Chapter 21

It had beena week and a half since Mr. Lewis had his heart attack, and he was still asleep. The doctor had taken him off the sedatives, but now it was up to him to wake up. My baby was distraught. She hadn't been to work and spent every single visitation by his side along with her mother. The only other place she'd gone was to the signing of the papers for our house.

Guilt over not speaking to him was eating her up. While I felt she had nothing to feel guilty over, I couldn't say that to her. However, communication was a two-way street. Her parents hadn't reached out to her before now either.

I remained the supportive husband I was called to be. I held her when she cried herself to sleep. I came to sit with her some days. I made sure she ate, even if I had to feed her myself. When she didn't have the energy to bathe herself, I did it for her.

Today was day eleven of Mr. Lewis' hospital stay. I had to get some writing done since I was on a deadline, but I took my lunch break to take her some food. I'd gone to her favorite place and grabbed a good bit off the menu since I was sure her mom and sister were there was well.

When I walked into the room, the three of them were curled up in various corners, sleeping softly. I walked over to Kay and kissed her forehead. She jumped awake.

"It's just me, love," I said softly.

She groggily sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Almost one. I brought y'all some food."

"Thank you, baby." She cupped my face and kissed me softly.

"How is he?"

She sighed. "No change. I just want him to wake up. I don't care if he's mad at me, yells at me, calls me everything but a child of God… I need him to wake up."

"He will," I assured her. "You just have to keep faith. And give yourself a break. Why don't you grab your mom and sister and y'all go eat outside. I think the fresh air will do you all some good."

"I don't wanna leave him alone."

"I'll stay with him."

"No. I know you need to get back?—"

"I'm right where I need to be. Go eat. Soak up some sun. I'll be right here."

She gently stroked my face. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

She shared a sweet kiss before I helped her from the seat. She went to wake up her mom and sister. Once they got themselves together, they both greeted me with hugs and thanked me for bringing them food. They promised not to take too long before they all left the room.

I took a seat next to Mr. Lewis and stared at him for a moment.

"I hate that this had to be the way you and I spent our first moment alone together," I said softly. "I know you aren't the biggest fan of mine and Kachelle's marriage, but I want you to know that I love and cherish your daughter. She is my perfect compliment. Her outer beauty is only amplified by the beautiful soul she is within.

"I don't have to tell you that, though. You and Mrs. Lewis raised a hell of a woman. I willingly surrender all that I am and all that I would be to her. Whatever her heart desires, if I can give it to her, it's hers. It's crazy that in such a short time, I can't picture life without her.

"It pains me that the one thing she wants right now, it's not in my power to give her. I know you're in there, Mr. Lewis. I know the mind works in mysterious ways and you can hear every word I'm saying. Come back to them. Make things right with your daughter.

"There are no hard feelings on my end. I just want her to be happy. She's harboring so much guilt over not speaking to you for weeks, and it will tear her apart if she has to let you go without making amends. I need you to fight. Not just for you, but for her and your family too."

I grabbed his hand and bowed my head, whispering a sincere prayer over him. I had no hate in my heart toward this man. He was a father, and I completely understood his hesitancy over handing his daughter over to a stranger that he nor she had ever met.

I got that.

While she was his baby, she was also a grown woman with her own life to live. Nobody could make choices for her life but her. I recognized that I couldn't make him like me. His not liking me would never change the fact that I was a good man, and I would always be a good man. Even if he never accepted or respected me, I would still treat Kachelle like my queen.

"Y-you really l-love her?" I heard a raspy voice ask.

I looked up to see Mr. Lewis looking over at me.

I smiled. "Very much."

"S-she talks about y-you a lot. She's b-been telling m-me what a good man y-you are."

He motioned to the pitcher of water beside his bed. Carefully, I raised the bed into a slight sitting position before pouring him a cup of water and placing it to his lips to help him drink. He drank until he had enough and motioned for me to take it away.

He rested against the bed with a heavy sigh.

"How long have I been down?"

"A week and a half, sir. You had a heart attack and hit your head pretty hard when you fell. You had to have surgery."

He nodded. "I take it things have been a mess?"

"They've been very emotional. Everybody has been waiting for you to wake up, man."

"I've been trying. I just felt so much peace… it was hard to come back from that."

"I get that. But your work here isn't done."

"I know. Like you said… I gotta make things right with my baby girl."

"She misses you. She's taken this whole thing very hard."

A tear slipped down his cheek. "I love her."

"I know you do."

"I'm sorry I never gave you a chance."

I shook my head. "I'm not a father yet, but I understand. Kay and I did something unconventional and without much warning. While it was a blessing for us, it seemed irrational to the people we love. Maybe it was, but your daughter is the best thing to ever happen to me. I'll spend a lifetime making her happy."

His lips turned up slightly. "You know I wanted to ring your neck at the wedding."

"Honestly, sir, I wanted to ring yours too."

We shared a laugh that turned into a wincing pain for him. I pressed the button for a nurse, and shortly one entered.

"Welcome back, Mr. Lewis!" she said cheerfully. "You've had a lot of people rooting for you, sir."

"I bet."

"Let me check you out right quick, and I'll page your doctor to come see you."

He nodded. I stood and went into a corner to call Kachelle.

"Hello?"

"Baby… he's awake."

"He… he's awake?"

"He is."

I could hear her crying profusely as she relayed the message to her mother and sister. I could also hear them frantically shuffling around.

"We're on the way up!" she said.

"Okay. The nurse is here, and the doctor is on the way."

"Okay."

She hung up and I took a seat in the chair next to the window. It wasn't long before the women were bursting through the door.

"Maury!"

"Daddy!"

Their faces were covered in tears of happiness. Impatiently they waited as the doctor tended to Mr. Lewis and gave him a full account of what took place during surgery. He wanted to keep him for a few days to monitor him further before releasing him.

The moment he and the nurse left, they rushed to his side. Mrs. Lewis cupped his face and softly kissed his lips.

"You scared me half to death!"

"I'm sorry, my love."

"I thought I lost you, Maury."

"You know I could never leave you for too long. I'll always come back to you." He kissed her again. "Let me see my girls."

Ebony was the first to go to him. They hugged and kissed as he spoke softly to her while wiping her tears. Kachelle stood back, nervously wringing her hands together. When her sister stepped back, her father motioned her to him.

Gently, he cupped her face and pulled her head to his lips to kiss her forehead.

"I'm so sorry, baby girl," he said. "I love you so much, Kay."

"I love you too, Daddy."

"Please forgive me for the way we've treated you… the way I've treated you. We robbed you of so many special moments on your wedding day and the days leading up to it. Even if we didn't agree, it was important to you." He looked over at me. "You married a hell of a man. I can tell you two genuinely love each other just from the way you speak about each other. If almost dying has taught me anything, it's that life is too short. If you both can forgive me, I can commit to giving your marriage the respect it deserves."

Kachelle looked back at me, and I nodded.

"All is forgiven," she said softly. "I'm so glad you're okay."

I smiled softly as I watched them make up. My baby needed that more than she would ever admit. With the drama now behind us, I just prayed that we could finally all move forward.