Lauren smiled at her son and her parents as Demi pushed her through the doorway.
“Be easy, D.” Demi’s warning didn’t stop DJ from pummeling her with hugs.
Her pain was still immeasurable, but she was grateful to be home.
“My baby,” she said, hugging him tightly, relief flooding her as she pulled him into her lap. She had never been so grateful. Her entire life had flashed before her eyes. She hadn’t taken time to think. When she saw her child being snatched, she reacted. It could have cost her life, but if that was the toll to pay to keep him safe, then she was willing. Pain had never felt so good.
“Guess what, Ma? Dad got us a dog!” DJ shouted. “His name is Bails and he’s...”
“A dog?” Lauren asked, peering over her shoulder in confusion. “You hate dogs.”
“It’s temporary,” Demi said, without giving further explanation.
“Aww, Dad! Why? I swear I’ll be responsible if you let me keep him! Ma, tell him!” DJ pleaded. Lauren didn’t know what to say. She had just gotten home and already she was overwhelmed. She looked to her mother for answers.
“Okay, Granny’s boy, let’s take it slow on your mama, okay? We’ll talk about the dog later. She needs to rest. She still has a lot of healing to do.” Lauren kissed the top of his head as he pulled back.
She could feel his relief and the gratefulness on the faces of her parents warmed her. It was Demi’s energy she couldn’t quite read. He had been silent the entire ride home from the hospital. He was brooding. Moody. Mean even, but the feather strokes he soothed her shoulder with as he stood behind her wheelchair told her that he was happy she was alive. He was appreciative but she knew him well enough to know that this entire situation had sent him into a deadly headspace.
“This is nice and all, but she needs to rest. I’ma get her set up in the bed. The nurse should be here any minute,” Demi said.
“You hired a nurse?” she asked.
“Just until you’re up and moving around without pain. You’ll need the help,” Demi said.
“I don’t need help, I have you,” she said.
“It’s done,” Demi said.
Lauren left it alone as Demi wheeled her through the house and into their bedroom.
“You know this isn’t your fault, right?” she asked.
He didn’t respond as he lifted her from the chair and placed her gently on the bed. He removed her clothes, eyes flashing in the darkness, as his brow wrinkled. He was displeased. She touched his face and Demi maneuvered away from her fingertips.
Her heart ached. After all these years... she wondered if it were possible to spend a lifetime with someone and never get used to their touch.
Slipping a loose silk gown over her body and then turning her feet up onto the bed, he tucked her in without one word.
“Stop blaming yourself,” she whispered. “I’m fine. We’re fine.”
“If I ain’t to blame, who is?” he asked.
She couldn’t answer that one. She only watched him walk to the en suite, wash his hands, and then walk out. Before he disappeared, he said, “Get some rest.”
Her mother’s presence in the doorway didn’t surprise her. She was overbearing in that way. If Demi was the caregiver, her mom was going to come behind him every time to make sure it was done correctly. She didn’t mean harm. They all were shaken up over the shooting. Lauren smiled and patted the bedspread.
“Come on in, Mommy.”
The hesitation in her mother’s stance made Lauren frown, and when her mother stepped inside and closed the door behind her, Lauren knew... she just knew whatever was about to come out of her mother’s mouth was bad.
“There was a woman at the hospital for Demi.”
Lauren’s stomach sank.
“It was probably just one of his artists, Mommy,” she replied, covering, lying. She was shielding herself from the embarrassment that admitting that her husband was a lying-ass nigga would bring. Anger and shame filled her. She didn’t even know the full story yet but somehow, she didn’t need to. Shehad felt the presence of another woman in her marriage long before she had been revealed. Lauren knew it was true. Still, she covered for his ass.
“It didn’t look like it was business to me. The way he held her. She was crying and I don’t think she knew about you because she was angry. She showed up to the hospital and...”
