It’s been six weeks since Cameron tried to take my son from me.
It’s been six weeks since I lost all faith in humanity.
I resigned from my internship, and Dr. Jameson stepped in and offered me a placement with him. He knows the full, sordid story.
I hardly see Cameron at work now. We are civil and share custody with Owen. Cameron dropped the court proceedings, but I still have to attend drug counselling once a week from the court orders.
Owen is blossoming before my eyes and he loves his father with all of his heart.
Cameron is good for him. I have no doubt in my mind about that.
Whereas once before I was jealous and nervous around Cameron… now I only have contempt for him.
The gentle, funny man I was in love with has been replaced by the power hungry millionaire he’s shown me to be.
The Stanton family is a tight circle. If you’re on the inside, they’re loyal to each other to the death. But they’re a nightmare if they declare war against you.
Sadly, money wins all battles.
I’m scared for my son-scared for the man he is going to turn into.
He will be one of them, I can already see it. Cameron changed his name legally to Stanton a month ago and he added his name as Owen’s father on his birth certificate.
He is now Owen Stanton with a hefty trust fund and a rich daddy.
I say that like I despise it, and I don’t. I don’t mean to be negative. All those years when I didn’t know who Owen’s father was, I just dreamed of a man who would protect him with all of his heart-who would love him as much as I do.
And he does. Cameron loves Owen. It’s undeniable. The bond they share is natural and strong. It’s everything I ever hoped for.
Natasha has been wonderful and I’ve seen her at least once a week since everything happened. We seem to have formed a friendship out of all of this.
She understands my point of view, but she also understands Cameron’s. I get it, I really do. All hell broke loose when she found out what Cameron had done. I can’t help but wish that she could have talked sense into Cameron before he ruined everything between us.
Part of me is grateful that I know Cameron will fight for what he thinks is best for Owen.
My life has become easier. I don’t work at the club anymore. I have three days where I’m childless every week. I joined a gym and I’m reading books for fun again.
I should be happy. My rent is paid. My son is content.
But I feel like an empty vessel-like my heart has been ripped out and put into the blender on high speed.
I don’t want to feel like this anymore. I don’t want to hate him. I just want to stop hurting over what he did.
I need to get over it. It’s all in the past.
Just like my love for him.
It’s midnight and I am sitting up alone watching a rerun of Friends. Joey can always make me laugh, no matter what.
Jenna has started quite the love affair with her new friend, and she stays over there more times than she stays with me now. I’m happy for her. She deserves someone nice, and he is beautiful.
I check my phone and blow out a deflated breath.
No messages.
I stand up, turn the television off, and head up to bed.
Tomorrow I will feel better. I know I will. Mornings always seem so much brighter.
Sadly, I know that at this time tomorrow night I will feel exactly the same as I do now.
Empty and alone.
Cameron
The phone rings in the middle of the night and I get up to answer it. I knew this call was coming.
“Hello.” I sigh.
“Hello, Dr. Stanton. This is Maria.”
I rub my eyes as I try to focus. “Hello, Maria.” Maria is the head nurse from the cardiology wing.
“Gloria is in her last stages, sir. I know you wanted to be told when it got to this point.”
“I did,” I reply sadly. “I’m going to come in.”
“See you soon.”
I hang up, get dressed, and arrive at the hospital half an hour later. It’s three in the morning and it’s cold.
It’s always sad saying goodbye to a patient, but tonight it seems especially lonely.
With no children, and her husband and family all deceased, Gloria is totally alone.
She has been in hospital for fourteen weeks without a single visitor.
I can’t imagine not having family around me when it all ends. I park my car and take the elevator
with a heavy heart. Gloria knows she’s dying. She will know that I’m coming to say goodbye.
I walk up the hall toward her room and approach the door with a frown on my face when I see someone else in the room.
Ashley is with her, and I stop and stand by the door for a moment as I listen to them talk.
“I don’t want to die alone,” Gloria whispers.
“You won’t.” Ashley smiles as she leans over her and brushes the hair back from her face. “I won’t leave you. I will stay until the end.”
Gloria’s sad eyes hold Ashley’s. “Do you promise?” she whispers.
Ashley smiles and kisses the back of Gloria’s hand. “I promise.”
I frown at the floor as I listen.
“You will get to see your husband soon, Gloria,” Ashley whispers.
Gloria smiles. “How wonderful.” Her face falls. “It’s been twenty-two years since I’ve seen him.”
“What was he like? Tell me about him,” Ashley encourages, genuinely intrigued.
“He was the crankiest bastard that ever drew breath.”
I smile as I listen.
“But I loved him,” she whispers. “From the day I met him when I was fifteen, I loved him with all of my heart.”
“You are so blessed to have found your one,” Ashley says through a soft sigh, and I have to really listen to hear her gentle voice.
“You will find yours,” Gloria tells her.
There is a pause. “I already found him.”
“You did? This is great news,” Gloria whispers.
“Not really, Gloria. My story didn’t turn out so well. I’m afraid I won’t get my happy ending.”
I swallow as I listen. Is she talking about me?
“Why not?” Gloria asks.
I frown as I listen.
“He didn’t love me like I loved him.” She pauses. “It’s okay. I will get my happy ending with someone. It just won’t be with my one.”
My stomach drops. She feels how I feel. Regret hangs heavily in my heart over what I have done to us.
“There are lots of handsome men out there, Ashley.”
Ashley giggles. “I know. I’m going to find one really soon. I may even go on a date.”
“You are?” Gloria gasps. “Oh, I wish I would be here to hear about it.”
There is a pause and I peer around the corner to see Ashley softly pushing the hair back from Gloria’s face as she stares down at her lovingly. “I’m so happy to have met you, Gloria,” she whispers. “You have brightened my days here.”
I get a lump in my throat and I close my eyes.
“Will you read to me, dear?” Gloria whispers.
“I would be honored.”
“Can you read my favorite part?”
“Of course.”
I steel myself and walk into the room. Gloria’s eyes light up.
“Ah.” I smile as I take her hand in mine. “My two favorite girls here together. I’m a lucky man tonight.”
Ashley looks up from her book, and for the first time in a long time, I see relief in her eyes when she sees me.
I pick up Gloria’s hand and I kiss the back of it as I smile down at her. My gaze travels over to my beautiful Ashley sitting with the book in her hand. I pull up a chair on the other side of the bed and hold Gloria’s hand, listening to the words as Ashley reads through unshed tears.
After a short pause, Darcy added. “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still the same as they were last April, tell me at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me forever.
I love you, most ardently.”
Ashley finishes reading and we both glance up.
Gloria has gone in silence.
“Rest in peace, angel,” I whisper.
Ashley drops her head and silently weeps.
Death is so hard.