Fall To Pieces(49)
Twenty minutes later, the door of the examination room swung inwards, and my mouth dropped open.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, scrambling off the bed, adjusting my shirt.
Kyle’s eye locked on me and he darted over to where I was standing.
“Jesus, baby,” he breathed, pulling me into his arms.
His voice was laced with concern as he kissed the top of my head. “I got a call from the hospital, said you were here. What happened? Are you okay?”
I was baffled. Absolutely stunned… I couldn’t move a muscle with the shock of him being here.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, patting him on the back, awkwardly. “I had some pain when I woke up, so I came in to get it checked out.”
Even my voice sounded confused, as I comforted Kyle, whose powerful body was trembling against mine.
“I’m sorry about Rachel. I’m sorry, baby.”
I dropped my hand from his back and pushed him away.
“I don’t want to talk about her, ever. Don’t bring her up in conversation with me, ever again.”
“Ah, Mr. Carter, thank you for coming so quickly,” the nurse who had been treating me earlier, said. “I have some concerns about Delia and checked her file. You’re signified as her next of kin, and the baby’s father, is that correct?”
Kyle straightened, and nodded. “Yes, that’s right,” he confirmed, masking his earlier emotion. “Why, what’s wrong with her? Is it the baby?”
I could do nothing but gape, at both the nurse and Kyle. Since when was Kyle signified as my next of kin?
I wanted to see those damn files.
“The baby is fine,” the nurse reassured. “It’s Delia, who I am concerned about.”
“Me?” I asked in alarm.
What the hell was going on?
*****
Kyle
“I called you in because I’m concerned for Delia. Her blood pressure levels are rather high, not dangerously, but enough for me to be concerned about the level of anxiety and stress she’s under.”
My heart dropped, and my guilt overrode me as the nurse continued.
“As you already know, Delia is only nineteen and has had a traumatic pregnancy. At thirty-six weeks gestation, I can’t stress to you enough, the importance of a calm and stress-free environment.
“You may not be aware, but Preeclampsia is a common, but in many cases, fatal, medial issue during late pregnancy, in particular to girls as young as Delia.”
“But I’m fine though, right?” Lee asked calmly, too calmly, as she picked up her purse from a chair. “I’m fine and so is the baby?”
The nurse nodded slowly. “Your blood pressure is a little high, but yes, you and the baby are well.”
“Well then,” Lee muttered, moving to the door. “If that’s all, I would like to go home.”
*****
I followed her out of the hospital, expecting to have to chase her down the street.
She surprised me by walking silently to my car.
“I don’t have enough money to get home, and I’m tired,” she said quietly.
My heart fucking fell.
Jesus.
I unlocked the car, and we climbed in, driving in silence, until we reached the house.
“Lee,” I sighed, turning off the engine.
“Don’t,” she warned, climbing out.
I got out and walked ahead of her to open the door.
“Do you hate me?” I asked, as she stormed into the kitchen. “Did you mean what you said?”
Lee swung around, facing me. Her mouth was hanging open a little.
“My feelings for you haven’t changed, Kyle. Don’t confuse hurt with hate.”
“You still love me?”
Lee shuddered and looked me straight in the eye.
“Yes, I still love you, Kyle. And apparently, that won’t change, no matter how many times you betray me, or shatter my trust.”
The door opened inwards and Derek hurried inside, closing it, sliding the deadbolt.
“Kyle, where the hell have you been?” he panted, out of breath, face flushed, concern etched across his features.
“What’s wrong?” Lee demanded, moving towards Derek. “Derek, what’s the matter? Is it Cam? Is she okay?”
Derek eyes slipped from her to me. “I need to talk to you, in private.”
*****
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I asked, closing the kitchen door on us. “That was really, fucking rude, dude.”
Derek paced the floor, his movements frantic. “Believe me, Kyle; you do not want Lee to hear this.”
Okay, now I was getting worried.
“Jesus, just tell me already, you’re freaking me out.”
Derek stopped moving, shrugged off his coat, and I froze.