Underestimated Too(119)

“This is for you, fuck face,” I audibly spoke, dropping the burning photo to the grave. One by one, I watched the photos of a lost little boy burn in flames, all the way through his teenage years. Drew lied. Michael did way more than fondle an innocent boy; these were repulsive pornographic pictures. Not one of the pictures showed Michael’s face, only Drew’s. The pictures only displayed Michael from the waist down.

I was appalled and stopped looking, placing the photos on my self-made fire. I couldn’t stand to look at one more thing my husband endured from this man, horrific things that no child should know about.

Once the last photo was up in flames, I picked up the envelope. This time I did gasp, unfolding the paper with the hospital header. “Paternity Test,” I read out loud. What the hell was this? Did Drew have another child somewhere too? Nicholas Andrew Kelley, I read. That’s when I felt faint. The test results were inconclusive and would need to be retaken.

This didn’t make since. I saw those test. I saw that Drew was 99.9% the father. Why would he have an inconclusive test locked up in a bank? That was a dumb question. He didn’t want me to ever find it. Did Drew pay for a bogus test? No, he wouldn’t do that. Would he? Yes, Drew would do that. I knew he would. But would he do it knowing there was a fifty percent chance of him raising another man’s child?

I was suddenly furious. This was the last straw and I was getting to the bottom of it; the lies, every last one of them were coming out. Oh, my god. What if Nicholas wasn’t Drew’s at all. What if he was Dawson’s? We would never survive that. I was sure of it.

“Hey, you can’t have a fire here,” I heard a male voice say. Looking at the smoldering photos turned to ash, I felt the tears run down my cheek. Wiping it away and feeling the soreness from Drew’s hand, I looked at my fingers, puzzled. I was crying blood? That didn’t make sense. I stood to leave and that was the last thing I remembered.

***

I couldn’t see. Why couldn’t I see? Where was I? I could hear voices. I could see a bright florescent light but something was covering my eyes. Was I in a coma again? Nicholas? Oh my god, where was Nicholas. Did he wreck with me. Wait. Was I in a wreck? What the hell was going on? Why couldn’t I see? How long have I been out? Nicolas wouldn’t know who I was after five weeks again. Who was talking? I had so many questions going through my mind, questions that I wanted answers to. Where was Drew? Where the hell was I? I wondered as I drifted back into darkness.

“Drew,” I croaked the next time I woke or tried to wake. I still couldn’t see and had no idea how long I’d been out.

“I’m right here, baby. I’m not going anywhere,” I heard the music to my ears. Drew took my hand, comforting me with his warm touch.

“What happened, Drew?”

“You’re okay now. You’re going to be just fine.”

“Where is Nicky?”

“He’s with Marta. He’s fine.”

“How long have I been here?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer. I couldn’t handle knowing that I was away from my son for five weeks.

“Around twelve hours.”

Drew explained to me that I’d had a bleed in my brain and had to be rushed into surgery. The doctor said that it had been bleeding for a while and could have gotten worse due to a sudden jar, or even a light bump. We both knew what the jar was, although neither of us would mention it.

I spent three days in total darkness, afraid that once the bandages came off I’d be blind. The doctor assured me that I wouldn’t, but I was still scared. I couldn’t wait until that evening when he removed them. I wanted to see Drew and my baby. Somebody had to bring me my baby.

I slept, resting in total darkness for I’m not sure how long. I was woken up by familiar voices. Who was there? It was Drew, I knew that much, but who was the female. Why was I having such a hard time waking up? Deidra! It was Deidra. She was mad. What was she saying? I squinted my eyes as much as possible, trying to concentrate on the conversation.

“She’s got a black eye,” Deidra observed. I knew she was close to me. She was right beside me. I tried to turn my head when Drew spoke.

“Yes, she has two black eyes. She just had brain surgery,” Drew pointed out.

“Did you hit her, Drew?”

“No. I just told you. She had brain surgery. The doctor said it was expected.”

“Hmm, I get that. I get this and this,” Deidra stated. I wasn’t sure what she was talking about. “You know what I don’t get, Drew? I don’t get this right here. You see this dirty yellow right here? That’s an older bruise, healing. For Christ sake, Drew. You could have killed her.”