Page 5 of Celtic Dragon
“You said earlier that everything worked out with the Satans, but you never mentioned Brianne. Is she dead?”
Oh, fuck. I didn’t think that my avoidance of the subject would lead her to think the worst, but now that she has brought it up, what else could she think?“No, she is not dead,” I reply, but I do not elaborate.
“Well, where is she?” she asks curiously.
I really don’t want her to know that until Brianne gets better. I really don’t want Emma to see her in the state that I left her, but knowing Emma the way that I do, I know she will not relent. I reply, “She is at the hospital.”
“Is she hurt? What did they do to her?”
“She’s not exactly hurt, but she is banged up a bit. It looks as if Skid may have slapped her around. But the bigger problem is that she’s now addicted to some heavy drugs.”
“I don’t understand. Brianne never took drugs,” Emma says defensively.
“I know, baby, it’s not like that. Skid pumped her with drugs to keep her quiet and subdued. They gave her so much that it didn’t take long for her to become hooked. We have her now; she is safe at the hospital getting the help she needs. Once she detoxes, I’ll make sure Hawk takes you to see her.”
“Why can’t I see her tomorrow?”
“I don’t want you seeing her in that condition. And besides, she’s probably started detoxing already. She won’t know you and she won’t be in control of her actions. I doubt the hospital will even let her have visitors in that state.”
“Oh, I didn’t think of that,” she says sadly.
“I promise she’s getting the best of care, babe. And I promise as soon as she is allowed visitors, you can visit her as much as you want.” I kiss the top of her head as she snuggles against me. “Now why don’t we try to get some sleep?”
“Ok,” she says as she snuggles closer. “Cade?” she whispers.
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, babe.”
The next morning, I wake to hear Emma getting sick in the bathroom, again. I hate that she has to endure the morning sickness that goes along with being pregnant. Thankfully, from what she tells me she only has a couple more weeks of this.
I get out of bed and walk over to the bathroom. She is rinsing her mouth when I step in.
“Good morning, babe,” I say as I walk over and kiss her on the cheek.
“Morning. But frankly, I don’t know what’s good about it,” she states.
So it’s going to be one of those mornings.
Then she adds, “What time do you all leave Friday?”
“Late afternoon.”
“Can I take you to Buffalo?” she asks.
“No, Hawk is taking us.”
“But Cade …”
“Babe, what’s wrong with you? This isn’t like you at all. First you’re upset that I’m going without you, then you’re upset that I don’t want you at the airport. What’s the deal, Emma?”
“Hell, I don’t know. You’re right, this isn’t like me. Maybe your child is taking over my body. Maybe I’m giving birth to an alien that has complete control over my brain,” she says teasingly.
“My child isn’t an alien, woman! Actually, let me correct that—mysonisn’t an alien,” I tease back. I know that she is miserable and that she is just trying to make light of all the hormonal changes that are happening to her, but her constant whining is driving me batshit crazy.
I walk over to her and extend my arms. She falls into them freely as I wrap my arms around her. “I’m so sorry, babe. I would like to say I know what you’re going through, but I don’t. And I’m sure if I did say that, it would only piss you off. So, I won’t. But please know that it doesn’t make me happy that you’re so miserable. And if I could take that part away from you, I would. But I want you to try to remember that all of this will be worth it when our son is born.”
