Fifteen. Farm life☆~☆~☆~ ♡
1797 Words
Antonio
I woke in the morning to the sound of chickens clucking. The sun poked through the window. I stretched, then touched my heart monitor, still there.
I frowned. I knew I could only stay with Delilah for a few days. I wanted her so badly.
I would think of ways to love her without making my heart go thumpity thump. I frowned thinking about her body.
"Impossible!"
Mmm..the smell of bacon. I got up and put on my t- shirt and slacks. My feet were bare. Georgia greeted me with a smile. She gestured to a chair.
"Please sit. Eat." I smiled and nodded. "Where's Delilah this fine morning?"
She grinned. "Chores." I approached momma and kissed her cheek. "You are very kind to feed a weak man like me. I feel my knees give out just seeing your beauty."
Georgia raised a brow.
"Smooth!" But she liked him even more now.
I grinned, "I really did think you were sisters. You are very similar."
She shook her head. "Eggs, Bacon?"
I grimaced. " I am on a heart diet, I cannot have any. Do you have any fruit, whole grain toast?"
Georgia apologized. "I didn't know, what happened to you?"
She popped some toast into the toaster and cut up an apple.
I smiled. "Bella, uh Delilah saved my life. I had a heart attack. Died right at her feet. She did CPR. It was touch and go for a moment."
Delilah walked in then.
" Antonio, good morning!"
I stood up, wiping milk off of my face. I swept her up in a huge hug. Then remembering the baby I stopped and touched her belly. "Oh, sorry baby."
Delilah said. "Mother, turn around please." Her mother did so. Delilah kissed me deeply and pressed her body into mine. Georgia blushed seeing our reflection in the kitchen window.
I pulled back. "Bella, you smell funny." I held my nose.
She laughed. "Eude de Chicken coop cologne." I shook my head and pinched my nose.
"Oh, nice,"I said dryly.
She turned and left to go shower. "Be right back."
I laughed, I was thinking about her in the shower now and licked some jelly off of my finger.
I excused myself.
Georgia went outside to tend to the cows, thinking about Delilah bringing me back to life, she smiled with pride.
I slipped into the bathroom. "Bella, my hands, I need to wash them. They are all sticky." She opened the shower curtain. She pulled me toward her.
"Better take off those clothes then and get in here with me, I will wash you."
I agreed and quickly removed my shirt, slacks and briefs. I climbed in. Delilah was wet and soapy. "Tony wash my back please."
I started there but ended up against her, holding her from behind. I made slow, sweet love to her, taking care to not get too excited. The warm water seemed to soothe the way for us. She kissed me as I fondled her. She held me and looked at my eyes."Are you sure?"
I smiled, water cascading down my wet body.
"I might die if you don't touch me Bella." I turned off the water and dried her off.
Stepping out, she placed a towel around me. We snuck out of the bathroom and went to my bed. It squeeked as we lay down.
Everytime I moved in her the bed squeeked more, until it squeeked in a steady rhythm.
Delilah was lost in my sensual touch. I groaned and released inside her.
I put my head on her shoulder and bit her, gently holding her flesh in my teeth.
"You taste so good, no more chicken smell."
I caught my breath and waited for her to respond.
She was crying." Bella," I sat up.
I worried that I had hurt her or the baby.
She smiled. "Tony, I'm pregnant."
I frowned. "I know, did I hurt the baby, or you?"
She shushed me, placing her finger over my lips. "No I mean I am emotional. That was amazing, you are... everything. I never had a man take such care of me. Pay so much attention to my needs. I never had that with....him. It was only about his needs and desires. I didn't know, I never imagined it could be like this."
She blushed at her own vulnerability, half expecting me to make fun of her for being silly.
I felt angry. I frowned and cussed in Italian, then sat up and put my hands in my hair, facing away from her.
Delilah thought I was mad at her. She moved to touch me.
"I need to calm down. When I think of the way that dummy treated you. I get so mad. How could he be so blind, I just don't understand at all. You Delilah, you are everything. You are very special. No woman ever made me feel the way you have."
I turned and let my knees sink to the floor as I leaned on the bed and held her hand.
"Bella, never...promise me now?" She nodded. "Never for one moment think that your marraige failing was your fault. That man is a narcissistic bastard who deserves to get a venereal disease and die from it."
Delilah smiled. "The clap?"
I nodded and clapped. She grinned.
"Tony, being with you is so different. If you ever grow tired of me, or find someone else, promise me now that you will be honest with me. Never lie to me. I couldn't take that heart break."
I shook my head.
"I could never do that to you my Bella. You're the only girl that Maria Bella likes. She told me so in a dream, I dreamed about us on our wedding day."
Delilah sat up and said." We got married? You see us getting married?"
I told her to be quiet. "I need to ask your mother first. Be patient my love."
Delilah agreed. She felt butterflies in her stomach then realized it was the baby.
I saw her hand go to the baby. I put out out my hand. She nodded and placed it over her. I pressed down. The baby moved under my hand. I smiled. "She likes me!" Delilah corrected him. "Or he."
Georgia returned to the house. She didn't hear anything and went to the living room to have a cup of coffee and read the paper.
She enjoyed the quietness of her farm, imagining a small child running around, calling her grandma. Life was sweet. Very sweet on the farm.
***********
Lillianne
I was playing hard to get. Ignoring his calls. I didn't want him to think I was easy.
After a whole day of missed texts I finally sent him a smiley face imoge. He immediately called me. "Why are you ignoring me?" asked Ronald.
I smiled. He was annoyed.
"Listen, I am not ignoring you baby, just busy as hell."
" Let's get together tonight, my place." Ronald was dumb. I agreed and hung up smiling. All men are so dumb, I thought. I put on some make up and did my hair.
I was seeing Brandon in a few hours for lunch. I had a virtual Only fans scheduled with one of my biggest tippers right now. I used an online platform for explicit content.
Turning on my halo light, I put on a negligee as my computer booted up.
He was waiting.
"Hey, Jack. Are you ready for a little Lilli time. I took one shoulder strap off. He sent me a nice tip. My computer binged. $1,000. I smiled.
"That was very generous Jack. Do you want to see more?" He groaned. "Yes mistress Lilli." .....
*********
Brandon
I was working on a case with my father Powell. I wondered if I should cancel with Lillianne.
I tried to call her. She didn't answer. She must be on her way. Lilli showed up about 20 minutes later.
She was dressed like a teenager. Her hair was up in a high pony tail. She had acid wash jeans and a tight pink t- shirt that showed off all angles of her ample breasts.
Powell took one look at her and said, "Who's this little vixen belong to?" She smiled brightly and put out her hand. Her nails were hot pink.
"I guess you could say, Brandon."
I cleared my throat and faced my father. "Lilli and I are dating dad."
Powell was angry at me now and didn't try to disguise it.
"Excuse me Lilli? Please wait in the lobby dear."
She could hear Powell berating me for this indiscretion.
I marched out grabbing Lilli's hand as I left. "Screw him, he cheated on my mother every chance he got. Who is he to say if I have a girlfriend or not."
Lilli smiled. I was choosing her instead of daddy.
She turned to me.
"Brandon, I would never want to break up your marraige, please-tell me you aren't with her anymore?"
I stopped to kissed her passionately. "Baby, I'm free as a bird." She smiled. "You filed the divorce papers?"
I frowned. "As soon as I find Delilah, I will."
Lilli pulled away from me. "Brandon, I can't continue to see you until you fix this. I am sorry."
She faked a few tears and ran away. "Lilli, don't leave me. I will fix it."
She drove away, heading to meet Ronald, her date for the night.
**********
Oregon ....
Delilah
I kissed Antonio goodbye, he had a doctor's appointment to attend, and he had to check in with his rehab counselor.
He was sad to go, but made plans to see me again.
"Let me get checked out and see if my heart can handle your hot little lips Bella, then I will fly back as soon as I can !"
Antonio did get his heart checked out. He was free to fly.
He wouldn't be seeing me any time soon though...
***********
Antonio
The phone rang. "This is Antonio."
" Hello?"A woman said in Italian. "Antonio, this is Maria Valdia. Do you remember me?"
I did not.
"I am the new caregiver for your mother, Anna. She is very ill. You must come home as soon as possible of you want to see her alive."
I was shocked. I had just spoken with mama only a week ago.
I called Delilah and told her the sad news.
I booked a trip to Siena, Italy. I had asked Delilah to come. She told me she couldn't, not with the baby. She was being very careful.
"Bella, call me everyday. Wake me up, anytime. I want to hear your voice."
She sadly agreed. She felt at a loss already and told me to kiss mama for her.
sixteen~°~°~°♡ Maria Bella?
1977 Words
Brandon
I was ready to ask Lillianne to move in with me. She was adamant that I get divorced.
So, I was driving the porsche to see Delilah to get the papers signed once and for all. No more excuses.
Delilah had no idea I was coming.
**********
Delilah
Georgia, my mother went to visit her sister who was ailing in Maine where she lived.
I was still working in the hen house and now picking up the rest of the chores for mother. I was exhausted.
I was going into my second trimester of pregnancy. At least the morning sickness had passed.
I drove the tractor into the barn and used it to load a bale of hay for the cows. I couldn't lift anything, per the doctor's advice.
I didn't see the car pull up with Brandon.
I hopped off the tractor, wearing a pair of overalls with one strap off showing my white sleevless tank top underneath. My long hair was a hot mess.
I had my back to Brandon as he approached the barn. I was scooping up some feed for the chickens. He called my name.
"Hey there Delilah!"
I turned around startled. It was Brandon.
He had a young, petite red head with him. She was dressed in a mini skirt and heels. She ran up to the cows.
"Oh, Brandon look, cows!" she squealed. Brandon held his hand up to his eyes to block the setting sun.
He thought I was getting fat. I had a little belly now. He smiled, thinking that I still looked quite beautiful, so he told me much later.
He hadn't seen me in 6 months. I had that radiant glow to my face from the pregnancy.
I wiped my hand across my brow, licking my dry pink lips and taking a drink of water.
*********
Brandon
I never appreciated her natural beauty before. She gestured towards the house.
We walked up to the porch, I appreciated the sway of her curvey hips now, damn Delilah was so hot. I shook my head to clear it.
Of course I was on my best behavior. My little redheaded girl was still with the cows.
"That's my new girlfriend, Lillianne." I smiled proudly.
**********
Delilah
I was feeling very sick. "Nice."
I didn't want to do this right now. Brandon handed me the divorce papers. His hand brushed against mine. I felt something for him still.
"Let's get this over with." I nodded and grabbed a pen.
I smiled at him. "I have been so busy I forgot I was still married."
He nodded, wanting me to hurry up. I didn't read any of the papers, blindly signing each page and then handed the papers back. "I trust you are getting everything then?" I asked looking down.
" Well to be fair, I am the bread winner here." He tapped the pen on the table.
Things were tight now at the farm, I already used up my 401K money, I was broke.
I asked him to show himself out as I went to my room and quickly layed down. I was close to passing out.
I put my feet up and took some deep breathes.
**********
Brandon
I wondered about her, she was so quiet. I felt strange seeing her like this. I wanted to ask her if she was ok, but Lillianne was coming in any minute.
I used the excuse that I needed to use the bathroom so I walked back to where Delilah was laying. I wanted to see if she was ok.
I could see she was obviously sick now. I frowned seeing her this way, I asked her if I could use her bathroom. Thinking she might open up to me.
She pointed to the hallway and closed her eyes. Seems like she just wanted me to leave.
**********
Delilah
Lilli came bouncing in. She took one look at me in bed and asked me,"When are you due?"
I smiled with my arm over my eyes. "3 months from now."
Lilli prodded while Brandon was in the bathroom.
"Really, where's the father at?"
I could sense this girl was sharper than my mother's butcher knife. "Oh, he's around."
Lilli didn't care for that response. She sneered at me.
" Ever heard of plan B?" She said sarcastically.
I covered my head with a pillow.
"Just so you know, we are planning on getting married. So, there's no getting him back, he's mine.
Honestly, I am quite surprised he was with a woman of your qualities, farmer girl, you know. Brandon is into more sophisticated women."
I was not the least bit interested in engaging with this b***h.
I rolled over to face the wall. "I hope you are very happy, don't worry about me, he has made it very clear that he hates every little thing about me, so congratulations on your engagement."
*********
Brandon
I only heard the last part of the conversation.
I didn't hate her. I was indifferent to her.
I wanted my freedom to play around. Well, I found Lilli now, she wanted to get married, I was dragging my feet on that.
Delilah had been a good wife, I was looking for something else, not her.
Seeing her here, I felt compelled to lay next to her and rub her back for some reason. I shook my head.
No, I am free now to marry Lilli and give her all of the love that she deserves, some day.
" Ok, well goodbye then Delilah. I will send you the finalized papers and I guess that's it, we are out of...out of..eachothers lives." I didn't want to say that, seeing her, I felt a longing to make things right. To fix my broken life. Lillianne pulled me away. "Let's go it stinks in this hell hole.
Leave the dirty farmer girl be, good riddance." She said loud enough for Delilah to hear her.
I thought that was incredibly mean, I kept my mouth shut.
We walked out and got into the Porsche. I'm a fast car, fast women type of guy, just like daddy was, I told myself.
Lillianne moved closer to me and rubbed me intimately. She was worried now. She wondered about Delilah's baby daddy.
She asked me. "Who is Delilah seeing, I mean I wonder who the baby daddy is?"
I looked at her. "What baby?"
She kicked her self, I hadn't even guessed that Delilah was pregnant.
I frowned and asked her,
" How do you know, maybe she's getting fat?"
Lillianne said,"She told me, she's due in 3 months."
My heart sank. I felt sick now. I was with Delilah six months ago. She was so determined to have s*x with me that one last time.
My baby?...
I shut my eyes and told Lilli what she needed to hear.
"No matter, Delilah and I are finished. Out of each other's lives, I'm a free agent."
Lillianne was satisfied.
I certainly didn't want a baby. I would proceed with my plans.
A baby, it started to make sense to me, she wanted me one last time, she tied me up.
She never asked me for one thing in the divorce. She was having my baby, she was probably going to go on welfare. My baby.
***********
Delilah
I called Antonio. He had been in Italy for a long time. His mother was still hanging in there. I wanted him home. Antonio didn't answer the phone.
*******
Antonio
I was at a party. My family gathered together to celebrate my uncle Paul's birthday. I avoided all of the wine everyone, everywhere was pushing on me.
I loosened my tie and walked out to the Vinyard.
I saw a younger brown haired woman there, her back was to me. She was picking grapes and tasting them. Spitting out the sour ones.
I smiled. I came up behind her and said," If you pick all the grapes now, we will have no wine later." She turned to me and blushed.
It was her, my Maria Bella. I held my hand to my heart and sucked in my breath. She turned her head.
"Ah, Antonio, I didn't know you were here?" I saw then that this wasn't my wife. She looked just like her though.
She put out her hand, " Louisa Mary. I remember you from my cousin Maria's wedding. How is my cousin?" she looked around.
I frowned and looked away.
"Ah, my dear, sorry to tell you that my beloved wife passed away a few years ago. It was the cancer."
She gasped. "Oh Antonio, I have been over seas, I just returned home, I did not know."
I nodded, staring at her mouth, her face, her body. She looked just like my dead wife. I couldn't stop staring.
She blushed. "Antonio, people always said we were like twins."
I grinned. "It is uncanny. May I?" I kissed her hand. She raised her brows and laughed.
"You even need to taste me?" I nodded and moved foreward and kissed her on the lips.
She didn't taste anything like my Maria Bella. Louisa didn't stop me. She always found me to be extremely attractive.
I took her arm."Let's dance."
We took the dance floor and everyone smiled at the couple.
Many recalled Antonio and Maria's big wedding. My mama cried. She wanted nothing more than to see me happy again before her death.
She invited Louisa there for that very reason. She knew her daughter in laws cousin bore a remarkable likeness to Maria Bella and... she was newly single.
********
Oregon....
Delilah
I was feeling anxious. I hadn't heard from Tony in over a month. I texted him.
"Tony, at least tell me you are alive."
He finally sent me a text. "I am alive. Sorry Delilah. I need to talk to you."
He called me then. He sounded younger, excited. He asked me how I was doing. I said,"Fine."
He told me then. "Delilah, I promised I would always be honest with you. I need to tell you something amazing that has happened to me. I found someone else. I couldn't call you. I just didn't want to hurt you. I"....
I couldn't stop the tears from raining down my face. He didn't even call me his Bella.
I was completely devastated. I had never felt so alone. It was just as I had feared.
All alone...
Tony told her me was very sorry. "I am getting married. Louisa Mary, she is Maria Bella's cousin. Delilah, she is exactly like my Bella, its like my Bella is back, alive. I couldn't stop from falling in love with her. Please, understand. It is meant to be. It is magical."
I congratulated him on his up coming wedding and said goodbye to my Tony.
I numbly removed his number from my contact list. I deleted his messages. I removed my best friend from my entire life, swiped him away.
I was glad mother was away. I wouldn't like her to see the way I mourned the loss of my one true lover.
I was so very sad. I only had my baby now. I vowed I was done with men. I would only love my child.
My baby would be my one true love. I pushed all of my sorrow down, every drop.
I got up and started to clean out my old things. My wedding photos, my old clothing, I threw it all away.
Putting on a pair of boots and trudging out in the rain and the muck to clean the chicken coop.
I spent every hour busy on the farm. I now understood why my mother had come here, caring for animals was a worthy life.
I planned for my baby to come and a few months later I got my wish......
Seventeen: The accident ~•~•~•~•~•
2053 Words
Delilah
Everyone has a time in their life when they savor a moment.
They put a snap shot of events into their memory bank. Today was that glorious day for me.
After 19 hours of labor I gave birth to a little boy. Samuel Allan Jonas. He was 8 pounds 4 ounces. Georgia was there at the hospital and proudly held her grandson in her arms.
I was in awe of this baby. His perfectly shaped head. His little fingers and toes.
After 3 days in the maternity ward, I was preparing to take little Sam home. Georgia had put the car seat in the car and had a little surprise for her daughter at home.
She drove very carefully as Sam and I rode in the back seat.
"Careful mom, his little head might bobble." I was very protective. I couldn't believe that they just let me leave the hospital.
Shouldn't a professional tell me what to do now. Georgia laughed at that one.
Once we arrived home, I placed Sam on the couch and sat down taking a deep breath. I was happy to be done with all that labor.
Georgia brought out an old homemade craddle for baby Sam.
It had been mine as a baby. My grandpa Allen had made it for me.
Mom looked at me as tears formed in her eyes.
"Surprise!" I stood up and hugged mother.
" Where did you find that?"
Georgia smiled. "The neighbor refinished it for me, it was in the barn. We were working on it for months."
I placed the baby in the cradle and rocked him with my foot. "I freaking love this thing, thanks mom!"
A month later...
I was thinking about Sam's name, I had wanted to give my son my maiden name of Carter, but Brandon hadn't sent me the finalized divorce papers.
I had gone to the court house to change my name back, but was told the divorce decree wasn't on file.
I had no choice but to give little Sam his father's last name. I decided to call Brandon and ask him about it.
"Hey, it's Delilah. Umm.. did you ever file those divorce papers I kind of need that to change my name back. Let me know please."
Brandon had been shocked to hear that he wasn't officially divorced. He was sure it was a mistake.
********
Brandon
I had given the papers to my secretary over 3 months ago.
My secretary had been out on leave since then for her own pregnancy. I went into her office.
"Sheila, before Barb left on maternity leave do you happen to know if she filed my personal stuff that I gave to her 3 months ago?" Sheila shrugged and looked around, she didn't see anything.
"Damn it!" I called her at home. "Barb, do you remember filing those uh, personal papers I had given you about 3 months ago?"
I whispered, "You know, my divorce stuff."
Barb started to cry. "I'm so sorry, they were in my car. Jerry found them in there when he was setting up the baby's car seat."
I was fuming. My wedding to Lillianne was only a month away. "Well, can Jerry bring them by?"
She cried louder. "He accidently threw them out!"
I told her,"Calm down. I will make out some new documents, no problem. Congratulations on the baby."
I called Delilah. "Hey there Delilah, looks like my...uh secretary failed to file the divorce papers and they were misplaced. Anyway you could come by and sign them again?"
I agreed. I wanted to see Sera and Jason Blaze and show off my son. "I will come by in a few weeks, if that works?"
I shook my head. "I need them sooner. I'm getting remarried. Lillianne and I are getting hitched next month."
Delilah didn't want to travel so far away with Sam just yet. She asked me if I would meet her half way.
I agreed. "I will see you Saturday then."
We agreed to meet at a restaurant at 1pm on Saturday.
********
Delilah
When Sarurday came around, I started to pack little Sam's things to put him in the car.
Mother asked me if she could watch him instead, she feared he would get sick with the cold wind blowing, it was winter time.
I pumped my milk and gave mother a few bottles.
"I should be back by dinner time." It was a 3 hour drive.
I got to the restaurant first and sat in mother's trusty Subaru, keeping the heater going. It was cold. The snow began to fall.
I waited there and looked around the parking lot. I decided to go inside and eat some late lunch. I ordered a salad and soup.
I finished my food and no Brandon. I checked my phone. He didn't even call me to say that he would be late.
I tried his number, it went to voice mail.
I jumped up and paid the tab then got back into the car and drove off.
The snow was really bad now. I didn't think I would make it home. I called Georgia and told her the issues.
Mother told me to just get a hotel for the night. I pulled into the super 8 and got a twin queen, non smoking room and settled in.
On the way to the vending machine my phone rang.
" Hello, this is Delilah."
It was the state police. "Ma'am I am sorry to inform you there has been an accident. Your husband, Brandon Jonas was involved. We need you to come to the hospital right away."
The woman gave me instructions and hung up.
I put my coat on and put my mother's car in four wheel drive. Slowly I made my way to the hospital. I was anxious about the drive and Brandon's condition.
I called Georgia and gave her the news. She assured me that the baby was fine and I had plenty of breast milk stored in the freezer for baby Sam.
I arrived at the ER where I was taken to a small room with trauma equipment all around.
I didn't even recognize Brandon. He had tubes and IVs, his eyes were closed. I touched his hand.
"Brandon it's Delilah." The nurse came in.
"Mrs.Jonas, your husband sustained severe trauma to his back and head.
The doctor will be in to talk to you shortly."
She handed me an envelope. It had Brandon's wallet, phone, and keys. It also had my unsigned divorce papers.
I opened Brandon's phone and tried the key pad lock that I had set up for him so long ago. It still worked.
I called Powell Jonas. "This is Delilah, Brandon has been in a accident, please call me back."
I then found Lillianne in his contacts. I dialed her number. "Hey sweet boy, are you on your way home yet?"
I coughed.
"Lillianne? This is Delilah."
Lillianne cussed." What the hell, Where's Brandon? Why do you have his phone?" I listened to her rant for a moment then decided to hang up. I couldn't take it.
The phone immediately rang. Lillianne was fuming. "Put Brandon on now!"
I asked her " Are you ready to listen yet?"
Lillianne cussed me out. I hung up once again. The phone rang back.
I answered."Last chance,"I warned her.
Lillianne was quiet.
" Brandon was in an accident he's at the hospital. His car flipped several times. He has severe injuries."
I told Lillianne where to go. "Please hurry."
Lillianne apologized. I hung up on her. I was so done with toxic people.
Speaking of toxic, Powell Jonas called me back. "Delilah, why are you calling me, are you two back together. He's marying Lilli in a few weeks."
I explained about the divorce papers and the accident.
"Of course he would screw that up too. Listen, I'm in Milan, Italy right now. I will try to catch a flight out, how does he look?"
I pursed my lips and was very quiet. Powell cried out, "My son!" He started choking up.
I told him I would stay until family came. "Thank you, I will call his mother Milly."
I sat with Brandon all night. I stayed and talked to him about our son Sam.
I told him everything. I knew he couldn't hear me anyway.
"Oh Brandon he so cute. He can hold his little head up. Mom thinks he looks like you when you were a baby. She has that wedding photo of us in her room.
The one with our baby pictures next to each other. I threw out all of our other wedding pictures. I just couldn't stand to see how happy I was and now I know, you looked happy, but you must have been miserable."
I kept up the useless chatter. I got a lot of stuff off of my chest. I told him about Antonio dumping me and breaking my heart.
I held up pictures of Sam off of my phone to his closed, swollen eyes.
I tried to stay awake by rambling and finally I stopped talking.
I started to cry. "I am sorry. Everything was my fault. If only I hadn't let myself go. I know you like trim woman. I wasn't sexy enough for your sophisticated tastes. I thought if I could become Lilly Spark, I could get you to love me, somehow. Now look at us. I'm an unwed mother and you're here half dead without any knowledge that you created this perfect little boy."
I took a breath,"Brandon, I know you never wanted children. I'm sorry I tricked you that last time we were together.I just wanted someone to love. You have Lillianne, I have no one. Brandon are you even listening to me?"
Brandon's eyes fluttered. He looked at me and frowned. He couldn't talk with the tube down his throat. He was awake.
I ran and got the nurse. I stayed back as they removed the breathing tube. He was hoarse.
I peeked in, seeing me he smiled and whispered," Shut up."
My talking incessantly had woken him up. It brought him back. I nodded and shut my mouth.
He held his hand out to me.
"How did I get here Delilah?"
I told him that there was a bad accident and his car rolled over several times.
"Was I driving or you?"
I raised my brow. "You were meeting me at the restaurant, do you remember?"
He said -no. I held up the divorce papers.
" We were re signing our divorce papers, you lost the first ones."
He frowned. " We just got married, why the hell would we get divorced?"
I could see that he had lost his memory. I patted his hand.
" It will come back to you, don't worry. Then you will hate me again," I added under my breath.
He pulled me close. "Come lay with me, please." I shook my head.
"Please, Lilah!"
He hadn't called me that in years.
I shook my head. "You are engaged to Lillianne now. You two are amazingly happy."
He shook his head. "I wouldn't do that to you my love. Come sit on my bed at least."
He wanted me near him. I sat close to him. He held my hand, intertwining our fingers.
"Where is your ring, why aren't you wearing it?"
I frowned looking at my hand. "I gave it back to you, that last night that we were....together."
He shook his head. "I don't think so. Tell me about my son Sam then, you said he held his head up. How old is he? I wish I could remember him."
I was shocked that he had heard me. "You've never met him. He is a month old."
He smiled at me. "Delilah you look so good, you just had our son?"
I couldn't do it anymore I excused myself and went to get some coffee. He would remember soon.
I was a little afraid that he would go back to his old self.
This Brandon, this was him. My beloved husband. He had been gone for so long. I sniffled.
I wanted to hold him and love him. I couldn't get past the hurt and the sorrow.
Too late, way too late.
Eighteen, Brandon doesn't remember.♡¤♡¤♡¤♡
1497 Words
Delilah
When I came back to the hallway I could hear Brandon calling for me.
He yelled. "Bring me my wife, Delilah, Delilah come back here!"
I entered the room and put my coffee down. Several attendants were holding him down.
He calmed as soon as I arrived. "Where were you, don't just walk away from me, I can't get up."
I patted his arm. "Brandon, you were in a bad accident, do you remember yet?"
The doctor arrived and assessed Brandon's legs and feet. "Can you feel this?" He pinched his legs. Brandon shook his head.
He had no movement from the waist down."Your MRI shows severe spinal cord swelling. You took a bad hit to your head as well. Your memory may be fuzzy for a while. Sometimes long term memory surfaces where a patients short term memory will fail them. Hang in there, you seem to have this nice wife here by your side, you'll get through it. I heard congratulations is in order, you just had a baby?"
I had asked the nurse for a private space to pump my breast milk. She must have told the doctor about baby Sam.
Brandon closed his eyes. "I can't even remember what he looks like."
I said," You've never seen him, you didn't even know about him until I just told you today!"
The doctor looked shocked and excused himself.
"Brandon, we haven't been together in a long time. We are not really married any more."
Brandon reached for the envelope, he pulled out the divorce papers and ripped them up.
"Yes we are, you are my wife, act like it!"
I hoped to hell that Lillianne would come soon. I couldn't deal with this version of Brandon.
Brandon asked me to rub his legs. "I can't feel them. Does this mean I won't be able to walk again?"
He was getting frustrated. "Help me up Delilah, please."
I reminded him of what the doctor said about the swelling to his spine.
He begged me to lay with him.
" Please, Delilah just do it." I sat on his bed and rubbed his legs. He lay his head back.
"I can't feel it. I mean I feel my body moving but not my legs. Delilah, what if I can't make love to you anymore?"
I rolled my eyes. "Brandon we haven't been together in over 10 months."
" Why? Did I do something, what happened to us." I looked at him.
" Brandon, maybe try to rest and heal. I'm sure your memory will soon return."
I got up and walked out. He was making me angry now. He couldn't remember wanting to cheat on me, calling me names, treating me like I was worthless, nearly killing me with his bare hands.
I decided to go back to the hotel. His family would arrive soon. I got in the car and slowly drove in the falling snow to the Super 8.
Within a half an hour the hospital called. "Mrs.Jonas, your husband is asking for you."
" Hmm. tell him I went home to care for Sam."
He grabbed the phone then."Delilah, please bring Sam to me, I need to see my baby. I need you to come get me please baby!"
I told him,"Go to sleep, I will come back tomorrow."
He agreed. "I love you Lilah."
I was sure he didn't, he just didn't remember.
In the morning I had hoped that Lillianne or Powell would arrive to take care of Brandon.
I hesitated going back. I called Georgia and told her about Brandon.
" Maybe when his fiance comes, it will all come back to him." She said to me.
I agreed.
Grabbing a water, I went to the gym at the hotel to get in a work out.
I was trying to lose the baby weight. My phone rang. It was the hospital. I ignored it.
It rang again and again.
I finally picked it up.
"Delilah, where are you, I've been waiting for hours. The doctor said I can go home with you today."
I swallowed my water and choked. "With me?"
He told me to hurry up and, "Lilah, I love you."
I was quiet.
"Say it back, tell me. I need to hear you say it."
I couldn't do it. I hung up. He called me back.
"Lilah say it. Say you love me. Please."
I said, " I used to love you. I tried to. You were my everything once, but it's been a long time. You love Lillianne. When she comes you will remember everything, then you will feel silly for telling me that you love me."
He quietly said, "You are wrong, I could never love anyone else."
I didn't want to see him today. I drove to the restaurant and ate breakfast.
I drank some coffee, then some more.
My phone rang it was the doctor.
" Your husband can go home. I think physical therapy will be needed. He is medically stable."
I tried to tell him that we were separated.
"Brandon has a fiance. She should be coming any time now. He can go home with her or his father."
"Honestly, Mrs.Jonas, I think you would be the best person to take him, he will be able to focus on his recovery with you around. He is obsessed with you. I don't know what happened between you guys, but it seems like you could use this opportunity to work things out, especially with the baby."
I got angry. "This man was so cruel to me. He almost killed me with his bare hands, I could never possibly trust him again. We are very toxic together, I mean I've done things to him as well, I'm afraid when his memory comes back, he will go back to hating me. He doesn't remember hating me, but he will."
The doctor said,"True love always hurts the most. I think with his head unjury, there's a chance he will recover fully. You might use this time to fight for your marraige, make him see the real you. Make him fall in love with his son, his family. Give him a second chance."
I reluctantly agreed. "On one condition, if he sees his fiancé or his father and let's them take him home, I will leave, alone." The doctor agreed.
I drove to the hospital. Brandon was asleep. He pulled his IV out during the night. They were having difficulty caring for him without me there.
I put my feet up and took a nap. I woke to a loud screeching voice.
Lillianne had come. She was wearing a push up bra. Her cleavage was over the top. She had full make up and lashes on.
Her skirt was very short, with shiney legs and heels.
She clicked and clacked her way to Brandon's bed side.
Brandon's eyes were wide open, he saw her coming his way.
My eye brows rose. I crossed my fingers he would remember.
Lilli rubbed his chin."Baby, what happened?" She kissed him then fully on the lips, passionately rubbing against him.
I felt sick. I stood up to leave, turning away. This was his fiancé, his choice.
Brandon yelled. "Delilah stop! Don't go."
I had tears in my eyes. I looked at him and backed away bumping into the doctor.
I turned and tried to run. The doctor held me in place. He said,"Brandon, do you remember your fiancé, Lillianne?"
Brandon nodded. "Yes." Lillianne smiled and patted his arm. The doctor let me go.
I ran off down the hall and went out the door and ran into Powell.
He saw my tears and thought the worst. I shook my head. "He's okay, just confused." I got into the car and drove to the hotel.
*******
Brandon
I remembered Lillianne. I didn't remember wanting to marry her. She seemed a little trashy next to Delilah. I pushed her away.
"Please go after her, go get Delilah, why did you kiss me like that, she saw you. She must think I'm with you. She must think I cheated on her."
Lillianne said, "Well you are still married to her, so I guess you could consider that cheating. But you came here to divorce her. I'm going to be your wife now. Remember baby?"
She tried to rub me intimately. I couldn't feel her touch.
I just yelled loudly." Delilah! Please someone get my wife! Delilah!"
Powell came in then. "Son, quiet down, your going crazy boy. Delilah is not here, she just drove home. Lillianne and I will take care of you son. You and Delilah are getting divorced."
I cried, I had tears streaming down my face.
" What about Sam, he needs me. Delilah needs me."
Powell bellowed now, losing his temper at my crazy behavior. "Who the hell is Sam?"
Lillianne looked at me. She was wondering the same thing.
I was being so dramatic. She didn't recognize this Brandon.
Nineteen, Brandon comes home.~•~•~☆~☆~☆
2182 Words
Brandon
I said to my father. "Sam is my boy. Our baby boy. He's only a month old. Dad I have never met him, but I love him."
Lillianne rolled her eyes. She thought that I was such a drama king. She shrugged and went to get a wheel chair.
"Come on let's go. We can sort this all out at home." She walked to the nurses station.
Powell stood very still. He was a grandpa. He had a new grandson.
He asked me,"Are you telling me that you left your wife for Lillianne knowing that Delilah was pregnant, no wonder she was crying in the parking lot when she ran out of here."
Then I really got upset. I grabbed the phone and called Delilah.
She didn't answer. "Daddy, please go get my wife. I beg you. Please, I can't walk. Make her know that it was just a kiss, I didn't even kiss her back."
Powell could see that I was a little bit off, but he also wanted to get Delilah back.
She had a baby. His grandson. He was a grandpa. His heart swelled. He knew I probably did know that she was pregnant and left her any way.
I had made it very clear that I never wanted children. Powell would go after Delilah. He would get that baby.
He would have to pay Lillianne off. But he knew gals like her. She was a gold digger.
*********
Delilah
I finally made it home. The roads were plowed and fairly drivable. My feet crunched on the snow on my way up to the porch.
Georgia was getting Sam out of his crib when I came in.
I grabbed my boy. My hands were cold and he cried.
Georgia took him. "Your so cold. Go get warmed up and I will bring him to you."
I agreed. Georgia could see that I was upset. "Tell me about Brandon."
I was warming my hands at the sink. My phone rang. It was Powell.
"I need to talk to Delilah."
Georgia said, "One moment please."
She held the phone to me.
"Yes, this is Delilah."
" This is Powell. Brandon is refusing to go home with us. He is really being obnoxious. Can you please just come. Help us get him home, then you can leave. We just need a little help here, please Delilah?"
I heard Brandon in the back ground yelling. "Don't touch me, I'm not gonna go anywhere until Delilah gets back."
Powell gave him the phone.
"Delilah. please. I'm sorry. She kissed me, don't be mad. I didn't kiss her back. Please. You have to believe me. I only love you."
I held the phone out so my mother could hear my husband's tirade.
She nodded. "You better go. I can take care of Sam."
I frowned. I was fearful of Brandon taking Sam away from me.
I refused to go.
" I can't help you, I have a new baby, I'm sorry." I hung up.
My phone rang it was Lillianne.
"Delilah please, bring the baby. I can help take care if him while Brandon adjusts to our home. He will get his memory back once he sees our beautiful home."
I hung up. " No way in hell she's touching my son."
My phone rang again. I didn't answer it.
Three hours later....
A car pulled up to our farm house. It was an ambulance. They pulled a guerny out from the back and pushed Brandon up onto the snowy walkway up to Georgia's door step.
They knocked loudly. I heard Brandon yelling.
"Open the door, it's cold out here!" I opened the door. I saw him there so I shut the door and locked it, then left and went to bed.
The medics continued, they pounded on the door. "Mrs. Jonas, your husband is back. He needs to get out of this snow, please ma'am. Georgia got out of bed.
" For heaven's sake!"
Georgia opened the door. "For Pete's sake he doesn't even live here. Take him back to California. Son, you belong to Lillianne now. You asked Delilah, the mother of your baby for a divorce. You pushed her aside for a new wife. You need to live with your poor choices now."
Mother was very angry now. The medics were turning blue from the cold wind. They pleaded.
"Ma'am just for tonight, then you can sort it all out in the morning."
Brandon gave her the puppy eyes. She finally relented.
I stayed in my room. The medics put Brandon into grandma's bedroom.
He said,"I can't take grandma's bed. Where will she sleep. Just put me in with Delilah."
Georgia started to get teary eyed.
She told him it was okay. "Grandma passed away last year."
He frowned."Oh, I remember that. Delilah flew here for the funeral."
Georgia nodded. He said he was so sorry and took her hand.
The medics set him in the bed and gave Georgia a bill for the ambulance ride for five thousand dollars. She looked at the invoice and frowned. "Great."
Brandon was making a huge fuss. He called loudly for me. I came in holding the baby.
" Shhh.... he's asleep."
Brandon smiled. "Can I hold him, please?"
I nodded and helped him to hold his son. I frowned seeing the softness to his face.
"Brandon, I won't let you take him from me. I will run away. I will hide him from you. Promise me when you get your memory back, you won't try to take him from me."
I whispered," I will die, it will kill me."
He frowned," I would never do that. I love you so much. Please trust me a little. What kind of monster do you think I am? I'm getting tired of you treating me like I hated you. I never hated you. I don't know why I left you for Lillianne. I just can't believe I could do that to you. Did I know about the baby when I broke up with you?"
I shook my head."No, I was afraid you would make me get rid of him. You never wanted to be tied down with kids. You told me that many times."
He bit his lip. "Do you think people can change. Maybe I can change?"
I shrugged. "I'm warning you right now. When your memory comes back, you will hate me. I did something really bad to you. Something I don't want you to remember."
Brandon stopped listening to me. He was staring at his son as he woke up. His little mouth opened and he yawned. He was smitten.
I bit my nail. I dreaded seeing Brandon look at my son like this. I felt a lump in my stomach. This would end badly for me. I just knew that he would try to take Sam away from me.
He wouldn't get away with it. I would run and hide from him.
I shuddered. Brandon handed Sam over to me." He's hungry."
I put him to my full breast. The baby suckled. Brandon stared at me. I blushed and covered myself.
He shook his head. "I want to see. He is so strong. Look at him go." He laughed. "He is my son."
I saw the real Brandon then. I knew it was a matter of time. I remembered what the doctor had said. What Seraphina and grandma had said.
"Fight for your husband."
I left him to put baby Sam into his crib.
I went back to Brandon and tried to tell him again about our past. I grabbed his cell phone.
" Brandon look at this please." I pulled up some of our texts from Lilly Spark. He read through some.
"Is this the Lilli that kissed me?"
I shook my head. " This is me." I put my head down in shame.
" I was spying on you. I read your social media. I found out that you signed up for a site for married men to cheat on their wives. So I signed up to be your mistress. I became Lilly Spark. Look"....I showed him the texts he focused on what he had said about me to Lilly Spark.
He frowned. "Brandon there is more... The night I kept you, I dressed up in a wig, I tried to trick you to make love to Lilly Spark. To me. We got into a fight. I hit you with the lamp. I tied you up and hit you. I made you do it with me. One last time. I forced you."
I was crying now, sobbing.
" I wanted to get pregnant. I made you do it."
Brandon was still reading those texts. " I see why you think I hate you."
He saw all of his texts calling her ugly, frigid, a b***h. He looked away from her.
" Who's Antonio?" I looked down.
" Antonio and I met at a bar. He was kind to me at a time when you weren't. I slept with him. He said that he loved me. He lied....
You had moved on with Lillianne. I just wanted someone to love me. He is probably married to someone else now. He moved back to Italy. He was such a jerk."
Brandon felt like she punched him.
"Go away from me please. Leave now!"
I refused.
"You wanted the truth about me, I gave it to you. I was a lousy wife to you. I don't deserve a second chance."
His mouth dropped open. Then he shut it. "Delilah, I want you to leave me now, go to your bed."
I shook my head- no. He teared up.
" Delilah, I don't deserve you. I pushed you away. I did all this to you."
I expected him to respond as he did before. Pushing me away, hating everything about me, everything I tried to do to save my marriage.
He put his head back. "What else did I do? Was there physical abuse?"
I nodded.
He stared at me, brows lowered.
"Did I beat you, hit you?"
I shook my head. "Let's not go back there. It's not worth remembering."
" Tell me please Delilah, I want to know everything I did."
I put my hand to my throat. I swallowed.
He started to remember. Just a tendril of a thought. Seeing my eyes bulge as he wrapped his hand around my neck. Flashes of seeing me lying there, thinking I was dead. He shook his head.
"Delilah , I put my hands on you, your neck. I almost killed you. Is this correct. Is this a real memory I am seeing?"
I was quiet. The tears were big and hot on my face.
He threw his phone on the floor. He grabbed my arms, he saw fear in my eyes.
He softened his grip.
He said," I am not that man anymore. I promise you. He died in that car crash. I am not that monster. Please don't leave me, Delilah I need you, my heart will disappear without you, only you."
I nodded. "I am so sorry I tricked you, I hurt you."
He smiled, "A lamp to the head, you dragged me down the stairs, hit me? Did I enjoy any of it?"
I said, "Well, I bought a stun gun to subdue you, but the lamp thing was kind of an accident. I was thrown out of bed and grabbed at the lamp, it kind of hit you and knocked you out."
"I threw you out of our bed?"
I nodded.
"Delilah you did all of that to try and keep me, make me yours. You did all of that for me?"
" Brandon I said I was sorry, I'm so sorry!"
He grinned." I'm impressed, you must really love me, I knew it!"
I touched his mouth then and felt his lips. He had nice kissable lips.
He said, "I didn't kiss Lillianne back there. I only wanted you. How weird that I found a girl named Lilli .... Delilah, that's all behind us. Let's try to be better. Love each other. I will change. If I could make love to you. I would do it now."
He kissed me then and put his hands into my long brown hair. He was dying to do that since the first time he came to the farm with Lillianne. He was starting to remember things.
Brandon didn't know if he could change. He wanted this though, this family. His wife and son. He lay beside me in the bed. He made plans to win me back. To get it all back.
He needed to be able to walk again. His damn dead legs.
I got up from the bed to tend to Sam and brought him in for his feeding.
Brandon's phone started to ring. I found it on the floor and handed it to him. It was Lillianne.
I shut the door on my way out. I would give him privacy to figure things out on his own.
Twenty. The old Brandon ~•~•~•~•~•
1987 Words
Brandon
I answered my phone, it was Lillianne." Baby, I miss you so much. You promised me that you would get the divorce papers signed so that we could be together."
I listened to her with new ears, she was whiney.
"Lillianne, I can't go anywhere until I can walk again. Delilah is setting up physical therapy here for me. That way I don't have to travel. I have to think of my health right now."
Lillianne said,"I can have physical therapy set up for you at our home. All you have to do is take a short little ride here. Then, I can take care of you my lover. I can kiss away all of your pains. My lips miss your sweet body. My tongue is on fire for you." I just listened.
She went on," I just don't understand about the baby. She got pregnant and didn't tell you that you were the father?
I know you don't recall us going to Delilah's home and seeing that she was pregnant. You didn't even question if this was your child. You didn't even care. Why do you care now, it's just not like you.
I don't think this is your baby Brandon. It's not even possible. You told me that you two weren't intimate for a long time."
I thought about her words. I wondered if Sam was my baby, maybe he was Antonio's baby. She was sewing seeds of doubt into my fragile brain.
" I'm pretty sure you are going to get sick of hearing that baby cry soon. You always said you never wanted kids, we laughed about it. You said kids were disgusting. Snotty noses and diapers" She grew quiet.
I frowned, Lillianne might be right. Maybe it was foolish for me to abandon my whole life, what if it was all a lie. I needed to find out either way.
" Look, I will be staying here with my wife and son for my recovery. Let's talk tomorrow.
" Brandon, I am the love of your life, you told me over and over. You are breaking my heart. Please Brandon. Don't do this to me, to us. Don't just throw our future away. Think about what you are doing." She pleaded.
"Brandon, I know how you really feel about Delilah. She's a gold digger. She conveniently has a baby for you to support. She's manipulating you. Don't you see that she planned this all out. That farm needs cash flow, her mother is probably in on it too. Be careful Brandon."
She pushed one last time, "Just promise me my love, that when you do remember, you will get the divorce papers signed before you leave Oregon so that you will never have to go back to that horrible place ever again."
She sobbed. "Your father has so many plans for you, for us. You aren't made to live on a farm it's so beneath you. I can provide everything you need here, everything you deserve. I love you so much !"
"Enough! Lillianne, stop it, I'm staying!"
I hung up the phone and threw it against the wall cracking the screen. I had finally had enough of her.
She was pissing me off.
Delilah wasn't lying. She was so honest with me that it hurt. She deserved so much better than a cripple. I vowed to work hard to be able to walk again. I didn't want to hear about how I had treated my wife. I refused to remember how I used to act and think.
***********
Delilah
I heard some of what Lillianne had said. I didn't mean to listen, I wanted to know if he had changed. From the sound of it, he had thrown his phone again.
He called loudly for me.
I went to him. "Brandon, what the hell? Don't be so loud?"
He frowned. "I don't feel well. Can you get me to the toilet?"
I smelled something. "I think it's too late for that."
Brandon apologized, he made a mess in the bed. He pulled himself over and I cleaned him up the best I could.
"Maybe we should get some of those adult diapers for you." He refused.
"Just take me to the toilet sooner." He was embarrased.
I was used to cleaning the baby and cleaning up after the animals. I assured him that could take it.
Brandon told me that I needed to get physical therapy set up for him. I frowned.
" Brandon, what if you were to go home and have caregivers and a better place to recover. You know, like Lillianne or your dad's house. Wouldn't you be more comfortable there, a place that's not horrible, I mean it seems so beneath you, being at a smelly farm and all?"
Brandon raised an eye brow.
"You little spy, you were listening in on us?"
I looked down at my hands and nodded.
" Maybe she's right. You don't belong here, farm life is hard work. We all know lawyers don't do manual labor. I was the one who did all of the yard work and mowing at the house."
Brandon moved his legs off the bed. "Get me up, I will start mowing now if that's the price I need to pay to stay with you and Sam."
I got him up and helped him into the old wheel chair I had gotten out of the attic.
I set the chair next to him and removed the arm so he could slide onto the seat. I used to help grandpa when he was in the same wheel chair many years ago.
" Let's get you a shower Brandon."
He wondered how I would accomplish that. I had Brandon push the chair to the bathroom. I helped maneuver him through the door.
I showed him the walk in shower that mother had placed in there for grandma.
" Okay just slide over to the seat and I will close the door." He nodded.
I picked up his legs and placed them inside and closed the door. I started the water.
Brandon looked down at his legs. "I can't feel the water." I felt sorry for him, but persisted and handed him the soap. I made him wash himself and I helped him to rinse off.
Throwing a towel at him, I made him do all the work. I had learned from grandfather that he needed do things for himself so he wouldn't depend on others.
Brandon looked pale. Something was wrong.
He said he was going to pass out. It was too much for him.
I helped him back into the wheel chair and to bed. He was breathing hard. Brandon started to shake. He moved involuntarily, his head rolled back and his body stiffened. He was having a bad seizure.
I rolled him onto his side and talked quietly to him. He couldn't talk. He stared straight a head. I waited until he stopped tremoring and ran to tell mother.
Then came back with my cell phone and sat on the bed. My mother Georgia came in then. "Should we call the medics?"
I agreed then dialed 911. The operator asked if Brandon had seizures before. I explained that he had a recent head injury.
The operator told me, "The medics would be delayed from the snow. As long as he is breathing let him sleep it off."
Brandon's doctor called me back. I told him that Brandon started feeling bad right after the hot shower.
"That might have been too much for him to handle. Has he been remembering things yet?"
"Yes a few things. He is very impulsive and yells for me if he needs help. He seems very loving and kind. I'm waiting for him to return to his old self. I am trying to trust him again."
The doctor prescribed a seizure medication for him,"This will calm his brain waves as well. He should be less impulsive with this medication."
I agreed to pick it up and start him on it right away.
I canceled the ambulance since the doctor told me the seizure was to be expected with the brain swelling.
Brandon slept for four hours. When he woke up, he couldn't remember where he was. The room was dark. He thought about Lillianne. I was right by his side.
"Lillianne, we should be getting home soon. It's getting late."
I told him he was right where he was supposed to be.
" Pack my brief case and my black suit. I need my brown loafers too. Can you stop at the cleaners?" He was mentally packing. I let him ramble.
He tried to get up. "Lillianne , where are you baby?"
I tried to get him to open his eyes.
"Brandon, it's me Delilah. Lillianne is in California. You're in Oregon, you were in a bad car accident."
Brandon frowned. "Then can you just sign the papers so I can go home, I'm getting married soon."
I said,"Yes, I will sign the papers, whatever you want Brandon."
Brandon nodded. "Why are you keeping me hostage in this damn bed. Let me up, untie me. you can't hold me here. I won't stay here with you!"
He lunged up at me and grabbed me by the arm. He squeezed. He hurt me. I fell back onto the bed. I didn't fight him.
Struggling to keep calm, he was weaker then he had been before when he had hurt me so many months before.
Georgia came in seeing Brandon with his hand around my arm. He was gritting his teeth and his face was twisted in an angry look.
Georgia pulled him off of me. He thrashed about. He was delirious. I was breathing hard. I moved off of the bed.
We watched him struggle, he twitched and yelled. "Untie me! Untie my legs, I cant move my damn legs, what did you do to me Delilah!"
I had tears in my eyes. I lost him again. The old Brandon was back.
Georgia talked to him now. "Brandon open your eyes! Do it now!"
He tried to but he only fluttered them. Baby Sam started to cry now.
Brandon suddenly quieted. He listened to his son cry. He calmed down and layed back onto the bed and fell back asleep.
I put on my coat and slowly drove through the icey roads to the pharmacy. I picked up Brandon's medicine and drove back in the new falling snow.
I came in freezing and went straight to Brandon. I took a pill out of the pill bottle.
Speaking in a rasp, "Brandon, you need to take this seizure medicine, the doctor ordered it for you love."
He opened his eyes. "Delilah?"
I couldn't speak, my voice was hoarse. I just nodded. I was feeling feverish, sick now.
He opened his mouth and swallowed the pill. "Stay with me please. I had a nightmare."
He noticed I wasn't responding to him. He sat up and fumbled to turn the bedside lamp on. "Where are you?"
I scooted away from him, afraid. He got the dim light on. He saw me at the end of the bed, rubbing my sore arm.
"Are you okay? Can you please stay with me a while? What happened to your voice, are you sick? Your arm, it's all purple."
I nodded, not speaking.
He reached out for me, he pulled me to him.
I lay next to him, waiting until he fell asleep then went to check on Sam.
He was fine. I went to my own bed and fell into a deep fever and chills.
*********
Georgia
I was awake, I was thinking of my family's safety.
I decided that I would call Powell and arrange for Brandon to go to his home to recover. I was afraid of him. What if he hurt the baby or my daughter?
Twenty one: Brandon takes care of the baby.°♡°♡°♡°♡°
1755 Words
Brandon
Delilah was full on sick. Georgia had gone out to do the morning chores and said she would be back as soon as she could.
Baby Sam was crying. Delilah couldn't get up. She was dizzy.
" Hey there Delilah," No response.
"Hey.....Delilah the baby is crying."
Delilah moaned. " I'm coming." She got up and picked Sam up and took him to me.
" I'm sick, can you please hold him. I will get him a bottle."
I told her to go back to bed. " I got this."
Delilah went and grabbed a bottle and took it to me.
"It's cold, but I have to lay down."
Delilah took a step and dropped to the floor.
I yelled, "Delilah! are you okay?"
" I'm okay, just real dizzy. I will get up in a minute when it passes."
I moved over to the bedside and grabbed my wheel chair.
I sat Sam on the bed and removed the wheel chair arm as Delilah had taught me. I scooted myself into the chair.
Sam was screaming now.
I moved to where Delilah laying on the carpet.
She weakly smiled. "I'm okay, just get Sam please."
I gave her my hand and pulled her up, then wheeled to the bed with her on my lap. I helped her to lay down, then gently picked up MY son. "Come on fella, don't cry."
I wheeled into the kitchen and warmed up the bottle under the hot water in the sink.
Sam was rooting for the bottle. I held it to him and watched him drink it down.
I didn't know that I needed to burp him, Sam cried.
I held him up to my face. "Hey guy, I'm here, daddy is here."
Sam gave a big urp and warm milk landed all over my chest.
"Uh... why did you do that buddy?"
I talked to my son and told him to be a good boy,"mommy is sick son, It's just you and me."
Delilah fell asleep. She woke up to me placing a cool cloth to her head. I placed a cup of water to her lips and made her drink.
She sipped the water. "I'm so hot. How is the baby, is he sick?"
"I rocked him in that wood thing. He's sleeping. No fever." I smiled.
Georgia came in stomping her wet boots. The snow was melting. She checked on Delilah. "Are you okay, you look pale."
***********
Delilah
I told mom that Brandon had been taking care of everything.
Georgia frowned. She whispered, "Can we trust him though?"
I couldn't talk any more. The fever was a little better but I was still weak.
Brandon was trying to change Sam's diaper. He cleaned him up and got the dry heaves.
He plugged his nose and then put the new diaper on back wards. The velcro tabs under him, instead of in front.
*********
Georgia
I came in and smiled."The tabs go in the front. Everyone does that the first time though."
I picked up my grandson and placed him inside of an infant front pack close to my chest, I had my hands free now.
Brandon asked me if he could try that thing out. I shook my head.
"Son, we need to talk."
Brandon nodded and wheeled to the kitchen and got a cup of coffee.
He offered me one. I declined.
"Yesterday you had that seizure. Do you recall?"
He nodded. "I'm aware."
"Well after that, you kind-of went back to being you. You asked Delilah to sign the divorce papers so you could marry Lillianne. You grabbed Delilah's arm and hurt her. I had to pry you off of her."
He frowned. "She didn't say anything. I asked her about the bruise. You're saying that I did that to her?"
I nodded.
"Is that why she gave me that pill?" He was frowning.
"I thought I was dreaming all of that."
I said,"I think you should go stay with your dad, or Lillianne. Delilah seems to trigger you."
********
Delilah
I came in just then. My hair felt like a mess and I had puffy bags under my eyes.
"Mother, Brandon is staying. I was so sick this morning. He took care of his son and me all morning.
I think the medicine is working. No seizures, no episodes. Let's see if the medicine works."
Brandon had been staring at my purple arm.
"Your mother is right. What if I hurt you again, or Sam? We can't take any chances. I'll call dad."
I sat on his lap. "Not yet. Brandon, when you were going berserk, Sam started to cry."
Brandon winced, " I was berserk, I'm so sorry honey."
I kissed his cheek.
"But you, you stopped yelling you calmed down. Hearing Sam seemed to bring you around. I want you to stay, please. I thought I could do it all by myself, with mom here. But...a boy needs his daddy. Sam needs you and you need Sam."
Brandon wheeled me into my room and I hopped off the chair. He kissed my hand.
" When you are no longer sick, I want you to sleep with me."He smiled.
" If I have another seizure, leave me alone. Don't come near me. Delilah, I am sorry. I did rip up those divorce papers didn't I?"
I nodded." Yes, yes you did. That's why I told you I would sign them." I smiled, sheepishly.
He looked sad. "I keep hurting you. I promise, I did not mean to do that to you. I...well I can't change my past. I can only try to be honest and move forward. Lillianne said that I told her that you and I hadn't been together intimately, she said the baby probably wasn't even mine and that you were a gold digger."
I laughed.
"Did you tell her that I hit you with the lamp and forced myself on you?"
He said no. He frowned, trying to remember.
" Are you asking me if this is true, if Sam is not your baby? I think you know the answer to that. I wanted to hide him from you. I didn't tell you about him because I was afraid you would take him from me, if he wasn't your baby why would I go through all of that trouble?"
"Delilah, I believe you. I know he's mine. He looks just like me. I just wanted you to know what she said. She tried to confuse me. I am ready to give her up, my job, my old life just to be near you. If my legs never get better, I will be okay as long as you love me. Do you love me?"
I nodded. "Brandon I have always loved you. I want to try. If we can't do it for ourselves, let's try for Sam."
Brandon told me to go back to sleep.
" You need anything, yell for me."
My illness got worse. I was coughing up green stuff with had a fever of 104°
Georgia put me into the car and took me to the ER. She left Brandon at home with Sam.
The doctor said I had caught pneumonia. They put me on IV antibiotics and fluids. I was pretty out of it.
**********
Brandon
I heard a knock on the door. I wheeled in my chair to answer it.
Seeing a tall well built man with black hair, who held out his right hand. He only had one arm. He smiled down at me.
" I'm Adam, you must be Brandon. Georgia asked me to assist with chores. I live right over there." He pointed to the neighboring farm.
Georgia had asked Adam Parker to come over to help out? Of course, she couldn't trust me, especially with the baby.
Adam said that he had a two son's of his own.
I looked at this guy Adam and grinned.
" I guess we are quite the pair, my legs don't work and you only have one arm."
Adam raised a brow. " I do?"
" And you have a sense of humor." I said, I liked this guy.
Adam grinned. "Where's Sam at, I need to meet Delilah's baby. Hanna, my wife is expecting our third baby. She wanted to come, I forbade it. She gets too attached. She might steel this little guy."
He's married, I definitely like Adam already.
I gave him a list of chores to do.
Adam took the list, nodded and returned in a half hour.
"Okay all done. How about a beer? Oh, sorry you are the sober one right?"
I turned my head to the side questioning this. "No I'm okay, I drink beer." Adam mentally kicked himself, that was the other guy Delilah had been seeing, Antonio.
I didn't catch it. I didn't know that Antonio had a drinking problem.
I took the beer and took a big swig, pointing to Adam's stump.
"How did that happen, or were you born that way?"
Adam told me it was a bear bite that got infected. "They had to take the arm. I almost died."
Adam asked me about my legs. I frowned, remembering what they told me.
"I guessed I crashed my nice Porsche."
Adam smiled, " Ah, I need to show you my car collection. You might enjoy what I have in my garage."
After a little time visiting with Adam, I felt very odd.
I said that I needed to lay down.
"Adam can you watch Sam for me, I feel weird." I was feeling buzzed all over.
I had forgotten to take the new seizure medicine.
I started to seize, shaking all over, I fell out of my chair.
I bit my tongue and my hands squeezed into fists. My body felt stiff all over.
Then even worse, I wet my pants, I was having a grand mal seizure this time.
Adam quickly called 911. He was told to turn me to my side and protect my head.
Sam was screaming in the crib.
When the medics arrived, Adam led them to me on the floor, blood on my mouth.
They picked me up.
"He's a paraplegic," Adam told them.
I just stared into space, breathing deeply. I wanted to say, "Take care of my son Adam." But nothing came out.
The ambulance took me to the ER where Delilah was.
Adam called Georgia to let her know. He took Sam home with him to meet his wife Hanna.
- Writer
