didn’t have explanation as to why she
went into pre-term labor. It just happened.”
Through the Fire
131
Brandon felt something being placed in
his hand. Sinjin had poured him a scotch. He
hadn’t seen his brother leave the sofa. Brandon
downed it in one gulp. “Thanks.”
“Not necessary,” Sinjin responded. “So
how did Dominique hide being six months
pregnant?”
“She wore bigger clothes, and she wasn’t
showing much at all. That part always
concerned me. I thought she should have been
showing more. The obstetrician informed us
that a lot of women don’t start showing until
later in the pregnancy. Some not until they’re
seven or eight months along.
“And most of Dominique’s weight gain
was in her breasts and hips. If you saw her with
her clothes off, you could definitely tell she was
pregnant. She thought her mom suspected, but
she never said anything. Probably because she
was too busy taking care of Mr. Shaw. Or
maybe she just didn’t want to know. Anyway,
Dominique has lost a lot of weight now. I know
she hasn’t been taking proper care of herself.
That concerns me, too.”
“So all those times you had us thinking
that you were sleeping around, you were
actually grieving,” Tristan said slowly.
132
SERENITY KING
“Yes. Oh, I played hard before
Dominique. It’s just that she was different. She
wasn’t what I was used to, and I loved it. At
first nothing was serious. Then just like that—”
he snapped his fingers “—we had a baby on the
way and I was asking her to marry me. Now I
don’t think I can live without her. I love her
that much.”
“And how does she feel about you?”
Sinjin asked. Brandon looked quickly at his
brother to see if Sinjin was being a smartass,
but Sinjin looked back at him seriously.
He thought for a moment. “Before this
weekend, I would have said I didn’t know. But
now I’m sure that she loves me just as much as
I love her.” Brandon smiled for the first time
since their conversation had started. “I’m glad I
confronted her after the wedding. We still have
a lot to work through, but I’m confident we’ll be
okay.”
“Do you think maybe you both need some
counseling to deal with this?” Tristan asked.
Brandon grimaced. He’d never liked the
idea of telling some stranger his innermost
secrets. But if it would help bring him and
Dominique together again…“I’m not sure. I’ll
be able to tell more in the coming weeks.”
Through the Fire
133
“Can she have more children?” Sinjin
asked.
“Yes. The doctor didn’t see why not.
There was nothing medically wrong with her.
Her obstetrician thought that she’d been too
stressed. Honestly, me and Dominique have
made love so much this weekend she could
already be pregnant with triplets,” Brandon
grunted.
Tristan and Sinjin both laughed. They
were all quiet for a moment. Brandon broke the
silence.
“Thanks, guys, for listening. I really
needed to tell someone before I exploded.”
“I wish you had told us sooner. We’re
family, Brandon. We could have been there for
you. That was too much for you to handle on
your own,” Tristan said. “You’re a better man
than I am.”
Brandon lifted his brow. “Why do you say
that?” he asked.
“Because there’s no way in hell I’d have
let my wife be away from me that long.
Especially not after we’d just lost a child we’d
created
together.
I’m
just
not
that
understanding, I guess,” Tristan grimaced.
134
SERENITY KING
“I agree with the old man. I hope you
don’t let my sister-in-law get away again
Brandon,” Sinjin said. “Even the old G-man
over here had sense enough to hold onto his
woman. He damn near kidnapped her himself
in the process.”
“Who the hell are you calling old man?
And, I did not kidnap Alisha. We came to a
mutual understanding,” Tristan glowered at
Sinjin.
It was Brandon and Sinjin’s turn to laugh.
“From the way I
went into pre-term labor. It just happened.”
Through the Fire
131
Brandon felt something being placed in
his hand. Sinjin had poured him a scotch. He
hadn’t seen his brother leave the sofa. Brandon
downed it in one gulp. “Thanks.”
“Not necessary,” Sinjin responded. “So
how did Dominique hide being six months
pregnant?”
“She wore bigger clothes, and she wasn’t
showing much at all. That part always
concerned me. I thought she should have been
showing more. The obstetrician informed us
that a lot of women don’t start showing until
later in the pregnancy. Some not until they’re
seven or eight months along.
“And most of Dominique’s weight gain
was in her breasts and hips. If you saw her with
her clothes off, you could definitely tell she was
pregnant. She thought her mom suspected, but
she never said anything. Probably because she
was too busy taking care of Mr. Shaw. Or
maybe she just didn’t want to know. Anyway,
Dominique has lost a lot of weight now. I know
she hasn’t been taking proper care of herself.
That concerns me, too.”
“So all those times you had us thinking
that you were sleeping around, you were
actually grieving,” Tristan said slowly.
132
SERENITY KING
“Yes. Oh, I played hard before
Dominique. It’s just that she was different. She
wasn’t what I was used to, and I loved it. At
first nothing was serious. Then just like that—”
he snapped his fingers “—we had a baby on the
way and I was asking her to marry me. Now I
don’t think I can live without her. I love her
that much.”
“And how does she feel about you?”
Sinjin asked. Brandon looked quickly at his
brother to see if Sinjin was being a smartass,
but Sinjin looked back at him seriously.
He thought for a moment. “Before this
weekend, I would have said I didn’t know. But
now I’m sure that she loves me just as much as
I love her.” Brandon smiled for the first time
since their conversation had started. “I’m glad I
confronted her after the wedding. We still have
a lot to work through, but I’m confident we’ll be
okay.”
“Do you think maybe you both need some
counseling to deal with this?” Tristan asked.
Brandon grimaced. He’d never liked the
idea of telling some stranger his innermost
secrets. But if it would help bring him and
Dominique together again…“I’m not sure. I’ll
be able to tell more in the coming weeks.”
Through the Fire
133
“Can she have more children?” Sinjin
asked.
“Yes. The doctor didn’t see why not.
There was nothing medically wrong with her.
Her obstetrician thought that she’d been too
stressed. Honestly, me and Dominique have
made love so much this weekend she could
already be pregnant with triplets,” Brandon
grunted.
Tristan and Sinjin both laughed. They
were all quiet for a moment. Brandon broke the
silence.
“Thanks, guys, for listening. I really
needed to tell someone before I exploded.”
“I wish you had told us sooner. We’re
family, Brandon. We could have been there for
you. That was too much for you to handle on
your own,” Tristan said. “You’re a better man
than I am.”
Brandon lifted his brow. “Why do you say
that?” he asked.
“Because there’s no way in hell I’d have
let my wife be away from me that long.
Especially not after we’d just lost a child we’d
created
together.
I’m
just
not
that
understanding, I guess,” Tristan grimaced.
134
SERENITY KING
“I agree with the old man. I hope you
don’t let my sister-in-law get away again
Brandon,” Sinjin said. “Even the old G-man
over here had sense enough to hold onto his
woman. He damn near kidnapped her himself
in the process.”
“Who the hell are you calling old man?
And, I did not kidnap Alisha. We came to a
mutual understanding,” Tristan glowered at
Sinjin.
It was Brandon and Sinjin’s turn to laugh.
“From the way I
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