Evan steps up beside me as I walk through the hospital corridors, heading towards the ER. “Hey, are you sure you are feeling better today? If not, you can go back home. I don’t want to put your health and our patients’ health in danger.”I shake my head. “No. I’m fine. Plus, I need to get out for a bit.”The scenes from yesterday in Mark’s office play in my mind. My stomach churns, but not because of the pregnancy. This time it is churning with a mix of anger and jealousy. How dare the hussy do that to Mark. A part of me is still angry he didn’t do anything to stop her. He has apologized many times, but he has also explained to me she wouldn’t have listened to him. So, he simply backed away from her and tried to avoid her as much as possible. My eye twitches even thinking about it. Evan shakes his head and playfully replies, “Don’t tell me you can’t handle being home a day with Casper. What is going to happen if you get put on bedrest again? I’ve read through your file
I walk into the house with the cookie container in my hand. From what little crumbs I ate, they are good, but I’m on a mission right now. I need to talk to my mother and get to the bottom of this issue with Tiffany. This afternoon, I’ve raked through my brain trying to remember any little thing from our past where something was said regarding my future with Tiffany or her possibly being my wife, but I can’t find anything. My feet pound against the tile floor as I make my way towards the soft giggles and where Casper is and most likely my mother. For once, I don’t let Casper’s sweet voice ease my worries or the tension in my body. I stop in the doorway. Casper is standing on a tall chair next to the counter with a mixing bowl between him and my mother. He moves a wooden spoon around the inside of the bowl as if he is stirring something, but the bowl is empty. More sweet giggles fill the air as I stand frozen and admire the view. For a brief second, I contemplate ignoring the
I tilt my head and stare at the two most important people in my life, my husband and Casper. After a few minutes, when I don’t get a response, I ask again. “Why was Evan calling you?” Mark shifts his weight back and forth on his feet while steam rises from the pans behind him on the stove. My happy face is gone and instead, I now wear a stern one. I give Mark a pointed look and step into the kitchen. “Are you going to tell me what you and Evan were talking about? Or do I need to call him myself and pry it out of him?”I shift my gaze to our precious son and his worried look. A smile tugs at my lips as I walk towards him. “Did you have a good day?”He hesitates for a second and glances back up at his father before his concerns fade away, and his face lights up. “I had fun.” He scrunches up his face and a small pout appears as his eyes drift back to his father. “But daddy and grandma won’t let me make any more cookies today.”His sweet voice grows harsher with each word, and
MarkI march through the hallway towards my office. My heavy footsteps bounce along the walls and warn people I’m coming. The pictures of the mysterious guy talking with Katie flicker through my mind and pull me back to it every chance it can get. A weight presses down on me, but I don’t know if it is from the mysterious guy trying to find my wife or from my issue with Tiffany thinking she is going to marry me. Every time I think about Tiffany, my skin crawls. Tiffany isn’t remotely close to my image of an ideal wife. Only Katie can fill those shoes and no one else. I take a deep breath as I walk past my assistant’s desk. Jack looks up from his computer monitor while his fingers hover over his keyboard. “Your important items are on your desk. There are a few things in your email which needs to be addressed right away. I’ve marked them urgent so you can easily find them. If you have any questions, just let me know.”I slow down briefly and nod. Jack motions with his chin t
I clamp my mouth shut and force the bile back down my throat. This has been an awful morning, but the medicine is helping. I just hope my constant nausea slows down soon. I reach the ER doors at the same time the exterior door slides open, and a couple of stretchers are pushed inside with badly cut up and injured people on each of them. Blood oozes down both their faces. Their clothes are also covered in blood. The woman is semi-conscious, while the man appears to be unconscious.Little shards of glass spark under the lights and cling to their clothes. Another car accident. How many has this been this week? Like the previous ones, I might not be able to recognize most of the injured people. They have too many cuts and their faces are swollen and bruised. I take a deep breath and silently pray I can keep my churning stomach under control. The injured people need me now.I scurry over to the closest bed where the EMS worker has just stopped. “What do we have here?”As we tr
MarkMy heart races as I bolt out of my office and run through the building. My mind is in turmoil. Is Katie alright? Is the baby fine?I jump in my car and zoom through the streets, hoping I will get there as soon as possible and that nothing happens.My finger taps the steering wheel. How much longer is it before I get there? Ring…ring…ring…My breath hitches, and a wave of panic slams against me. Am I too late?My finger quickly taps the button in the car to answer my phone. “Hey, is she alright? Don’t tell me something else happened to her.”My breathing shallows out and turns into short pants. My world is falling apart. Why now? It is just starting to move in the right direction. “Wow. Calm down, son. Did something happen? Where are you?” Shit. I didn’t want them to know, and I’m the idiot for letting it slip and not looking to see who was calling first. I run my hand through my hair while I glare at the traffic in front of me, wishing I have the power to make t
Mark leans down and kisses the top of my head. “Are you sure about this? Evan says your father is in bad shape. Your doctor also said you need to reduce your stress.”My fingers wrap around the wheelchair’s armrests. “Yeah. I’m sure. Is my brother here?”He kisses the top of my head again. “No. Evan said there hasn’t been anyone who has showed up for them. You will be alone with them.”I glance back over my shoulder at him. “You are going to be there.” He gives me a small grin. “Yes. I’m not letting you out of my sight right now.” His father steps up on my other side and puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’ll be there too. Even though I can’t talk with them, I still want to meet these people. If they wake up and get out of line, I also want to be there to help protect you. I haven’t talked to Wanda or her father yet about your father and his job there.” He pauses for a moment and squeezes my shoulder. His voice softens. “I had asked if they could look into giving you
I lean forward. “Mom?”Mark pushes me along the side of the bed, and I gently grab her hand. “Mom, I’m here. Don’t talk if you hurt. I’ll be here for a bit.”She turns her head towards me, and her eyes flutter open. A tear hangs on the corner of her eyelid, almost daring to fall. My eyes sting, and I take a shaky breath. She squeezes my hand. “How are you here?”I never told her I was coming back here, or I got a job in the hospital. My heart feels heavy. “I moved back with my husband, Mark.” I reach a hand back over my shoulder. Mark takes it and steps around to the side of the wheelchair. He gives her a small grin. “Hi, Mrs. Hunt. It is nice to meet you in person.”Her eyebrows knot together as she looks up at him. She stares at him for a moment before her gaze drifts back to me. The disappointment in her eyes slices right through my heart. Mark wraps his arm around my shoulders. “I’m so happy to finally find her. It was my dream that when she returned, I would a