Chapter 4 - THE SECRET IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM
I woke beneath fluorescent lights.
A heart monitor beeped beside me.
Madison sat in a chair, her face pale.
“Claire?”
I blinked.
“Where am I?”
“The hospital.”
My hand flew to my stomach.
“The baby?”
Madison immediately leaned forward.
“The doctors are checking everything.”
My heart pounded.
“What happened?”
“You fainted at the airport.”
I tried to sit.
She stopped me.
“Don't.”
A physician entered.
She introduced herself as Dr. Hannah Reeves.
She explained that dehydration, low blood pressure, and stress might have contributed to the fainting episode.
The ultrasound showed a pregnancy in the uterus with cardiac activity.
For the moment, there was no evidence of a miscarriage.
I began crying.
Relief hit so hard I could barely breathe.
Madison hugged me.
Then the doctor asked a question.
“Is the baby's father available?”
I froze.
Madison looked at me.
I swallowed.
“No.”
The doctor nodded.
“All right.”
She continued explaining the follow-up care.
But I barely heard her.
Because I was thinking about Vincent.
The man who had wanted a family.
The man who had once stood beside a nursery display and quietly said he liked the name Gabriel.
The man who had divorced me without knowing he was going to become a father.
After the doctor left, Madison sat beside me.
“Claire.”
I looked at her.
“You have to decide whether you're going to tell him.”
I closed my eyes.
“I know.”
She squeezed my hand.
“He doesn't deserve to control your life.”
“I know.”
“But the baby deserves the truth.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
“I know that too.”
Madison waited.
Then whispered, “What are you going to do?”
I stared at the ceiling.
Finally, I answered.
“I'm going to New York.”
She nodded.
“And Vincent?”
I placed a hand over my stomach.
“I'll tell him.”
May you like
A pause.
“When I'm ready.”
