Never Say Never, page 4
Shaking himself, he found a pair of eyes watching him.
“Are you okay?” asked Jasmine. “You look kinda sad too.”
“I’m okay. And trust me, I understand that parents can sometimes upset you, but don’t you think you should have told your mother where you were going?”
Jasmine hung her head low and folded her arms across her chest. “Why should I?” Her mom was the one who decided to move to this horrible town with mean relatives—a town thousands of miles away from her father. Why didn’t kids get a choice?
“Because your mom loves you and is probably worried sick.”
“I suppose you’re right. But do I have to go now? My grandparents’ house is so loud and noisy,” Jasmine commented on the adults’ complete lack of manners. “Everyone is yelling and screaming at each other. Can’t we sit here for a little bit?”
“Sure we can,” Malcolm relented. What could it hurt? This child is obviously upset. “But what do you say we give your mom a call first?” Malcolm asked, pulling his cellphone out of his blazer pocket. “So she doesn’t worry.”
“I suppose I could do that,” Jasmine replied.
Malcolm rose and that’s when Sabrina came charging at him.
Sabrina didn’t know how long she’d walked the neighborhood. Dusk had long since passed and she was terrified because she hadn’t found Jasmine. What if someone abducted her?
It finally occurred to her to walk through the park. Jazzy loves swings. Maybe she’s there.
As Sabrina walked up the concrete path to the swings and monkey bars, it didn’t take long for her to recognize Jasmine sitting on the bench—and she saw that Jasmine was not alone. She was sitting next to a stranger, who could easily be trying to persuade her daughter into his car nearby!
Sabrina’s heart pounded. She’d heard the stories. Seen the news. Kids turned up missing every day. Their bodies found in the woods or washed up along the shore of some beach. Sabrina ran toward them as fast as she could. Her daughter would not be a statistic or a picture on a milk carton. She had to prevent a kidnapping. His back was to her, so he would never see her coming.
“Get away from my daughter!” Sabrina yelled at the predator’s back, catching him off guard.
The man rose from the bench and Sabrina was startled to discover that he was none other than the mystery man who’d helped her change her flat. But at the moment, Sabrina redirected her attention to the little head hiding behind the stranger. “Come here, Jasmine!”
Jasmine knew that angry tone well and obeyed. She began walking toward her mother. “Mom, I’m sorry.” Jasmine stood next to her.
“It’s okay.” Sabrina tightly hugged Jasmine to her side and kissed her forehead before letting her have it. “I’m just glad you’re okay. But don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again. Do you hear me? You scared me half to death.”
“I’m sorry, Mama, but I—”
“Not another word, Jasmine.” Sabrina pointed her finger in her daughter’s direction. “We will talk more about this when we get home.”
Malcolm watched Sabrina and while she scolded her daughter, his eyes traveled along her delicate frame. From his view, she looked even lovelier than she had the last time he saw her.
When she was through admonishing Jasmine, Sabrina turned her attention to the mystery man. “And you,” she said, “what are you doing here? Are you following us or something?”
Maybe he’d been planning something sinister and she’d caught him in the act. When he changed her tire, he appeared trustworthy, but maybe her radar was off. It wouldn’t be the first time given how easily Tre had fooled her for months.
At her hostile glare, Malcolm stood firm. He was not backing down from this emotional but very beguiling creature. His intentions were honorable.
“Of course not,” Malcolm returned evenly. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.” At Sabrina’s raised brow, he continued, “Look at her.” He inclined his head toward Jasmine. “Does she appear to be hurt?”
Sabrina took a long hard look at her daughter. Jasmine appeared fine. Not a hair was out of place and her clothes were in the same condition as when she’d left. “Well … no,” Sabrina replied reluctantly.
“Then you can see that your daughter was in no harm from me. I was just about to dial your number when you arrived breathing fire and it’s a good thing too, because you never know what predators lurk in the dark.”
“You’re so … so right,” Sabrina said, fumbling over her words. She felt foolish standing next to him, especially when her senses were going haywire. “I’m sorry for overreacting. It’s just when I saw you with Jasmine, I got so scared.”
“Understandably,” Malcolm replied.
“Then you’ve just saved me and my daughter for the second time in two days, and I don’t even know your name,” Sabrina commented. “My, my, for such a small town, you do get around.”
“What’s the old saying? Once you save someone’s life you’re responsible for them. I guess today is your lucky day.” His eyes alighted with amusement.
“It must be. Though you must think I’m a terrible mother for letting Jasmine run off.”
“Why would I think that? I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Sabrina muttered.
“Well, I have an ear to listen, if you want to talk. It would be nice to hear about someone else’s troubles instead of my own.”
So he has troubles? What could possibly be bothering him? From where she was standing, he had it made in the shade. He had sex appeal, good looks, a really hot car and probably a great career. She was sure he wasn’t like her—jobless and homeless.
“Well, I would love to commiserate with you, but I must really get Jasmine to bed.”
Malcolm frowned. “Oh, of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to detain you.”
“You didn’t,” Sabrina said, bending down and zipping up Jasmine’s jacket.
“Here, take this.” Malcolm pulled his wallet out of his pocket and handed Sabrina a card. It read Dr. Malcolm Winters.
“What’s this?”
“My business card … in case you’re ever in need of my white knight services again.”
Sabrina blushed a thousand shades of red. Is he flirting with me? If so, she was a tad bit rusty. “I’m Sabrina Matthews, by the way,” she said, extending her hand. “I … I mean Sabrina Parker,” she corrected herself.
“Nice to meet you too, Ms. Sabrina Matthews Parker,”
Malcolm replied bemusedly at her confusion.
“Please call me Sabrina.”
“Alright, Sabrina it is. Remember to keep that card handy.”
“I’ll keep you in mind, Dr. Winters. Don’t be surprised if you get a call from me one day,” she teased, surprising herself.
“Oh, I most certainly hope so,” Malcolm replied underneath his breath as Sabrina and Jasmine walked away.
Once they finally arrived back at the house, Sabrina found it nearly empty. Most of the family had long since dispersed in search of Jasmine while Beverly Parker stood vigil at home. When Jasmine and Sabrina had come through the door, Beverly had hugged them close, not wanting to let go.
Sabrina made sure Jasmine called each and every one of their family members to inform them that she was home safely and that she was sorry to have caused them any trouble. Then she waited in Jasmine’s room for her to return from brushing her teeth and changing into her pajamas before really laying into her.
“Do you have any idea how you scared us, Jasmine?” Sabrina lectured.
“I’m sorry,” Jasmine replied in that little girl voice of hers. Sabrina knew what was about to come: crocodile tears. Those might work with Tre, but it wasn’t going to work with her.
“You’d better be. ‘Cause if you ever do that again, you’ll get more than just a time-out. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Now, give your mom a hug.”
Jasmine scooted over to the edge of the bed and wrapped her arms around her mother. Sabrina didn’t realize just how much she needed it. She was beginning to think Jasmine didn’t love her anymore.
“I love you, sweetie. And we’ll talk more in the morning.”
“Can I call Daddy? Please?” Picking up her cellphone from her purse, Sabrina flipped through it to find Tre’s new number. Reluctantly her fingers dialed. While the phone rang, Sabrina’s stomach knotted. Please, please, please let Tre pick up.
Luck was not on her side. “Hello,” Melanie replied breathlessly on the opposite end of the line.
“Hello, Melanie. This is Sabrina. May I speak with Tre?”
“Oh,” Melanie dragged, “if it isn’t the little mouse.”
“Eighty-six the name calling, Melanie, and just put Tre on the phone,” Sabrina said, annoyed with Melanie’s tactics. It’s why she so rarely allowed Jasmine to call. The less dealings she had with that witch, the better.
“I’m sorry, he’s busy,” Melanie responded cattily.
“Busy doing what?” Sabrina inquired as her pressure rose. “You mean to tell me he’s too busy to talk to his own daughter?”
“You’re her mother,” Melanie returned. “You’re the one that’s supposed to take care of her. Tre is too busy with other things. Namely me.”
Sabrina wanted to call her every name under the sun, but with Jasmine sitting next to her on the bed, she handed the phone to her. “Ask for your father.”
Happily, Jasmine accepted the phone. “Can I speak to my dad?”
At the sound of Jasmine’s voice, Melanie switched her tone. “Sure, sugarplum. I’ll go get him.”
Sabrina left the room and waited in the hall so Tre and Jasmine could speak privately. She knew Jasmine was desperate for some sort of father-daughter bonding, which is why she was determined that Tre keep his promise and visit her later in the summer.
After a half-hour, Jasmine opened the bedroom door. “It’s Dad. He wants to talk to you.” Jasmine handed her the phone. “G’night, Mommy. And thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Sabrina closed the door behind her. “What is it, Tre?” She spoke into the cell.
“Do you really think it’s a good idea for Jasmine to be calling so much? She’s called me three times in the last week.”
“And you have a problem with that? Jasmine’s in a rough place right now and she needs you. In case you forgot, that’s what being a father is all about!”
“I don’t need you reminding me what my fatherly duties are,” Tre returned, reaching for a magazine and turning the pages. “You should be happy you have custody of Jazzy.”
“Don’t even try it, Tre. You wouldn’t know what to do with Jasmine full time and I highly doubt Melanie signed on to play stepmommy. She strikes me as the type who might hit the deck running if she had to deal with a sickly child or go to a PTA meeting.”
“Go to hell, Sabrina,” he said, hanging up on her.
“You first,” Sabrina replied to the thin air. She could have kicked herself. She’d forgotten to ask him if he was still coming to visit.
When Sabrina finally made it back downstairs, all the lights were out, so she stepped outside onto the front porch for some much-needed fresh air. She was surprised to discover her parents were seated in the wooden rockers. Sabrina sat in an adjacent chair, but she didn’t speak.
Silence ensued while her parents rocked away. Several minutes passed before Sabrina finally let out the pain deep inside her heart.
Although the night was clear and quiet with very few stars in the sky, a dark cloud surrounded her. Sabrina’s head fell to her lap and she allowed the numbness to wash over. She felt drained, having used all her energy just to get through the waking hours of the last six months. “How did I get here?” she cried, a loud moan escaping her lips. “How did it all go wrong?”
She’d never thought that she’d be back home at her parents’ house at thirty or that her ten-year marriage would be over and she’d be talking to Tre like they were strangers.
“I don’t know, baby doll,” Beverly answered.
“I feel like such a failure,” Sabrina cried. “Tre was lying to my face, day after day, and I didn’t see it. I knew things weren’t right between us. That we’d become distant … but I had no idea there was another woman.” Sabrina shook her head in amazement that she could have been so trusting. So naïve. Tre must have had one helluva laugh at her expense.
“Believing in someone, trusting someone, does not make you a fool, Sabrina. It just makes you human.” Beverly rose from her rocker to stand over Sabrina from behind her chair and squeeze her shoulders.
“I hate him so much, Mama.” Sabrina’s voice rose in anger. “I hate him for what he did to Jasmine. To me. To our family. He ripped our lives to shreds and now I’m left to pick up the pieces.” Sabrina ran her fingers through her hair.
“And you will, Sabrina.” Beverly walked from behind the chair and grabbed her daughter by the chin. “Look at me, girl. You’re a Parker and if nothing else, this family is resilient.”
At Sabrina’s raised brow, her mother continued, “You remember when that hurricane came along the coast when you were twelve and damaged the hotel? When it seemed like this family’s heritage was sunk in the mire, what did we do? We prayed to the Lord, dug our heels in the sand and banned together to rebuild that hotel. And right now that’s what you have to do. It’s all about faith, Sabrina. You have to believe in yourself.”
Her father had sat stoically and silent during the whole exchange. He didn’t like seeing Sabrina this way. What happened to his fearless daughter? The one who flew off to Georgetown on a scholarship without ever looking back. Where’s that girl? So, her marriage failed. Marriages fail. Hers isn’t the first and most certainly won’t be the last.
Sighing, he finally spoke, “I know you don’t think I can understand the loss you’re talking about, Sabrina, and maybe I can’t, but your mama’s right about one thing: Sometimes life gives you lemons, but it’s up to you to make lemonade. Understand my drift? So, this man has hurt you … I understand all that, but your life, Sabrina, is more than this one event.”
“I suppose you’re right, but moving on is easier said than done.”
“I guess you’ve got to figure out if this event will define your life or make you stronger. I hope that the latter is true.” Her father shrugged and rose from his rocker. His youngest was determined to wallow in her despair and he didn’t have the heart to watch her do it. “It’s all up to you, Sabrina,” he said and grasped his wife’s hand. “It’s all up to you.”
Sabrina was so deep in thought, she didn’t hear her parents creep off the porch.
Chapter 4
Malcolm paused before going inside the exam room. He didn’t relish giving bad news but it had to be done. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson both looked up at him as he came in and walked over to his desk.
“From the look on your face, I guess I can assume that the test results are not positive,” Mr. Gibson commented.
“I’m afraid so,” Malcolm replied. “Your blood pressure is elevated. Now while I can give you medication to bring that down, at this juncture it’s irrelevant. The bloodwork revealed that your cardiac enzymes are high and more importantly, the ECG showed blockage to the coronary arteries.”
“What does that mean, Dr. Winters?” Mrs. Gibson clutched at her husband’s arm. “In plain English, please.”
“Well, there are two options: medication or a surgical procedure. I would like to try medication first. There are several clot-dissolving medications we can use to correct blocked arteries.”
“And if the clot medication doesn’t work?” Mr. Gibson asked.
“Then a coronary angiography will be necessary. We want to be proactive and prevent a heart attack from occurring.”
Mrs. Gibson looked fearful of all the big words that Malcolm was using, so Malcolm moved from behind his large maple desk and bent down beside her. “I know this sounds frightening, but all of this is necessary to save your husband’s life.”
Mrs. Gibson nodded. “It is very much so.”
“If an angiography is needed, I can perform the surgery. I’m a licensed cardiologist and have done hundreds of these procedures.”
“Then why are you down here in some clinic in Savannah,” Mr. Gibson asked, “instead of some fancy hospital up North?”
It was a fair question, so Malcolm answered it as honestly as he could. “I decided that I needed a slower pace.”
“And that’s all there was to it?” Mrs. Gibson asked, suspicious of Malcolm’s background.
“I assure you, Mr. and Mrs. Gibson,” Malcolm stood up and patted Mrs. Gibson’s knee, “my no longer practicing cardiology full time was not due to anything sinister. I merely felt that I was missing out on life and that it was necessary to make a change.”
“Then, let’s get on with it,” Mr. Gibson said.
“Great,” Malcolm returned to his desk and scribbled a prescription.
“Thank you, doctor.” Mrs. Gibson attempted a half-hearted smile.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Malcolm replied. “Thank me when your husband is well.”
As he turned away, Malcolm could only hope that the medication would solve the problem, if not, an angiography would have to be performed and if that was unsuccessful in opening the blocked artery, then open-heart surgery would be the next viable option. Malcolm prayed that wouldn’t be necessary.
Sabrina decided to take her parents’ advice and enter the land of the living. Her first stop was City Diner for
