Page 35

Bailey

I was in a meeting with Giada, and we were supposed to be talking about her marketing strategy for her grocery stores instead I was admiring the big ass diamond on her left hand.

I was about to ask how Devin proposed when I got the call from Royce that Titan passed out at work and was in the hospital.

Thank goodness Giada offered to drive me because I was too worried to focus on driving.

I also believe it was divine intervention that I was with Giada when Royce called because when she called her fiancé to let him know we were coming to the hospital he told us he had just assigned himself as Titan’s ER physician.

As soon as we showed up, he allowed me and Giada to go directly to Titan’s room without the hassle of being asked if we were family.

When I saw Titan’s family crowding around someone in the hallway I rushed toward them.

I thought they were speaking with a doctor but when I got closer it was a beautiful and slender woman with a chin length bob dressed in a black suit standing there looking uptight.

I didn’t recognize the woman but judging from the tense whispers and body language as I got closer, it was clear that this woman was not welcomed.

Trent was the closest to me, and when I was directly behind him, I tapped him on the back.

“Hey, Trent, what’s going on? Royce said that Titan passed out.” My voice was trembling, but I held it together. When Trent turned around, I saw that his eyes were red and glossy.

“Hey B.” He exhaled as he hugged me so tight my cheek was pressed hard against his chest.

“Trent, you’re scaring me, what happened to Titan? Have you seen him? Can I see him?”

“He passed out and Eva’s raggedy ass was there but all she telling us is that he suddenly collapsed,” he whispered while his cheek was on top of my head.

“Eva? His ex-wife? Wait…he was with Eva? What was he doing with her?” Now my anger was overriding my concern for Titan. Why would he be with Eva after he basically told me he hates her?

“You know about her?” Trent looked surprised.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I? I screwed my face up at him like something stank.

I never met Eva, but I suspected that the woman everyone was looking at like shit on the bottom of their shoes was her. Without a second thought, I backed out of his embrace and moved around him. I wanted to ask her why she was with Titan, but Trent quickly blocked my path and gripped my shoulders.

“I can tell by the look in your eye that you want to smack her ass but believe me, she is not worth it, and I know my brother would not want you to go to jail tonight. Although he would be the first person to bail you out. The only reason Eva’s still here is because she’s getting off on the fact that she’s the only one who knows exactly what happened and she wants us to kiss her ass to find out. ”

“Don’t you think we can get answers faster if you let me snatch her by her Dora the Explorer ass bob.” Trent was trying not to laugh. When I felt his grip on my shoulders loosen I tried to move around him, and once again he stopped me.

“As much as I would love that, I’m more afraid of my brother’s reaction if I let his woman fight.

But now we’re waiting on Neurology, these people are moving so damn slow, and Titan has been in and out of consciousness since he got here.

The first doctor said when he does wake up, he hasn’t been coherent.

” When I heard Trent’s voice hitch at the end like he was fighting tears he hugged me again like he needed it, and I rubbed his back when I heard him sniff.

“Hold on, you’re waiting on Neurology? Give me a second,” I said, pulling back so I can get my phone out of my purse. Trent looked a little confused as he watched me tap my phone screen and hold the phone to my ear. “Hey, Tae are you at work?” I asked as soon as my brother picked up.

“I actually just walked out and headed to the parking lot. What’s up? You a’ight?” His voice immediately sounded concerned.

“No, I mean yes, I’m physically alright, but Titan isn’t.

He passed out at work and he’s here at your hospital and we’re all waiting on Neurology to examine him.

” My voice was shaky and now Torrence and the rest of his brothers along with Titan’s parents who just realized I was there came over and gathered around me leaving Eva’s bony ass by herself.

“I’ll be there in five sis,” he said before hanging up.

I let out a deep breath and explained to everyone that my brother was the Director of Neurology and was on his to examine Titan himself.

Everyone started hugging me and that must have been when Giada silently came up behind me because my heart almost jumped out of my chest when I heard her voice very close to my ear.

“Did I hear correctly? Titan’s ex sitting here not saying what happened?”

“Yes, the moment leading up to Titan’s collapse is what’s she’s being close lipped about,” Grace said, hearing Giada’s question.

“Ex’s are fucking annoying.” Was all she said before she walked past me.

I watched as she walked slowly over to Eva.

No one had any idea what Giada was doing, but whatever she bent down and whispered to Eva made her brown skin pale.

The look of horror that came over her face made Eva step away from her and hurry toward the Emergency Room exit.

She was moving so fast she almost knocked down a nurse on her way out.

When Giada turned around, she had a smirk on her face.

“What did you say to her?” I asked.

“Doesn’t matter, but usually people talk when I say what I said. I must be losing my touch, but hey. You wanted her gone so at least I achieved that.” Giada smiled as she shrugged her shoulders .

“Hey, sis, where is Titan?” My brother approached while everyone thanked Giada for getting rid of Eva.

Trent told Dante the room Titan was in, and Giada texted her fiancé Devin to meet him there.

Everyone was anxious as we waited for Dante and Devin to finish their examination and go over his test results.

After about half an hour they both stepped out and their expressions were unreadable. I had a fleeting thought that they must teach how to maintain a poker face in medical school. Before they could call us over to them, we all flocked around them, and my brother spoke first.

“Hey, I’m Dr. Dante Henson, Director of Neurology and Bailey’s brother.

I hate to meet everyone under these conditions.

” He gave everyone a small smile as he shook Titan’s father’s hand after he extended it.

“So, I went over Titan’s scans and vitals.

Has he ever talked about his blood pressure because it’s extremely high.

Now, I don’t know what caused this kind of spike in his blood pressure because it looked fine as I went over his history.

However, he needs to take it easy. I’m concerned that he had a Transient Ischemic Attack, which is a mini stroke-like attack.

There was a small blockage I saw on his brain scan, but Dr. Williams has administered a blood thinner. ”

My knees buckled but Trent held me up as everyone listened with rapt attention.

When Dante finished explaining Titan’s condition, Devin said everyone could see him.

I let Titan’s family go in first. I wasn’t family, and I knew they were anxious to see him.

I looked to my left and saw Devin and my brother talking further down the hall.

I assumed they were discussing a treatment plan for Titan and Giada was leaning against a wall across from them.

I needed to focus on something to keep myself from making myself sick with worry, so I stared at Giada and narrowed my eyes.

Now that her jacket was open, I noticed something different about her and walked over to her.

“So, how are you doing?” I asked, looking at her stomach as I approached.

“I’m good, just hungry and pregnant.” As soon as she ran her hand over her slightly protruding stomach, it was like a silent whistle for Devin because one minute he was talking to my brother then I blinked, and he was by her side.

“You ok, baby? How are my babies?” He asked quickly and covered her hand with his.

“I beg your finest pardon. Did you say babies? Plural?” I was doing a terrible job to keep my voice down.

“Yeah nosy, we’re having twins. We don’t know the sex, we’re keeping it a surprise.” She smiled, and it almost knocked me off my feet because she looked so serious a minute ago. Now she was glowing.

“Devin wants to have a baby shower,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Since you’re making me money with your marketing ideas, I think it’s only right to invite you and your man to the party when the time comes.”

I accepted the invitation at the same time Torrence opened the door to Titan’s room and called down the hallway.

“Hey, he’s awake… and Bailey, he’s asking for you.”

Me, Dante, and Devin walked quickly down the hall and into Titan’s room.

I let my brother and Devin walk past me as I stood by the door.

When I looked at my baby, I teared up because although he looked exhausted, his eyes were alert as he laid in the bed looking around the room.

As soon as his eyes landed on me, he gave me a weak smile and as soon as he turned his palm up, I hurried to him and laced my fingers with his.

“Hey, I never thought I would see you again like this,” My brother said at Titan’s bedside, “Do you remember me? And can you tell me your name?” Dante asked.

“You’re…Bailey’s brother… My name…is...Titan.” He spoke slowly and when he finished, I noticed his speech was slightly slurred, and I caught the quick look Devin and Dante exchanged.

“Can you remember what happened today?” My brother asked.

Titan looked like he was thinking hard but eventually he shook his head no and I saw my brother's eyebrow furrow.

“I want to admit him for observation his blood pressure and this slurred speech are concerning. I want to run more tests; we’ll go put in the orders,” Dante said, addressing Titus and Grace after they agreed to admit him, they thanked my brother and Devin profusely before they left the room to start the admit paperwork.

“Bailey, thank you so much for calling your brother,” Grace said, turning to me and gave me a big hug. Once again Giada must have snuck in while everyone was focused on Titan because when Grace turned to her, I didn’t even know she was here.

“And thank you too young lady, the white doctor who was assigned to Titan when the ambulance brought him here was so rude asking me if my baby took any hard drugs before he passed out, didn’t ask nothing else, just assumed drugs.

If it wasn’t for Dr. Williams coming when he did me and Titus would have been in jail for choking the hell out of that bastard.

Dr. Williams let us know he was your fiancé and that he took over because you called him before you and Bailey showed up.

” When Grace looked like she was about to hug Giada she smoothly backed up a couple of steps.

“Don’t mention it, my man is the best doctor here. You all take care… Bailey, I’ll call you later.” Giada waved once to the whole room and left.

T itan spent three nights in the hospital, and I was there each day and when I arrived whoever was there from his family would give me an update before they left. It was like we were working in shifts.

Dante said that Titan improved significantly the first night, but he still couldn’t remember all the events that led up to him coming to the hospital, and he wanted to keep him longer to make sure he did not regress.

Once he was discharged, Lloyd was there to pick us up and take us to Titan’s house. When we arrived, Lloyd helped me get Titan inside. He was walking great, just a little slower.

We were still holding hands when we went to the living room, and after we both sat down, Lloyd left. We filled his prescriptions before we got here, and I wanted him to take his first pill now.

“I’ll get you some water so you can take your pressure medicine,” I said and before I could stand up Titan gripped my hand tighter. “What’s up, baby? You ok?”

“Please stay,” he whispered.

“Ok but I want you to take your medicine before we go to bed,” I said, grabbing the remote off the coffee table before I sat back down.

We were on the couch for a few hours watching TV when his doorbell rang.

When I moved to get up again, Titan tightened his grip around my waist to keep me there, and I chuckled.

“Babe, someone’s at the door. I’ll be right back,” I said, giving him a quick kiss.

When I opened the door, I was greeted by a large flower arrangement of several dozen roses of assorted colors on a flat cart that was being pushed by a delivery man.

I guided him to the small table near the door and signed for the arrangement while he hefted it onto the table then left.

I was locking the door and when I turned around, Titan had walked into the foyer to look over the flowers.

I walked toward him and watched him pick up the card and read it.

Without warning, he picked up the large vase and slammed it against the floor.

“Fuck you, Eva!” He shouted in rage before punching the wall in front of him.

I jumped back in fear because of Titan’s sudden burst of anger, and I screamed when I felt a burning sensation on my cheek.

I quickly gripped my face because one of the pieces of glass from the vase crashing into the floor just cut my face.

When I moved to get away from the mess, I felt another piece go into my bare foot.

“FUCK!” I yelled out.