There were so many things Imani wanted to say, but she kept her mouth shut. Garrett didn’t say a word. He looked right through Shannon.
The drive home was made in silence. In her head, Imani had attempted this conversation so many times. Yet, when she opened her mouth, nothing would come out.
Finally, Imani worked up the courage to talk to her husband. As soon as they crossed the threshold of the door, she turned to him. She softened her voice. “Garrett, we should talk.”
He wouldn’t make eye contact with her. “I had Anna pack a few things for Garrett Jr. and me. We’ll be staying at Devonshire for a while. They are already there.” Devonshire was the home he’d had when they met. Garrett had never sold it. He ran a frustrated his hand down over his face. “I need a bit of time to get my head together.”
Imani tried to touch his arm, but he pulled away as if he’d touched something hot. “Y-you’re leaving me and didn’t even have the guts to discuss it with me first?” Imani did all she could to keep the rising panic at bay. “Garrett, nothing happened between Raymond and me. You’ve got to know that. And what about, Garrett Jr.? He’s three. We can’t keep bringing people in and out of his life, allowing him to get close, then snatching them away.”
She could see in his eyes that he didn’t believe her. How was that even possible? Imani had had all of three conversations with Raymond.
“A lot has happened over the past year or so. I need some time, Imani. I’m hoping you’ll still visit with Garrett Jr. He’s grown extremely attached to you.” The pain in his chest was almost as bad, or worse, than the day he’d found out Garrett Jr. wasn’t his biological son.
He’d fallen in love with Imani. He trusted her. Everything pointed to him being irrational, but he wasn’t sure. He didn’t know if he could believe in his own judgment anymore. If Garrett didn’t get away soon and clear his mind, he would explode. Everything that had led up to this point would choke him to death. “I left my information with Felix. He should be able to get ahold of me if you need anything.”
Imani stood there in stone silence. She couldn’t believe that Garrett was doing this. They were having a baby, and he was about to walk out of the door.
The numbness started within her chest as it worked its way throughout her entire body. Imani wasn’t sure how long she stood looking at the door after he’d gone, but it was awhile. She hadn’t even known tears were streaming down her face until she tasted the saltiness on her lips.
Robotically, she wrapped her arms around her body. Imani had to think about each step as she put one foot in front of the other to propel herself forward and make it up the stairs to her bedroom. Once there, she sat on the bed before easing herself down onto the pillow. Slowly, she closed her eyes and let the tears fall.
It would be four months before Imani would be in the same room with Garrett Hadley again.
Chapter 24
Present Day
In almost total darkness, and after hiking up three flights of stairs they had already traveled down, Garrett managed to open a door that led to the thirteenth floor. The four of them fell through it, desperately trying to breathe in the fresher air.
Raymond was the first to get up on his feet. He leaned over with his hands grasping his knees, eyes watering and wheezing. “We.” Cough. Cough. “Can’t.” Cough. “Stay here.”
Anthony rolled over onto his back and looked up, glassy eyed.
Garrett stumbled to his feet and looked around. There were mostly restaurants and a few high-end gift shops on this floor. There also didn’t seem to be anybody on it. Everything was in a state of disarray. There had been a marble fountain with water that changed colors and danced to music. Water was shooting out everywhere but in the pool. Garrett helped Imani up and caressed the side of her cheek. “Are you okay? You hit your head pretty hard back there.”
“I’m better than Seth and Lucinda, so there is that—at least for now.”
Anthony asked, “Is that water filtered?”
Three pairs of eyes immediately followed his. Garrett responded. “Yes.” Quickly, the four of them made their way over to it.
Imani kneeled awkwardly and scooped water into her hands, then planted her face in them hoping to ease the stinging of her eyes.
Raymond followed suit and cupped water in his hands pouring it over the back of his neck. He spoke without being spoken to. “How much any of us are better off than Seth and Lucinda is a good question.”
Garrett’s tolerance with Raymond had been pushed beyond its limits. “Shut the hell up, before I drown your ass in that pool.”
Irritated Imani ran her fingers through her now wet hair. “Why are you even here? You had no reason to even be in this building. Just our bad luck to get stuck with you.”
“Good old Garrett’s trying to buy me off.”
Garrett clenched his jaw. His voice was a low growl. “Whatever business transaction we were discussing is between us.”
“I’m all for
