“I…I…don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say shit. Those girls aren’t the ones who betrayed me. The bastard is cold in his grave, and she followed. They need someone to care for them. Even from a distance.”
“You have an amazing heart,” I exclaimed, stepping out of Graham’s arms and hugging his mother. “I could never be that generous.”
“Well, I fell out of love with that man long before I learned of his infidelities.”
“I’ll think about it, mom.”
“I’m so glad that I had my aunt to take me in instead of living at the mercy of strangers.”
“You lost your parents?”
“Yes, when I was thirteen. They were killed in a car accident, and for two weeks I’d been moved from one place to another until my aunt, who had been working in Miami, came to get me.”
“Then you think I should take them in?”
“That’s up to you, Graham. I can’t tell you how to feel about it.”
“If you’re both okay with it, I’ll contact social services and see what we can do to get in touch with them and go from there.”
“Good. Now how about we go out to lunch because I’m starving, and we have a wedding to plan.”
“A wedding?” She grabs my hand and sees the rock Graham put on it.
“Yes, I want to get married within a week; actually it’s six days now.”
“Well, your father and I waited a year and a half before getting married and see how that turned out. Let’s go eat and then Gia, and I need to do some girl shopping.”
“Oh, he’s not going to be more than a short distance from us.”
“That’s because he cares, but he’s gonna have to keep away when we pick out your gown, understood?” she asks him pointedly.
“That I’ll give you, but I’m going to call in a favor and have some security on you two just in case.”
“Whatever you have to do.”
Epilogue
Graham
“Gia, where are you?” I search the house for her, but she’s not in any room. A panicked feeling takes over me. I had to head into the office, which I rarely do, leaving Gia alone. I don’t know why I feel like something’s wrong, but it hit me the second I got inside my car. I rush up to our bedroom, and she’s not there. Then I head into our bathroom. “Gia!” I rush to the tub pulling her from the water. Shit. “Breathe, baby. Breathe.”
“Fuck,” I choke out, dragging my phone out.
“I need an ambulance. My wife was in the tub. Come on, baby. You can’t leave me. Wake up.”
“Sir, is she breathing?” the operator asks.
“No, God. Help her! Hurry!”
“You need to attempt CPR.” I barely hear her words, but I’m already in the process of laying her on the floor. I start doing as the operator says. With a pump to her chest and mouth to mouth, she gasps out.
“Yes, baby. Come back to me.” I lift her head as she coughs. “She’s breathing,” I sob into the phone.
“Sir, the ambulance will be there in one minute. Please let them in.” I scoop Gia into my arms and carry her down the stairs with my phone tucked between my ear and shoulder. Her clothes are soaked, but I don’t want to wait another second to get her help. I unlock and open the front door.
“You’re going to be okay. Gia, don’t go back to sleep. Please don’t. I love you. You can’t go back to sleep.” I don’t stop the tears as they pour down my face. All I want is for her to be okay. We’ve only been married a month, and I’m not going to lose her. I can’t.
“Graham. Sorry,” she murmurs. The sound is music to my ears.
“Don’t be sorry. Get better.” I kiss her temple and hold her tightly.
I hear the ambulance and see them jump out of the vehicle. As they enter, I cradle my wife. “Excuse me, sir. We’ll take over from here.” I only let her go to give them access, but I keep my vigil as they work on her.
“Okay, can you tell us what happened?”
“I don’t know. I came back, and she was in the tub, there was some blood, and I dragged her out. She wasn’t breathing.” I’m choking on my words, feeling like these could be my last moments with her.
“You got here in time it seems. Her vitals are a little weak, but they are steady. We’re going to take her to the hospital. Do you want to ride along?”
“That’s a stupid fucking question. Let’s go,” I roar. I stand up as they lay her on a stretcher. We’re in the ambulance and on our way within a minute. I send a text to my mother because I don’t want to talk to anyone but Gia at the moment. She starts to move a little more, dragging down the breathing mask they put on her face.