Page 15 of His to Love
“It’s not good, my friend. The doctor says she’s got class three congestive heart failure. No one wants her to get to class four, as that would mean she’d have trouble breathing even when sitting or lying down. For now, she only has issues when she’s up doing things for too long of a time.”
“What are they doing for her?”
“Giving her medications to see which ones will work best for her. The main thing is eliminating stress. And let me tell you, that is the hardest thing to do. Life has a way of making stressful situations that cannot be avoided.” He took another drink, his hand shaking as he pulled the glass to his mouth.
“Well, at least Alexa won’t be giving your mother any stress since she’s on her way back here. So, I’m dying to know why the hell she went all the way to California and why she thought she had to lie to me about it.” I leaned over, picking up my beer off the coffee table as I waited for him to fill me in on.
His chest rose and fell as the lines in his forehead deepened. “Well, it seems that she and that little prick did have a relationship.”
“I knew it.” My first instincts were spot on. “So, she went to see him. But why didn’t she think she could tell me about that? I would’ve given her the time off to do that. She does have vacation time. Do you think she just didn’t understand that?”
Shaking his head slowly, he went on, “I think her head was a mess when she left.”
“Why?” I asked, perplexed. “Was he breaking up with her or something?”
“No.” He took another drink then said, “She told me that they hadn’t communicated at all since he left. See, he left without telling her goodbye or giving her his number.”
“So, she snooped around the deacon’s house and found his address?” I didn’t think that sounded like her at all.
“She told me she found his address and phone number in the desk in the foyer.” He took another drink, his lips forming a thin line as anger filled his eyes. “You see, she had to find him. She felt she had to give him the opportunity to do what’s right.”
“What’s right?” I knew of only one thing that went along with a term like that. “Did she and he? Did they? Oh, shit!”
Nodding, he agreed, “Oh shit, indeed. Alexa told me that Alejandro hit on her hard and heavy for five months. He kept telling her he wouldn’t go back to California because he cared for her and wanted her. Finally, she gave into the constant pressure. They hooked up for about a week, then one morning she went to work and when she came back, he was gone. His parents told her that he’d called them at work and asked if they could give him a ride to the airport; he was ready to return to school.”
With her sheltered upbringing, it wasn’t hard to guess that she hadn’t used protection. “She’s pregnant.”
“That, she is. She took a pregnancy test right after leaving work sick that day. Once she had the positive test, she became desperate to get to the father to seek his help.” Gulping down more of the amber liquor, he sucked in his breath then said, “That bastard doesn’t want anything to do with her or the baby. And she said he’s not who she thought he was anyway. He’s living with some girl in Los Angeles. She wouldn’t want him to be in the child’s life anyway. He’s a horrible person.”
I was glad to hear that she wasn’t going to try to hang onto the guy just because of the pregnancy. “I don’t want you to worry, Luci. She’s got a great job and she can stay here while I find her a place of her own. I’ll make sure she can afford the rent on her salary. And she’s got medical insurance too. Plus, we’ve got a small daycare center at the resort that’s free for both guests and the staff. Alexa will be fine.”
His dark eyes slowly rose to meet mine. “Yes, I know she will be fine, my friend. It’s my mother who I’m worried about. If she finds out that her little angel—her miracle—has not only had sex out of wedlock, but is also about to become an unwed mother, it will kill her. She won’t live to see the face of her grandchild.”
I hadn’t thought of that.“Damn, Luci. That’s a terrifying thought.”
“Extremely. And that is why I am going to ask you to do something that I never thought I would have to. Not in a million years did I see this coming.”
I had no idea what more I could do for him or Alexa. But he was one of my oldest and best friends. “Just ask, Luciano.”
“Will you marry my sister, Patton?”
