Chapter 1
I just finished with my last patient for the day. I’m ready to get home, spend some time with my husband, Stephen, and relax for the rest of the evening. Maybe I’ll run a hot bubble bath, have some wine, and start a new book. Excitement takes hold of me, so I rush around with a smile, gathering my belongings throughout my office and on the front desk.
I don’t have any patients due to have their babies tonight, and no caesarian sections are scheduled, so fingers crossed that no one goes into labor unexpectedly. With my career and my husband’s, we get very few evenings to spend together. Both of our jobs are demanding and can cause us to spend at least 80 hours a week away from home.
Just as I’m about to throw my phone in my purse, it begins to ring. Sighing, I look at the caller ID; why is Mark calling? “Hello?”
“Sisi, can you come over?”
My smile falls. “What’s wrong, Mark?” My brother is just a couple years younger than me, both of us in our forties. We were always close as kids, and that didn’t change the older we got. We’ve been there for each other through everything: our parents’ deaths, my first heartbreak, his moving away to attend college, and many other things. It’s always been him and me. He’s not only my brother, but my best friend.
“I need you to take Cash.” I can hear the worry in his voice.
“I’m on my way.” I hang up, quickly lock up, get out of the clinic, and hurry to my vehicle.
I pull into the driveway of my brother’s brick home. All the lights are on inside; Mark paces inside in front of the bay window. I don’t bother knocking, letting myself in and sitting on the couch. “What happened?” I ask as my eyes follow his movements.
“I don’t know. Something’s wrong with me, Sisi.”
My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know how to explain it, but whatever is going on has been happening the last few months. There’s times I get angry, I can’t control it, and tonight I grabbed Cash’s arm aggressively. There’s other things happening, too.”
My mouth widens in shock. “That’s not like you.” My brother loves his son more than anything in this world.
We were in high school when Mark met Kyra, and they had their whole lives ahead of them. The high school sweethearts went on to college, got married, and wanted so badly to start a family. Due to fertility issues, it took them years, but after many tears shed, disappointment, and a million other emotions, Kyra finally got pregnant with Cash and they were so happy. The life they built together was finally complete until Cash turned two, four years ago. Kyra went to sleep that night and never woke up. Her autopsy came back with no cause of death. Mark was devastated, and at times I wasn’t sure he would recover, but with time he started to heal and has been raising Cash on his own since. He’s the best father anyone could ask for, so this is not like him at all—and I’m utterly shocked.
“I know.” He pulls at his ginger-colored hair and comes to sit next to me on the couch; his shoulders sag with worry. “I’m scared, Sisi.”
Scooting closer, I wrap him in my arms, hugging him tightly. “It’s going to be okay,” I try to reassure Mark, but it does little to ease either of our concerns. “You need to make a doctor’s appointment; we will figure out what’s going on.”
He nods. “I’ll call tomorrow. Cash is in his bed; can you tell him I’m sorry and I love him?”
“Of course.” We hold each other tighter; a tear trickles down my cheek. Pulling back, I look into my brother’s eyes. “You’re going to be fine. We’ll figure out what’s going on, I promise; until then, I’ll keep Cash with me.”
“Thanks, Sisi. I love you.” Tears shine in his eyes, matching mine.
“I love you, too.” I stand from the couch, walk to my six-year-old nephew’s room, and carry him to my car.
Stephen’s waiting on the couch when I walk in with Cash.
“What happened to you being home early?” He’s angry; I can tell just by the tone of his voice.
Stephen must have been home for a while; he’s already out of his tailored suit and in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. He’s always looked sexiest to me when he’s laidback, lightly greying hair in disarray, and stress-free. Don’t get me wrong; when he’s pristine in his suit he’s sexy, too, but there’s just something about a man with that disheveled or rough appearance.
“Let me lay him down and then we can talk.” I take Cash into the spare room, pull down the covers, and lay him on the bed. After tucking him in, I kiss his forehead and shut the bedroom door, leaving it open just enough that a little light from the hallway can come in, so he doesn’t get scared if he wakes up.
I walk back out and sit next to Stephen. “I’m sorry. I was headed home when Mark called.”
“Typical Sierra, everyone comes before her husband.” He stands from the couch. My mouth gapes open in shock. “Your dinner’s in the refrigerator.” He starts to walk away.
I stand, angry that he would say something like that. “Really?” My brow cocks; my arms cross over my chest. “Mark needed me and you think I should choose you over my own fucking brother, my family, my blood? Don’t be so selfish, Stephen.”
He turns back to face me. “What about me needing you? Some time, Sierra, that’s all I ask for, and you can’t even do that! This isn’t a marriage anymore—it feels like we’re more roommates than anything. If that’s me being selfish then fine, I’ll be selfish, because I need my wife and she’s not here. How long should I stick around waiting in the wings?”
“I’m sorry, okay? I’ll make it up to you.” I shake my head. “I don’t know what to say. I didn’t know you felt that way.” I guess the communication lately hasn’t been the best.
“Seems like that’s all I hear these days—you’re sorry. Why would you know when you don’t hear me?” He turns back around and heads down the hallway.
Running my hand over my forehead, I let out a whoosh of air and head into the kitchen. I don’t need this from him, not after the day I had.
Getting the takeout container from the refrigerator, I grab a plate out of the cabinet and put the food on it before heating it up in the microwave.
Opening a bottle of red wine, I pour myself a glass and take my food to the dining room table to eat alone. Too tired to even think about that bath now, I guess I’ll be grabbing some extra blankets and sleeping on the couch. It’ll probably be warmer there than in bed anyway.
All I can say is that I’ll try to do better for Stephen, but I have to be there for Mark and Cash as well. Worry sets deep in my abdomen because I’m not sure if everything will be fine with my brother.
I need everything to be fine.