To Love a Wife

Sixteen

Bradley's P.O.V

My mind spiraled as I rushed over to the hospital. I informed Debbie to contact Julie and Tessa's family about what happened and to meet me at the hospital as soon as possible. I saw some paparazzi and reporters outside the hospital. Luckily, security and the police were keeping them away from the doors. I rushed over to the desk where a nurse sat as she typed away on the computer. 

"I'm here for my wife, Tessa Bain. I'm her husband," I tell her as I pulled out my ID.

"We've been expecting you, Mr. Bain. The doctors informed me that you need to go to the waiting room on the third floor. Your wife is still under some surgery but she is expected to be moved to the third floor once they are done," the nurse told me.

"Thank you."

I headed upstairs and went to the waiting room. Luckily, it was empty. I sat on a chair as I waited. I looked up at the TV to see the news covering the accident Tessa was in. I let out a sigh in disappointment. If I had been a good husband at the start of our marriage this wouldn't have happened. If I had told Tessa the truth about what happened during that trip, she wouldn't be fighting for her life. 

It felt like hours since I've been in this waiting room. The suspense was killing me. I heard the door open making me look up to see Debbie walk in. 

"What happened?" Debbie asked me.

"I f****d up bad," I tell her.

"What the hell did you do?" Debbie asked.

"Do you remember the business trip I had to go to a while ago?"

"Yeah?"

"Something happened on that trip and Tessa found out. So she went on a drive and got into a car accident," I explained.

"You didn't do what I think you did, did you?" Debbie asked.

"Yeah. I cheated on her."

"Bradley, how could you do that to her? I know it was rough at first when you both married but this is low even for you. How could you cheat on Tessa?

"There's more to that story."

"I'm sure there is," I stood up the moment I saw Sabrina standing there. She walked over towards me before slapping my face. Debbie let out a small gasp in shock. I looked back at Sabrina as the slap barely stung my face. 

"How could you do that to my sister! You bastard!" Sabrina yelled angrily. 

"I can explain."

"I don't want to hear it. Where's Tessa now?" Sabrina yelled. 

"They said she was in surgery. She should be done soon," I tell her calmly. 

"Mr. Bain?" I looked over to see a doctor walk in with a nurse next to him. 

"Yes?" I asked, walking over to him.

"Your wife is in stable condition now. Luckily she was wearing her seatbelt but she hit her head pretty hard."

"How's the baby? Please tell me that the baby survived," I asked.

"I'm sorry sir. I regret to inform you that due to the crash, Tessa lost the baby," the doctor told me. 

The room felt like it was spinning all of a sudden. I backed up a little as I stared at the doctor.

"What? No. That can't be right."

"I'm sorry sir. We did everything we can but only Tessa was able to survive."

"I have to go," I said before walking out of the waiting room. 

I went to the top of the parking garage where I knew I could be alone. I stared down at the street as I silently cried to myself. This was all my fault. I know it was my fault. I couldn't deny this. 

"Bradley." 

I turned around to see Debbie standing nearby with a bottle of water. 

"Debbie now is not the time," I sighed as I turned away. 

"I know. But I had to make sure you aren't going to kill yourself up here," she said as she walked over. She leaned against the wall before looking straight ahead. 

"How is she?" I asked.

"She's fine so far. Sabrina is over in her room. Your in-laws are here now. Julie has been notified and I told her that she still has a job with helping me clear out everything and prepare stuff ready for when Tessa gets out," Debbie informed me. I nodded before looking back down at the street. 

"Tessa deserves better," I tell Debbie.

"She does. But right now, I think you should go to her. You both just lost a child and Tessa's gonna need you when she wakes up," Debbie told me.

"Her family is going to kill me," I groaned as I pinched the bridge of my nose. 

"Yeah. Have fun with that," Debbie smirked. 

"You're such great help."

"You know you need me."

"Sad but true. I'll head back over," I tell her. 

"Good. Let's go."

I started to grow nervous about how her family would see me now. I had already guessed that Sabrina filled them in on how Tessa got into the car accident. The floor was filled with tension by the time Debbie and I came back. I could see Tessa's mother and father in the room, hovering around Tessa. 

"You did this!" Tessa's mother, Helen, yelled the moment she saw me. 

"Honey-"

"No! He's the reason why my daughter is in the hospital and lost her child!" 

"Ma'am, please keep your voice down. We still have other patients here as well," a nurse pointed out. 

"If you can let me explain-"

"No! I don't want to hear it. Tessa will send out the divorce papers once she is awake and we will take her back!" 

"Tessa is her own woman! If she sends out the divorce papers to me then fine! But I will be dammed if you are going to treat her like some doll like you did before! I will be glad to pay for an apartment or a new house for her if it means having her be her own person," I yelled back. 

"Everyone here needs to stop yelling," a doctor said as they walked inside. 

"Sorry, doctor," I apologized. '

"I understand that this is a difficult time for all of you but if you do not lower your voices, then I will kick you all out until tomorrow morning."

"You can't do that," Helen scoffed.

"Yes, I can. I am only allowing this because I understand that this is a difficult time for all of you. Now, you all have an hour left of visiting before you all need to go home."

I looked back at Tessa as she lied asleep in the bed. 

"Look, Tessa can live with me when she wakes up. I can help take care of her and you all can visit whenever you want," Sabrina offered.

"You have Juliet to take care of. Tessa can live with us."

"No. Bradley's right as much as I hate to admit it. Tessa is her own person and she needs someone who can help her not control her," Sabrina said, glaring a little at her mother. 

"Fine. She can live with you. As long as she does not live with him," Helen said as she glared over at me.