Chapter 27

 

 

The dark, oversized sunglasses on her face could hide the redness and puffiness around her eyes, but it couldn’t soothe the pain in her heart. It, along with her spirit was broken.

Rocks and gravel crackled and crumbled underneath her shoes as she lagged back behind the group, suddenly feeling like she wasn’t a part of the family. If Harding wanted a divorce, then, technically, she wasn’t a part of the family. She was an outsider. Harding’s pending ex-wife. A woman who didn’t belong. Why did she bother to go on the hike?

Dimitrius and Harding led the group down the trail. Amira and Sherita were carrying on a conversation while Melanie, Zoya and Emily were busy chatting it up. Walking behind them was Dante, Desmond and Mordecai.

Then it was her – Savannah – all alone at the back of the group. Through blurred vision, she watched Harding turn around several times to look back at her, but why? He made it clear it was over between them, but yet, he took the time to check on her from time-to-time. Then again, maybe he wasn’t checking on her at all. Maybe he was just turning around to be turning around. Whatever the case, she didn’t care. It was chilly this morning, and the cold was making her teary, bloodshot eyes hurt. And her feet hurt, too. She looked fit, but she was anything but. Stressed out for the last few days and not focusing on her pregnancy was beginning to take a toll on her body. By her own estimation, she was about two months pregnant. She’d started taking prenatal vitamins after her first missed period, but she needed to get some stress off of her back and find a doctor for an official checkup. That’s if she survived this hike.

“Hey, are you all right, Savannah?” Amira asked, jogging backward to her.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

Dante turned around, glanced at Savannah and continued on walking. He already knew Emily was okay. He was walking right behind her the entire time. But Savannah…obviously the situation wasn’t improving between her and Harding. Harding was at the front of the group. Savannah was way at the back.

“Are you sure?” Amira asked. “This hike is a killer.”

Yes, it is, Savannah thought. She was using muscles that laid dormant for some time. Now, they were all sore and overworked. How was she going to survive the hike back to the car?

“Savannah,” Amira said.

Dante turned around to look at Savannah again.

“I’m fine,” Savannah said between breaths – the ones she could actually catch, that is.

“Maybe we should sit down a minute,” Amira said when she saw Savannah holding her temple.

“Ye-yeah…I’m…I’m...”

“Whoa,” Amira said, grabbing Savannah by the arm.

“What’s wrong?” Dante asked, immediately coming to their aid.

“Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine,” Savannah said.

“You’re not fine,” Amira told her. “You almost fainted, Savannah.”

Dante gripped Savannah’s left arm and said, “There’s a bench. Come on. You need to sit down for a minute.”

“Okay,” she said.

“Yo, Harding, wait up, man,” Dante said in an irritated tone. He couldn’t believe Harding was so far ahead of Savannah. She was sitting down, could hardly catch her breath and he had no idea.

Harding turned around and saw Savannah sitting on the bench, holding her head. Immediately, he jogged over to her and dropped to his knees. “What’s wrong, Savannah?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” she said snippily. “I’m fine.”

He moved her hands away from her head and nudged her face up with his index finger. “You don’t look fine. Here. Drink some water.” He handed her his half-full bottle.

“I don’t want any water,” she said embarrassed. Everyone was circled around her now – people who were supposed to be her family but right now she felt like they were his family. Harding’s family. And she couldn’t understand why he was on his knees in front of her, offering her water and looking like he genuinely cared about her.

“Maybe you should try to drink a little water, Savannah,” Dante said. He was the only one who knew she was pregnant and she knew it was the reason he wanted her to hydrate.

“Just drink a little, Savannah,” Harding added, nearly placing the bottle in her hand.

Humiliated, Savannah slapped it away so hard, the bottle flew to the ground, water spilling out.

Harding stood up and said, “Whatever. She’s fine. Let’s keep on walking.”

“Wait, Harding,” Mordecai said, not fond of his brother’s uncaring attitude. “Why don’t we head back? As a group?”

“That’s okay, Mordecai,” Savannah said. “Y’all go ahead. I’ll catch up to you guys later.”

“We’re not leaving anyone behind,” Dante said, beyond upset by Harding’s dismissive attitude when it came to Savannah. He said he loved her, but his actions were blatantly cold and callous. “We’ll wait here with you, Savannah.”

Savannah shook her head and stood up quickly, preparing to head in the opposite direction – back to her car – and that’s when everything went black. Dizzy, she fainted, and this time, no one was able to catch her.

“Savannah!” Zoya yelled.

When he heard his sister’s scream, Harding turned to see Savannah laying on the ground. Frantically, he rushed to her side where Dante, Desmond and Mordecai already were.

“Savannah,” he said dropping to his knees, lifting her head and holding it securely in the bend of his forearm. “Savannah.”

Her eyes opened slowly. “Wha…what happened?”

“You fainted,” Harding said.

“We need to get you to a hospital, asap,” Dante said.

“Does anything hurt?” Zoya asked.

“I’m…I’m fine,” Savannah mumbled.

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” Harding said. “You need to get checked out.”

“No, I don’t. Let go of me, Harding,” she said pulling away from him.

“Savannah—”

“Let…me…go!” she yelled between efforts to free herself from his grasp.

Harding complied. “You need to see a doctor. You’ve never fainted before, Savannah.”

“Then, I’ll take her to the doctor,” Zoya said. Obviously, she doesn’t want to go with you.

A few hikers were approaching – a Caucasian couple with a Labrador. When they saw everyone huddled around a woman on the ground, they stopped and asked, “Is everything all right?”

“Yes,” Desmond answered. “We’re good. Just a little over-exertion, but nothing water can’t fix.”

“Okay. Just thought we’d ask.”

“I appreciate that. You all be safe.”

The couple continued along and Dante said, “Come on, Savannah. Let’s get you up.” He took one arm and Harding held the other until Savannah was standing on her own two feet. “Zoe, you take Savannah to the hospital. We’ll all go back home and wait for you two,” Dante said.

“I’m not going back to wait—I’m going to the doctor with my wife,” Harding asserted, “Whether she wants me there or not. Let’s go, Zoe.”

Zoya glared at her brother, then gripped Savannah’s hand as they slowly trekked back to the car.