Page 18 of Playing the Game
I peek over at her. “If you were mean to him, why did he stay?”
“I went after that man like my life depended on it. I wanted him the second I laid eyes on him, so once he settled in, I asked him out for dinner. Afterward, I invited him back to my place and got him drunk. He couldn’t drive, so he stayed the night.”
“Oh.”
She shoots me a mischievous grin. “Let’s just say I didn’t let the opportunity pass me by. I found out I was pregnant a few weeks later. The rest, they say, is history.”
I picture them having sex, and a searing pain burns through my chest. I shake away the visual.
“So you guys started dating right when he moved here?” I glance up to see the opening of the church.
“No. We didn’t start dating until after I told him I was pregnant. He was crazy enough to propose a couple of weeks later.”
“He did? Wow, that’s fast.”
Her expression grows wary. “We were both scared, and Ididn’t want to be alone. But I did love him. I knew it from the first day I spent with him. He was everything I dreamed of in a man. He still is, but his heart’s never been with me.”
She motions for me to go into the church. I analyze her for a second. Her love for him still hangs in her eyes. She must have so much agony around their loss, and now this.
I reach over, moving Jami’s belongings to my side, and give her a hug. “Jami’s heart is huge. I’m sure you still have a piece of that. You always will.”
She hugs me and then releases me, holding back tears. She then goes into the room ahead of me.
We search for the candles, but there are none. I suspect it’s a fire hazard, so we sit in silence with each other and swim in our thoughts.
We swipe away tears that represent all that we’ve lost with Jami, and in a strange way, we bond over him. It’s probably the least selfish thing I’ve ever done. If he were here with us, he’d be beaming with pride.
I spend the following moments praying to God. “If you can hear me, please bring Jami back to me. If you do, I promise to do better for him and treat him like he deserves. I promise I’ll never let him feel alone ever again.”
I turn Jami’s fate over to the only entity that can help. At least, that’s my hope, but it might be too late.
Lauren and I return to the waiting room about twenty minutes later. Jonah scowls as he eyes her up and down.
He joins me by my side. “Are you okay?”
“I’m doing the best I can. Why?”
“I’m supposed to watch out for you.” He glances at Lauren.
She dips her head and retreats toward Chuck. He’s awake now and assessing Lauren and me.
Maybe they thought we would come to blows. I don’t know. Even Melanie is studying us and ready to step in if needed.
She strides over to Jonah and me. “Where have you been? We were looking everywhere.”
“We went to talk and light a candle for Jami.” I brush beside them and sit in a chair.
Jonah and Mel sit on either side of me. Jonah rests his elbows on his knees and keeps a suspicious eye on Lauren.
I lean forward and catch his gaze. “Jonah, why are you staring at her like you want to pull her hair out?”
His face bunches together in a scowl. “Hunter told me she hit you once. I don’t trust her.”
“That’s why we went for a walk. She wanted to apologize for her past behavior.” I hold Jami’s clothes tighter. “Even so, she wouldn’t hit me in the hospital.”
“You never know.” Melanie crosses her arms over her chest. “Why did you tell Chuck to let her know about Jami?”
“They share a son, Melanie. Why else?” My words come out sharper than I intend.
