Love In Strange Places (18 page)

He smacked her again, she cried out again, making him moan. He wouldn’t last much longer. Watching his cock disappear into her was taking him over the edge. He felt her about to come and he pumped up into her. As he felt her contract around him, he pulled her back down. Making sure not to hurt her, he thrust up into her until he came so hard he thought he might black out.

Minutes passed. He held on tight, not wanting to let her go and then he realized her body was limp. “
Sherry?”

He slid out from under her and stroked her hair away from her face. She had fallen asleep. He smiled, kissing her forehead. He gently placed her on her side
. Then he wrapped his arm around her and for the first time in months, he fell asleep peacefully.

Andrew had his hands wrapped around her stomach. She’d slept so well in his arms. She’d missed that.

“Good morning, beautiful.” He kissed her cheek.

“Good morning.” Sherry pushed herself up, grabbing the sheet to cover her body. Slipping off the bed, she went to the bathroom and did her morning ritual. She stepped out of the bathroom in a fluffy, pink robe. “You need to go home.” She said, leaning on her dresser.

He sat in her bed and watched her in disbelief. “I forgot. Just for one night.” He picked up his clothes and
went in to the bathroom.

Damn he still affected her even after what he’d done.

He walked out of the bathroom and put on his shoes. His hair was a mess, but he still looked sexy. “Sherry, give me another chance.”

She crossed her arms over her belly and glared at him. “Andrew, last night was a mistake. My hormones got the best of me.”

“It wasn’t a mistake to me.” He stood in front of her.

“Remember, all we had between us was good sex. Isn’t that what you told me? I’m your one regret.”

“Andrew we’re done.” She went into the bathroom and locked it.

The doorbell rang. He
marched to her front door and swung it open.

There was a tall African-American man standing in front of him, with a dumb look on his face.

“How can I help you?” Andrew asked him.

“I’m here to see
Sherry.”

Andrew stared him down. “About?”

The guy smirked at him.

He wanted to sucker-punch the smirk off the man’s face.

“Dewayne, come on in.”

He passed Andrew and entered.

Andrew turn and was caught by surprised at how beautiful she looked in the white sundress. “I need to talk to you.” Andrew glared at Sherry.

“Andrew, I’m done talking.”

He marched up to her and grabbed her arm. “Sherry.”

“Dude, let her go.” Dewayne rushed to her defense.

Andrew shot daggers at him. “This is none of your concern.”

“It is, if you’re manhandling her.”

He released her. “I’m sorry, baby, I didn’t mean to.” He observed her arm, making sure he hadn’t hurt her.

“It’s okay, Dewayne. Andrew was just leaving.” She wobbled to the door and opened it wide. “Bye!”

Andrew grabbed his suit jacket, walked out, and slammed her door shut.

“Who was that?” Dewayne asked.

“My ex-husband.” She wobbled away from the door.

Dewayne followed her. “You were married to him?”

“What you mean?”

“He’s white. I didn’t know you were into white men, that’s all.”

“I’m into anyone who treats me right, but I finally realized all men are the same, no matter the race.”

“What was he doing here? Please tell me you’re not thinking of taking him back. He’s abusive.”

She turned, putting her arms over her chest. “Andrew has never been abusive to me.”

“That’s not what I just witnessed.” He moved and caressed her arm. “Are you going back with him?”

“No.” She grabbed her purse. “And I’m not looking for a replacement.”

He took her hand in his. “I’ll wait as long as I have to.”

Her eyebrow arched. “What are you saying?”

“I didn’t fight for our relationship ten years ago, and I regret that choice.” Dewayne caressed her face. “I tried to move on, but I never got over you.”

“Dewayne, I can’t do this.” She moved away from his touch. “I still love my ex-husband, and I would never string you along.” She opened the door.

“You’re still in love with him, after how he treated you?”

“Believe me, I wish I could just shut off my feelings, but I can’t,” she sighed. “He divorced me.”

He opened her front door, and kissed her cheek. “I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

Sherry
entered the restaurant pissed off. She’d called Dean almost every day since Andrew had walked out on her, wanting to confront his sorry ass, but his cell always went straight to voicemail. Then, he’d left a message with her assistant. She was done with his threats. If he wanted to expose her, then let him.

His back was turned to her. She thought of turning around and leaving, but she needed to end this. He’d cost h
er the only man she’d ever loved. It wasn’t his entire fault, she could’ve told Andrew.

She marched up and sat in the booth across from him. Her stomach touched the edge of the table.

“Damn, girl. You’re huge. And late.”

“Now I understand why you didn’t want to settle down with me.” She smirked.

“What are you talking about?”

“I guess you didn’t want to commit bigamy.” He stared at her, dumbfounded. “I know about your wife and kids. I’m so thankful I didn’t love you.”

“Whatever. You know you loved me.”

She laughed. “I’m sorry to tell you, but I never loved you. I was feeling sorry for myself, and I was willing to settle for your sorry ass.”

“Watch your mouth.”

She slammed her fist on the table. “No one tells me what to do. Your games are coming to an end.”

His eyebrows met in anger. “Give me my money.”

“You’re money!”
She slipped him the envelope.

He opened it and got angry. “There’s nothing in here.”

“I’m done with your blackmail.” She pushed herself up.

He stood too. “If you don’t pay up, everybody will see your video.”

“Go ahead, Dean! I don’t care anymore.” She was about to turn until he yelled.

“Have you heard of Mr. Shin?”

She glared at him.

“I can see you have. I did some homework on your husband and guess what I found out? He has money, he’s not rich, but he has money, and enemies. People who do not like the way he does business.” He moved closer to her. “And I found out Mr. Shin will pay a lot of money to blackmail or humiliate him. I wonder how much money he would offer me for a sex tape of his wife.”

“Dean, I got a divorce.”

He looked down at her ring finger. “Mr. Shin doesn’t know that. Look, if you don’t pay up, I’ll be handing this over to him.”

“I’m tired of keeping this secret from Andrew. I’m going to tell him,” Sherry went to walk away and Dean grabbed her hand. She pulled away. Losing her footing, she fell to the floor.

He rushed to her aid, offering to help her up. “
Sherry, are you okay?”

“Don’t touch me.” The hostess, waitress and other customers in the restaurant
rushed to help her up.

The manager ran over. “Ma’am, are you okay?
Do you need me to call 911?”

She grabbed her stomach and took a deep breath. “I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?” he asked again. “Are you willing to have a seat, and fill out an accident report. Just in case something happens.”

“Yes
.” She sat, thinking the babies were okay.

The manager went toward the back to get the supporting documents.

“Sherry, I would never hurt you or your baby.” Dean sounded rattled, though he did look directly into her eyes. “Don’t tell your husband.” He ran out of the restaurant.

Sherry
didn’t feel anything wrong as she filled out the papers requested by the manager. After she was done, she drove to her job. When she got out of the car, the babies kicked, practically punching her. She placed her hands on her stomach as she walked into the building. “I love you guys.”

She strolled into her office and sat behind her desk. Once there, she put her face in her hands.
I fell hard
.

Someone knocked on her door. “Come in.”

Dewayne slowly opened her door and entered. “Are you okay?”

“Why do you ask?”

“When you came into the building I called you, but you didn’t hear me. You must have been daydreaming.” He moved closer.

The sharp pain startled
Sherry, making her grip the edge of the desk. She took a deep breath, thinking the pain would go away, but it only got worse.

“What’s going on?” Dewayne asked.

“I need to go to the hospital,” she said, between what she guessed were contractions.

Dewayne ran behind her desk and helped her to stand. “Come on.”

It had been three weeks since Andrew last saw
Sherry. He wondered if she’d moved on with that Dewayne guy. Then he shook the thought out of his head.

He was watching a basketball game on TV when all of a sudden he got a chill. Something was wrong—he could feel it—and then the phone rang.

“Andrew, this is Dewayne.”

“Yes?” he said, putting an edge in his voice.

“Sherry’s at Mercy Hospital.”

He jumped out of his bed. “What?”

“She’s in labor.”

He couldn’t breathe. “How can she be in labor? It’s too early.”

“I know. They’re going to perform an emergency C-section.”

Andrew was already dressed and on his way down the steps. “Is she okay?”

“No. She is nervous. You need to get here soon.”

“I’m on my way.” He raced for his car. “Thanks for calling.”

“I know if I was the baby’s father I would want to know.”

Andrew broke all the speed limits and made it to the hospital in record time. He parked in front of the emergency room and ran into the hospital and up to the nurses’ station.

“Where’s Sherry Jones? Or Johnston?”

“
And who are you, sir.” The oldest nurse asked.

“I’m her husband, she’s in labor
.” He said trying to catch his breath.

One of the nurses guided him and he followed. She opened the curtain.
Sherry was crying, holding her stomach. Dewayne was holding her hand.

“
Sherry!” He rushed to stand next to her.

Dewayne released her hand, nodded at Andrew, and left quietly.

“Sweetie, what happened?” He grabbed her hand.

“I fell earlier.”

“Where?”

“I was out for lunch.”

“Baby, why didn’t you call me?”

“I thought it was a false alarm
….” She turned her head away. “And then I thought you’d hate me for what happened.”

He turned her head back so she could look at him. “I could never hate you.” She cried softly. “Do you want me to call Shannon, Tiffany, or your mom?”

“Please don’t,” she said between sobs.

Another contraction took hold and she cried out. He couldn’t see her like this.

“Andrew, it’s too soon. They might not survive.” She held the rails of the bed.

“They…?”

“I’m having twins.” She moved her hands from the rails to her stomach.

“Twins?” He took a deep breath. “When did you find out?”

Her body shook. “The day you left me. I told you I had some news, but you wouldn’t let me tell you.”

His eyes started to water. “I’m sorry…”

She took a deep breath.

“Ouch!” She yelled and the doctor came in.

“We’re going to prepare you for the C-section. We can’t wait any longer. The babies are in distress.”

“I need to be there.”

“Sir, follow the nurse and get prepped.”

They placed Sherry in the recovery room. She had two tiny babies: a girl and a boy. The baby girl weighed three pounds, six ounces and the baby boy weighed four pounds, nine ounces.

Andrew wiped his tears away as he watched his baby girl fight for her life. She had tubes going everywhere in her tiny body. She was hooked up to breathing machines and her eyes were covered. He could barely see her face. She was so tiny. He could pick her up in the palm of his hand and still have room.