Forever My Love Ch. 07

Jerome with difficult got up and slowly limped to his son, wrapping his arms around him.

"That was the most painful thing I have ever experienced in my life, carrying a child for 9 months and then finding out it died."

"W-what do you mean?" Jerome sounded confused. "I don't get you."

"I was in the hospital for a number of months because I started getting sick." He said, barely above a whisper. "I had cancer and that's why David left because he couldn't stay with my suffering anymore. I waited for death and my tummy started growing. Turns out that it was not cancer.... I had a condition called Persistent mullerian duct syndrome..." He paused before he continued. "...I was pregnant with David's child, our child.

Against all warning to terminate the pregnancy and remove the female organs, I decided to carry the baby. But she never survived, dad. She died."

Grief held Jerome in merciless grip and he began crying uncontrollably.

"I... I was a grandfather." A choked whisper escaped his lips. "I never even knew it. This is my fault... I caused this. I am so sorry. Please, forgive me. I am such a bad father." He put his hands together, his eyes dropped to the floor. "Forgive me!"

Ben glanced at his father and shook his head. "No! You didn't do anything of a sort. And I don't blame you for this either. I might have done something while I was pregnant that led to that."

"I am sorry."

Father and son hugged each other and just comforted one another. Each of them seemed inconsolable, especially Jerome who felt the guilt eating him up from the inside. Eventually, as the tears subsided, they pulled away, their eyes still locked. A shared understanding lingered between them, a hug that Ben had probably been longing for. He felt much better than he expected.

Meanwhile, Elena who had heard everything stood outside looking confused, eyes wide and mouth gaped. Her hands trembled from the fear that had come with the news of Ben's child. She couldn't believe it and the more the words repeated, the more confused she became.

"Ben and David had a child?" She whispered. "How?"

In that moment, she knew that she had to hide the news because if it came out, it was gonna bring chaos. If David got to know of this, it was gonna ruin everything they had done to that moment to make sure that her son was happy.

'No!' She shook her head. 'My son cannot know of this, especially my David. This news can ruin everything.'

What was she going to do?

***

A scream was heard early morning, waking everyone that heard up. David didn't even bother putting on something to cover his chest as he found himself running downstairs with his husband behind him. He didn't take long as he found his sister in the living room looking stressed.

"Amber? What the hell are you screaming for?" Jim asked angrily. "Is this your way of getting attention?"

Seeing her brother, Amber rushed to him. "Please, tell me he slept in your room last night."

"What are you talking about? Who slept in my room?"

"Michael!" She gasped. "I have checked everywhere for him. His bed looks like it wasn't slept in last night."

"What?" David's voice trembled. He felt his heart begin racing and dread slowly crept up on him. "You must be joking, Amber? Michael didn't sleep in my room last night and last I saw him was after dinner."

"David?!" Her voice wavered, echoing through the room.

"Oh please, stop it!" Jim furiously pulled her, raising his finger at her. "This isn't funny and you should stop it. I know what you're trying to do here but guess what..."

"Can you just shut up!" Amber snap, pushing him away. "You think everything is about you? We're talking about a child missing and you think I'd care about whether you're talking to me or not. You're delusional if you think I'd use Michael to get attention."

Without giving a thought, David rushed upstairs to check his son's room. But true to what she had said, there was no Michael. His heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the room thoroughly, the anxiety clawing at his insides. A sense of dread wrapped around him like a suffocating shroud.

He checked the whole room but there was nothing. He checked other rooms but there was nothing. He came running down the stairs like a man who was being chased by hounds of hell. He was panicking and he felt like his heart was about to burst.

"Amber!" He gripped her arms painfully. "What happened? Tell me this is a joke."

"Of course, it is a joke." Jim hissed. "She wants attention, can't you see that?"

Ignoring Jim, Amber stared at her brother. "I went to prepare him for school like I usually but I couldn't find him. I thought maybe he had gone to the kitchen but he's not around. I have checked the garden and everywhere but I can't find him, David."

"No!" David shook his head. "Where could he have gone?"

"What's going on here?" Claudia asked, yawning and stretching her arms. "Who was screaming?"

"Michael?"

"David! What happened? Are you okay?" Claudia rushed towards her children.

"I have to find him."

David began rushing towards the door but froze almost immediately, a chill running down his spine. His gaze remained fixed on something at the entrance, his expression frozen in terror. Everyone wondered what had made David to look so scared and they quickly looked in the direction he froze in. What they saw scared them to the core.

There was Isaac rushing inside but he wasn't alone. In his arms was Michael who was still in his pajamas. His hair looked wet and so was his clothes. They didn't know if it was their minds playing tricks on them but he seemed to be shivering.

A cold sweat clung to David's trembling skin as he frantically called out, "Michael!"

He rushed towards Isaac together with everyone but the man couldn't allow them to touch him. He rushed to the living room and carefully lay the boy on the couch and began undressing him as fast as he could.

"I need some blankets!" He shouted. "And someone warm some water."

Amber didn't need to be told twice. She rushed upstairs. Meanwhile, Isaac finished undressing the boy and began rubbing his tiny hands. He was cold as hell and it scared Isaac.

"Isaac!" David knelt in front of his son and touch him. He was so hot it scared him so much. "What's going on? What happened to Michael?"

"That's what I am supposed to be asking you, David!" Isaac snapped, glaring at his friend. "How could you be so careless and useless as to allow a small child be in the rain?"

"What?" A shiver ran down David's spine.

It hit him that it had began raining the previous night around 11 pm and he was sure it had stopped raining around 3 because he couldn't sleep with so many thoughts in his head.

"Where did you find him?" Claudia asked, her hands covering her mouth.

"A few meters from here." Isaac sighed, getting some instruments from his bag. He got out a thermometer and stethoscope. "He was crying and shivering along the road."

"What?" David shook his head. "How did that happen?"

"Here!" Amber said, handing the blankets to Isaac.

The man carefully covered the boy in the warm blankets. "He has a fever and it's rising." He added. "I need to bring it down as soon as possible. I have asked for them to bring some things from my hospital but for the mean time, we need to keep him as warm as possible."

"Michael! My baby!" David's voice quivered with a mix of fear and desperation.

Tears welled in his eyes. His mind raced with thoughts of the unknown, imagining the worst scenarios that could have happened while her son had been out there.

"Michael, can you hear me, my love?" He asked, placing kisses on his forehead. "Baby, I am so sorry. I didn't even know what happened to you."

"Ben..."

The word was barely above a whisper but everyone heard it as it escaped the boy's lips.

"Ben..." He moaned slowly.

Jim paused; his breath caught in his throat. The room suddenly plunged into a suffocating silence. Jim glanced at Claudia who glanced back at him. It seemed they both had the same questions, they had both heard that name but....

"Ben..."

Isaac gazed at David. "Ben!" He sighed. "Did you tell him anything concerning Ben yesterday, David?"

David shook his head. "No, I didn't talk to him about anything and..."

Amber chuckled bitterly. "No, you didn't. But remember last evening when you were shouting that he won't be seeing Ben? He must have heard everything and probably..." She paused and stared at him. "...I think he ran away from the house last night."

"No, he could have." Jim said abruptly. "And not because of that man. It's not possible."

"Wow! Can you hear yourself?" Amber barked, feeling angry. "This is all your fault if you ask me and..."

"Excuse me!" Jim snapped. "You are blaming me for..."

"Can we all just shut up!" Isaac yelled, rising from the couch. "This isn't helping matters." He glanced at David. "Help me take him upstairs."

David took his son carefully in his arms and took him upstairs. Everyone else followed.

***

The air was heavy with tension and concern. Michael lay in bed, wrapped in layers of blankets. His face was flushed, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. Amber sat by his bedside, holding a damp cloth and checking her temperature with a thermometer.

"Hang there, baby, I am so sorry this happened." She whispered, wiping her tears. "His fever is not getting down, Isaac."

Michael's breathing was rapid, and he tossed and turned in discomfort. Suddenly, his eyes fluttered open, revealing a glassy gaze.

"Ben..." He mumbled. Everyone heard that name clearly.

"He's still saying the same thing." She sobbed. "And his fever is not breaking." She rose, staring at Isaac. "Please, do something, I am begging you."

"I want... Ben..."

"I am trying my best." Isaac said softly. "I've given him something to help with the fever but it isn't helping. The fever keeps rising and I cannot do anything until I receive everything I need from the hospital. But even at that... I don't think I'll be able to do much."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Claudia gasped, a frown appearing on her face.

"It means that Michael's fever might keep rising until he gets what he wants." He said simply. "I believe he ran away from this house to go look for Ben. That might have contributed to him being sick and until we provide that solution, I am afraid medicine might not do much."

"No!" David shook his head. "We have to find other ways, Isaac. I am not gonna allow that man anywhere near my son if that's what you think."

"I am not saying go bring him." Isaac shrugged. "All I am saying is that your son knows why he ran away from this house. If this continues and his fever continues rising, I am afraid have a seizure. And we don't want that to happen."

"What?" David gasped, feeling a chill go down his spine. "How?"

"A febrile seizure." Isaac responded. "If this temperature rises to dangerous heights, I am afraid there's nothing I can do."

David stood there like a statue, voices playing in his head. He felt like someone was hitting him with a wrecking ball, right on the head.

"You can do something, alright." Jim said abruptly. "There's no way I am allowing that excuse of a man near my son. For what exactly?"

"Even at the expense of your son?" Amber asked, shaking her head. "I am not really surprised because you've always been a selfish bitch. What are you so afraid of?"

"Nothing and Ben is not coming here. Over my dead body." He swore.

As the two argued, David was so lost deep in thought. His eyes were locked on his son who was still shivering and mumbling Ben's name. As a parent, that was the most scared he had ever been. The thought of his son having a seizure made his skin crawl. He couldn't allow that but what was he gonna do, he thought? For whatever reason, he didn't wanna bring Ben into his house.

***

"Yes, papa." Ben said as he took his bag from the car. "I just arrived home from the office right now. And I am so glad you're home now."

'Yeah!' Jerome sighed on the other end. 'I am glad too, I just wish that you had been there when I was getting discharged.'

"I am so sorry, dad." He said softly. "You know the reason why I couldn't be there. Aunt Elena was there with you and you know it would have only caused trouble."

'She would have behaved.'

"Plus, it's a moment for the two of you to be together. I'll see you soon. I love you so much, dad. Take care of yourself."

'I love you too, son.'

He smiled and cut the call, getting the rest of his things from the car. He was still getting his stuff when he heard footsteps behind him and he didn't need to be a genius to know that was Carlos.

"Good thing you're here so you can help me get some of this stuff inside."

He took some things and put them down but Carlos just stood there behind.

"Hey, what the hell!" He quickly turned. "Didn't you hear..."

His heart raced as he turned and instead of Carlos, a very beautiful woman stood there with a radiant smile. She wore a black blouse and a blue designer skinny jean with blue heels on her feet. She didn't have much makeup on her face and her curly dark hair was just loose, revealing her gorgeous face. Seeing her, Ben got emotional and tears welled in his eyes.

"M-mom!" He stuttered, his bottom lip quivering like a child.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still as they locked eyes, the depth of their connection resonating in the air.

"Hey baby!" She said, opening her arms widely. "How are you?"

Ben dropped everything he was holding without a care and rushed to the woman. As he stepped into her arms, the world around him seemed to fade away. Ben felt a sense of security, a refuge from the storm within his soul. The woman's presence was a balm, soothing the ache that had settled in his heart.

The woman was someone he didn't even know he needed at that moment. Alejandra was Jerome's younger sister, the woman that had found Ben outside the church years ago after he lost his child. She was married to the chocolate king and they managed the company together. To cut the story short, Ben had so much to thank her for. He had no idea what would have become of him had it not been for her and her gorgeous family.

After what felt like ages, Ben pulled away from the hug but his eyes never left Alejandra's.

"How?" He chuckled in his tears. He couldn't explain how excited he was. "I was talking to you the other day and you didn't say a thing."

"And miss the chance of surprising you?" She raised an eyebrow. She cupped his cheeks, rubbing them sweetly. "Look at you, you look so handsome than the last time that I saw you. Although..." She paused and lost the smile on her face. "...I don't appreciate the fact that you've been doing some things that have the potential to hurt you."

"I see you've been talking to Carlos." He said happily. "I just didn't want to make you worried."

"And you think this doesn't worry me?" Her brows furrowed. "We're talking about you encountering your past like that, David and Jerome. What were you thinking?"

"I just got scared when dad got shot the other day." He sighed. "I couldn't lose him the way I've lost my mother. I wanted to tell you but I didn't wanna scare you. You know how worried you get."

"I am a mother." She said confidently. "It is my job to worry." She wore a beautiful smile, kissing his forehead. "But I am glad you're okay."

They smiled at each other before hugging tightly again.

"Oh!" Carlos moaned as he rushed towards them. "Can I join, please?"

"Of course," Alejandra laughed. "I have so much love to share among my two lovely sons."

"You don't need to ask twice." He laughed.

He began rushing towards them with his arms open until suddenly he stopped and...

"Motherfucker!" He groaned.

In fury, he passed them and the next thing they saw was David flying to the ground with a thud. David hadn't expected that, the blow he received on the jaw was quite painful and he felt like it had been broken. But there was no bleeding or any deformity... he hoped. He raised his head to stare at the man that stared down at him, his chest rising and falling in fury.

"What the fuck do you want here?" Carlos snapped, his fists trembling in fear. "How dare you show your face here after what you did to my brother."

"Carlos!" Alejandra gasped, rushing towards him. She wrapped his arms around him, preventing him from making any mistake. "What's wrong with you?"

"Let me kill this excuse of a man, mom." He bellowed, pointing at the man that was slowly getting up. "How dare he show his face after all he did and said to Ben."

"I am so sorry." David said as he slowly got up, putting his hands together. "I know what I said was quite painful and..."

"You think that was quite painful?" Carlos chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. "What's quite painful is abandoning..."

"Carlos!" Ben hollered, stopping the man from making any mistake.

Carlos shook his head in anger, his jaw clenching so hard. He felt like punching the man so hard and sending him into a coma. "Get the fuck out of here before I commit murder."

"It's okay, Carlos." Alejandra said calmly. "Go inside, I'll take it from here."

"But mom..."

"Please!"

Carlos took one ugly look at David before he stormed inside the house cursing under his breath. Alejandra stood there, staring at David and God knows she wanted to slap him for all the pain that he had caused Ben.

"How can we help you?" She said calmly. "Just because I let my son go inside doesn't mean that I am gonna let you do what you came to do here."

David looked at Ben who stood a distance and the pain he saw in his eyes was something that he didn't like.

"May I speak to Ben, ma'am?" He pleaded, putting his hands together. "This is very urgent and a life is at stake?"

"You want to speak to my son?" She raised an eyebrow. "About what exactly? Aren't you the same man that warned him to stay away from you and your family just a few days ago?" She raised her voice. "What do you want from him?"

"My son, ma." David felt vulnerable. Even as he spoke, there were tears in his eyes. "My son's life could be in danger and Ben is the only person that might be able to save him."

Ben felt his heart begin pounding at the mention of Michael's life. His mouth opened to say something but David's words flooded his brain and he quickly closed it, staring at him without any expression.

"Your son?" Alejandra chuckled. "And what does Ben have to do with any of this? Don't tell me you've come to blame him some more?"

"No!" He abruptly shook his head. "This is something different. I know I said some pretty hurtful things to him the other day but..." He glanced at Ben again. "...Michael is in trouble and I need your help to save him, please."

Ben had that vulnerable look in his eyes and David saw it. But he still wasn't saying anything.

"I don't think I can allow Ben to go with you." Alejandra said confidently. "He's already been through a lot and the last thing I want right now is for him to associate with you or your family. I am sorry, but you're gonna have to leave."

"Please!" David threw himself on his knees, a tear going down his cheek. "Don't do this to me."

"You solve your problems with your family." Alejandra added. "Don't get Ben involved in it again and then blame him."

She looked at him once and turned to Ben who seemed like a statue. "Let's go inside."

Ben glanced at his mother, feeling like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

"Let me talk to him. I'll find you inside."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. She squeezed his shoulder and left.

"Thank you so much!" David rose, putting his hands together. "You have no idea..."

"Don't thank me for anything because I am not going with you." He said harshly. "What are you doing here? What happened to Michael? And how do I fit in that equation?"