Page 18 of All or Notching
“My career has always been my focus.”
“That’s something we have in common.”
“I’m sorry about all of this.”
I slide the plate in front of her. “It took two of us, Laurel, and we used protection. It was an accident.”
“I know, but—“
“Look we do need to figure out how this is going to work. I want to help you as much as I can. I work a lot of hours between the hospital and the clinic, but if you need anything, anything at all, I want you to call me.”
She ignores me, instead pointing to her food. “Aren’t you going to have some?”
“I need to get back to the hospital.”
“Oh.” She forks a piece of egg and brings it to her mouth.
I check the time. Damn it. I don’t want to leave, but I’m doing a shift in the ER, and I can’t be late. Standing, I pick up my mug and empty it into the sink. I look around at the mess I made. Maybe I should clean up first.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll get it.”
“I’m sorry. I really need to get going if I’m going to make it on time.”
She waves her fork in the air. “Not a problem. This is delicious by the way. Thank you.”
Should I kiss her? Hug her? I’m not sure how to behave. I shove my hands in my pocket and head back toward the front door, grabbing my coat from the back of the sofa. Shrugging into it, I turn around when I get to the door. Lauren is standing there, leaning against the wall. She looks exhausted and scared.
“I meant what I said before, call me if you need anything.”
“I will.”
“Let me know how your appointment goes?” I shouldn’t need a reason to call or talk to her, but I feel like I do. If I don’t make her commit to something, she might disappear.
“I will. Thanks again for the tea and the omelet.”
I let myself out, wait until the door closes, and walk over to my car. It’s the perfect winter evening—a light snowfall, but not too cold. This time next year, I’ll have a little boy to spend the holidays with.
I just wonder what kind of relationship I’ll have with his mother.
CHAPTER 7
Laurel
“How are you feeling today?”
Like an idiot.
But I know that’s not what Sally means. The fear etched on her face, the way she’s squeezing my hand, hurts. “I just fainted.”
“You passed out, fell and hit your head, Laurel.”
Reaching up, I touch the area now covered with a white bandage. Ouch. “It’s a small cut.” We’d been in our weekly debrief, going over the schedule and appointments for the next few days, when I stood to relieve an ache in my back. The next thing I knew, I was looking up at Sally while she stared down at me, her expression filled with fear. It had taken her and Nancy working together to convince me to go to the hospital under the threat that if I didn’t, they’d call an ambulance. While Sally drove me here, Nancy stuck around the office to cancel my afternoon meetings.
“Laurel Downing. You are pregnant. You need to take care of yourself.” My best friend pleads with me, tears in her eyes, not even trying to hold them back.
“I’m sorry, Sally. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just get light-headed sometimes.”
“You didn’t tell me that. If I had known, I’d have been paying closer attention all this time.”