“I don’t need a goddamn report,” Rhys interjected. “I want to see how she is doing with my own eyes.”
The guard eyed him curiously but didn’t question why if she was Logan’s wife, Rhys was breathing fire as well.
“I understand your frustration,” the other guard said calmly. “I would appreciate it if you waited at the nurse’s station. You’re causing a disruption, and we don’t want any of the patients, including your…wife,” he said, looking at Logan, “to be disturbed.”
Logan sucked in a deep breath. He wanted to hit something. Catherine was lying in a bed just on the other side of that door, and he couldn’t go in. Couldn’t see her. Couldn’t hold her. Couldn’t touch her and couldn’t tell her he loved her. Couldn’t find out what the hell was wrong with her.
“Let’s go, Logan,” Rhys said in a low voice. “The sooner we talk to the doctor, the sooner we can see Cat.”
Reluctantly, Logan backed off and followed Rhys down the hall toward the nurse’s station. When they arrived, Rhys barked out a question to the nearest nurse and was directed into a small lounge adjoining the station.
They paced the interior until Logan thought he’d go mad. When an elderly man in a lab coat walked in, Logan all but pounced on him.
“Are you Catherine’s doctor?” he demanded.
“You must be Mr. Wellesley,” the doctor said, extending his hand. “I’m Doctor Morgan.”
Logan bit his lip in frustration and returned the man’s gesture. Rhys stepped forward. “How is Catherine? What happened to her?”
“Acute appendicitis,” the doctor returned. “Unfortunately, it ruptured as she arrived in the emergency room. I performed immediate surgery to remove the appendix but it was complicated by her pregnancy and the high risk of infection.”
Logan felt all the blood drain from his face. Rhys went chalk white and swayed. “Did you say pregnancy?” Rhys choked out.
The doctor blinked in surprise. “You didn’t know?” He cleared his throat. “I assumed given the nature of your relationship to the patient that you would be aware of her pregnancy.” He directed his statement to Logan. “She was quite clear that she was married to Logan Wellesley. That is you, correct?”
Logan nodded, still numb to his toes. “Catherine. Is she okay? The baby?”
The doctor blew out his breath. “Why don’t you both sit down, and I’ll bring you up to speed on her condition.”
He and Rhys both sank into nearby chairs. Rhys looked as shocked as he felt. Pregnant. How pregnant? She couldn’t be very far along.
“Why can’t we see her?” Rhys demanded. “We were told no visitors on your orders.”
“Not my orders,” the doctor said with a shake of his head. “Those were Mrs. Wellesley’s wishes.”
Logan looked at the doctor in shock. “What?”
“After she came out of surgery, she was quite distraught. She asked for you and Rhys Cullen.” He looked up at Rhys. “I assume that’s you?”
Rhys nodded.
“She was convinced she’d miscarried the baby, and it took us quite a while to make her understand what had happened to her, and that at least for now, she was still pregnant.”
“What do you mean for now?” Logan asked as cold fear snaked up his spine.
“Just that she underwent surgery for a ruptured appendix, which is a risky enough endeavor and when you factor in that the patient is pregnant, it gets trickier. Plus, she runs a high risk of infection which could cause problems with the pregnancy. So far she’s responded well to antibiotics, but she’s not beyond the risk of losing the child. It’s very much a wait-and-see situation.
That first day, she asked continually for you. The nurses tried to phone the number she provided but were unable to reach you. The second day, however, she went silent, and well, she retreated. She directed me not to allow any visitors, and she stopped trying to phone you. She hasn’t asked for anything. Not even when she can return home.”
Logan cursed, and Rhys’ eyes glittered with unshed tears.
“I cautioned her about the need to remain calm, and apparently she feels that seeing you would upset her and potentially cause risk to the baby.”
Logan dropped his face into his hands. He wanted to goddamn cry like a baby.
“When can she go home?” Rhys asked, his voice thick with emotion.
“If all goes well? In a couple of days. I’m watching her closely to make sure she doesn’t spike a temp and that she’s recovering as she should. I want her to have a full round of antibiotics to kill off all the infection in her system.”