15. Airport

BRANDON

~•~

I slept earlier than usual. I wanted to forget about everything that had happened recently so I went to sleep to stop thinking about it. Due to my bad luck, I only ended up dreaming about Gianna.

The dream started out good but it quickly turned into a nightmare. The opposite of reality was happening in my dream. Gianna was pregnant with another man’s child and wanted to bring the man into our matrimonial home. It was scary and frightening and it forced me awake.

I didn’t want to think of the future but I also knew the press would soon find out about our divorce. I could already imagine the articles they would write about Gianna even if everything was my fault. I hated the situation I was in. Even more so, I hated the situation I put her in. I didn’t draw clear boundaries with Bailey and look where it got us.

My eyes fluttered open and I grabbed my phone to check the time. It was nine o’clock in the morning. I sat up when I saw that I had gotten a message from Gianna. She still wanted to talk to me?

I didn’t waste time tapping on the message tab. I held my breath as I read through it.

[G: Hey asshole, this is probably my last text to you, haha. I just wanted to let you know that I hate you and wouldn’t forgive you for what you did to me. I hope we never see each other again. I’m on my way to the hospital. I might have hurt myself but I doubt it’s close to what you did to us. You’re a shitty man. I don’t want to–]

The text was cut off abruptly, making me wonder if she wanted to send it or not. I checked the time of the message. It came around eight o’clock last night. What the hell did she do to hurt herself that she was going to the hospital so late at night?

Alarm bells were ringing in my head as I rushed out of bed. I took the quickest shower ever, got dressed, and rushed downstairs.

I stopped in my tracks when I saw two familiar figures watching TV on the couch.

I cleared my throat, bringing their attention to me. “What are you guys doing here?”

Bailey stood up at my arrival but Bernice stayed seated on the couch. I’d been stupid enough to give Bernice a key. Gianna had hated it but she never voiced it. I should have taken the key back when I saw the signs of displeasure. I was stupid. How did Gianna last two years of being married to me? She was right. I was such a shitty person.

“Bailey and I agreed for her to move in with you, but she’s adamant about hearing your opinion first,” Bernice spoke without looking at me.

I arched an eye at Bailey and she looked away. She was acting so meek these days. She was acting like an obedient wife but it only added to my irritation.

“And why would Bailey live in my house? You have an apartment, don’t you?” I asked Bailey. “What happened to it?”

“She’s a pregnant woman, Brand. Do you want to leave her all alone? What if something happens to her?”

“She’s a grown woman and if she can’t live alone, then I’ll find her a caretaker or nanny, whichever one she wants.” I spat out and resumed walking as I wasn’t in the mood to deal with their nonsense.

Bailey held my arm before I could walk past her. “We used to be such good friends, Brandon. Why are you treating me like a stranger?”

I didn’t look at her. I couldn’t. She was right. We were best friends but this unexpected pregnancy was a wedge between us.

“I know I’m at fault for you and Gianna’s separation, but there’s nothing I can do about that. She won’t listen to me even if I beg her.”

“Don’t even go close to her.” I gritted out. Bailey and Gianna didn’t like each other. Nothing good was going to come out of them meeting one on one. “You’re not a stranger but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you move in with me still. If you want a bigger place, I’ll get it for you.” I removed her hand from my arm. “I have somewhere to be.”

She bit down on her bottom lip. “It seems like you’re rushing.”

“I am.” I still didn’t know what was wrong with Gianna and it was killing me. “Both of you should be gone by the time I’m back and make sure to leave a message before you visit again.”

I didn’t stay to listen to their responses but I heard Bernice yelling out my name. I still had a bone to pick with that beat and she was adding on to it. Who was she to make decisions about my home? Just because Bailey was carrying my child didn’t mean I had to stay with her.

Pushing it to the back of my mind, I went to the garage and got in my car. Before starting the engine, I sent a quick text to Gianna.

[Me: what hospital are you at? I’m on my way]

I wasn’t surprised when the message didn’t go through. She had blocked me already. Then again, she did say it was her last text to me.

I didn’t care about the speed limit as I drove out of the compound. Since I didn’t know what hospital she could be in, I drove straight to her parents’ house.

I knocked on the door and winced when her younger sister opened the door. Gianna had a fiery spirit but her sister was even worse. She never held back which was why she and Bernice ended up fighting yesterday.

Sheila glared at me and didn’t say a word as she proceeded to close the door in my face. I didn’t let her though. I stuck my foot in and pushed the door open but she didn’t give up easily. She struggled with me until she got tired.

“What the fuck do you want? Nobody wants to see you here!”

“Is Gianna home? I’d like to have a word with her.”

“You talked enough yesterday, didn’t you? Besides, will the mother of your child like that you’re here?”

Sheila was very protective of her sister but she was just annoying me. “Is she in or not?”

“She’s not.”

Alarm bells rang in my head. “Is she in the hospital? What’s wrong with her? What hospital is she in?”

“Why would she be in the hospital?” Sheila laughed. “Do you rate yourself that much to think that she’d fall sick because of you?”

“Just tell me, Sheila. Please, if something is wrong, I want to know.”

Sheila scoffed. “I’m not Gianna. This pitiful act won’t work on me. Just get out. You have done enough harm already.”

She was about to close the door again when their mother appeared in the doorway behind her daughter. She was surprised to see me. “Brandon, what are you doing here? What’s all the fuss about?”

“I want to know where Gianna is. I want to know if she’s okay.”

“She is. She left the house a few hours ago.”

“Where did she go?”

“The airport.”

“The airport!?” I exclaimed. “Where is she going?”

Her mother shrugged and I looked at Sheila for information but she just stuck her tongue out at me, letting me know that she knew her destination but wasn’t willing to reveal.

“I’m sorry for leaving abruptly but I’ll be on my way now. Thank you.” I told her mother and rushed to my car, heading straight for the airport. I didn’t even know which one she used but I started by visiting the one we usually frequented whenever she accompanied me on a business trip.