Page 16 of The Devoted Husband

“What day is it?”

With a scoff, Clay shook his head. “It looks like I got here just in time.”

“I’m not really in the mood for company, Dad.”

“It looks like you’re not in the mood for a lot of things,” Clay said, heading for the kitchen. He grabbed a garbage bag, returned to the living room, and began to clean. “What’s this about?”

“Sade,” he admitted. “I think she’s going to leave me.”

Clay eyed him skeptically, shoving a plastic cup into the bag. “What makes you think that?”

“She’s been different since we came home. Things are perfect between us when it’s just us with no one else around.”

“That doesn’t sound like the kind of relationship you should be in, son. If she changes when other people are around, maybe she’s hiding something.”

“I don’t think that’s it. I think it’s because she’s too loyal to Dante. Even when he’s not around, he’s ruining things. I won’t let him stop me from raising my baby.”

Clay’s movements stopped. He leaned against the couch. “You said it wasn’t your baby.”

Atlas sucked his teeth. “Not biologically, but it is my baby. I promised to raise them, and I just...I don’t want Sade to lose focus on what we’re trying to build.

She’s been questioning me about things that don’t matter.

..things she should trust me on...and I can’t shake the feeling she’s going to leave me. ”

“Well, if she does leave, it’ll be her loss. However, if you want to try to prevent that, try reminding her of how good you two are together. How good you are for each other. If that doesn’t work, nothing will.”

Atlas nodded in agreement and tried to take the bag from his father, but Clay kept it. He told him to get freshened up and that he’d take him for a drive when they were done, hoping a little sunshine and vitamin D would further pull his son out of his depression.

A Week Later

Atlas stared at Vanessa’s lips, trying to focus on what she was saying.

His mind was racing, making it difficult for him to keep up.

He put his hands over his ears, squeezed his eyes shut, and shook his legs as he rocked back and forth.

Vanessa stood, then sat beside him, wrapping her arm around him.

The tight restriction of her embrace grounded him.

Atlas wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but his mind was settled when he lowered his hands and looked at her.

“Atlas,” she called softly—carefully. “Have you been taking your medicine, baby?”

Standing, Atlas began to pace. How dare she question him? He was a grown man. If he’d stopped taking his medicine, that was his prerogative.

“Is that what you came over here for?” he questioned, staring down at her. “To keep tabs on me?”

“Of course not. I’m just...a little concerned. I haven’t seen you all week. And now it looks like you’re having difficulty focusing on me. Last time this happened, you had an episode, and if that’s what’s happening now, I want to make sure we’re prepared.”

Gritting his teeth as his nostrils flared, Atlas looked away.

He pulled in a shaky breath, trying to maintain control of his emotions.

Had he been taking his medicine? No. Would he tell his mother that?

Absolutely not. Did Atlas feel he was on the verge of an episode?

Perhaps. Would that make him take the medicine or speak with a psychiatrist? Not at all.

“I’m fine, Ma. I just needed some time to figure things out with Sade. I thought I had a way to get her back, but I think she really wants me to stay away.”

“That’s her right, Atlas. Besides, I don’t like her anyway.”

His head whipped in her direction. “Well, you’d better find a way to get along with her because I’m going to make sure she doesn’t go anywhere.”

Chuckling, Vanessa ran her hands up and down her thighs. “I get that you may be a little enamored by her because she is beautiful, but let’s not forget she’s why your cousin is dead, son.”

“Can we stop with that? Adam is dead because he was about to pull his gun out on the police. Sade was his victim. If they would not have shown up, he would have raped her. I won’t let you demonize her to put him in a positive light—cousin or not.”

Their eyes remained locked before Vanessa scoffed and stood. “Wow. Well, I guess I’d better go. I was coming to check on you, not argue with you. Remember, though, family comes before anything and anyone.”

“Yeah, and that includes my family with Sade. She’s carrying my baby, and she’s going to be my wife. Get behind that, Ma, because it’s going to happen.”

Her head tilted in confusion as she squeezed his arm gently. “That’s not your baby, Atlas. You promise me that you’re taking your medicine?”

With a chuckle, Atlas licked the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, Ma. I promise.”