Chapter Eight

After Warren walked out, Stephanie began questioning Brian. "You knew about this affair?"

"Yeah, I did. It's been going on for a little over a year."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Stephanie demanded.

"I had enough problems of my own; I couldn't concentrate on or worry about Wendy's."

"You knew, too?" Stephanie asked Kristin.

Kristin nodded.

"I can't see how EVERYONE knew, but me and poor Suzie - the two of us were left in the dark!"

"Mom, you're just going to have to stay out of this. Let Wendy make her own decisions."

"But I can't let my baby girl marry Satan!" Stephanie lamented.

"I know my brother is... well, my brother... but he loves Wendy. He really does," Kristin said in Warren's defense. "He loves Wendy just as much as I love Brian."

Brian stared lovingly into Kristin's gorgeous blue eyes. He kissed her - right in front of his mother. "In case you're wondering, Mom. Kristin and I are back together."

"I gathered that already. I am happy for you two."

"Really?" Kristin said in surprise.

"I never hated you, Kristin. I just hate your loathsome brother. I am afraid I can never approve of his union with my Wendy... not ever."

"Mom..." Brian started to argue.

"And I can't believe you made a pact with Warren Carter," Stephanie said to her son. "This is Wendy we are talking about- your baby sister."

"I know, and I think she deserves the chance to be happy... truly, blissfully happy. Lord knows I was filled with remorse when Kristin and I were apart. Obviously, Warren Carter makes Wendy happy."

"He's going to hurt her... just like he did Suzie," Stephanie said sadly. "I can't protect my girls anymore... and it's breaking my heart.'

Brian hugged his mother in an attempt to console her. "Mom, why don't you go home awhile? We'll call you if anything changes with Wendy. You heard what the doctor said. She needs to rest..."

"Are you saying I can do nothing but cause her stress?"

"I am not saying that at all. Just give her a little time; give her and Warren a little time, to work everything out."

"Alright, I am going. I'm going to look for Suzie. She shouldn't be alone right now," Stephanie agreed.

~*~o~*~

Not long after Stephanie's departure, Brian was surprised when he was alerted that he had a phone call from Cagney McCleary. "I better get that," he said. He gave Kristin a long, tender kiss, then headed toward the nurse's station to take the call.

"Brian," Cagney said on the phone. "I am here with Suzie. She's worried about Wendy. How is she doing?"

"Wendy's going to be okay," Brian stated. "She just needs to rest and recover. How's Suzie?"

"She's having a hard time right now," Cagney replied. "She's gone through a terrible shock."

"I know... and I am sorry."

"Brian, Suzie and I hope Wendy makes a full recovery," Cagney said before ending the call.

"Did you hear?" Cagney asked after he hung up the receiver. "Wendy's going to be fine."

"And the baby?"

"I forgot to ask," Cagney answered regretfully.

"Give me the phone," Suzie said. "I need to place a call to my attorney. I want him to start the divorce proceedings immediately."

"Yes, that would be best," Cagney agreed as he handed her the telephone.

~*~o~*~

Warren entered Wendy's hospital room not long after the doctor and nurse had departed. She was resting comfortably against the thick pillows. She was looking so beautiful despite all the purple bruises upon her face.

"How are you feeling?" Warren asked.

She opened her eyes, gazing into his deep ebony eyes- those eyes she loved like nothing else. "The doctor said the baby is alright."

"Yes, but how are YOU doing?"

"I want to go home, Warren. Please take me home," she pleaded. She gave him THAT look and he melted. For a second, he was almost ready to break her out of the hospital.

"You can't go home now. You need to be under a doctor's care."

"But I want to go home with you."

"I am not leaving you. I'm staying right here. I won't let them throw me out again," he promised.

To her surprise, he crawled into bed with her and held her. She sighed in complete bliss as he bound his strong arms around her. "Warren Carter, I will never understand you. Not ever," she said quietly. "Is it true? All the things you said... are they really true?"

"Yes, I love you. Only you. And I want you... and the baby; our baby."

"Ohhh Warren. I love you, too. So much," she said as tears gathered in her eyelashes. "It feels good, saying that to you. I no longer have to be silent about it anymore..."

"I am sorry I hurt you, Wendy. So sorry. Do you believe me?"

Wendy only hesitated a second, then she nodded. Despite those feelings, something was nagging at her deep inside. It seemed too good to be true - Warren saying he loved her and asking her to marry him. It didn't seem real, although in her heart that had always been her greatest and her most happiest dream (Warren loving her and wanting to be married to her).

He caressed her tenderly as he held her close against his muscular chest. "There's just one more thing," he said as his voice broke. "I need to know, do you forgive me? CAN you forgive me for all the awful things I've said and done?"