Chapter 10

Nathan pulled up in the driveway of the Evans’ house, he pulled out his cell and dialled Amber’s number to let her know he was outside. He climbed out of his car, as his cell continued to ring, in time to see Mia falling to her knees and crawling towards her house. He dropped his phone from his ear, slammed his car door and rushed towards her.

The sound of the car door closing echoed through the trees like an explosion. The sound drawing the attention of Taylor and Gabriel to the figure dashing across the lawn to Mia’s side. Gabriel followed suit, forgetting what he and Taylor were arguing about.

“What happened?” Gabriel was at Nathan’s side in a heart beat, he’d crunched down next to Gabriel and stared on as Nathan turned Mia over on her back. Nathan skated his hand underneath her head for support.

“She was fine just a second ago.” Gabriel’s eyes flickered about as if the movement would allow him to understand.

“Mia.” He called out to her, placing his free hand on her cheek and tapping slightly. She made no sound. Nathan placed his index and middle finger on her neck to check her pulse. “Mia.” He repeated the action, her eyes flickering open for a second only to close back down. He pulled her into his arms and stood up before Gabriel could respond.

“She fainted, I’ll take her inside and make her comfortable.” Nathan waited for Gabriel to rise to his full length and regretted the decision instantly. Gabriel was blocking his path. His eyes trained on Mia passed out in Nathan’s hand.

“Who do you think you are?” Gabriel snarled. He was seeing red. He didn’t like that another man was holding his wife in his arms.

“He’s with me.” Amber came around Gabriel and stood next to Nathan. “He’s my boyfriend.” She shot Gabriel with an eye roll.

“And he’s a doctor.” Nathan informed Gabriel. This was the first time he’d been face to face with the man and he instantly didn’t like him. Nathan prided himself on his easy going nature, it was a necessity when dealing with difficult patients and he’d seen lots of angry, irritated or annoyed patients in his line of work. Gabriel’s reaction was a first though. It was as though his annoyance was triggered merely because Nathan dared to touch Mia, who was unconscious.

“What’s happened?” Amber shoved some hair off her sister’s face, her eyes softening.

“What the hell did you do?” She targeted her boiling rage at Gabriel.

“Babe…” Nathan attempted to calm her down. The major issue at the moment was Mia.

“She is such a drama queen.” The voice took them all of guard. They turned and found Taylor with her hands on her hips and her feet tapping into the lawn. They were silent for a bit.

“I am sure she is faking it.” She scoffed and checked her nails.

“What the fuck are you still doing here?” Amber’s anger had switched from one culprit to another. She took two steps towards Taylor but Gabriel blocked her path.

“She is leaving.” Gabriel towered over Amber. She shook her head and growled. She wasn’t afraid of him. His instinct to protect the woman who had aided him in hurting her sister for years made her blood run cold.

“Who is she?” Nathan questioned, beginning to feel impatient.

“His mistress.” Amber leaned her head closer to Gabriel and spat the words in his face. She focused on the tightening his jaw and fought the urge to rip his teeth out.
Nathan had never seen Amber this hostile, but given the situation he really couldn’t blame her. His gaze flickering between Gabriel and his mistress and he wondered why they were all in the same location at the same time. It was not his first time hearing of Mia’s husband having another woman on the outside but he never in his life would have thought that he was bold enough to have her at the house.
Now that he was able to see Gabriel’s mistress face to face, he was even more confused. There was nothing special about the woman, although he himself didn’t condone infidelity in relationships. No reason he could see to make him comprehend the why. Why would a man ever jeopardize his family for a woman he clearly didn’t want enough to let his wife go?

“Amber.” Nathan knew he had to be stern. “We need to get Mia inside. I can’t hold her forever.” This did the trick. Amber immediately began leading him inside. Nathan turned around to address Gabriel.

“Perhaps you should carry the other lady home, she doesn’t seem to be in a state to drive.” He couldn’t help but notice his mistress’ tear soaked eyelids, her ruffled clothes and her messy hair. As a doctor, he had to care for everyone’s life, regardless of the choices they make and the people they hurt. “I’ll see to it that Mia is taken care of.” He didn’t wait for Gabriel to respond and instead followed Amber inside.

“Where is Amiyah?” He whispered to her as he crossed the threshold into the house.

“She fell asleep right after I gave her a bath.” Amber responded, helping to clear a space on the couch for Nathan to lay Mia down. Nathan nodded, advising Amber to place some pillows underneath Mia’s head.

“Do you have any idea what was happening?” He questioned watching Amber shake her head slowly from side to side.

“Taylor showed up out of the blue and demanded to speak to Mia. I took Amiyah inside. I only came back out when I saw you tried to call.” She explained, a groaning alerting them to Mia regaining consciousness.

“Take it easy.” Nathan guided her to a seated position. “How do you feel?” he took her arm and checked her pulse.

“I am fine.” Her gaze passed between Nathan and Amber. “What happened?” she sunk further into the pillows, her head an arena for a marching band.
Amber parted her lips to speak but Nathan reached out and held her arm. “What’s the last thing you remember?” he needed to prompt her memory.

“I don’t know.” Mia shook her head and swallowing hard.

“Bring her some water, love.” Nathan directed to Amber. She immediately rose and rushed off to the kitchen.

“Take your time.” He soothed, giving her a few moments to full recover. Amber walked in the room and held out a bottle to Mia. “Here drink this.” Mia complied and sighed.

“I remember reaching home and then—” her voice trailed off, her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes appeared magnified by the water rising in them.

“Where is Amiyah?” She was fully alert now, pushing aside the pillows to get up. Nathan and Amber kept her seated. “Take it easy.” Nathan said.

“Where is Amiyah?” She repeated, her voice cracking, the tears flowing down her face as she stared at her sister.

“Amiyah is safe.” Mia was still shifting about trying to get off the couch. Amber held onto both Mia’s hands to secure her attention. “Hey, look at me.” She stared into Mia’s eyes and waited for her to stop moving. “Amiyah is safe. She is asleep.”

“Where is Gabriel?” her fingers pressing against the vein in her temple.

“He isn’t here.” Nathan responded. This piece of news causes Mia to visibly calm down. She exhaled heavily. Amber and Nathan exchanged a few gazes between them. They were clueless and it seemed as though they would continue to be so.

“I need to leave him, tonight.” Mia said after a few moments of sinking back into the couch.

“Where is this coming from?” Of all people, Amber couldn’t wait for the day her sister left Gabriel but that wasn’t enough to quell the curiosity swelling in her head.

“I need to get my daughter away from him.” She said, closing her eyes on the tears re-surfacing. “He made Taylor get an abortion and all I could think was ‘what if that was me?’”

Nathan’s eyes widened this was definitely a twist, Amber’s reaction was less subtle. “What!” Mia nodded her head.

“I was waiting to save up to be able to afford a good attorney and be able to take care of Amiyah but I can’t lose more time. I can’t let Amiyah grow up with such a man.” She began shaking her head violently. This couldn’t go on. She wanted her daughter to be free, the cycle could not continue.

“Another child to take care of would be nothing to Gabriel.” She was staring at them now. “How could he carelessly end the life of his own child?”
Amber slid in next to Mia and took her into her arms. “Amiyah is fine. She will be fine.” Mia held on to her sister as her body convulsed.

********

Gabriel threw his house keys on the kitchen counter and sighed. He dived into the refrigerator for a bottle of water, cracked the seal and seated himself.
Today had been one hell of a day! He brought the bottle to his lips. He hadn’t realised just how thirsty he was. The cold water rejuvenating him from the inside. He trashed the empty bottle and sat back at the counter to catch his breath.

“Can we talk?” Gabriel gazed at Mia leaning against the entrance to the kitchen.

“Good to see you up and about.” He signalled her to come closer. Mia inhaled, walked into the kitchen and sat down opposite Gabriel.

“What do you want to say?” he was steeling himself for the conversation to be about Taylor.

“I am leaving you, tonight.”