Loving, Mr Waters

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

MATTHEW
The moment I enter Treys room I see him lying on the bed his eyes roaming around the room probably looking for me. I run to his side staring down at him as he tries to say something.
"Hey my boy." I kiss his forehead grateful to see him alive and out of danger. Thando appears next to me holding a glass of water and helps Trey to drink.
"Thank you." He says his voice sounding foreign which is understandable because he haven't uttered a single word since yesterday afternoon.
I look at him and wince as I notice some scars all over his face and his broken arm that is covered in a cast.
"How are you feeling? Are you in pain?" I touch his face looking for any signs of discomfort.
"Just my head and this cast is not comfortable at all." He tells me as he drinks water.
"You'll get better in no time little man then your dad and I will take you home." Thando tells him as she sits on the other side of the bed.
Trey yarns. "I'm so tired, can I sleep daddy?"
"Of course baby." I kiss his forehead again.
Trey looks between me and Thando. "You'll both be here, right?"
"Without a doubt." Thando tells him as she also kisses his forehead being very careful not to hurt him.
The doctor walks in and both Thando and I stand up giving him room to inspects a sleeping Trey.
"When can we take him home doctor?" Thando beat me to the question I also want to know.
"You can take your son home with you on Monday Mrs Waters. We just want to keep him here for a while until we have all the results."
My whole body ignite with fire when I hear him referring to my girlfriend as Mrs Waters. I wait for any signs of panic from hearing those words but instead realize how much I want that to be true, how much I want Thando to be my wife and a mother to Trey as well as our future children.
I can't believe this is me admitting these words but it's the truth.
My eyes find my woman who's staring at me slightly smiling and I just know we're thinking the same thing.
"Alright, I'll be back in a few hours to check on my patient. Please try not to push him, let him have as enough rest as possible."
"Thank you Doctor."
"The nurse will be bringing his food in an hour." Doctor Fred says as he walks out leaving us. I stare at my sleeping son when Thando moves staring at the window. I watch as her shoulders shake and immediately walk to her wrapping my arms around her.
"Baby." I say as she continues to cry.
"I hate seeing him like this Matthew. If it was possible I would take his pain away right away." She say between her cries. "No child deserves to go through this pain."
"Trust me I would switch places with him if I could."
I tell her meaning every word.
No parent want to watch their child go through pain and unable to help them.
"Did you find the person that ran him over him or was it a hit and run?"
"No, it wasn't a hit and run. The man that hit him reported himself at the police."
The police came over yesterday and gave me the news.
"Good. I just hope we get to take him home as soon as possible."
"Me too baby."
One of the things I love about Thando is how effortless she loves my son and how her love have nothing to do with the fact that she's in love with me. I couldn't have asked for a better partner.
"Did everyone sleep here?"
I know by everyone she means Miranda as well and as much as I wish she didn't it is what it is.
"Yes. They all refused to go hence we camped on those benches outside." I stare at her as she nods. "I also didn't have the strength to throw Miranda away which is why I let her be."
"I get it."
"Do you really?
"Yeah. This is not the time to talk about Miranda."
I rub the back of my neck. "You're right."
"Anyway I think we need to let your parents in plus I need to talk to Kayla about us."
"You mean we need to talk to Kayla about us. I told you we're in this together." I tell her as she stares into my eyes.
"Yes. I hope she forgives me. You know she once made me and Jasmine swore to never be involved with you."
I laugh for the first time since last night as I remember the day Kayla made vow to never pursue one of her friends as well. I remember how I gladly swore without a care in the world thinking  it was silly for my sister to even think I'd be interested at one of her friends.
How the wheels have turned.
"I know, she made me promise the same thing as well." I tell her and Thando'sher eyes pop out in shocked.
"She didn't."
"She sure did."
"Dear God, we are so dead. Both of us totally betrayed her."
"Hey, calm down. I'm sure everything will work out." I take her hands in mine kissing them.
"Come on, let's go."

Thando and I walk outside finding my parents already waiting at the door having a chat but stop when they see us.
"How is he?" They both ask at the same time they see us.
"He's okay but he is sleeping for now."
"I suppose we will just take a look at him then. I really need to see for myself that he is okay." My father tells me and I nod in agreement.
"I'm going to talk to my friends."
Thando avoids eye contact with my parents and leave us.
"Shame on you Matthew for keeping your relationship a secret. Look at my poor daughter running  away." My mother scold me watching Thando walk away.
"I wasn't keeping our relationship a secret mom. I just wanted to take my time and get to know Thando better without the outside world judging."
I rub my forehead again exhaustion washing all over my body.
"No one will judge you Matter. You better bring her over to our house for dinner and sort things out with your sister. I love those girls very much."
"I know and I will mom."
"We will talk more about this when you both come over for dinner for now I want to see my grandson." She walks inside the room leaving me with my father.
"Please don't scold me as well, at least not today." I tell my father the moment his mouth starts moving.
He laugh. "I wasn't. What I actually wanted to tell you is how happy I am to see you having Thando by your side and allowing her in." He tells me as he hugs me "It's good to have my old son back."
"She's special." I tell him when we break from our hug and he nods.
"Where's Miranda?"
"Oh you know your mother and those two." He says pointing between Kayla and Jasmine who are sitting at the bench while Thando approaches them. "They made sure she left not a minute later you got inside that room."
I get a picture of my mother, Kayla and Jasmine giving it to Miranda and cower on spot. Anyone who knows them knows not to mess with them.
"Alright let me go and see my grandson while you sort out your matters."
"I'm fearful of Kayla's wrath already."
"Nonsense. Grow some balls and fight for your relationship. Do maintain my dignity son." My father tells me before he walks inside the room.
I start walking with purpose to where the girls are, promising myself that no matter how hard my sister might fight us I will make her see reasons and fight for my relationship with the woman that I love.