55

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE.
Adele and Jamal fought almost all day, but still stayed together in that same ward. The nurses and doctors checked on Adele from time to time as per Jamal’s instructions and it was finally evening.
“Doctor, are you sure she is strong enough to go home? Don’t you think she should stay the night so she can be monitored?” Asked Jamal as the doctor took out the cannula from Adele’s hand. Her drip was finished and the other nurses had already helped her put on her own clothes
“What?” She asked aghast, giving Jamal a fierce gaze. “What did you just say?”
“I was talking to the doctor, not you, Adele.”
“But you were most definitely talking about me and that’s a cause for concern!” She scolded and the doctor looked at her in awe. He was petrified at the fact that she was raising her voice at Jamal.
He was her boss!
“Doctor, I asked you a question.” Jamal turned back to the doctor who swallowed hard before looking at him.
“Miss Mackenzie is still stable and like we said, she incurred no major injuries from the fall. She is safe to go home.” The doctor confirmed and Adele clicked her tongue at Jamal who chuckled and shook his head.
“Childish!” He murmured to Adele’s hearing.
“What did you just call me?” She agitated and Jamal looked up at her.
“Childish, Adele. You are acting very childish right now!”
“Excuse me! Aren’t you the one annoying me? Aren’t you the one trying to make me sleep in the hospital for nothing?” She asked, scolding at the top of her voice.
“Jeez Adele, why are you so edgy today? Is it your time of the month? Are you on your period? Is that why you’re nagging this much?” Jamal asked, totally frustrated and Adele’s face flushed red.
She quickly shut her mouth and turned her face away out of shame and embarrassment. Jamal had touched a very sensitive spot.
“Everything is fine now.” Said the doctor. “You can take her home.”
“Cool, thank you.”
“You are welcome, Mr. King.” The doctor said and exited the office. Jamal then looked at Adele whose gaze was still plastered on the wall on the other side of the room.
“Adele.” He called calmly, but Adele did not bulge. She kept looking away. “Adele.” He called yet again, but she still did not spare him a glance.
He shook his head and took out his phone from his pocket to call Sean. Once he dialed his number, he picked on the very first ring.
“I need you to clear the way from the hospital to my private parking lot right now. Make sure no one trespasses in the next twenty minutes. Is that understood?”
“Yes sir!” Answered Sean firmly and Jamal hung up and looked down at Adele, who was still not looking at him.
“Are we really doing this right now?” He asked, but no response came. “I guess we are, then.” He rose from the chair he was sitting on and pushed it aside. He then leaned closer to Adele on the hospital bed and scooped her into his arms.
“What the hell are you doing?” Adele retaliated as she tried to wiggle herself out of his arms, but Jamal was way stronger than her.
“Adele, right now I’m taking you to my private parking lot and we will pass through the various departments. I have ordered Sean to make sure no one uses the areas we are to pass through, but if you keep screaming and cause people to come out, you have yourself to blame when you see a photo of yourself in my arms on television tonight. So calm down and let me take you out of here without anyone noticing.” He warned and Adele immediately stayed calm in his arms. “That’s my baby.”
“I am not your baby!” She retorted.
“Yes you are!” Jamal insisted and she just rolled her eyes and stayed quiet as he carried her all the way to his private elevator that took them to his parking lot.
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“I’m hungry!” Cried Adele as Jamal drove out of the building.
“Should we go somewhere and have dinner?” Jamal asked concerned and she shook her head with a crying look on her face.
“No. I want to eat a home cooked meal.”
“I could cook something for you when we get home to your place.” He said looking at her, hoping she would say yes.
“I would love that, but I have no groceries at home, so that can’t happen.”
“We’ll stop at the grocery store and get something. just name what you want for dinner and we’ll buy the ingredients we need to prepare it.”
“Um…” She pondered with pursed lips. Jamal kept stealing brief glances at her and smiling as he drove on. “Well… I would love to have Chicken casserole for dinner.”
“That’s a good one there and what would you like for dessert?” Asked Jamal, elated.
“Well, anything of your choice. I chose dinner and you choose dessert .”
“Ahh…” he exclaimed and chuckled. “That’s fair enough. You’ll know when we get to the grocery store.”
“Alright then.” She agreed enthusiastically.
Jamal tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he tried to keep his emotions at bay. He was wildly elated at how things were going on between them at that moment.
Yes, they had fought almost the entire day, but there they were, going to cook and eat dinner together. That was something they never did when they were married.
That was a good sign.
He wanted to scream and show the whole world how excited he was that he and his wife were finally agreeing to do something together, but he could not do that in Adele’s presence so he had to bottle up all the happiness he felt. He only hoped that he wouldn’t explode.
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Grocery shopping and cooking went on just well. Adele enjoyed the meal Jamal cooked for her and she did not fail to compliment him. She had no idea Jamal could cook so well. Back at the mansion, when they still lived together, Jamal never went into the kitchen and when Adele asked why, he told her it was because he didn’t have time for that.
At that moment, Adele was sitting on her bed, reading a novel, while Jamal was taking a nap by her side. He had asked to take a quick nap before he went home because he would be working all night since he wasn’t at the office all day and Adele accepted.
As she read, she could hear Jamal making distressed noises in his sleep. She turned to look at him and a gasp escaped her lips when she saw how much he was sweating. His entire face was drenched in sweat, same with his arms and back. He had on just his singlet.
“I’m sorry!” Adele heard him whisper in his sleep. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you Adele, I’m sorry!” He whispered yet again and Adele paused in utter shock.
He was dreaming about her and there were tears spilling from his eyes that were closed.
Suddenly, he began tossing around, still crying and muttering the words “I’m sorry.” over and over again.
“Jamal!” Adele called as she gave him a gentle tab on his shoulder, but that did not wake him up. He kept tossing around, his hands and legs twisting the sheets. More tears spilled down from his eyes as he cried the words. “I’m sorry.”
Adele, who couldn’t take it anymore, shook his shoulders with all her might and shouted her name and he suddenly snapped his eyes open and sat upright. He was in a state of confusion as he sniffled tears and began searching around the room, looking for what Adele did not know.
“Jamal!” Adele called again and that’s when he turned to look at her.
“Adele.” He whispered, his voice still shaky and tears still streaming down his cheeks. “Please tell me you did not witness what just happened. Please tell me you did not!” He pleaded, looking straight into Adele’s eyes with the most worried look on his face.
Adele calmly shook her head in denial.
“You were having a nightmare, Jamal. You kept saying You were sorry and you called my name. You were thrashing around violently and your body was drenched in sweat. It was a horrible nightmare!” Adele explained with a shaky voice as she looked up at her husband who was crying.
“I feel… I feel like… I feel like this is something you’ve been experiencing for a long time. For how long have you been having this nightmare?” Adele asked, concerned and Jamal sniffled tears.
“Since the night I pushed you. Since the night I made you lose our child.”
“Oh Jamal!” Cried Adele, breathlessly as she brought her shaky hands up to Jamal’s sweaty face. “One year?”
“Yes. I have not been able to get the thought of me killing our child out of my mind, Adele. It haunts me every night and I’m used to it.”
“No… you…”
“Adele, please… Can I stay the night? I feel like I will have a good night’s sleep if I spend the night in your arms. Please just for today.” The distressed man pleaded in tears and Adele herself burst into tears as she nodded her head in agreement without any second thought.
What she had just seen Jamal experience was heartbreaking. She had no idea he had been having nightmares about her miscarriage.
“Come here.” She said stretching out her arms and Jamal snuggled into them like a baby and lay his head on her breast.
Adele chose to forget every hatred she had for him. She chose to forget every resentment just for that night so she can comfort him.
“I’m sorry, Adele. I’m sorry.” Jamal whispered in tears and they both cried in silence.
They both cried for the child they had failed to bring into the world.