His Love Shattered (Love Shattered #2) Read online

“Well, I had no idea where you were because you left so fast and hailed a taxi and vanished into thin air. I couldn’t find you anywhere. Also, it wasn’t storming when you left me. So I think you took the boat out without checking the weather. That seems to be becoming a habit with you lately. Not checking the weather I mean.” I gave her a wink to let her know I was just joking around with her.

  “Well that doesn’t sound like me at all. I am usually very good at checking the weather especially before I take the boat out, but I guess it sounds like the only thing on my mind was getting away. I have a feeling I know why I left so upset from the room though.” She tells me and I get some hope that maybe she has remembered something about that night.

  “So do you remember what happened that night? You remember me?” I ask hopefully.

  “No, sorry I just think that maybe the rose petals and candles may have reminded me of when Dave proposed to me. He went to a hotel and did all that same stuff. When you were telling me all of that just now it upset me to remember about him proposing. I just figured that maybe that upset me.”

  Well that makes sense. No wonder she freaked out. That would probably upset anyone in that situation. Why did I have to be so romantic and recreate something her dead well not dead anymore husband would do. God I am an idiot.

  As a long stretch of silence starts to become uncomfortable I grasp at straws to try and come up with something to say.

  “Your boss down at the bakery stopped by yesterday. She wanted me to tell you to focus on getting better and that when your all healed up your job will still be waiting for you when you are ready to come back.” Courtney just stares at me with bug eyes.

  “My boss?” She asks confused. “You mean I have a job? Where? What do I do?”

  “Well, you are the manager over at the Sweets and Treats Bakery. You love your job, you haven’t been working there long but I can tell just by the way you speak about it that you love it.” I try to explain.

  “Huh….Well I have been looking for a job ever since Dave died so I guess that’s a good thing that I found one then.” She pauses and sighs deeply.

  “I really want to see Lillian. When will she be able to come down for a visit?”

  “If everything goes according to plans she will be down here as soon as she is discharged tomorrow. She can’t wait to see you. Your niece is beautiful by the way. A precious little girl. Lillian has been fighting the nurses to be able to come down here but they aren’t allowing it. I bet you can imagine how well that is going over with Lil.” I laughed and so did Courtney.

  “I can’t wait to meet my baby niece. Hopefully she takes after her auntie or else Lillian is going to have her hands full with that one.” She looks up at me with sad eyes that break my heart. I would do anything to trade places with her right now.

  “Dexter for what it’s worth…..I am really sorry that I don’t remember you. I hope that my memory comes back so that whatever it is we share together we can get back to. I can’t deny that I feel some kind of pull to you like we have known each other forever. Not remembering any of it….. That scares me. You seem like a really great guy. I can’t believe I would forget something like that.” Tears fill her eyes and I wipe each one away as they fall.

  “I have faith that you will remember me baby. I am willing to wait forever if that’s what it takes for you to be in my arms again. If you don’t remember me I will make sure that from here on out that you will fall back in love with me all over again.”

  Just then there was a knock on the door and I peered over to see Rob sticking his head in. He smiled at Courtney and she gave him a confused smile back.

  “Sorry if I am supposed to know who you are. I seem to be having a bit of memory loss. So who are you exactly?” Courtney asks Rob.

  “Hey pretty girl. I am Rob, your lover here’s best friend and costar. Speaking of costar that is actually why I am down here. Dexter can I speak with you for a moment out in the hall?” He asks me and then turns to Courtney. “As for you pretty girl, I am sure you will remember who I am with time. Even if you don’t you will be seeing a lot of me so you better get used to this handsome face.”

  “Wait a minute.” Courtney sticks her hands up one over top of the other forming a time out sign.

  “You said costar…. As in?” She gestures with her hand for someone to fill in the blanks.

  “Sweet cheeks. Dexter and me. We are actors. We are vampires on the show By the Light of the Moon. So that means you are dating a hot shot actor and you can’t even remember. I gotta tell ya though. I am kind of jealous. This charming guy gets to make you fall in love with him all over again. It was funny as hell watching him take the plunge of love the first time. This is going to be epic.” I just roll my eyes at Rob.

  He is being typical Rob but he made my girl laugh so I am going to let it slide for now. I nod my head indicating he needs to make his exit and I will be right out.

  I walk over to Courtney and place a kiss on her forehead.

  “Sorry you had to hear all that. He can be a bonehead at times.”

  “It’s okay Dexter. I am still trying to take in the part about you being an actor. I think that is the show Lillian has been trying to get me to watch.” I start to chuckle. If she only knew.

  “Don’t tell me? I have seen the show haven’t I?” She drops her head in her hand and shakes it in embarrassment.

  “Yeah… You have seen the show sweetheart. Why don’t you try and get some rest. I am going to head out and see what Rob wanted. I will be back in just a little bit.” I give her a kiss on her knuckles. I walk over to the door and turn and give her a gentle smile.

  “Sweet dreams baby.” I say and walk out the door.

  When the door to Courtney’s room firmly closes I see Rob standing there in the hall and I gesture for him to go ahead with what he wanted to tell me.

  “So I got a call from the producer. They want us back to film the remainder of the season as soon as we can possibly get there. They have done everything they can do without us there. Only thing left are the scenes with you and me.” I had a feeling this was going to be coming up soon. That I would have to leave my girl and head back to Alabama, but this couldn’t be any more poorly timed if they tried.

  “I can’t leave Courtney right now man. I just can’t. She just got out of a coma for Christ sake. I am not going. She needs me here. I will quit if I have to but I am not leaving her side.”

  “Dexter, you think I don’t know all that man? You think I want to leave Lillian right now? She just had a baby and has no husband or father to that child. I want to be here as long as I can. That’s why I think we should go home and film the scenes, get the shit done on the first try and fly back out on the next flight back to North Carolina. We can’t let our fans down man.” He does have a point. I don’t want to let all my fans down but I don’t want to let Courtney down either. She needs me here.

  “You don’t understand man. I. Can. Not. Leave. Her.” I punctuate each word trying to send my point home. “I have to stay and make sure she is okay. She is the love of my life and she was just in an accident. She doesn’t even remember who I am for Christ sake.” I can feel my face getting hot with anger. How does he expect me to just leave?

  “That is kind of the point man. She doesn’t remember you. Maybe some time away is what she needs to remember. In the mean time she won’t really miss what she doesn’t even know she had. Besides we have already missed three public appearances and one convention we were supposed to be hosting. We have been here dealing with all this craziness that has seemed to become our lives ever since the moment I kicked that soccer ball at them. The producers and our agents have been very understanding so far. Don’t push it. I already bought our plane tickets. The flight leaves at six tomorrow morning. I will pick you up to head to the airport at four thirty.” With that Rob storms off leaving me speechless. I guess I didn’t have any other choice. How am I supposed to explain all of this to Courtney?

  I head back into
her room and she is sound asleep. Shit! I wanted to go ahead and get this talk over with. I need to head over to her house and pack up all my shit. I am not leaving until I get to talk to her though. I can’t believe I am doing this. I am about to pack my things and head back to Alabama and finish filming.

  I climb into the bed and lie down next to Courtney being careful of her injuries. I just need to be close to her right now. She may not remember me and may be pissed if she wakes up to me in her bed but I don’t care. This is exactly where I want to be and I know if she did remember me this is right where she would want me as well.

  I must have fallen asleep. When I wake up its three in the morning. Fuck Rob will be picking me up at Courtney’s house in an hour and thirty minutes. Courtney is still sound asleep. I don’t want to but I try to wake her. She just moans and shifts a little to get more comfortable and falls right back to sleep.

  Damn it.

  I do not want to leave without explaining why I had to go. Knowing I can’t miss my flight I decide to write her a heartfelt letter explaining everything. I also explain that I will be back as soon as I possibly can. I tried to put as much love in the letter as possible to somehow convey to her how I feel. So if she does remember me while I am gone she will know how much she still means to me.

  I just hope that it will be enough. I place a kiss on her cheek and head out the door leaving my sleeping beauty behind.

  Rob picks me up as promised. He doesn’t say a word. I assume my body language is radiating major fuck off vibes so he keeps to himself.

  As the plane takes off I can’t help but feel lonely, confused, and angry. Most of all though I feel depressed. My body may have been taking off in that plane just then. My heart however, that shit was just left shattered to pieces on the tarmac below.

  Chapter Five

  Courtney

  When I wake up I feel rested and one hundred times better than before. I assume I have slept through the night because Lillian is sitting by my bed holding a bundle of bright pink in her arms. Shit if it isn’t morning then that would mean Lillian escaped the maternity floor. I wouldn’t put it past her though.

  “Please tell me you didn’t escape the maternity floor Lil?”

  “Cool it sis. I was discharged first thing this morning. I have been sitting here for forty five minutes waiting for your sleeping ass to wake up. Would you like to meet your niece or did you wanna go back and catch a few more Zs? Go ahead I have nowhere to be.” She jokes with me and then stands to walk over and hand me the sleeping baby girl.

  “Lillian do not curse in front of my niece.” I scold playfully.

  I look down at my beautiful new niece in my arms. I am instantly in love. She has a head full of light colored hair and an adorable button nose. She looks just like Lillian. She is perfect. I love her just as much in that moment as I loved my own kids the day they were born. I have wanted to be an aunt for as long as I can remember. All of my sisters have been aunties to my kids for twelve years and I have always been the oddball out without nieces or nephews. Now I finally have a niece and I couldn’t be more proud of my sister.

  While I am admiring the sweet baby in my arms, I keep glancing at the door hoping to catch a glimpse of Dexter sneaking in. I wonder where he is this morning. He claims he hasn’t left my side at all only to eat and shower. So I guess that must be where he is right now.

  “Yeah okay so anyway. I named her Lillian Faith. I just had to name her after myself. Since Greg isn’t in the picture anymore and I have pretty much done everything myself this whole pregnancy. I thought it was only fair she be named after me. Faith, I chose because we never give up faith in this family and that always get us through. We are one strong family when we stick together.” She explains.

  “Whoa Whoa Whoa. Back the truck up. You left Greg? Finally got some sense knocked into you huh?”

  “No dummy. He left me while we were in Alabama. I guess you don’t remember any of that though since you can’t seem to remember anything from right before you got your new job according to Dexter.” At the mention of his name I peer over at the door again hoping he will walk through.

  “Yea, I can’t remember anything at all just bits and pieces here and there of odd things. No memories of this Dexter guy at all. Is it true? Am I really in love with an actor?”

  “You’re not just in love with him Courtney. He means everything to you. This love runs deeper than any high school love thing you had going on with Dave. Can’t believe he is alive by the way. But this thing with Dexter is ten times more than anything you ever had with him. I have told you as much already before. Hopefully you can figure that out on your own. I hope that even though Dave is back you won’t end up shattering Dexter’s heart. He has been so good to you. He treats you the way you deserve to be treated. I really like him.” My sister is always giving it to me straight. That’s one of the things I love about her.

  How am I supposed to just set Dave to the side though knowing what he did for us? We have kids together and we used to have a great life together. I don’t even remember Dexter. It feels only right that I should be with Dave. After all I am actually still married to the guy because he isn’t even really dead. At least I assume we are. I have no clue how all that legal crap works. I will have to ask Dave whenever he decides to show back up again.

  I glance at the door again. Oddly enough not looking for Dave, but for Dexter.

  “Why do you keep glancing at the door? Who are you wishing will walk through it?” Lillian lifts a curious eyebrow.

  “Am I that obvious?” I laugh out. “Honestly I am looking for Dexter. He was here last night. I thought he would be here when I woke up.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t be expecting Dexter walking through the door anytime soon. Rob and Dexter left early this morning to head back to Alabama. I think Dexter may have left you a letter right over there.” She flicks her finger towards a folded up piece of paper on the bedside table.

  That must have been what Rob needed to talk to Dexter about last night.

  Lillian walks over and grabs the letter. I snuggle up to my beautiful niece Lillian Faith and take in her sweet baby smell. I give her a little kiss on her head and hand her back to her momma and I take the note from Lillian.

  “Thanks for this Lillian. Also thanks for bringing little Lillian Faith down to see me too. I can’t believe I missed her being born. So Dexter told me Rob filled in for me. I really hope I get my memory back soon. It seems like a lot has happened recently.” All of this confusion is starting to give me a headache. I rub my temples where the tension is building up.

  “Rob and Dexter have been great. They were supposed to go back to Alabama to finish filming this season of By the Light of the Moon weeks ago. After the tornado they both decided they weren’t leaving our sides until they absolutely had no choice. I guess that time came because they both had to leave early this morning. I think their agents and producers were starting to get pretty pissed because they kept putting off having to leave.”

  After Lillian tells me that I ask for some alone time so I can read my letter Dexter left me. I need some time alone with my thoughts. I take the letter and unfold it and what I read brings tears to my eyes.

  My Dearest Courtney,

  I hate that I am having to leave you like this without explaining everything in person. I tried to wake you but you were sound asleep and wouldn’t have it. I wanted to let you know first off that I did not want to leave you right now. Not while you are in the hospital when you need me the most. Duty calls though. I haven’t been back on set in weeks and Rob and I have missed a few appearances while we have been here. So we really didn’t have a choice but to go back home and film. I plan on working my ass off though. That way I can get back to you as quickly as possible.

  I really hope that your memory will come back soon and we can pick back up where we left off. If I could go back in time I would re do that whole night over again. Instead of trying to be so romantic and go all out for our first tim
e together I would go back in time and change the way I handled it all. I came to the realization that our love runs so deep and strong you didn’t need all that romantic stuff to make you happy and that our love would have been enough to make that night special. I promise that when you remember everything I will do everything I can to make up for what happened. When the time comes around that we share our first time together it will be everything you ever dreamed it to be.

  It sucks that I can’t be with you right now. I hope that while I am gone you will think of me; in the mean time I will work my ass off so that I can get back to you. You have my number in your phone. If you feel up to it text or call me. I got you a new phone the other day. Yours seems to have gotten lost in all of the craziness. I hope that was okay. The new cellphone is over on the table. I love you Courtney from the very bottom of my heart. I will see you soon.

  Love Always,

  Dexter

  I read over Dexter’s letter several more times until I heard the door to my room click open. I look up to see Dave coming through. I hope I hid the disappointment on my face. I was hoping it was anyone but him coming in just now.

  I knew we had a lot to talk about but I just wasn’t up for it after reading Dexter’s letter.

  “Hey Courtney. I was hoping we could talk. This is the first chance I have had to get back here. I have to be extremely careful when I come off the island. Even though I have grown out my beard and hair, it would be bad if anyone recognized me. The guy we’re testifying against next week is being held without bond but we aren’t supposed to be seen in town. That also leads me to another thing I need to talk to you about.”

  Since it seems that this is one of the only chances we will get to talk to each other I set my emotions about Dexter aside and listen to what he has to say.

  “I am listening.” I say quietly.

  “Well you know before when I told you we couldn’t tell the kids I was alive? Well that wasn’t entirely true. We can’t tell them at all. Ever. When I left you guys I went through extreme measures to make sure everyone thought I was dead and to make sure that this guy that I am testifying against had no idea who I was or that I had a family. I could have taken all of you with me that day but I didn’t want that life for you all.” He starts to explain but I cut him off.