Page 50 of Rousing Renee

I went about picking things up and putting them back as neatly as possible. As I picked up some of the papers, a photo slipped free. A quick glance placed it just out of reach. I put all the paper inside and made a neat pile of them. I had no idea where the photo went, but…

Picking it up, my heart pumped in overtime. The black-and-white image that looked like an ocean had a small egg-size black hole in the center. Two dotted lines bore an x on top, with a number one on the left and a number two on the right. The date in the far right corner was from a year ago on my birthday, December 29th. Week four.

“Are you serious, Ezra? You couldn’t wait the entire month!” Tammy stormed into the room ready to blaze a hellfire.

“If this photo is real and you have your tubes tied”—I stood up—“you didn’t carry it to term, you would have told me if you lost it because it would have been proof that you were trying, so that only leaves one other option.”

“What are you talking about?! What are you doing with my things?” she shouted.

I crossed the room in a few strides and stood so close to her that she froze.

“When did you abort the baby?” I gritted out.

Finally, on the same page, her eyes widened, and she stepped back from me. “Ezra…”

“When!” I shouted.

“A week after the ultrasound,” she muttered.

I nodded, but rage blinded me so quickly my entire body vibrated with a newfound hatred.

“Ezra, I can explain.”

“Can you? Can you!” I’d never ever wanted to hit a woman before. However, the amount of cruel things she’d done was starting to warp what was right and what was wrong. “Get the fuck out of my house before I become someone we’ll both be disgusted by,” I snarled.

For once, Tammy listened. I don’t know if it was the expression on my face, my tone, or if something else warned her we were both in dangerous territory. She rushed from the apartment and didn’t return.

“Uh, Mr. Hamilton, are we good to take everything downstairs?”

“You can burn that shit for all I care. Just get it out of my sight.”

“Copy that.” The guy walked out into the living room, where I assumed the rest of his crew waited. “Get all this onto the truck, Pronto. Doesn’t matter how. He doesn’t care about it, but we’re not in the business of destroying property. Though she deserves it. Ungrateful ass woman.”

That part.

I went back to the box and made sure everything else was inside. The ultrasound went into my pocket, and I gave the box to the nearest mover. I exited the condo and gave the key to the receptionist.

“Have them give me a call if you need something. The maid will be here by tomorrow to clean it. She’ll return the final key then.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hamilton. It’s been a pleasure.”

I nodded and exited the building. Inside my car, I knew I wouldn’t be okay until I was far away from here. I started the car and drove to the only safe place I knew.

Completely exhausted, I pulled up to the Ranch with my eyes barely open. I got out of the car and left my stuff inside. Bed. That was the only thing on my mind. I was drunk off no sleep, too much caffeine, not enough food or water, tear-drained eyes, and an adrenaline hangover. When I put the keycard to the door, it didn’t open. I needed to get inside desperately, but I couldn’t get the damn thing to work.

I kicked the door angrily and cursed so loudly I scared myself. I tried again and again … I rested my head against the door, eyes closed, and prayed it would work. I just needed sleep.

“Ezra?”

Now I was hallucinating, too? “Cruel, cruel, cruel!” I shouted to the universe.

“Ezra?”

I turned my head in the direction of the stairwell and saw Renee standing there with a terrified expression on her face.

“Are you real?” I asked her.

“I better be.”

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