Whirlwind

CHAPTER 11

It had been two weeks now since Brad had gone to MJ's house to see Rose, and he was going out of his mind with all the waiting. His mother had urged him to give her space but it had been too long now. He couldn't sit about wondering what was going on with her and how she was holding up. Yes, they texted and called sometimes but it just wasn't enough for him.

As if the gods knew how much torture he was in - maybe they did know - his phone buzzed with an incoming message.

Tomorrow I have an ultrasound appointment at 11:00, if you'd like to be there.

If I'd like to be there? What the hell is wrong with this woman! Of course, I want to be there! In fact, I am going to be there! It's my baby!

Calm down, Brad. He took a couple of deep breaths before firing back a reply.

Of course, I'll be there.

This was how their messages were now. No more shirtless selfies and flirting, just straightforward texts mostly about the baby and Rose's health. But... tomorrow I'll see her. Maybe even convince her to have lunch and talk. Yeah!

"Honey, I'm home!"

God, please, no!

Matt's excited voice penetrated through Brad's office from the front door. Matt had been playing mother hen to Brad since he came back from Stellenbosch. He'd call, text, even visit unannounced! If Brad didn't know better he'd think Priska had transformed into a man, Matt.

He listened to the fast approaching footsteps of his friend until they reached the door to the room in which he'd cooped himself in for two weeks. He even slept in his office, mostly because his room wasn't the same without Rosaline in it and partially because he worked until he passed out and then kept working when he woke up. The bags under his eyes were indication of his lack of sleep.

"Tada! I come bearing gifts!" Matt exclaimed loud as a banshee as soon as he'd dramatically threw open the heavy oak door to Brad's office.

"Go away, Matt. I'm working." Even though Brad dismissed his friend by pretending to work on his computer, Matt threw himself in the chair opposite Brad's, across the desk.

"That's the problem, Brat! You've been working nonstop and... it's actually funny because as far as I remember you are unemployed."

"Temporarily," he corrected gruffly.

"But unemployed nonetheless, so I brought food so you can eat and medication that'll help you sleep." As he said this, Matt was unloading everything from the bag he had carried onto the desk before him. The aroma from one of the boxes wafted to Brad's nose and his stomach growled at having not had anything in it except a fruit now and then for two weeks. He reached for one box and opened it to find chocolate-covered donuts. His eyes sparkled at the sweet delight and he took a huge satisfying bite, moaning as the chocolate melted in his mouth.

"This is good," he said through a mouthful pointing the doughnut at his friend.

"I knew you'd like it. Now a thank you would suffice." Matt smirked at his friend. "Now for the final touch, we're going to The Den tonight!"

"What? No!" Matt was about to argue but Brad cut him off. "Matt, I don't want to go back there. You of all people know what a mess I was because of drinking."

"Look, you can have a soda. Going to The Den doesn't necessarily mean you have to get drunk." He walked over to Brad, slapped him on the back as a sign that he understood where he was coming from. "So, eight-thirty?"

Brad sighed heavily. "Yeah. I'll meet you there."

Matt had been worried about Brad. When his father passed away, he had fallen into a serious case of depression. He had had to be a shoulder for his mother, causing him to suppress his own grief and be there for Priska. Not grieving the death of his dad had taken a toll on his mental health without anyone noticing. Everyone commended him for being strong and never looked passed the facade to see a hurting young man. He wasn't hurting only for his loss but his mother's too, and as a means to not drown in the abyss of constant heartache he resorted to drinking. It nearly cost him his career and sanity, if it hadn't been for Alice.