The maid had mentioned to me that Jesus was coming back to Mexico. He had retired in Miami and for the most part, had stayed out of cartel dealings, until now. Mr. Heldojo had called Jesus and told him about my offer to buy his business. I really didn’t think it was such a big deal, and I still don’t. I have been punished for over a month for a simple mistake.
I had showered and fixed my hair and makeup. I wore a simple sundress and platform flats. I looked down at my ring finger and remembered I haven’t worn my wedding ring since I threw it at Maximo. He never gave it back to me. I never asked for it back, either. I checked myself in the mirror and gave myself a small sigh. I haven’t felt like myself in over a month.
I walked down the stairs and knocked on the door. The guard opened the door and ushered me out. He escorted me to the front entryway. He informed me that Jesus wanted to speak with me when he got in, and he was pulling into the gate out front. I stood and waited. I had no idea what he wanted to talk about, hopefully he would be more forgiving than Maximo and everyone else was. Maybe Jesus’s forgiveness would allow me to be out of punishment.
I saw the front door open, and Jesus enter with his two large bodyguards. He looked handsome in his linen shirt. I gave him a small smile, which he didn’t return. “Fallon.” He said dryly. Once he made it in front of me, he paused and looked me in the eyes. About that time, he backhand slapped me across the face, hard. I let out a small whine and winced in the pain. What the hell.
Before I knew it, I returned his slap by punching him square in the nose, knocking his glasses off his face. “Fallon!” Maximo yelled from the doorway of his bedroom. Our bedroom. I was too busy looking at Maximo to see what was coming.
Jesus’s bodyguard kicked me as hard as his could in the stomach. I fell back onto the floor, hitting my head on the hard, cold, marble floor. I groaned in pain. I was having a hard time catching my breath. My stomach turned and contracted in pain. I immediately called for Claire. I screamed as loud as I could. Claire, Miles, and James all came running into the room. I heard a faint “What the fuck!?” as James got closer.
“Claire, we need to go to the hospital now. Call my doctor.” She nodded and helped me up. She ran to my room to grab my purse and James and Miles helped me out the door.
“Where are you going?” Maximo asked, annoyed.
“I have to go to the doctor, Maximo.”
“Why? He barely touched you.” Barely touched me? The man had just mule kicked me!
“Maximo, not here.” He was impatient. He walked over and grabbed my arm.
“What is the problem? You can dish it but you can’t take it?”
“I’m pregnant.” I blurted out, annoyed. I found out I was pregnant shortly after we arrived back to Mexico. I hadn’t told Maximo because we were only fighting. Maximo’s face dropped; he went pale. He let go of my arm and took a step back. Everyone behind him took a step back and their jaws dropped. Jesus pulled Maximo out of the doorway.
“We have business to deal with son.” Maximo turned around. Julio grabbed his arm.
“Boss.” But Maximo pulled his arm from his grasp.
“Go with them.” Maximo dismissed Julio. “Get a paternity test while you’re at it.” Maximo said dryly, making Jesus chuckle. I started to feel tears roll down my face. Did he really just say that? I’m his wife! His pregnant wife! I just got kicked in the stomach and he wants to joke? Miles pulled my face into his chest and helped me into the SUV. Claire came running out of the house with my purse and was on the phone with my doctor.
She yelled at the driver to “Go, now!” When we were all in the SUV. Julio looked at me from the rearview mirror. He was pale and sweating. I was crying. I don’t see how we could ever come back from this moment. I was betrayed, embarrassed, assaulted in front of my own husband and he didn’t defend me.
We finally arrived to the hospital. My doctor, Dr. Blaine, ran out the door with a wheelchair and helped me out of the SUV. “Fallon, what happened?” She was panicking. She rushed me inside, bypassing the check-in counter. She badged us into the back and rushed me to an ultrasound room. She helped me onto the table and pulled my dress up. She gasped. I had a huge 13 shoe sized bruise on my stomach. I immediately started crying again. Dr. Blaine grabbed my hand and tried to comfort me. “Fallon, don’t worry. Let’s try to find the heartbeat.”
She squirted some jelly on my stomach and pressed the probe into my abdomen, moving it around. It seemed like forever before she sighed and said, “listen!” Clear as day, I heard the heartbeat. “160 beats per minute, that is a good sign, Fallon. The fetus looks great. We will have to monitor for bleeding over night, but for right now, I think the fetus is okay.”
She helped me get cleaned up and back into the wheelchair. “Strict bedrest for the next 24 hours as we monitor you.” She wheeled me out of the room and expose Julio, Claire, James, and Miles waiting for me. They all ran up and surrounded us. Julio went straight to the doctor and looked her deep in the eyes. “The fetus looks okay; the heartbeat is strong and adequate. I am going to keep her for 24 hours to monitor her for signs of a placental abruption or miscarriage.” Julio pulled Dr. Blaine into a big hug, everyone was shocked.
“Thank you, Doctor. For taking such good care of her.” Julio said after he released her. She smiled and nodded to him. She found a nurse and had her escort us to our room on the 5th floor. Miles and James helped me into bed as Claire wiped the tears from her eyes.
“I was so scared, Fallon. I thought the worst would happen.” She was still sniffling. She pulled me into a hug and didn’t let go. I hugged her back and began to cry. She held me and rubbed my back. I hadn’t felt safe until now.