Page 39 of Treasured
We finished our dinners at the kitchen counter. I sat on a stool, and Dwayne had found his office chair, which was too short for the counter, but he sat across from us anyway.
I put my fork down and hugged my son in my lap. The next day, I would see what he had in the garage and direct the setup.
It was the least I could do. The real truth was that if he hadn’t shown up in my life, I would be dead. Arthur had dismantled everything I thought about myself, and the girl I was beside him wasn’t anyone I was proud to be.
If not for Dwayne, my son would be dead too.
I’d thought the past year of being on my own, with Bruce, was me learning to be strong, but now, that seemed to be another lie I’d told myself.
Dependence ate at my skin like I had a bee sting that I needed to soothe, fast. I put my son down so he could play with some of the toys and took our empty plates to wash. As I passed Dwayne, his phone rang again. I handed it to him. “Dwayne, your phone.”
“Thanks.” He took it from me and mouthed, “Security.”
I used the dish soap and cleaned up, which was easy for takeout, as Dwayne jumped out of his chair and asked, “What the fuck? Can I talk to him?”
He paced, and his eyes were wide when he stared at me and asked into his phone, “He’s where?”
I had goose bumps, but I finished the dishes and turned off the water.
“What the… fine. I’ll tell Mary.”
My stomach twisted as he hung up the phone. I gripped the edge of the counter like that might hold me, and I prayed this wouldn’t be bad as I asked, “What happened?”
Dwayne brushed my arm and shoulder. “Your brother is in the hospital.”
Tears streamed down my face, and I shook. Dwayne hugged me closer and said, “Wanda and Arthur—“
“This is my fault.” I shook my head. “I need to talk to Joseph.”
Dwayne backed up, and I grabbed my phone from my back pocket. I opened my contacts and he was at the top, but I accidentally hit the video call.
My heart raced and I wanted to scream. But I held still because Bruce laughed at a mirror he held like it was the funniest thing he’d ever seen, and I never wanted his childhood to resemble my own.
My brother answered, and his face was bruised and black and his lip swollen. “Mary.”
Dwayne glanced over my shoulder, and for a second, I closed my eyes. He looked like I had after giving birth. I absolutely didn’t deserve Dwayne now, but I focused on my brother and said, “You look bad.”
Joseph had a hospital gown on and sat up in his room. “I’ll be fine. They fucked up my launch, but everything will work out. Stay safe, sis.”
This was on me. I had caused this because I believed the wrong guy. My skin crawled. “I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, and this is not your fault.”
Once again, he was trying to make me feel better. I ignored how my chest caved in. “If I—”
“No. Stop. Protect Bruce and don’t blame yourself. This is on me.”
Damn, he knew me, but like when we were little, he took the blame for me so he would be the one punched. Nothing had changed. I sniffled and said, “It is not. You never picked the wrong girl…”
“Let me talk to Dwayne,” he said.
I wiped my eyes and handed him the phone. I rocked on my feet and wished I was steady and smarter. I heard my brother say, “Dwayne, make sure she’s safe. I didn’t tell anyone where she went, but I trusted you with my sister. Don’t make me hate you.”
“She and Bruce are safe,” Dwayne said and pressed his hand to the small of my back.
Yet if I stayed there, I would put him in danger. If I left, I would put Bruce in danger. My heart felt like it was punctured and bleeding out, so I said goodbye to let Joseph get better. Then I let Dwayne hug me.
His strong arms around me made me feel safe and wanted. I pulled back and blinked back tears when I said, “This is my fault.”
