He poked his head through the door. “Hey.”
Harlem glanced up at him. He looked tired. His eyes had dark circles around them. He was stressed, but so was she. Harlem would not feel sorry for him. She turned back to the television. “Why did you lie to me? I guess a better question is, why have you been lying to me?”
Slowly, Damian walked into the family room and sat down next to Harlem. He rubbed his hands up and down his thighs. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
Harlem’s chest ached, and her eyes closed. Her mind was spinning. “I came home from work today fully prepared to leave you. Then I asked myself, why should I? I love this place. I haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve done everything to make our relationship work. So, you can pack your shit. I picked out this furniture.” She pointed to the window. “Those drapes and everything in this place was all me. I shouldn’t have to leave it because you’ve been unfaithful.”
“What? Wait. That’s not . . .”
Harlem had to stand. She got up off of the couch. “How could you do this? And with Dana of all people?”
“What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not cheating on you!”
Harlem whipped around. “You told me that you were in meetings at your office all day today. Natalie told me you’ve been off-site all week! I heard Dana in the background when we were talking this afternoon.”
Damian lowered his head. “That wasn’t Dana.”
Harlem placed her hands on her hip. “No? Okay. If not Dana, who? Not that it would it make it any better.”
“I plan to explain it all when Carter gets here.”
“Carter?” Harlem was confused. “What’s he got to do with this? Is he going to lie for you now that you’ve had time to get your stories together?”
Damian wasn’t going to answer that. It was silly. The buzzer to their condo went off. “That’s him now. Let me get the door, and I promise to explain everything.”
Harlem’s life was falling apart. She did not want to see, hear, or talk to Carter Owens. If Damian wasn’t with Dana, it was probably somebody that he met while with Carter. Both of them could go straight to hell!
Speaking of the Devil. Harlem’s eyes were shooting daggers at Carter when he walked into her family room.
He was not in the mood for any of Harlem’s shit. Briefly, his eyes glanced down at her stomach before quickly finding something else to focus on. His voice was gruff. “What was so important that I had to change my plans so that you could talk to me tonight?” Carter was clearly not in a good mood either.
Harlem folded her arms across her chest. “Considering everything that’s going on, I’d like to know that myself.”
Damian rubbed his hands together. “You both deserve the truth, and I can only hope that you’ll forgive me after I give it to you.”
Chapter 22
A feeling of dread spread throughout Harlem’s body. Slowly, she took a seat in one of the chairs that sat opposite the sofa and Carter.
Damian started to speak. “Several months ago, I found out that I couldn’t father a child.” His voice shook. “What I didn’t tell you was that shortly after we started IVF treatments, I found out that I had pancreatic cancer. In my arrogance, I figured I could beat this thing.”
Harlem’s voice came out in a barely-there whisper. “What?”
Carter didn’t like the direction this conversation was going.
“I should have told you both, and that was a mistake. This situation has forced me to take a good long look at my life and those closest to me.”
Damian turned watery eyes to Harlem. “Baby, I should have married you years ago. It will be one of the greatest regrets of my life.”
Harlem’s heart was beating so fast and hard she was sure they could see it. “Why are you talking like this?”
He didn’t answer that question yet. Instead, Damian continued with his speech. “I know that you and Carter barely tolerate each other. My hope is that the two people I love most would be there for each other after I’m gone.”
“I-I don’t understand.” Harlem’s brain couldn’t process his words.
Carter swallowed hard. “What are you saying?”
The anguish on Damian’s face said it all, but he had to say the words out loud. Maybe then, he would start to believe them. “I’m dying.”
Tears began to roll down Harlem’s face. “No.” She shook her head. “You can’t be. You’re too young.”
Damian didn’t have the strength to be strong for them. “I wish that were the case, but it’s not.”
Carter felt like he was sleepwalking. He refused to believe it. “You can beat this. I’ll start making some calls.”
Damian knew that would be his response. “This is a problem we can’t throw money at. I’ve had the best doctors, and I’ve been in treatment over the past few months. So far, it’s not working.” He turned to Harlem. “The woman you heard over the phone this afternoon was my nurse. I’ve been going through an experimental treatment.” Damian smiled weakly. “It’s a last resort kind of thing. If it works, fantastic. If not, the doctors have given me a few weeks to get my affairs in order.”
Harlem’s hand went to
