I would only travel with one child, Ruby. She was Ethan's only child. She was a beautiful cocktail of Ethan and I. She had grey eyes like Ethan, curly blonde hair and lovely amber skin. At four, Ruby was friendly and talkative. She would love the journey.
I would be at Ethan's family home while I underwent treatment. He was not from a poor home. It was massive and his parents were kind to me even after the divorce.
Ethan was my first love and even after divorce, the friendship between us had remained.
Chad knew the basics of the friendship and was never threatened by it. Why would he, anyway? I had left Ethan to get married to Chad.
Chad knew I always loved him. He was confident enough to ask me to occasionally go out for adventure.
I met Ethan and Ruby at the airport early morning. Chad had accompanied me to the airport. He had carried me to his limo then up the stairs into the private chartered plane. He made sure I was comfortable then kissed me.
I wrote down how much I needed him, but that someone had to be with our three children. I would be fine. Ethan assured him he would get me to his home safely then I would be in hospital the very next day.
The moment the plane took off, I covered up and watched Ruby jump on the bed happily. She was ever so joyful you wouldn't believe the size of the tantrum she could throw. Ethan watched her for a moment, then asked if I needed rest. I did. He took Ruby so I turned to my side and watched the clouds.
My parents knew I was unwell but didn't know exactly how unwell. They would blame Chad, I was sure. My mother, would blame him squarely and ask to take back her daughter. That, or her name wouldn't be Joyce.
My three brothers would strong demand I go back to my parents' home. Being an only girl came with some drama.
I drifted to sleep. Hopefully England would offer a solution or I would have to get used to the fact that I would die soon.
Ethan picked me up from the plane all the way to the chauffeur driven black Cadillac. We sandwiched Ruby at the back. I would be in hospital the following morning and Ethan promised to be there the whole time.
He had left a lot to be there for me. I thanked God for the loyal friends I had during that difficult time. We were at his home in no time.
I saw the mother come down the stairs so Ethan let Ruby out. She ran up the stairs shouting her grandmother's name. Ethan picked me up while the butler came down to get the luggage. I had pleasant memories of that home.
I sat down with the whole McAllister family for dinner. Ethan explained the hospital I would be in the following day. The father was positive a solution would be found as he had never heard of such a condition.
I was quiet as saying my left hand was going numb wouldn't be helpful. But when I got in bed and Chad called, I typed away while my tears poured. I let him know I could barely feel my left arm.
I saw worry on his face as he did a bad job trying to assure me I would be fine. When I asked after the boys, he said Opal was a little withdrawn. He missed me, that one. I would fight whatever was eating me, fight for my children, all four of them.
Every test possible was carried out. Even CT scan was done. I was there for one week straight but nothing was forthcoming. However, I was feeling better.
My left arm was alive and my legs were warm. I could raise them a bit. I therefore asked for speech therapy and stopped worrying. I got to read novels and follow up on politics back home.
I was in the news back home. Nobody knew what ailed me, they just knew I was unwell. I saw photos of Chad carrying me, of rumours in statehouse about my condition.
It all came with Chad being president. The lack of privacy. So my parents called me. I couldn't even speak so Ethan did the talking saying I had lost my voice but was completely fine.
The day Ethan took me back home, he just said he had a pleasant surprise. I trusted him and smiled. I would go for his neck if the surprise didn't surprise me.
Right after I had evening tea with Ethan's mother, he came. Bradley. I was so happy but couldn't stand. He came down and hugged me tightly. I held him and breathed.
Then I held Brad's head and kissed him for a minute. He had been shedding tears. I kissed him and wiped them. Well, that was one pleasant surprise.
So who was Bradley and why was I kissing him? He was my side piece, as he preferred to be called. Yes, Chad knew about him but had never met him. Chad just encouraged me to keep him for moments like this, moments where we were apart for long.
Bradley was black, British and worked in the consulate in Kenya. Ethan had met him, vetted him and told Chad why I ought to keep him and Chad felt I needed Brad.
"How are you, beautiful? I was worried sick," he carried me to bed, sat and held my shoulders.
"I have been better. Only time will tell." I wrote. "I am so glad you came. I missed you." I pulled him in bed for a cuddle.
Then Jonathan arrived with Evans and five other people from Kenya. That was the secuty detail cut down. It would be about fifteen people.
"Emma, you need rest. Whoever this guy is, he has to leave now," that was big brother Jonathan.
"Thank God I cannot move or I would wrestle you to the ground. Leave my room. Bradley will be with me as long as he likes," I wrote frowning.
Jonathan was the oldest of my brothers. He cared about me genuinely but hated Chad to the core. Evans, the aide de camp, was his best friend. The two had been in the university together and had joined the military together after graduating.
Chad had asked Bradley to come over. He had insisted on my keeping him as he knew he could be busy. He knew Bradley had feelings for me, knew he had met the three little children. He trusted Bradley. I trusted Bradley.
"Emma, we need you to change rooms. Change clothes, and everything you use. Then we observe," Evans said.
So I changed rooms with Ethan since my security team suspected poison. I had dinner in bed, cuddled up with Bradley and got comfortable. I slept well, most of the night anyway. Then I was up early.
I pulled Bradley close and felt his skin. He chuckled. He stroked my back and asked if I wanted him. I smiled and kissed him. Of course I wanted him.
The urge I had lost was creeping back. I could move my legs. I pushed a leg between his and kissed for minutes. He didn't seem comfortable for sex so he held me and we drifted back to sleep.
After talking to Chad, the staff that had been sent travelled back home. I was left with Bradley, Jonathan and Evans.
I felt better and when I had physiotherapy that day. The lady was confident I would walk in no time.
I got a wheelchair I liked. Chad had talked to me over and over. He was a psychologist and knew my emotions and triggers.
Wheelchair made me feel disabled, invalid. But I wanted to be as independent as possible. I wanted to tuck Ruby in bed without bothering anyone.
I got a comfortable, electric wheelchair. It was easy to operate. I tried it and loved it. I took a photo for Chad and he instantly wrote back. It looked good. Of course it did, it didn't come cheap.
You know what the issue with having a wheelchair was. Ruby. She wouldn't miss the rides. She sat on me and pretended to drive a car and I loved it. We got to bond and make up for lost time.
"I miss you handsome. I wish you were here," I typed as Chad video called that night.
"What do you miss the most?" he asked in that husky deep voice. I blushed.
"Your hands on my skin and a little more," I typed, blushed. I was in bed.
"Are you able to have sex now?" he asked.
"I think so. I feel the urge. My body longs for you," I typed, blushed.
"Bradley should be there for you for now. When are you coming back? I miss you," he said.
"Bradley is here but seems scared of it, or maybe just cautious," I typed, wiped a tear.
I told Chad I couldn't force Bradley to get on me. He chuckled and said he could force him alright. I giggled.
I wasn't sure when I would go back to Chad as Jonathan wanted to see if there was any improvement first just to make sure Kenya wasn't the problem.
Yet with everything in me, I missed Chad and the children. I told him, saw him lick his lips. He wanted me to focus on my recovery then I would fly home to him.
Chad spoke of his frustration, not being able to just fly over and cuddle me. He spoke of his love as Bradley came to bed. He asked to speak to Bradley but I laughed and declined. I would handle Bradley.
Bradley cuddled up and switched off the lights. He said he was proud of the improvement I was making then kissed me. I could move. I moved and sat astride him. I bent and kissed him, then let him take the lead.
Bradley's hands shook a little as he felt my skin. It always happened whenever we had been a part for a while. It had been months. He turned me and went on top.
I smiled, pulled his neck and went on kissing. I felt his shoulders gently. He always loved that. I let him know I missed him, asked if he wanted me. I knew his body did. I felt it.
Bradley worried, felt he would hurt me. So I pushed him off me, got my phone and texted Chad. I would head home in two days. Or so I thought.