Chapter 31

THAT NIGHT, DAWN HAD BAKED a homemade prosciutto and fig flatbread pizza with a side dish of plain cheese for David.

When he arrived home and stepped into the living room, he saw that the dining table had been set with the only missing piece being himself.

He toed off his shoes and simultaneously pulled off his blazer as he walked into the kitchen and met Dawn filling two glasses with cognac.

"Hey, beautiful" he immediately cooed, feeling all the tension and built-up frustration he'd felt, fade in a single second as he hugged her from behind.

"Hey" she mumbled, relaxing into his chest as she continued to fill the glasses.

"Smells nice" he murmured, burying his face in her neck and breathing in the scent of her rosy vanilla perfume that practically got him high.

"It must be the prosciutto, I added extra spices to it"

"I was talking about you," he said against her skin with his arm rounding her waist.

Dawn turned so that she could face him and David ran his eyes down the fitting dress that showed her figure and hugged her chest. As much as he wanted to rip it off and suck on the skin underneath, he couldn't because something seemed a little off with her.

"Everything alright?" He asked.

She hesitated. "Yes"

"You sure?"

"Yes David"

"Okay," he pulled her close. "I've been thinking a lot and came up with an idea. Why don't we visit Mexico for the holiday? I've never been there before and since it's your birthplace I figured you'd be the perfect tour guide. What do you think?"

"I'm sure it'll be lovely," she said but there wasn't a glint of happiness in the tone of her voice and that made him worry.

"You don't seem as excited as I thought you'd be. What's wrong Dawn, talk to me"

"I'm fine"

"I don't believe you"

She stayed silent, and it was starting to seriously alarm him. He brushed the back of his hand along her cheek. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"I said I'm fine okay" she flattened her hand against his chest and nudged him away lightly. "Let's have dinner, it's getting cold"

David examined her face and stared at her for a few seconds before responding. "Sure"

He let go and whipped off his tie as he walked to the table and sat.

Dawn served him a light portion and sat at the seat just opposite him.

Though they ate In silence, David didn't fail to notice the ominous cloud that hung over them. Halfway through the meal, he'd finally decided to speak but before he opened his mouth, Dawn spoke.

"Paula called," she said, looking straight at him.

David downed his glass of wine, knowing it would help take the edge off of whatever discussion they were about to have. "And what did she say?" He then asked.

"Something about seeing you with another woman," she said, watching him intently and so far, he'd managed to keep his expression unruffled.

"Is that so?" He chewed slowly, it was a stalling tactic. If anything, he knew Paula couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"Well, I cleared the air and told her you would never cheat on me" Dawn added, still hoping for some sort of explanation.

"That was a nice thing to do"

When it didn't seem like he was going to say anything useful, she dropped her fork with a loud clang and that got his attention.

"Aren't you going to at least tell me who she is?"

"She's just a friend," he said simply.

"I was just a friend before you married David, there's no difference"

"Don't make a big deal out of this Dawn, she's unimportant" he said calmly, and the fact that he seemed unaffected spiked her.

"Well, she must be pretty important for you to share a hug with in public"

He dropped his fork, closed his eyes for composure and then, took a deep breath. "Let's not do this, Dawn"

"You started this"

"She was under the weather and needed comfort, all I did was lend a hug"

"Oh, my bad. I didn't realize when my husband became Jesus, the comforter of all"

"Dawn" he groaned. It was no use.

"You've been secretive lately, you return late at night reeking with a smell that I can't even explain and you have these strange nightmares that keep you up"

"I'm just stressed out with work, I haven't had time for myself lately. I thought we talked about this?"

"Is that your excuse for leaving me and roosting in the arms of another woman?"

"I'm sorry Dawn, It won't happen again" he tried reassuring her but she was proving difficult to reason with and he was starting to lose his temper.

"Did you sleep with her?" She asked boldly and he shot her a surprised look.

"Did you?" She persisted.

"No, I did not sleep with her,"

"You sound like you did"

Christ!

"What part of I. Did. Not. Sleep. With. Her don't you fucking understand?" he shot, his voice harsher than intended.

"Are you getting angry at me?"

He sighed. "Why do you always find it very easy to antagonize me?"

"Because these days it's hard to believe anything you say. You've changed David. You're not the man I used to know and If you're cheating on me, you should —"

"God! Do I need to show you my cock before you see that I haven't slept with any other woman? I've been stressed out and the last thing I need is your jealousy ruining my fucking night"

"Jealousy? You think this is about jealousy?" She got up.

"Where are you going?"

"You are insufferable" she cursed and stormed off.

David hissed out a frustrating breath and ran a hand across his face before getting up and walking into the kitchen and when she noticed his presence, she attempted to walk out but he grabbed her hand to stop her.

"Stop Dawn" he stated, trying to pull her to him but she freed herself and stood inches away.

"I don't want to talk to you"

"But I want to" he moved closer and she backed away.

"Go away, David"

"I'm sorry I called your genuine worry jealousy"

She folded her arms over her chest and rested on the kitchen island. "I know you David and I know you're just saying it so I'd stop pestering. You don't really mean it"

"I do. I'm sorry" he took a step forward and when he noticed that she didn't retract, he continued till he was standing face to face with her. "I'm sorry" he muttered, planting his forehead on hers.

Dawn sighed. If she were to be honest with herself, she'd just been frustrated about having to keep her pregnancy a secret and David seemed to be the perfect person to transfer it unto.

"I'm sorry for accusing you of cheating" she apologized and he drew back to look her in the eyes.

"Don't sweat it" he pulled her in. "I'll never cheat on you Dawn, not when you've completely stolen my heart" his hand slid around her waist. "And certainly not with a body like this"

Her face flushed. "You didn't have to add the last part"

"But I do. I have to let you know how much I love you" He slid his hand into her hair and brushed it to the side. "You belong to me as I do to you"

He tilted her head up and leaned in, waiting for her slightest protest but when she did nothing but bite her lip, he kissed her.

"You are my addiction" he mumbled between kisses. "You're sweet," his teeth pulled on her bottom lip. "You smell like vanilla," he slid his lips over to her neck and nuzzled his face in it. "You taste like vanilla..." he nipped on her skin, sucking gently and just enough to make her head tilt backward."Every part of you drives me crazy" he brought his face back to meet hers, his hands slowly guiding hers to rest on his shoulders. "Now tell me why I would ever think of cheating on a woman as sexy, sweet, and loving as you" he pecked her cheeks.

Dawn smiled. "How did I ever fall in love with a sweet-talking moron like you"

He chuckled. "I love you, Dawn"

"I love you too"

"Come on" he took her hand and led her outside the kitchen, towards the stairs.

"No David, I have to clear the dishes first"

"That can wait" He guided her hand to the bulge in his pants and groaned when she instinctively clutched it.  "This can't"

***

THE NEXT MORNING, David woke up earlier than Dawn and spent half an hour staring into space.

They'd made love three more times that night, each time more intense than the last but while Dawn finally fell asleep in his arms, a foreboding feeling kept him awake.

Around 5 a.m., just when the night had gradually begun to transcend into the break of Dawn, he slipped out of bed, placed the duvet over Dawn's nakedness, and tossed some clothes on before walking outsides the house and deciding to go for a quick walk around the block.

Cardio had always been a great way to calm his nerves. It played a big role when it came to clearing his mind and with his thoughts and emotions all over the place, he needed it more than ever.

He'd been conflicted with all the recent occurrences and the more he kept things to himself the more it felt like he was going insane.

Eventually, his walking turned into jogging and as his memories, the good and painful ones came flickering randomly like illustrations through his mind, he began to run.

—Dawn.

The memories of her had flashed. Memories of the times they'd spent together, memories of her smile, her blue star eyes, that bashful look on her face the day they'd become one in the altar.

It all played like a memo in his head — the day he made those solemn vows, his promises — he was reminded of everything, reminded of the taste of her skin, the taste of her lips, and then, as if the screen on which his memories played had changed, he could suddenly see memories of her tears begin to flash. The times he'd hurt her, times he'd made her cry — he saw it all.

"Fuck!" He cursed, running faster.

He needed to stop thinking, he needed to stay focused, to stay —

—Stacey

Out of nowhere, she flashed in his mind, the memories they'd share occupying his line of thoughts.

He could see everything, their past —  Him sharing a bottle of beer with her the night his team had won the basketball tournament. The heartwarming smile on her face the day he'd shown up in front of her house with a huge pizza order. The times they'd spent cuddled up on the couch. Her laugh — He ran faster.

Just when everything had finally begun to seem so simple, just when he was starting to enjoy his relationship with his wife, just when things were getting better —  why why why?!

Now he had a sick son who was frail and lying in the hospital bed and as much as he tried hard to pretend he was fine, David could see it, he could see the pain and the fear behind every smile.

It was his fault, everything, his fault. If he hadn't... He if hadn't —

He ran quicker, pushing himself beyond his limits, going out of breath and strength but he didn't stop and he would've most likely ran an extra mile if his phone hadn't suddenly vibrated in his pocket and halted him.

He stopped at the middle of a zebra crossing, suddenly realizing that he'd run from his house to Starbucks which was nine miles away.

Cursing, he leaned down with his hands on his knees and panted for few minutes before squeezing his eyes shut and finally opening his phone to see Anthony's ID illuminating on the screen.

He picked up as quickly as he could and parted his mouth to form a greeting but the words he heard next abruptly made him freeze and lose all control over his sense.

"Congratulations Mr. Argent, the test results are out and you are 98% compatible for the transplant"