Chapter 3
1 Month Later
I bid farewell to everyone as they leave with a forced smile. I know that once the last person leaves, I'm in trouble. Adrian is furious about what happened earlier.
Earlier That Day
Adrian invited agents, clients, and potential new clients over for a get-together/barbecue to network. Sarah was here with Jackson and Sam but Jackson wasn't feeling well and she went back home. The twins are running around playing with some of the clients and agents' children.
I was in the kitchen enjoying a friendly conversation with Andrew, one of Adrian's business partners. He was helping me prepare snacks for the children. I like talking to him. He's one of the few coworkers that I can actually stand to be around because he's very polite and doesn't act like an idiot. He's the perfect gentleman.
"Yo Doom!" I hear a potential client shout across the backyard. Everyone calls him Doom because they had trouble pronouncing his last name so they just stopped after the first syllable. If only they knew how fitting that nickname was for him. "If I didn't know any better I'd think Santana was Drew's wife instead of yours."
My heart stops as the rest of the team laughs at what was supposed to be a joke. I knew I was in trouble the second he finished that sentence. I send Andrew out with the snacks and start cleaning up the mess in the kitchen. I chance a look out the window while I'm at the sink and see Adrian glaring at me. If looks could kill, I'd already be in an urn above the fireplace.
I look away and continue cleaning. I avoid being alone with him for the rest of the day so that I can at least enjoy the rest of the barbecue. I know that my punishment is going to be worse than anything because I've embarrassed him in front of his clients no less.
I headed upstairs to check on the twins to make sure they were sleeping alright. Callie was sprawled out across her bed with her blanket twisted up in a ball at her feet. She's such a wild sleeper that no matter how well I tuck her in she always ends up with her blanket at the bottom of her bed. I gave her a peck on her cheek before pulling the blanket out over her again.
I peeked into Costa's room once I was done. He was still neatly tucked in. He hardly ever moved when he was asleep. I pushed some hair off his forehead and gave him a kiss before I made my exit.
As soon as I closed the door and turned into the hallway, I was met with my seething husband. He didn't even wait to go to the basement.
He grabs my arms and slams me against the wall, my head and back make contact with a loud thud. "What the hell were you fucking thinking?! Huh?"
I can practically see smoke coming out of his ears and nose like a raging bull. I don't think I've ever seen him this angry.
"I-I didn't do anything." I managed to get out before his hand latched onto my neck. Before I could even register what was happening, I felt his hand connect with my cheek.
"You didn't do anything?!" He asked incredulously. "You were practically fucking throwing yourself at Andrew!"
"I didn't… I w-wasn't." I stuttered through tears. He punches me in my side and I bite my lip to hold in the yelp that threatened to escape my mouth.
The punches and slaps just kept coming. I was begging and pleading for him to stop until finally I couldn't take anymore. I decided to try and fight back. The look in his eyes when I hit him back was enough to scare a Marine. The next thing I know, I'm tumbling down the stairs.
"MAMI!" I hear as I reach the bottom. I roll over and see Adrian staring at me while Costa is crying his eyes out and slamming his tiny fists into the back of Adrian's legs. Adrian just pushes him back and leaves. He didn't even spare me a glance when he walked by.
I get up and immediately feel a sharp pain in my right arm. I ignore it as I rush up the stairs to Costa and gather him up in my uninjured arm. I hold him as close as possible and try to calm him down.
"Shh, it's okay mijo. Mami's okay." I keep telling him everything is okay until he finally calms down.
"Baby I need you to wake your sister up for me. Can you do that?" He nods and rushes off to wake up Callie. I swear that girl could sleep through a tornado in the middle of her room.
The twins and I go next door to Sarah's house. I knock on the door and pray they're not asleep yet. About a minute later the door is opened by a sleepy Sarah.
"San?" She asked confused. She rubs her eyes and sees the state I'm in and her jaw drops. "Oh my god! Santana what happened?!"
"I fell down the stairs and I think I may have broken my arm." I state calmly. "Do you think you could give me a ride to the hospital?"
"Y-yeah sure. Let me just grab my coat." She returns and sees the twins looking exhausted. "Umm do you want them to stay here?"
"No." I reply instantly. "No it's fine they can come."
"Alright. Hey where's Adrian? How come he couldn't take you?" She asks as we head to the hospital.
"Uhh he's not home. H-he had to drive some of the guys home because they had too much to drink."
The rest of the ride is silent. Callie fell asleep in the backseat while Costa is in my lap clinging to me for dear life. I rubbed his back and kissed his forehead as he sniffled into my neck.
We're sitting in the emergency room when suddenly Sarah places her hand on my shoulder and I nearly jump out of my seat.
"Shit sorry is your shoulder hurt too?"
"No it's fine, you just scared me." I reply shakily.
"San what really happened?" She asks, now fully awake, after her eyes scanned my body.
"I already told you, Sarah. I fell down the stairs." I said while keeping my eyes glued to the floor.
"So the falling down the stairs made that handprint on your neck too? Santana, if Adrian di-" She was cut off by the nurse calling my name. I got up and tried to put Costa down but he wouldn't let me go.
"Baby I have to go so the doctor can make me better okay? I'll be right back I promise." He just shook his head no and tightened his hold on me.
"Mijo please. I need you to look after Callie and Sarah for me." I whispered. "Protect them." He pulled back slightly and looked in my eyes for what seemed like forever then he nodded and gave me a kiss. He then sat next to Sarah and his sleeping sister.
"So Ms. Lopez would you like to tell me what happened?" The doctor asks as she takes my vitals. I used my maiden name because people always recognize Dumitrescu as it's not very common.
"Yeah, I umm, I was walking down the hall when I tripped and fell down the stairs." The doctor hums in response, looking at me skeptically. "I think I may have broken my arm."
"Okay well I'm going to give you an X-ray to see if it actually is broken and then we can discuss whether or not you're going to press charges." She states nonchalantly as she checks my vitals and takes my blood.
My eyes widen in shock. "W-what? What are you talking about? I-I can't press charges on stairs." I stammer.
"Look you don't have to say anything right now but a tumble down the stairs doesn't cause that." She said pointing to my neck. I immediately reach up to cover it. "We can talk about it after your x-ray."
After the X-ray the doctor put a cast on my arm and had me wait in her office so that we could talk.
She comes back in with a few papers and pamphlets in her hands and gives me a sympathetic smile.
"It would seem that congratulations are in order." She stated while looking at the papers.
"W-what do you mean?" I asked hesitantly not knowing what she's talking about.
"Your blood work came back Ms. Lopez, you're pregnant." I feel all the blood drain from my face as I process her words. I shake my head continuously while muttering under my breath.
"No. No no no. I-I can't be! I can't. N-" I nearly jumped out of my seat when I felt a hand on my knee.
"Ms. Lopez please calm down."
"I have to go." I say standing abruptly, almost knocking over my chair. "Thank you doctor. Goodbye."
"Ma'am you really should consider pressing charges."
"I don't know what you're talking about." I say as I open the door to leave.
"Wait!" She exclaims. She holds a small piece of paper in front of me. "Your prescription for prenatal vitamins. I really hope you -"
"Thank you." I interrupt her and leave.
Costa runs up to me clinging on tightly as I step back in the waiting room. Sarah grabs Callie and we go to the car.
"San"
"Please just take us home. I don't want to talk about this, not in front of the children."
"San there's no way I'm letting you guys stay there tonight! I'm gonna book a hotel room and we're gonna stay there."
"I just need to grab some clothes for me and the kids. And you don't need to stay with us at the hotel."
"I know I don't have to. I want to."
I just nod and lean my head against the window.
The ride home was just as quiet as the ride to the hospital. The only noise being Callie's occasional soft snores.
"Are you sure you should go in alone?" Sarah asks with worry etched all over her face.
"Don't worry. He's not home. I don't know where he went when he left but he probably won't be back until morning." She squeezes my hand and nods.
I go into the house and head straight for the box that has my secret stash of money I have along with the fake documents and IDs for me and the twins. I had them made a few weeks ago when he was away on business because I had planned on leaving Adrian next month when he left for his next trip. I grab 3 suit cases and fill them with some of the twins' clothes and my own. I grab another bag and put some of their toys in it.
I look around my room to see if I missed anything. My eyes land on my jewelry box. I put that in the bag too. Adrian always bought me expensive jewelry, I could sell it for more cash.
Once I'm sure that I have everything, I head back to the car.
"All set?" Sarah asks. I nod with a small smile. "I'm gonna leave a note for Sam. I'll be right back."
I grab her arm as she reaches for the handle. "Don't, umm please don't tell him about this."
"Don't worry San. I won't." She replied. "Be right back."
Once we get to the hotel, I tuck the kids in and Sarah pulls me into the bathroom. Before I can question her, she pulls me into a painfully tight hug. It isn't until I feel her shaking that I realize she's crying.
"Was this the first time?" She asks with a shaky voice. I shake my head no and she starts crying harder. "Why didn't you tell me San?! I could have helped you!"
I don't say anything back. I just sink further into the hug.
"How long?" I look at her confused so she elaborates, pulling back to look me in the eyes. "How long has he been hitting you Santana? Did it start because of the kiss? Did he find out?"
I shift my gaze to anywhere other than Sarah until she grabs my chin to face her. "How long San?" She asks softly.
"A few months after the twins were born was the first time." I answer so quietly I'm not even sure if she heard me.
"Oh my god Santana I'm sorry." She says as more tears fill her eyes. "I'm so sorry I didn't help you."
"It's ok don't apologize. You couldn't have known, I hid it well."
"First thing in the morning we're going to the police sta-"
"No."
"But San,"
"I just want to sleep. Please." I plead. She nods her head and walks me out of the bathroom to the bed opposite the twins. She pulls me into the bed with her and holds me impossibly close.
I wait until I feel her breathing even out to remove her arm from my waist. I get out of bed and wake the twins quietly. I know they're tired and I feel so bad about it but I have them grab a bag and we leave the room. I left a note for Sarah along with cash to reimburse her for the hotel room. I ask the front desk when the next shuttle to the airport was coming and he said they run every 20 minutes.
I went to the ticket booth and asked when the next flight was and where it was going. I was told it was in an hour going to Lima, Ohio.
I've never heard of it, so it seemed like the perfect place to escape to. I bought three tickets and went through security and waited until it was time to board the plane.