Chapter Seventeen
Three months later
After the scene caused at the hotel, their scandal reached new heights. The divorce became a sticky mess as Tony refused to sign the papers. At every opportunity he’d tried to see her.
Opal moved on with her life. She sold the house he’d bought her and found a small apartment in the city. Nothing fancy but something she could afford. Next, she found a job as a receptionist for a small firm. She loved making her own choices, never having to wait for them to be checked through by an adult.
With her life moving forward, she rarely saw her brother and his family. The events would mean Tony was present, and even though she’s asked for a divorce she couldn’t bear the thought of seeing him. She still loved him, and that would never change.
The rumours about their separation had started to cool down. The paper had another knew scandal to expose.
Even with all the changes, her heart remained empty. She talked with Scarlet all the time. She was the only person Opal trusted with her feelings. Richard kept telling her to talk to his friend.
She couldn’t do it. She knew what she’d seen. There was no way she could forgive him for that.
The phone was ringing, and it wouldn’t stop or take a hint she didn’t want to talk. Checking the time on the clock she saw it was close to two in the morning. The phone stopped, and seconds later, started back up again.
Growling in frustration, she threw the covers back and stormed down the hall.
“What? Don’t you know people sleep at this hour?” she asked, running a hand over her face to try to clear the sleep.
“Opal?”
“Richard? What’s wrong? Why are you calling me at this hour?” she asked. Her brother went quiet. “Richard? Answer me?”
“I need you to come down to the hospital,” he said.
“Why? What’s happened?” Her heart rate kicked up.
“It’s Scarlet. They don’t think she’s going to make it.” The very reason for her brother even existing was in the hospital.
“Please, get here. I know she’d want you to be here.”
“I’ll be there right away. Richard, what happened?” she asked.
“I can’t talk right now. Please, just come down here. I need you.” The phone went dead. Opal didn’t take the time to change. She wore a pair of night pajamas and an old t-shirt. A cab was called. She stood outside waiting as soon as it pulled up. The drive took forever. Every second she began to think the worst. Scarlet meant everything to Richard. The woman meant everything to her. The one true friend she had in this world.
“Could you put your foot down or something?” she asked the driver.
“What’s the problem?”
“My sister-in-law is in the hospital, and it sounds bad. Please, could you go a little faster?”
He sped up, and for that she was thankful. After a thirty minute drive, she paid him, jumped out of the taxi and ran to the maternity building. White lights flooded her vision. She walked to the main reception, and a nurse offered to take her to the wards she was looking for. Richard, Wayne, Lily and Tony sat in the waiting area of the third floor ward.
“Richard,” she said, ignoring Tony as her brother got up. She wrapped her arms around her brother. “Where is she? What happened?”
Richard broke down, the tears streaming down his face. “She’s had it difficult this pregnancy. Nothing has gone right. The baby has been underdeveloped, and she’s been doing too much.”
What he said explained the pinched looks between the couple. “What happened?”
“She went to get some water, but I’d forgotten to pick up one of the kids’ toys on my way up to bed. Tripped over that blasted toy and fell down the stairs. I heard her scream.” He looked haunted.
“I’m sure everything will be okay,” she said.
“There was so much blood.”
Opal’s tummy dipped. She’d heard so many scary tales about women losing babies from falls.