Several more men entered the room. These men were vicious looking like the one they called Lyon. Only one word could describe them.
Warriors!
They too went down on a knee around Gabe’s body and bowed their head. I stared amazed.
They were praying. Dear God, these big, vicious, dangerous men were praying! When they were done, Lyon stood and scooped Gabriel up, throwing him over his shoulder. And then as quickly as they came, they began to leave. I held up my hand that wasn’t broke and opened my mouth to call them back, but no words came from my lips.
“They won’t harm him!” A deep voice came from over my head. Startled, I looked up. Crouching down on a beam that hung a few feet up was the dark man who had stopped Gabe in the alley the day he chased me; the man with the cowboy hat. He silently watched the men as they left with Gabe’s body.
“Where are they taking him?” My voice had grown hoarse from all the screaming and the crying I’d done. His dark gaze lowered to mine. I couldn’t see his face because his hat cast a shadow over it.
“They are taking him to someone who can heal him.” Hope flared inside of my chest.
“So, he’s going to be okay?” The man didn’t speak for awhile. He looked back toward the way the warriors had gone, before slowly shaking his head.
“I don’t know. It’s of the will of the Father.” Loud sirens filled the air as police cars came to a stop outside of the building.
“How long before I know if he survived?” I asked. When I didn’t get an answer, I looked away from the door that was now being flooded with cops. They had their guns drawn to where the dark stranger squatted down on the beam, only…
He was gone!
“No!” I cried, as I frantically turned to look around me.
He was gone!
“Ma’am, are you okay?” The officer asked for the second time. Being careful of my wrist, I turned to look behind me.
He was gone!
“Ma’am, are you okay?” He asked again. My tear filled gaze settled on him.
“No….”
Chapter 22
Giving Up… So Hard to Do
Yasmin
After the first year went by with no word from Gabe, most of the world chalked him up as dead, all except for me, Gabrielle and Kenny. Each of us stubbornly held on to him, refusing to give ear to reason. However, as the second year approached, our optimism began to wane. But before I go there, let me fill you guys in on some things that you’ve missed.
Eventually, Kenny and Stacy came around to speaking to me again although, Stacy took a little bit longer than Kenny. A few weeks had passed after Mac’s funeral, I’d hid myself in that great big ole’ lonely mansion working in my garden for comfort. Gabrielle and I clung to each other, feeling like we were all we had. She promised to stay with me and help out with the babies.
Yes, babies!
She was right. Her dream of two beautiful piecesof luggage was confirmed at my first doctor’s appointment that I cried all the way through. Anyway, I digress. I was telling you how Kenny came back around to speaking to me.
I was in the kitchen preparing dinner for me and Gabrielle. When I’d gone in the dining room to set the table, I came up short at the sight of Kenny sitting there in his regular chair with his head resting on the back, staring up at the ceiling. There were tears running down his face.
He didn’t speak and neither did I. The truth was, I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t really feel like saying anything. So, the three of us just sat there shuffling our food around our plates, none of us really having much of an appetite. Just needing to sit in the presence of Mac and Gabe’s empty chairs, reminiscing about the times they were filled; each of us wondering what we could have done to change the outcome of the events that happened that day.
Although Kenny didn’t say it, I know he blamed me. And in a way, I began to blame myself as well. Had I not opened the door that night for Mayor Davenport, none of this would’ve happened. I should’ve listened to that little voice in my head that reminded me of what my pa-pa said. I should have just told him to go away.
I should have done so many things…. if I had a nickel for all my regrets, I would be a nickelionaire.
Kenny came back the next night and the night after that. Eventually we spoke.
“How was y’all day?” He quietly asked on the fourth night.
“Hell.” I responded as quietly. He nodded.
“Yeah… the same for me.”
Gabrielle didn’t respond, she just stared at her water glass with tears in her eyes. My heart hurt for her. Even with her and Gabe’s strained relationship, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what it was like losing a child. She had become extremely protective of me; wanting to make sure that nothing happened to harm the babies.
Anytime she felt like I was overdoing anything, she insisted I rest, made sure I took my vitamins and drank at least eight glasses of water each day. She said the water would help the babies have perfect skin and hair. She insisted I rub my stomach with avocado oil and read to the babies because they were listening.
Kenny continued to come over for dinner, but he didn’t laugh anymore. He didn’t joke
