Unsuitable Obsession - Part One (35 page)

The following day, Amber sat quietly outside waiting
for her visitor along with the other patients. Unlike most
treatment centers, Amber was allowed to wear her own clothes. She
never dressed up, always wore what was most available and soft,
sweats and a T-shirt.

Amber was tense, nervous, and kept eyeing the glass
patio doors while other patients around her visited with their
loved ones, unintentionally clouding her view. What was she going
to say to him? She hadn’t seen him for over a year and a half.
Sixteen months and fourteen days to be exact—the exact day of the
motel room. Oh God
,
she just thought about it again, she
didn’t want to, but it just happened. Amber brought her hand up to
close her eyes. Now why did she think about that? It just slipped
right in. The motel room, Eduardo and her are making love.
Oh
no,
it happened again.
OH NO! Not again, go away, make it go
away.
She had been safe for so long, coming out of the coma
into a safeguarded world, going through her daily routine with
ease, not wanting to talk to anyone if she didn’t want to or feel
like it; only talking to Dr. Hayward, who, in his own way, was a
sheltered haven. He could have been a priest, a teacher, her boss,
or her father
. He was helping her come out of a bad
situation, and she respected him.

And then she saw him...

Her brother-in-law entered an area like no other and
her heart saluted at just the mere sight of him. Sauntering down
the sidewalk…dressed in a dark brown suit, beige tie and
cream-colored dress shirt. Her favorite colors on him. He knew
that, he did, damn him. Amber felt her throat close up the moment
his eyes met hers.

A nurse showed him the way towards the outdoor
visitor’s courtyard, and Eduardo began, which seemed like an
endless walk, towards Amber. Along the way were splendid views of
the landscape and facility beyond. Individual one-bedroom one-bath
bungalows set amongst grassy fields of Sego and King Palms, a
tropical array of desert terrain, with patios of cobblestone
concrete and stone waterfalls. A personal domain for each patient,
and that warmed his heart. He came in closer, sat down next to her
and gently grabbed her hand.

Oh God, don’t touch me!
Her heart yelled out,
but her body didn’t react that way, her flesh wanted more.
More,
more, MORE! Oh God…please, pretty please…oh God please…no more.
Her heart dropped into her stomach, tears swelled within her hazel
eyes, she bit down on her lower lip trying ever so hard to make
them subside . . .

Hello? Remember Me?

Eduardo’s legs nearly buckled from underneath him
the moment he reached her side. Instantly he noticed she had cut
her hair, but it endured a silky black. Wearing no makeup, dressed
in a plain white T-shirt and light gray sweats, she was the most
radiant creature God ever created.

Eduardo reached for her hand and gently grabbed it.
Just the slightest touch sent electricity throughout his entire
body. Tears swarmed his eyes at once, remembering when he came into
contact with her he would soon forget how to let go.

He brought her palm up to his mouth and gently
kissed the scar on her wrist. “Amber, I’m sorry...please forgive
me,” Eduardo confessed wholeheartedly choking back further agony
noticing her tears. Amber slowly wrapped her arms around his neck.
Simultaneously, releasing huge sobs of relief, they clutch each
other fierce and cry from the anticipation of seeing one another
again—bawl from the realization of what brought them to that
point.

“I’ve been a so selfish,” Eduardo confessed, wiping
the moisture away from his eyes. “I wanted to mask our affair, I
know now what I demanded came with a price, seeing you dying in the
hospital, you taught me a lesson.” Eduardo brought her palm up to
his mouth and kissed her scar once more. “Wherever you were, I
wanted to be with you. I’ve never been so petrified in all my life.
I know I shouldn’t be telling you this, Dr. Hayward asked me not
to, but I think you should know that I
was
going to leave
her. I know how to seduce a woman,” he snickered, rubbing her hand.
“I know how to break-up without any complications, but when it
comes to maintaining a relationship, I’m still a trainee. I just
needed a shove...and when you left, you ram me down. I was going to
make us legitimate Amber—you’re all I ever wanted and Good God, I
never thought you’d do what you did.” Eduardo kissed her palm over
and again; tears rolled down his cheeks instantly. “I’ve been at
your bedside since I brought you here and prayed each night that
you’d be healthy once you awoke and that you’d still love me.
Seeing you now and those tears in your eyes, I know that you still
do. I don’t need my family Amber…
I need you
...You were meant
for me and I always take care of what’s mine. We’re going to wake
up in each other’s arms, eat breakfast in bed and hold hands on the
beach. I’ve been in love with you since the day we met.” Eduardo
kissed her scar for the last time and turned her hand over to slip
a 3-Carat Radiant Cut diamond solitaire on her finger. “I want you
forever Amber and we’re flying to Vegas this weekend to make it
official.”

Amber was still in awe that his body was even
sitting next to hers! A weak smile embraced her face while tears
continued to run down her cheeks. She finally gazed down at the
ring and spread her fingers out to admire the precious stone.

“Do you know how long I’ve owned that ring?” Eduardo
beamed at her. “I bought it the day before you married my
brother.”

Amber returned his happiness and giggled. It had
been a long time. Eduardo Sanchez had been the man in her dreams.
When Dr. Hayward told her who paid for her support, made sure she
was comfortable, she knew she would never forget this wonderful
human being; throughout all her therapy, both pleasing and
unfavorable, she probably never would. Sessions so arduous, other
patients around her were so engrossed. Had it not happen to Amber
she would have never believed it was true. That a couple like them
would endure that long, worship extensively; desire to be with each
other even now.

Amber continued to shed tears. Eduardo reached for a
nearby tissue box and tore one away and gently wiped the misery
aside.

“I don’t need diamonds Eduardo,” Amber spurted,
grabbing his arm moving in closer to him, “I only need you.”

“Good God…just hold me,” Eduardo mouthed, embracing
her body. “Now do you believe me when I say I love you?”

“Yes,” Amber expressed, breaking apart from him.

“I love you to extreme,” he gushed, holding her face
within his hands. “I want to be with you until one of us draws our
last breath. Do you hear me? You were put on this earth for me and
I will
never
abandon you.”

Eduardo couldn’t withstand his mania any longer and
lightly drew his mouth towards hers. Amber kissed Eduardo foremost
with sweet impulsiveness before long returned his frenzy
tenfold.

Eduardo forced himself away; he wanted to make love
to her right then and there! He whispered in her ear, “You
are
going to marry me, right?”

“Yes.”

Still aroused, he voiced, “Good, ‘cause there’s
someone I really want you to meet.”

Apprehensive all of a sudden, Amber brought the ring
up to her face and continued to dab her eyes with Kleenex. What did
he just say? The range of emotions he just divided, giddiness was
now mixed well with skepticism.
Someone?
What does that
mean? What happened to him while she was unconscious?
Who
did he meet?

Eduardo waved at the windows beyond and Amber
watched him as he stood up and became removed from her. She wanted
to grab him back—why was he withdrawing? Her heart jumped out of
her skin. She was just offered the most comforting words of
encouragement to finally feel steady enough to walk out of medical
care when Eduardo selfishly plucked the solace away?

Amber was startled by the sight of her mother
entering first and didn’t notice Sheila leading a small hand out
the glass doorway. Amber brought her eyes down towards the toddler
and practically exploded.

Good Lord, who was that!?

Eduardo knelt to the ground and rested his torso on
top of his heels and Amber went pale with shock as Eduardo opened
up his broad arms and invited the little boy into them.

Once the boy was within Eduardo’s clasping, Amber
gazed up at her mother skeptically. Amber didn’t know what was
going on, she was utterly confused and was trying to catch her
breath.

“Oh baby,” Sheila exclaimed, reaching out for Amber
and gathering her body in for a hug. “I’m so sorry for having kept
it from you but we asked Dr. Hayward not to tell you until the
timing were right.”

Amber went motionless—she was stunned. She eyed
Eduardo again; he had scooped the little boy up within his arms and
held him tenderly confined.

Amber wanted to be glad for him, she did, but all
she felt was heartache. Did Leticia have another child when she was
in a coma? Thank God Eduardo made sure to soften the blow by
offering to get married before...
before...
Good Lord, he
introduced his son. Amber could tell the boy was his. The toddler
had Leticia’s coal black hair and unmistakable green eyes like the
both of them. He looked just like Kyra when she was little. The
toddler was obviously at ease with his dad; the youngster laid his
head on Eduardo’s chest and bore right into Amber’s eyes sucking
his thumb.

“Amber, you OK?” Eduardo asked, concerned that
Amber’s face went pale.

Sheila continued to caress her daughter’s hair,
“Baby, you feeling all right?”

Amber shot looks at the both of them. No, she didn’t
feel all right, no, she wasn’t OK!

Eduardo and Sheila both glanced at one another.

“Maybe we should hold off telling her,” Eduardo
expressed dejected.

“Maybe you’re right,” Sheila agreed, continually
caressing Amber’s tresses.

“Just go ahead—say it, tell me what you’re trying to
avoid. I promise I won’t overreact to your son,” Amber confessed,
feeling her throat close up. “Anyway...he’s adorable Eduardo, you
must be very proud.”

Eduardo gulped with another distinct gaze at Sheila.
Sheila turned her head in dismay.

Amber noticed that the toddler suddenly fell asleep
on Eduardo’s shoulder. He was so angelic-like with his dark
eyelashes shut.

“Amber...your mother had no other choice but to
transfer you out of Cedars and into a county hospital. Your care
was oftentimes unethical—”

“I know all that Eduardo,” Amber cut in, “Just
introduce me to Leticia’s son...”

“He’s not hers,” Eduardo reciprocated, caressing
Amber’s cheek with his hand, “He’s yours.”

“He’s...
what?
” Amber spat out, standing up
immediately and backing away from them.

This is why Dr. Hayward insisted they hold off
telling her so quickly; Eduardo realized swiftly watching his
beloved cover up her mouth now in skepticism. “He’s yours Amber,
he’s your son…you can hold him if you’d like.”

Amber felt this incredible urge to do just that and
took the little boy away from Eduardo’s warm clutch. The child
continued to rest and curled up within Amber’s cynical arms. She
scanned his little body in uncertainty. Hers? “H-How?”

Eduardo wrapped himself around mother and child.
Stroking the back of Amber’s hair, he expressed, “It was
unprecedented—although not uncommon for a woman to be pregnant in
an unconscious state. The doctors were in disbelief…your past
medical history proved without a doubt any possible way for you to
be expectant. My heart sunk when I first found out, I thought you
might have been raped. I demanded an ultrasound the minute you
arrived at Palm Desert. Your mother and I were with you when they
did the procedure; we wanted to know ourselves how far off you
were. We were overjoyed the moment they told us the fetus was a
four-month gestation.”

“Oh God,” she cried, holding the boy tightly bound.
Good Lord he
was
a miraculous angel!

“Relieved that you weren’t assaulted, I went to see
Victor to share the good news. I thought this would make him
happy…bridge the gap between us. But when we discussed the
pregnancy, he threw the divorce papers in my face.”

“He didn’t even want to know?” Amber uttered through
tears. “But Victor loves children.”

“That’s just it...the look on my brother’s face when
I told him, it made sense.”

“What made sense?”

“That you hadn’t been sleeping with him. That the
conception couldn’t have been his...but mine.”

Amber began to fully cry now and buckled to her
knees. She glared down at the child who was still within her grip.
He was a perfect mesh. He had her hair color, her mouth and long
fingers, Eduardo’s skin-tone, nose, dark eyelashes and green
eyes.

Eduardo bent down with her and eased her body back
up. “You had a C-section at seven months, the baby was under stress
and they performed a hysterectomy at the same time. After that
entire trauma on your body, the doctors said you’d probably never
wake up,” he cried, butting his head up against hers. “
But you
did
...I knew in my heart that you would and Sheila and I were
elated and asked the facility not to tell you just yet prior to
knowing that you were sound enough to handle the truth.”

Amber kissed the boy’s forehead, “He’s...magnificent
Eduardo.”

“You created life Amber, not me. We watched him grow
inside your belly while you had no knowledge. I thank you for
giving him to me.”

Amber looked across at her mother and smiled. Sheila
in turn beamed back at her daughter. “I love you baby.”

“I love you too Mom.”