“It pains my heart to tell you this, but because we as men have a horrible habit of taking for granted that which is continual, we sometimes have to be broken in order to be fixed. In that hour, be brave my son. You will have to sacrifice for the one that matters.” I stared straight ahead listening to his words.
Today they didn't feel as cryptic. They felt like the warning they were meant to be.
“I just realized something…” I told him. “After all these years of you stalking me, you never told me your name.” He chuckled.
“My name doesn't matter. I am a Qoheleth, nothing more, nothing less.”
Well, I guess all good things come to an end. What he had just said to me, had to be the most cryptic thing he'd said to date. However, his earlier words had not been. I understood what he was saying.
Yeah, I suffered a lot of pain at the hands of my father, but if given a choice to switch places with either of my friends, I would not. I don't think I could bear to see them suffer so. His last warning came to the forefront of my mind. That one had not been so clear.
“What do you mean I will have to sacrifice for the one that matters?”
When after a minute he didn't answer, I looked up surprised to see that he had disappeared as silently as he'd come.
Chapter 14
Confessions
Yasmin
As I helped Gabrielle get settled into the rose room, she sat on the bed staring down at the floor as if she was lost.
“This closet is nearly as big as the one in Gabriel's room.” I told her trying to sound upbeat. She was sad and it was breaking my heart.
“We can go shopping and decora—” She looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
“Thank you, Yasmin! Nobody has ever done anything like that for me!” I came and sat on the bed with her.
“You’re welcome sweetheart.”
She chuckled through her tears. “I have never seen anybody stand up to Gabriel. I think at one point you frightened him.” We both chuckled a little over that.
“Yeah right, surprised him maybe? But I doubt if I frightened him. Actually, now that my adrenaline ain't pumping no more, I’m kicking myself for being so foolish. Goodness, he could have hurt me, you know?”
I remembered her warning to me about making him angry, and I really can't believe I just did that. I don't know what came over me. I just felt so mad. She took my hand.
“I don't know about that.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
She thought for a moment. “Yes, it's true that I've never see anybody talk to him like that. But it's also true that I never would have believed in a million years that he would have agreed to ever letting me live anywhere near him, and look, he did—for you.” I looked down at the floor shaking my head.
“No, I don't think he did it for me. He did it because it was the decent thing to do.” She reached out and gently lifted my chin so that our gazes were once again connected.
“Trust me, mija. He did it for you!” She smiled. “I think he loves you.”
I shook my head again. “No, that's impossible.”
“Why is that impossible?”
“He just doesn't seem like the type that falls in love.” She chuckled, looking away toward the window.
“Why, because he has mommy issues?” I shook my head vehemently.
“No, of course not. I would never say that!” She exhaled.
“Well, it's true you know. I abandoned him when he was only a baby.” Her words brought pain to my heart.
“I abandoned him when he needed me most.” She whispered.
“Why Gabrielle?” I asked gently. She reached up and wiped at the tears that pooled in her eyes.
“I let my father and Calhoun convince me that it was better for him to live with his dad. I was so young, and afraid. My father was threatening to put us out on the streets. I was a spoiled girl and thought there was no way I could survive without an education or my daddy's money, let alone take care of a child.”
“Why didn't you just stay with his dad?” She laughed out before her eyes filled once again with bitter tears.
“I left Calhoun because if I didn't he would have eventually killed me. He nearly beat me to death twice. And I knew that if I stayed he would not only kill me, but also the child I carried in my womb.”
Oh God!
Oh God! She sent her baby to live with a monster. Stacy's words suddenly made so much sense. How could she do such a thing?
“You’re asking yourself, what kind of mother would then turn around and send her baby boy to face that all by himself, right?” I didn't say anything. I didn't want to lie, but I didn't want to cause her anymore hurt than she was feeling right now.
She shook her head. “I was so stupid. My dad and Calhoun were the biggest men in the world to me at that time. And I had them both in my ear telling me that it was the best move for Gabriel!” She began to weep.
I felt horrible because for the life of me I couldn't muster up an ounce of sympathy for her at this moment. If Calhoun beat her—oh my goodness!
Did he beat Gabriel too?
“Did he hurt Gabriel?” I blurted out, my words came out harsher than I intended.
She cried harder, bringing her fist up to her head where she began to hit herself. I reached for her hands stopping her.
“I'm so sorry, baby!” She cried out.
“Shh! Here, lay down for a bit! You just need a little rest.”
I helped her to lie back on the bed, taking off her shoes for her. She
