Page 29 of Dr. Scandal Claus

"Why don't you go out and get some candy like normal. Let me talk to your mom."

My body stiffened as Ethan slid off the exam table and his sneakers hit the floor. He slunk out with his head drooping, and I suddenly felt like hiding. Nick and I hadn't spoken in a month. Not a message, not a call. Not even a letter. No update at any of Ethan's appointments, and I hadn't even seen him around town. I heard he was drinking heavily, untrustworthy, maybe even got a DUI, but I didn't believe the rumors. I knew what they were saying about me and none of it was true.

"I…" I muttered but I couldn't really say much. The ball was in his court. It had been in his court since he asked for space. I respected that enough to not even send him a good morning text when I really missed him the most.

"Scarlett," he breathed, and it felt like worship. I drew in a breath and held it, and he stepped closer to me. My eyes welled up. I had his undivided attention and all I could think to do was cry.

"I'm sorry," I mouthed; no sound would come. My lip quivered. I couldn't do this. It was too much. He was going to break up with me, tell me he could only be Ethan's doctor. It hurt. I was panicked. I blurted out: "So…surgery? When? And how long will the recovery be?" I could get through this if I focused on Ethan. I refused to be one of those people who left this practice and made the gossip mongers win. Even if it raped my soul over and over, Nick was Ethan's doctor, and it would stay that way.

"I understand why you did what you did…" Nick closed the gap between us and cupped my cheek and the waterworks started. His hand held me gently; his thumb brushed away the tears. "I know it was a hell storm around me and I don't blame you one bit."

I leaned into him, pressing my forehead against his chest. A month's worth of fear was unraveling, spooling out in a waterfall of emotion he was catching and cradling. He held me to his body and rubbed my back. I clung to him as I sobbed, and when I got control of myself, hoping he'd say we could go back to where we were, he sighed.

"I need some time, okay?" he said thoughtfully.

It wasn't what I wanted to hear. I missed him. I needed him in my life, and I wanted to know if our relationship was going to happen or if I should just give up and mourn him. Not knowing was the hardest part, but I had no right to push him. So I nodded.

"And I need a bit of space, but that doesn't mean I'm deserting you or Ethan." Nick brushed away a few more tears, and I leaned into his palm.

"Alright," I said bravely.

"Just tell me one thing…Why did you keep him a secret? The four months we were dating and you said nothing…"

I winced when he said "were dating" because that implied past tense dating, not present tense. I didn't want to read too much into it, but what was I supposed to think?

"I don't have a good reason. I mean, Ethan's just a kid. I didn't know what the right thing was." I had no real excuse as to why I hadn't told him. I'd kept it a secret for so long, a few more months didn't seem to matter that much to me, but looking in Nick's eyes I could tell it meant something to him. Saying how afraid I was that he'd dump me and run away because of my secret seemed like it would only sound like I was manipulating him so I said nothing.

"Be patient with me, okay?" he said, then he leaned in and kissed my lips softly.

It drew a whimper of need from my throat, but it wasn't sexual need. It was the desperate need to stand on solid ground—confidence, stability, assurance I was safe.

"I should go," I told him, and I backed away. I wiped my tears away and walked out and he said nothing. It hurt a little that he didn't try to stop me, but he wanted space. I should've expected that. Should've known he wasn't going to call me back, not if he wanted time to wrap his mind around things.

I walked out to the front reception area and looked for Ethan. He sat in the corner playing a game, eating a piece of licorice, and I moved straight toward him. Near the reception desk, however, stood a beautiful woman. She was tall and slender. Her short dark hair was feathered to the side the way Princess Diana always wore hers. She was pretty, and she was wealthy. I could tell by the Prada tag on her purse, and the way her Casper suit hugged her curves like it had been tailored just for her.

She offered a smug expression aimed at me and turned to the receptionist. "Just tell Nicky I'm here to see him and he'll want me back there right away." It was as if she had said her words loud enough to let me hear them on purpose. If they were daggers aimed at my heart, it worked. She hit her target. I felt insecure immediately.

"Come on, Ethan," I coaxed, helping him put the toys he was playing with away. That woman unnerved me. What was she doing here anyway? Calling Nick "Nicky" and acting like she was judging me…

Was he already moving on with someone else? Was this a rebound woman? She looked familiar but I couldn't place her face.

I took Ethan's hand and led him out against his protests, promising we could stop for ice cream if he just went along with me right away. I didn't want her to see me crying, because that was all I was going to do for days.

22

NICK

Every spare second I got, I sat at this computer staring at these results. Scarlett wasn't lying. Ethan was definitely my child. The DNA test I ran using some of the blood we had stored from his initial blood tests proved when tested against mine there was a 99.9 percent chance he was my child. That didn't leave any margin for error. I was a father.

I didn't know how I didn't see it before either. Today at Ethan's checkup I saw the expressions he made when he was upset. The way his bottom lip pouted out. I remembered seeing photos of myself as a child, and my mind mentally compared them. He was my son. He looked like me and had similar mannerisms even though he hadn't been raised by me so far. I was an idiot for not recognizing that sooner, but why would my mind have even gone there? Scarlett was so honest and pure. I just never thought she was capable of keeping a secret like this.

Now that I had the truth, however, it really challenged me internally. I had a choice to make, whether I was going to move on from this, forgive her, and trust her again. I knew it wouldn't come easily and that we'd have lots of tough conversations.I'd probably have insecurities and hang-ups. But it didn't seem impossible now that the shock of the situation had worn off.

People in town were still talking. Marjorie did a few more segments on my life before finding another topic, but no one had the proof to back up what she said. At least I could trust my staff and the staff at the lab I used to conceal what was most definitely a private matter.

"Sir, Fiona is here to see you…" The receptionist's voice came across my phone and tightened my jaw. After Fiona showed up at my house a few times I thought I'd sent her packing. But she was persistent and she was aggravating me.

"Send her in," I grumbled, knowing she would make a scene out there in front of my staff and any patients in the waiting area. The last thing I needed was more negative attention.