Page 98 of The Marriage Agreement (Agreement)

I can’t afford to have any mishap that could lead to another miscarriage. Much as my body bounced back, my mind didn’t bounce back that quickly. I just managed to shove it to the back of my mind, even as it lingers every now and then.Shove it back again, yes!

I’m happy with the news today, and I’ll take each day as it comes, doing everything to protect my baby. I drag my feet toward my car, toss my bag in, and send a text to Luke.

Me: Just clocked out, heading home, and I’m tired.com

Luke: Can you drive? Should I send Martin for you?

Me: I’m fine. I can drive. See you soon.

I press the brakes to start my car, attach my phone to the holder, and pull my seatbelt on. A sudden knock on my window startles me. I turn to see Dr. Beiz. He is talking through the glass, and for a second, I’m disoriented until he signals for me to roll down my window. I do as he asks, pushing the button, and the window rolls down.

“What’s wrong, Dr. Beiz?” I ask, perplexed.

“Sorry, Dele. I’ve been trying to call you, but you didn’t hear me. I noticed you didn’t sign that you gave meds to Mrs. Zapata. As you know, we’re monitoring her meds.”

“I didn’t have Mrs. Zapata. Jax is her nurse, and she’s still inside.”

“I just spoke with Jax. She said Mrs. Zapata is your patient. Can you stop in quickly, and we can clarify this?”

“Sure,” I answer, but he could have called me. Fuck it, I’ll just go and clear this nonsense up. I roll my window up and turn my car off. Before getting out of the car, I decide to let Luke know.

Me: Going back inside to clarify something Dr. Beiz said I forgot to do. I should be on my way home in about ten to twenty minutes, tops.

I pocket my phone and follow Dr. Beiz, not talking. We just walk in silence. He takes the back route into the ER, but I’m too tired to care which route he’s taking, as long as we get this sorted out, and I can head home.

“How’s your husband?” he asks. My eyebrow rises at the strange question of him asking about Luke. I know he doesn’t like Luke, but whatever. Just get this mix-up over with.

“He’s fine,” I answer and keep moving. He uses his badge to open the door, and I follow him in. The hallway is dim, which is weird, but maybe maintenance is doing something, because it’s quiet here at this time of the day, anyway. Before I can ask him about the light, I feel a hit on my head. Something hard hits me from behind, and my body starts to fall. Dr. Beiz catches me, and I black out.

Chapter 65

LUKE

I see the second text from Dele. It was sent twenty minutes ago, saying she'd be home in another twenty minutes. I don’t like that she went back because of Dr. Beiz, but I’ll wait a few minutes before checking on her. Kevin calls my attention to some documents I need to sign. By the time we’re done, it’s well over forty minutes. Dele should be home by now. I call her number, but she doesn’t answer. I check her GPS, and her car is still at the hospital. She would have sent me a text if she was going to stay longer.

My gut is telling me something’s wrong. Bruce calls me paranoid for always keeping an eye on Dele. Before I call him, I better check first.

I call Jax.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Jax. Is Dele still in the ER?”

“No, she left a while ago.”

“She sent me a text saying Dr. Beiz said she forgot something, and she was going to clarify it and then head home.”

“I didn’t see her come back here, and I don’t see Dr. Beiz either.”

“Okay, thanks.”

I call Osei. Maybe he’s heard from her and she just forgot to update me. Dele prefers to go home when she’s tired.

“Hello?”

“Is Dele with you?”

“No, I talked to her before she clocked out, asking her to join me, but she said she was tired and was heading home.”

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