Page 96 of Wanted

Imagining Stella wounded or sick makes my blood run cold. All I can think about is being there and protecting her.

These weeks have been hell. Not only missing her but the uncertainty of not knowing where she is. Trying to comfort Lorraine, while Felicia somehow keeps everything running.

And speaking of working, my entire team deserves a raise. I’ve tried to do some work from Carrollton, but my mind is all over the place, I can’t focus, all I can think about is her. And how much I miss her.

Mark has arranged transportation remarkably quickly. The plane was ready in Louisville as soon as we arrived, as well as an SUV waiting for us when we set foot on the tarmac at a small private airport west of Baton Rouge. The irony doesn’t escape me, as I cross a bridge over the Mississippi River to reach the hospital where she is.

It has been difficult getting information about my wife’s condition, so I decided that I would travel instead of waiting.

When I asked for her at the hospital’s reception, I realized that she registered with her married name, it’s legal in any case, making it easier for me to obtain information about her condition.

The first thing that crossed my mind when I found out that she’s here was to transfer her to a world-class hospital immediately. During the two-hour plane trip, I realized that there was no need. The hospital is first class, and hoping that it’s not anything serious, we will be home in a short time. Wherever she decides that is.

And hopefully together.

A nurse greets me with a smile as I approach the front desk to ask about Stella, and her doctor.

As expected, she asks for my identification and after confirming my identity, she types a few times on the computer informing me, “Your wife is stable, she came in dehydrated, but since she’s pregnant, the doctor decided she should stay a couple of days under observation.”

Wait a minute, what?

Realizing I’ve been frozen, she clears her throat before continuing to speak. “I’m going to call Dr. Lemaitre. She’s finishing her rounds and will see you in a few minutes. Your wife is in the room at the end of the hall.”

I go to where she is while my head is spinning, I’m sure that the ground has shifted a few times.

I’m nervous, my heart beats fast at the thought of seeing her again and more when I know…

Jesus, Stella is pregnant.

Will she be excited by the news? What will her plans be?

Will she want to end it… Jeez, I can’t even think about that.

The door is open, but the privacy curtain is closed, so I take a peek around the corner.

“She’s resting,” says a blonde girl dressed in a pale pink uniform.

“Is she sedated?” I’m interested in having all the information I can before the doctor comes to talk to me.

“No, no, she’s just recovering.” With a smile she says goodbye and leaves me there with my sleeping beauty.

The blinds are closed, letting in very little light. Stella looks pale and haggard, almost as white as the sheet covering her. But her red lips keep calling to me like a siren’s song.

I lean over her and gently touch her mouth to mine.

“Lionel,” I hear her sigh my name, which reassures me somehow.

“Calm down, baby, you don’t have to wake up. Just rest, we’ll have time to talk later.”

I stroke her hair with my hand. She hasn’t opened her eyes, and although she unconsciously seeks my touch, she’s still sound asleep.

What have you been doing all this time, Hvezda?

It makes me feel more guilty that I wasn’t there to take care of her. For putting her in danger, for putting our baby in danger.

This is shit.

With my hands in the pockets of the pants I’m wearing, I look out the window, today it’s cloudy. As is our future.

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