ABANDONED DREAMS

CHAPTER 4

Chapter 4

Emmy

Fred lie there looking so weak. He has been ill for months. We finally knew that he had a condition that of the muscles that would slowly weaken him. Some days he would be as strong as an Ox. Other days, he was too weak to even go into the office. He would just leave Stephen and Felo in charge on those days and work from home. I had taken time off from the hospital to care for him. He hadn’t shared this with anyone.

It wasn’t a disease that would take him right away. It would progress. Right now, myself and his other doctors were trying different medications that would help him. This cocktail worked. But it would take his energy at times. This was one of those times. I sat down next to him and took his hand.

“My love.”

“Hmm. Yes. And you are mine.” He answered without opening his eyes.

“When will you announce that you are ill?” I asked him.

“I won’t. Not until I have no choice. Junior is still young. If someone were to know of my condition, they may try to take control of the company.”

“Eh? Not Steven, surely.” I argued. “At least tell him and his soon to be wife, that lovely girl, Felo.”

“No. Of course not him. But, there are others who are jealous of our relationship and how

fast he moved up in the company.”

“He worked hard and served you since University.”

“Yes. But, they don’t care about that. They just see that he is special to me. Like a son. As long as I am well enough to hide it. I will. I have put things in order with the lawyers. You know this.”

“Yes. I know.”

He kissed my hand and patted his chest. Letting me know he wanted my head there. He ran his fingers through the curls in my hair and kissed rubbed my face. This man had pursued me relentlessly until I agreed to marry him. I hesitated because he was white and from America. a*******d was heavy here and I knew that people would question and scorn our love. Even now, after all of these years they still did. Some of those people worked with and for my husband. He was right. Even though I was highly educated and a doctor, it made no difference. I was still black. If he did go to heaven now, or even tell people that he wasn’t long for it, they would attempt to take over his business or ruin it. He was right. He had to look strong until Junior was old enough to take over. Those were the last thoughts I remember having as we both drifted off to sleep.

…One Year Later