Page 129 of Forgotten Desires

I exhale, hating that I’m what caused it. “We were discussing something, I kept trying to calm her down, but she said she had to go to the bathroom, then I saw her go down. I don’t know. She’s been recovering okay, and said she was off yesterday and today, but the doctor said it was normal.”

I can hear shuffling around behind him. “Is she alert?”

“No, she’s unconscious, I got here as soon as I could. They’re working on her now.” I look to Cliff and he gives me a thumbs up. “The helicopter is on its way to your farm. I’ll keep you informed.”

“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

I hang up and Cliff hands me a bottle of water. “I called Ford as well. He’s in the office and is also on his way here now.”

“I can’t lose her,” I tell him. Needing to say the words aloud.

“She’s young and healthy. Plus, you saw it and reacted quickly, keeping her from any further issues. Just let the doctors work and keep faith alive.”

Dr. Carr comes running down the hallway and pushes into her room. It’s been no more than ten minutes, but I’m losing my mind. People move in and out of her room and then the first doctor comes out.

“Your wife’s heart rate was very high, we’ve been able to stabilize it, however there are some other issues that we’re working to address. We’re taking her down for a CT scan and from there, we’ll determine the possible cause. I’m sorry I can’t give you more information, but we’re doing everything we can.”

“Is she awake?” I ask quickly.

“Not at this time.”

“But she’s alive?” My voice cracks.

“Yes, her heart rate is back in a normal range and she’s breathing on her own. Both of those are good signs. We’ll update you as soon as we know more.”

He leaves and I see her door open, and then she’s wheeled past me and it’s as though my heart is being ripped from my chest.

Cliff places a hand on my back, leading me to the waiting room. I sit, my head in my hands, trying to keep from falling apart.

Kimberly enters the room, her blond hair swaying as she rushes in. “Crew! Is she okay?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

“Oh, God.”

I tell my sister the story and she holds my hand, squeezing as she listens.

“What were you discussing?”

I’m not sure I want to tell her, but at the same time, I trust my sister with my life. “Brynlee and I have a complicated relationship, and someone sold our story.”

Her eyes widen. “Sold what story?”

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is someone betrayed us. Neither of us told anyone, so someone in my inner circle found out and sold it to a reporter at Metro NY. It’s not even some trashy paper that I can laugh off. The things they know, it’s all true, and she thinks I did this to end our marriage.”

My sister rears back. “I’m sorry, what? Why the hell would you . . .?”

“I didn’t. I didn’t tell anyone. It’s not their business and I love her. Take apart all the other reasons, I don’t want our marriage to end. I want her for the rest of my life.”

I get to my feet, feeling anxious. Kimberly asks, “Did you tell her that?”

“No,” I confess. “Not in so many words. I hurt her, Kimberly. I broke her heart years ago and while we’ve found a way to mend things, there’s an underlying mistrust that this just brought back up.”

My sister stands and comes to nudge me with her elbow. “You are one of the smartest and most successful men in the world. You make some of the most risky and brilliant decisions I’ve ever seen, you’re also a fucking idiot.”

“Excuse me?”

“Brynlee, Layla, and life—they’re not a business. You can’t run things or make them go your way. Dad and Grandpa always tried to make us think it was that way. That we could just decide to be a certain thing and it happened. Look at how that model of thinking worked out. Grandpa died miserable, Dad and Mom can barely stand to be in the same room, and you were forced to marry Digger, and that went to shit. If you love Brynlee like I think you do, then you have to fight. Not just any fight, but one that matters. Every day, you have to give her a reason to believe you’ll go to war for her.”

---