I nodded. “Yes, he looks a bit under the weather.” I took a deep calming breath. “I can’t wait for the surgery to be done and my little boy to be safe.”
Mrs. James smiled at me. “He’s a strong little boy; he’ll be fine.” She looked at me with a cheeky little smile. “Why don’t you go take a shower and change. I’ll stay with the little angel until you’re back.”
Nodding, I took a couple of steps before she stopped me.
“Also, Mr. Beaumont said to tell you that he has been called into the office to deal with an emergency, but he will try to come back as soon as possible. He also left you a note in your room.”
I detailed her. Why was she radiating with so much joy over this?
“You’re not judging?”
She chuckled, waving her hand dismissively. “On the contrary. I'm elated. Mr. Beaumont is not a bad man; he is just so…lonely.” She let out a sigh. “He laughed with me today. He whistled. Mr. Beaumont never whistles. I have to admit, happiness suits him. I’m just sad it took more than twelve years for me to witness it again.”
I looked away and blushed. Knowing that little me had the ability to make the all-powerful Dean Beaumont happy did things to my stomach.
Showering quickly, I then changed into a plain tee-shirt and jeans before reaching for the note on my nightstand.
Opal,
Unfortunately, I was called away. I will do my utter best to be back as soon as I can.
I asked Mrs. James to look after Timmy for you. When I come back, we shall talk.
Sincerely,
D
I blushed at the memory. Dean had taken me a total of three times last night and I suspected my body was going to need to recover for a while.
I had to smile at the formality of his note; had he ever written something coming from the heart? I doubted it.
I brushed my fingers over the name ‘Timmy.' He was coming around. He’d changed, but yes, I agreed we needed to talk. I had to tell him the truth because it was too big of a secret to start a relationship on, especially given the note he'd shown me yesterday. Opal's note.
It broke my heart to realize that my sister had probably done all of the horrible things Dean thought she did.
I was worried. Jeremy had told me that Dean wasn't a forgiving man and I’d seen that firsthand, but if Mrs. James was right, if his love-making last night was any testament, he liked me too.
I walked back into the nursery just as Mrs. James was putting Timmy back inside his crib.
Walking over to him, I frowned at his rapid breathing. It has been a while since that happened.
“Would you like me to prepare you something to eat?”
I looked at Mrs. James. My stomach growled loudly, but I shook my head. “No, I really don’t like how tired he is and how rapid his breathing is. I think I'll stay here and monitor him for a while. I’ll call Dr. Hunt if it doesn’t settle in an hour or so.”
“Very well. I’ll bring you something to eat.”
“Oh, no, no!” I raised my hand to stop her. “You've got enough to do and I’ve already stolen a few hours from your schedule.”
“It was a pleasure, truly. This baby is amazing. I will bring something,” she added with a tone of finality.
I smiled gratefully at her before going to retrieve my laptop in my bedroom. I would take my classes in the nursery.
Opening my computer, I glanced back at Timmy as I waited for my emails to load. I hoped he was okay. I also hoped that Dean was the man I thought he was and would forgive my lie, as well as let Timmy stay with me.
Sighing, I looked back at the screen. I had an email from someone called ‘truth seeker.’
Opening it, I read, ‘I thought you ought to know who you are trusting your future to.’
There were a few files attached at the bottom. The first one was an email from Dean to his creepy lawyer. I shivered again at the thought of that horrible man.
Phil,
This needs to stop. I want her gone. We need to step it up. Her drug of choice is heroin. Make it happen.
I frowned at the email. What did it all mean?
The second file was an audio recording. It was a conversation between Dean and his lawyer.
"Are you sure he did it?"
"Dean, I told you he did. I know the guy."
"Do you, Phil? How reliable can a dealer be? Her test came back clean. I looked in her room and the drugs weren't there."
“I’ve used him for many clients. He knows how much he’ll lose if he screws me. He said he gave her three doses of his best heroin."
As Dean sighed, I blinked back tears of pain. I couldn’t believe the extent of his cruelty, how rotten he was inside. It made me reconsider everything I thought about him, everything I wanted to do with him, everything I thought we could build.
I looked up and screamed, seeing Timmy’s face blue. I jumped on my feet, shattering the laptop on the floor with the movement.
I shouted for help before pressing the emergency button that was both calling Jeremy directly and let the driver know we needed the car now.
“Opal?" Jeremy asked.
“He’s barely breathing! He’s blue,” I gasped, grabbing Timmy.
“Do you remember what we said?” His voice was soothing. “We knew it might happen.”
“Yes,” I let out. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “I’m on my way.”
I rubbed Timmy’s chest with my knuckles as I went down the stairs. Mrs. James was waiting downstairs, the door opened, and I could see the driver was already waiting for us with the back door of the car already opened.
“I’ll call Mr. Beaumont!” she shouted as I rushed to the car.
I couldn’t care less about Dean Beaumont right at this moment.
We made it to the hospital in a record time. Had I had any minutes to spare, I would have thanked the driver properly, but Dean and a couple of nurses were already waiting for me by the entrance.
A nurse rushed forward to take Timmy. “Follow code blue protocol. Put him on the respirator and prep him in ward three. I’ll be right there.”
As I watched Timmy leave with the nurses, I started to shake. My rush of adrenaline was being replaced by the strongest pain and fear I’d ever experienced.
Standing in front of me, Jeremy rested his hands on my shoulders. He moved his head, trying to lock his eyes with mine.
“You did well, Opal,” he reassured me, squeezing my shoulders, trying to bring me back to the here and now.
“I-” I met his concerned eyes. “I thought he was dying.”
Jeremy shook his head. “He is not dying. It’s going to be fine. We knew this might happen, remember?”
I nodded, somehow numb.
He gave me a quick hug before nudging me inside and toward the elevators.
“Where’s Dean?” Jeremy asked.
“In Philly, but now on his way here, I presume.” I didn't want to think about Dean. I was feeling enough right now. I didn't need to add anger and betrayal to my fear.
“I’m going to get prepped now. Come with me. I’ll have one of the nurses take your blood and plasma."
We stepped inside the elevator. “It’s always better if it’s one of the parents who-”