Heart of Stone Emery and Jackson - Chiquita Dennie (summer reading list txt) 📗

“EMERY, GRANNY LOVES you, and even though you get your stubborn ways from your grandfather, I need you to wake up and talk to us, baby.”

Hearing the voices of my family and friends in the room, I continued going in and out of a deep sleep. I had been stressed because Jackson and I were not talking, and I'd seen him all over the news with different women.  His company was also launching with our new ads, so he had been working overtime and avoiding my calls and messages. I can’t remember the number of times I’ve driven to his office and Kimberly feeling sorry for me had even tried to get him to hear me out.

Two days later.

Sitting up in the hospital bed eating breakfast, Angela and Jordan came inside.

“Sleeping beauty is awake,” Angela joked and walked inside wrapping her arms around me for a hug.

“Emery why didn’t you tell us, we’re your best friends for over twenty years. I can’t believe you kept something like lupus from me,” Jordan said before placing her purse down and picking DJ up to sit in her lap.

“I’m sorry Jordan and Angela, I guess I just thought if I kept it to myself, I could handle it alone and not burden anyone with my problems.”

“Emery, if you weren’t like a sister to me, I would kick your ass all up and through this hospital,” Angela responded.

“How are things with Jackson? I know he was here with you when they brought you in with Anthony right behind him. How did that work out?” Jordan inquired.

“Not good, they both almost ended up getting arrested. He hates me and thinks I’m back with your dumb ass brother. He was sitting up here telling the doctors we are engaged.”

“I can handle Anthony, but what are you going to do about Jackson? You need to apologize to him and your family. Your parents were so upset and thought Angela, and I knew all along,” Jordan told her.

“We spoke over the phone, and they’ll be up here in a few minutes. Jackson’s my only priority at the moment. I should be getting discharged soon. Can you hand me my purse, Angela?”

Walking over to the couch and grabbing my purse, Angela brings it over to me, and I pull my phone out to call Jackson.

Dialing his number, it goes straight to voicemail.

“Can you get the doctor for me, Angela?”

“Maybe you should give him some space before you go and talk to him. It’s not like you didn’t just keep your illness from him.

Staying out in the country away from the hustle and bustle of the city, I’ve started to finally get my strength back. The night that I passed out in Jackson’s arms still replays in my mind.

He still isn’t taking my calls, and my friends have stayed with me around the clock ever since I told them about being diagnosed with Lupus. My parents and grandparents haven’t left the house unless it’s to check on their homes back in the city. But the only person I’m missing is Jackson, and he refuses to talk with me.

“Girl, are you still sitting up in this room, looking depressed over your baby daddy?”

Yep, the night I passed out, the doctor told me I was pregnant. One month soon to be two. I estimated the second night Jackson and I had sex it had to have happened. It was a total shock to everyone including myself. Even though I have this diagnosis, I refuse to get rid of my child, especially since its father has blocked me out of his life.

“Angela please don’t start,” I rolled my eyes as I rose up out of bed to grab my robe and slippers.

“Emery, you need to get over it. This stress is not good for the baby and besides Jackson’s not thinking about you. Have you not seen the tabloids lately? Dominique doesn’t let that man breathe for nothing.” Angela follows behind me as I walk down the stairs into the kitchen where my grandmother and mother are cooking breakfast.

“Sweet pea how is you feeling?” Granny asks as she pours syrup on the pancakes and passes me a plate.

“I’m fine Granny, just ready to get back home. I know the doctor told me to stay off my feet for a few weeks, but honestly, I feel fine. I need to call Brent,” I remind myself and start to eat the pancakes. Catching the stares from everyone looking at each other and not saying anything.

“What is it? Why do you guys look like you lost a puppy or something?”

My mother clears her throat and Angela places her hand on her shoulder to interrupt what she was about to say.

“Brent split all your accounts with Dominique and Teresa.” Angela steps closer and grabs the plate from in front of me.

Feeling a hot sensation come over me, I drop the fork and rush to the trashcan and throat up.

“Emery don’t let this get to you, please. Your father and I would like for you to come and live with us during your pregnancy. We can turn your old room into a nursery. This situation with your job can wait. You have savings, and Brent will give you your accounts back once you’ve rested up,” Mother responds as she walks over and rubs my back as early morning breakfast and last night’s tacos spill out.

“Stop babying that girl, Angela start her bath water, and Elisabeth I need you to check on your father and take his plate. Let me talk to Emery alone.” Granny points her finger toward the living room for everyone to leave.

“He gave my accounts away to two of the least qualified people at that company. I’m going to kill him and then bring him back to kill him again.” Picking up the wet towel out of her hand, I scrubbed the last remnants of vomit from my mouth and wash my hands before sitting back down.

“Are you done yet?”

“Huh...”

“I said are you done playing the victim yet?”

“Granny, I’ve never played the victim—”

Holding her hand up to stop me from talking, I waited for a slap or curse to come out. Anything would make me feel better compared to the hell of losing my job and man all within the same month.

“Sweet pea, you’re my angel. My only grandchild, well, that I know about anyway.”

“Really...”

“Hush don’t interrupt.  You’ve held in a lot of information from your family and friends for over three months, dealt with a breakup from a guy that was never good for you in the first place and then you meet this tall, dark, and handsome man with a big—”

“Granny! Please refrain from saying big toward any man when you’re with me.”

Shrugging her shoulders, she kissed me on the cheek and squeezed both hands.

“You have made a pile of shit with no plan on how to clean it up, baby. Now I love you more than anything in the world and will fight till the death for you. Also, when you’re wrong, I will tell you so. I’m not Angela, Jordan or your mom. I keep it real and the repercussions of you not telling us you’ve been sick this whole time has hurt your mother, father and grandfather’s feelings.”

“I know.”

Lowering my head in shame at being scolded like a five year old for taking too many cookies.

“Do you? From what I see you’ve only managed to accomplish being selfish. Emery this doesn’t have to be the end of your story. Baby, many people live with this disease and lead productive lives. Now the situation with your job, Brent had every right to find a replacement for you. That man’s business must run nonstop, and if his top executive can’t run the show, then he needs to find a replacement.”

“I just wish it was anyone but them,” I whined in her arms leaning my head into her chest.

“Brent’s coming by tomorrow and we can talk then. He’s excited to see you. He’s been worried about you Emery.”

“Wait, he's coming over tomorrow?"

Nodding her head yes. I jumped off the stool to run upstairs to pack and leave.

“Emery... Emery... Why are you running!” My mother shrieked, while following behind me as I rushed up the stairs.

“Because Brent’s coming and more than likely he’s going to tell Jackson about me.” Rushing into the closet, I pick up my luggage and start pulling clothes off the rack and stuffing them into my bag. I rush to the bathroom, picking up the shampoo, lotion, and my toothbrush, tossing everything inside as fast as possible.

“Emery, you’ve known Brent almost your entire life. He would never betray your trust. Besides you’re grounded, you’ve lied to this family for over three months, dealing with something like this alone...”

I notice the tears pool into her eyes and fall onto her cheek. I pull her into my arms to reassure her that this won’t take her little girl away from her.

Releasing her, I wipe the tears away before we move to the bed to sit down.

“Mom, I’m sorry for keeping you in the dark. That was never my intention with anyone in the family. I guess I needed time to come to grips with what the doctors told me.” Wrapping my arms around her shoulders from behind, I place a gentle kiss on her cheek.

“Emery, you’re my only child, well, next to crazy Angela. You’re my favorite,” She joked.

Nudging her shoulders playfully we both smile at each other. I stand up off the bed to continue packing my clothes as we finish our conversation.

“Please don’t tell Angela that, her emotions are all over the place with Brent moving on to another woman and not showing up to her anniversary party.”

“Soon you’ll be a mom and all the stress that comes with it, no matter how old you get. Now you’re wrong for keeping your family in the dark about this and for not telling Jackson’s he’s going to be a father.”

“I know, but he’s the one that shut me out. I tried to call him and sent word through his friends to call me. This isn’t something to just blurt out and expect him to fall in love with me.”

“Normally you wouldn’t give it up on the first date, and this wouldn’t have happened,” She commented as I placed the last piece of clothing into my bag.

Closing the suitcase, we both stood up off the bed, and headed back down the stairs to finish having dinner with the family. Following behind her, I escaped toward the living room to talk with my grandfather. 

“Sweet