“They won’t let me see her,” he said.
“That’s because they’re doing the best they can. Give them time to care for her, Richard.”
“If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“Nothing will happen to her,” Opal said. The moment she said those words, she looked up to the sky and sent her prayers for mommy and baby to be all right. She took a seat as far away from Tony as she could.
The hours ticked by with no news. Lily and Wayne looked comfortable together. Hugging and kissing. Each concerned but basking in the love they had for each other.
Tony stopped and sat next to her.
She folded her arms and stared straight ahead.
“Opal. You’re looking great.”
Why did he want to make this harder than it had to be?
“I wanted to talk to you. You sold the house, and I’ve been trying to reach you. I thought at one stage you’d fallen off the planet.”
Biting her lip, she counted in her head. Anything to stop his words from affecting her.
“I love you.”
As she turned to say something, the doctor came out. Richard went with him. Tony went silent, and Opal wished she hadn’t walked away.
****
Richard looked relieved as he walked out of the hospital room.
“They’re going to keep her here for a few days for observation, and she is on strict bed rest. Other than that, everything seems okay.”
Opal hugged him, pleased everything would work out fine. Tony kept trying to talk to her, but she refused to listen to a word of it. They could all see Scarlet for a minute. She waited as the men went first to give Richard support. Lily went next, and Richard escorted her in last.
Scarlet lay in a bed hooked up to some monitors. She looked awful, her face pale. “Hey, you,” she said.
Opal went and hugged her sister-in-law. “You scared us all.”
“I know. It’s been a hectic couple of months,” Scarlet said. “How are things with you and Tony?”
Opal frowned. “No different than the last time.”
“When are you going to open your eyes and see that he loves you?”
Uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going, Opal smiled and wished her well.
“You know he fought your brother at every turn,” Scarlet said as Opal was about to leave the room.
“What?”
“For the last two years, Richard has been trying to get Tony to leave you. To let you start a life of your own. He refused. Tony, in his own way, loves you. These past couple of weeks he’s looked like death. I’ve seen him now, and he looks like he could climb Everest – and you’re the one responsible for that.”
“I don’t think this is any of your business, Scarlet. You need to rest.”
“Stop being so fucking stubborn. I should know. I was there with your brother. I wouldn’t let him in, but look at me now. I’m happy, Opal. Happier than I’ve ever been in my whole life. You could have that with Tony.”
Tears erupted in her eyes. She’d missed him more than anything else. Hearing these words was almost her undoing. “Get some rest,” Opal said to the other woman. She walked out of the room, tears falling down her face. She looked up and saw Tony waiting. The others were there, but he was as well.
He stood. She ignored everyone and walked down the hall. She couldn’t face him now. Not with what Scarlet had said.