Page 36 of His Baby Her Gift

“Evening, Mr. Owens.”

“James, right?”

“Yes, Sir. I could have sworn I saw Ms. Thomas left when my shift started. I thought she might have been with you.”

Carter stopped walking. “You saw Harlem leave? Tonight?”

“Yeah. Almost a couple of hours ago.”

“You must be mistaken.”

“No, Sir. I came on around eleven, and she left out the front doors instead of the garage around eleven-fifteen. That’s why I figured she was with you.”

Carter was confused. Harlem was getting ready for bed when he left. “Did you see her come back?”

“I didn’t. Unless Ms. Thomas came back when I left for a break.”

“Thanks.” Carter thought that was odd as he made his way over to the elevator. Impatiently, he tapped the number to Harlem’s floor on the elevator pad. The doors opened didn’t open fast enough. When they finally did, Carter jammed his hands in his pockets, and he walked inside. Where the hell could she have gone this time of night? Carter had her stocked with a lifetime supply of black-walnut ice-cream. He would literally kill her if she went out to a store this time of night.

The thirteen-second ride up felt like an eternity. Finally, the doors slid apart; Carter stepped out and strode over to the door.

Carter knocked several times. There was no answer. Pissed, he pulled out his spare emergency key and opened the door. The second it opened, Carter was assailed with the smell of gas. He started coughing uncontrollably, and his eyes began to water. He covered his eyes and nose with his jacket and pushed his way inside.

“Harlem!” He called out.

She didn’t respond.

Carter managed to make his way into the kitchen. He immediately recognized that the gas burners had been left on and turned them off.

As he rushed out of the kitchen, Carter could see that Harlem’s purse was still on the table next to the door.She wouldn’t leave without her purse, or would she?After the carjacking, it was possible. Something told Carter to check just to make sure she really wasn’t home.

Carter was having a hard time breathing. Still, he walked into her bedroom. As he looked inside, Carter could see a lump in the bed.Oh, shit!

His heart began to race at an ungodly level as he made a mad dash over to her.

“Harlem!” He yelled.Dammit! She was here.

She didn’t respond.

Carter shook her by the shoulder, but again, she was listless and unresponsive. He sent up a few silent prayers as he felt for a pulse. It was there, but very faint. Carter couldn’t even breathe out a sigh of relief because of the gas. He was beginning to feel light-headed.

Quickly, Carter scooped Harlem up from the bed. As he turned, he spotted their cell phones. His was right next to hers. He grabbed those too and ran out of her condo.

Gently, he laid her down on the ground to dial 9-1-1. After calling in the emergency, he began performing CPR.

Carter tilted her head back slightly and lifted her chin.He placed his hands, one on top of the other, in the middle of the chest and started compressions.Carterpinched Harlem’s nose shut and put his mouth over hers, and blew. He watched to see the rise in her chest.

Harlem was unresponsive.Dammit. I can’t lose you too.Carter performed the same motion all over again.

Cough. Cough.

The sound of Harlem’s coughing was music to his ears. “Thank God.”

Her voice was weak–like a barely-there whisper. “Carter? What’s . . . I feel . . .”

Harlem lost consciousness again just as the EMTs were arriving. They took over performing CPR as they asked Carter a million questions. He answered as best he could.

Harlem’s eyes fluttered open again. Once they made sure that Harlem was stable, an oxygen mask was placed over her face. They picked her up, put Harlem on a gurney, and wheeled her into the elevator.

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