I might not know much about business, but I know Mark was hoping this contract would go through. My heart twists. Am I the reason Mark didn’t get the contract? “I know what he said. You told me, but I won’t believe he refused to sign the contract because Mark is married to Katie. There is no way I will believe it.”My heart sinks. I’m the reaso
With a glass of sparkling cider in one hand, I carefully wipe of the crumbs from the front of my floor length formal dark red dress. The paper napkins I’m using snag on a few of the embedded jewels along the front. My frustrations bubble up as I grind my teeth together. But this little setback can’t damper my mood. This is a big night for me. I’m finally accomplishing another one of my goals and dreams. Mark waves a couple of white linen napkins in the area as he rushes towards me. “Look what I have found. Stop trying to get the food off. I’ll get it done.” His playful smile widens as he gives me a wink. “In no time, I’ll have you back looking as beautiful as ever.” I sigh and let my shoulders drop. In his black tuxedo, he bends over in front of me and very carefully wipes all the little food particles off me without smearing it across the smooth satin fabric. I glance around the venue and notice a few people giving us some questioning looks, but no one has the courage
As he opens his mouth, my parents and brother casually walk into the house. My brother’s eyes pop wide open as he looks around, taking everything in and whispers, “Wow!”My heart nearly stops and my breath hitches. What are they doing here? They don’t have anything nice to say to me. Why would Mark bring them here? Why?My smile evaporates and morphs into a frown. I shuffle backwards as I slowly shake my head. My father gives me a stern look, which also holds his usual scrutinizing eye. The one which says I’m not good enough. My chest tightens. I don’t want them here. Casper runs towards us. “DADDY! YOU ARE HOME!!” He holds his little arms wide open and leaps into his father’s waiting arms. Normally, I would smile and join them in a group hug, but I can’t take my eyes off my family. The only thing that connects us is our DNA. Nothing else they have done would be something a normal family would do. My brother ignores Casper, stilling gawking at the inside of the house
I cradle my adorable daughter in my arms as I sway back and forth. Her long dark lashes flutter as she fights to stay awake. I softly hum a tune and gently pat her bottom. Everything seems so peaceful and perfect now, but it wasn’t months ago when she was born. When I had finally woken up, I nearly had a panic attack. My pregnant belly was gone, and my precious baby was nowhere to be seen. Luckily, Mark and Casper were there at my bedside, along with his parents, making sure I knew everything was alright. Our precious little baby was with the doctors, but Mark vowed to do whatever he needs to ensure our daughter’s health. I would be lying if I said his words calmed me down. Nothing he could say would ease my nerves, but it was his calm voice and the determination in his eyes which finally settled me down. Our daughter had to stay in the intensive care unit for a few days, but she was a fighter and could soon come home. Mark’s mother steps into the room and softly asks, “Is
KatieThe past few months have been a blur. If I didn’t have constant reminders on social media about it, I might forget all about Tiffany and the nightmare she caused. I stare down at my phone on the dining room table and at the latest social media post from a friend. I shake my head and sigh. When are they going to let this end? The post has a picture of Tiffany, which I’m sure she doesn’t know someone took, where she is picking up garbage in the company’s parking garage next to the building. Her previous high-end designer clothes are nowhere to be found, and she is wearing the company’s maintenance uniform. Below her picture is a caption wondering who the designer of the classy outfit is. I roll my eyes.Tiffany is working to pay off our doctor bills without complaining. Mark’s mother is still fuming at her, but she isn’t throwing it in Tiffany’s face. Everyone else should follow that example.Mark kisses the top of my head and rubs my shoulders. “How are you feeling thi
I sip on my champagne while I raise an eyebrow, hiding my smirk behind the glass. Tiffany holds her head high and walks up to a person she thinks is me, but it isn’t. He looks similar to me, but that is where the likeness ends. Her face contorts and her mouth opens slightly, but nothing comes out. I choke down a chuckle. The decoy stares at her and grunts, “What do you want? You look like you have something you want to say to me.”She continues to stare at him for a few moments before she shakes her head. “No. I thought you were someone else. I’ll go look for him elsewhere.”Her eyes quickly scan the area. I duck behind a few other guests as she looks in my direction. It isn’t time for her to see me yet. Her gaze locks on the back of another guy on the other side of the room, who she thinks is me. I choke down another laugh. It is only going to get worse from here on out. Before she reaches the guy, he turns around, and she instantly halts in her tracks. Her face conto
MarkI take a deep breath as I walk into the venue with my parents, wearing the same black tuxedo I did for the charity event. Katie and Casper are home, per my request. Tonight will probably be stressful and potentially traumatizing, which neither of them need. It is best to finish this off and give Katie the details later. If things go the way I’m thinking they will, Katie should see everything through social media. In addition, Casper is still healing from the last traumatic event, and he doesn’t need another one on top of it. I could the see fear in his eyes when we were talking about tonight’s event, and there is no way I was going to put him through that and make his mental health worse. My mother pats my arm. “Are you alright?”I nod. “Yeah.”My father glances to his side at me. “Are you ready for what needs to be done tonight?”A snort slips from me. “Yes. I’m more than ready. I’m hoping everything will go according to our plan, and Tiffany will learn her lesson.”
KatieI sit beside Casper’s bed and stare down at him. The last few days have been a whirlwind of people and emotions. Working with the doctor and our family and friends, Casper has finally calmed down and realizes Tiffany can’t hurt him here. He feels safe at home, but the fear isn’t gone or under control. At any minute, something random might spark his fear again and he will have another panic attack or a terrible nightmare. My rage continues to bubble under the surface, just waiting for something to trip me. When I get my hands on that woman, she will find out I’m not the naïve person she thinks I am. If I do it right, I’ll instill fear in her to the point she will never think of doing something like this again. Being a doctor has advantages people wouldn’t think about.Mark walks into Casper’s bedroom. “Is he asleep?”I nod. “Yeah. I want an update, but not in here.”I turn to the young lady standing in the doorway and motion for her to come in. “Keep an eye on our bab
I tiptoe out of Casper’s room and quietly shut the door behind me. A few staff wait anxiously in the hallway. I clear my throat and turn towards them. “Someone needs to stay with him at all times right now. He is having the same recurring nightmares, and only a soothing touch will ease his mind and let him move past the dream. Do any of you want to sit with him for a bit?”All of them quickly nod their heads. I glance back over my shoulder at the closed door. “I’ll let you decide who goes in right now. Everyone must be quiet and not wake him up. I just got him back to sleep. I don’t think he slept at all last couple of nights.”They nod and look at each other, silently debating on who should go in first. My heart aches and my mind swirls. Silently, I turn and head down the stairs. I’m not sure where I’m going, but I need to do something. When I reach the bottom of the stairs, one of the staff timidly calls out, “Please, use the wheelchair.”Without looking back, I nod and
MarkI storm through the building and into my office, not bothering to acknowledge anyone along the way. If I provide any reaction, it is a grunt or a snort. There is another important issue consuming my mind, and I must address it before I can handle anything else. Though I’ve had the weekend to calm down, nothing can cool my boiling anger simmering under my skin, waiting for the right moment to explode. Employees scurry out of my way while murmurs float through the air. But no one dares to say anything loud enough for me to hear. My scowl deepens as I storm around my desk and yank my chair out. “Jack!” Before his name leaves my mouth, he is in my office and right next to my desk with his tablet in hand. “Do you need me to do anything?”My eyes dart to him. “Yeah. I need you to contact everyone who has agreed previously to work with and help me. We are ramping up the next phase of my plan.”A sinister smirk bubbles up, and I don’t bother to hide it. If I could have handl