Page 65 of She's Mine

“It’s still early days, but everything seems normal so far. The doctors think he’s going to make it,” I replied.

“Can we see him?” Alyssa asked.

I hadn’t seen my daughter properly since I’d taken her to the hospital for her first prenatal appointment. She looked different – more mature, somehow. She was still the beautiful young woman she’d always been and looked so much like her mother it was uncanny. But her clothing was more subdued. Not in a way that made her look depressed or anything. Instead, she looked classy and put together. I liked it.

“Soon, hopefully. There’s something I need to do first,” I said, knowing the doctors still needed a little more time with Joseph before he was allowed visitors.

And there was something I needed to put right.

Leaving my bewildered wife and daughter outside Joey’s room, I made my way to the part of the hospital where David was recovering from surgery. Just like I’d hoped, Jeffrey was there with him, along with Jeffrey’s wife Hillary, and David’s mother.

“Can I have a quick word, Jeffrey?” I asked.

My best friend rose from the seat by David’s bed and slipped out of the room to speak with me.

“I need you to be straight with me about David Gordon. What type of man is he?”

“Is this because he and Alyssa are having a child together?” Jeffrey asked.

“Of course. You’re his boss. You know what type of person he is. Do I have anything to be worried about?”

Jeffrey thought for a moment, and then said, “I don’t have children of my own, so I can’t speak from experience. But if I had a daughter, I’d beoverjoyedif she were dating a man like David. I consider him the closest thing I have to a son. Why do you think I assigned him to protect Alyssa in the first place? I knew he’d do the right thing.”

My eyes narrowed for a moment. “Was taking her to bed the right thing?”

Jeffrey sighed. “Probably not, no. But he genuinely loves your daughter, and I know he wouldn’t doanythingto hurt her. They’re just two people who fell in love. You can’t hold that against them. Surely you know better than most that life is too short for grudges.”

“I do. Indeed, I do,” I replied. Then, unable to keep the good news to myself, I added, “Joseph is awake.”

“Oh my God! When did this happen?”

“Just now. I came to see him, and he woke up. The doctors are still with him, but they seem confident he’ll make a full recovery. Pamela and Alyssa are here, waiting to see him.”

“That’s wonderful news. I’m so happy for you, Charles. Please, let me know when Hillary and I can visit him.”

“I will. Of course. And thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“What are best friends for?” Jeffrey replied, pulling me into an embrace.

30

DAVID

“Iwonder what they’re talking about,” Mom said, as we all watched the door.

It had been about ten minutes since Charles Blythe had arrived at my room, wanting to speak with Jeffrey.

I’d been in hospital for about a week now, recovering from the surgery to remove the bullet in my leg. According to Doctor Khan, I was healing as I should be, and the infection had almost cleared my body. He was confident I’d be able to go home soon.

Mom spent every minute she could with me, and Jeffrey and Hillary visited as often as their schedules would allow. Even my colleagues from J&J Security had visited, including the receptionist Deborah, who’d bought me a huge bottle of Scotch for when I was all better.

It was wonderful to have the support of my friends and family as I recovered, but one person was desperately lacking from my life.

Alyssa.

I missed her terribly, like a part of me had been taken away. I’d tried calling, and contacting her online, but it seemed Charles had restricted all his daughter’s forms of communication. I even tried calling her friends, Brittany and Courtney, but neither of them had been allowed to speak with Alyssa, either.

When I was discharged from hospital, I fully intended to confront Charles Blythe, and make sure he knew, in no uncertain terms, that nothing and no one would come between me and Alyssa.

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