time, but her life would go on without Derrick. The sun would still continue to shine whether Derrick was in her life or not.
She placed her wedding ring into her jewelry box and looked down at her watch. It was only one oâclock in the afternoon. She grabbed her briefcase from the closet and decided it was time to go back to work.
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âDr. Garrison, your patient is ready.â This time Rhonda knocked on the door before entering. Instead of stopping in the threshold, Rhonda walked in and leaned against his desk in the identical spot Staci had occupied earlier.
Derrick shifted in the chair but didnât make eye contact. âIâll be right out.â
âI missed you at lunch. I brought you something back for later.â
Thatâs when Derrick noticed the plastic bag containing a Styrofoam container in her hands. âYou didnât have to do that.â
âI know, but I wanted to. I canât have my gentle giant passing out from hunger.â Rhonda placed the food inside the refrigerator. âSee you in a few.â
After she closed the door, Derrick leaned back in his chair and picked up his wedding picture. âYouâve always mattered to me,â he whispered to Staciâs image. Why he couldnât voice the words in Staciâs presence he didnât know.
Derrick had been stuck in his seat since Staci left an hour ago. He didnât mean for their first meeting since his leaving to go so badly. When he saw her standing at his desk, he wanted to hold her and tell her how much heâd missed her, but fear gripped him. Then Rhonda came in and everything went downhill from there. There was nothing going on between him and Rhonda, although she would like for it to be. Sheâd made several advances toward him, and honestly, he enjoyed the attention.
He owed Staci an explanation, but he just didnât know how to talk to her. His normally steady hands shook as he punched her number. Her voice mail picked up on the third ring.
âHello, youâve reached Staci Simone. Iâm sorry, but Iâm unable to accept your call at this time. Please leave a brief message and Iâll return your call shortly.â
Derrick felt like heâd been sucker punched in the gut. Staci had removed his last name from hers. What he feared most was starting to happen; Staci was removing him from her life. Derrick steadied his voice enough to speak.
âStaci, Iâm sorry about today. Itâs not what you think. Thereâs nothing going on between me and Rhonda. I just wanted you to know that.â
Chapter 13
âYou did what!â Miss Cora yelled.
âIâve moved out of the house.â Derrick shrugged his shoulders like it wasnât a big deal.
âYou canât be that crazy. How could you leave Staci?â Her sonâs stupidity was enough to make her sit up in bed. Sheâd been feeling weak all day, but the anger brought on by her sonâs revelation gave her a much-needed energy boost.
âMama, you donât understand.â
âWhat is there to understand? You left your wife and for what?â
Derrick stood there with his hands in his pockets and his head lowered, just like heâd done all his life after heâd done something wrong. Like the time he loaned Miss Coraâs car to his so-called friends who, in turn, participated in a street race, getting the car impounded.
âBaby, sit down.â Miss Cora patted the space beside her on the hospital bed placed in her home. Derrick quietly obeyed. âDerrick, Iâm not going to be around much longer,â she began. âI need you to really hear what I am about to say.â
âIâm listening, Mama.â
âDerrick, I want you to forgive me for you not having a father around.â
âThatâs not your fault,â he protested.
âYes, it is partially my fault.â Miss Cora nodded her head. âBaby, I knew before
John Ramsey Miller
S. K. Ng
J.J. Marstead
Marjorie Eccles
Myra Nour
David Zieroth
JG Faherty
Michelle Mulder
Paige Shelton
Kami García