Go to her. Be there for her. She is carrying two babies and that has to be the most terrifying thing for a woman.” She gave him a pleading look. “Go to her, Harry, stand up to your responsibility.”
He wandered over to the window and felt despair covering him. “I have failed her.” He shrugged jerkily. “Yes, I transferred some money to her, and she told me was going to return it. I anticipated that and made it so she could not return it.
I feel guilty as hell and have been justifying my actions by saying that I never wanted this in the first place. That I would never be a good father. Not by a long shot.” He turned to face her, and she felt the regret trembling through her at the bleak look on his face.
She had a part to play in all of this. She had stood by and allowed her husband to get away with a little less than murder, because of her own guilt. She loved his brother first and that had never changed over the years.
She had made a mistake in marrying Richard and her son had paid the awful price, was still paying it.
“Go to her darling. She needs you.”
*****
She had not changed the code, and he could let himself in, without triggering the alarm. She wasn’t in the living room and the kitchen was empty. Making his way up the stairs, he found her door partially open, but she wasn’t in bed.
The light filtering through the bathroom told him that she was in that room. Shrugging out of his jacket, he paced a little and wondered if he should see what’s going on. Davenport had told him that she wasn’t feeling well.
Firming his lips, he strode towards the door and pushed it open. His heart slammed against his ribs, and he covered the rest of the space on a dead run. She was curled up on the floor in a tight ball.
“Janelle. Baby.” Scooping her into his arms, he took her into the bedroom and placed her on the bed.
“You’re here.” She whispered. “I thought I was dreaming.”
“What’s wrong?” He was checking for bruises and broken bones.
“I was sick.” She lifted a hand to touch his face. “You need a shave.”
“I will get right on that. You were sick as in? Should we get you to a hospital?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Just vomiting. Thought the nausea was behind me.” She closed her eyes. “This one was very bad. I feel empty.” He was alarmed to see tears trickling down her cheeks.
“Baby, are you hurting?”
“Just tired. I just want to sleep.”
“I’m going to get you some tea.”
“Don’t leave me,” she clutched his arm.
“I’m not” He touched her hand gently, careful to hide his alarm at how fragile she looked.
I am just getting you a bit of tea. With honey, just the way you like it.” He peeled her fingers off slowly. “I promise it’s not going to take long. Okay?”
She nodded and settled back on the pillows and closed her eyes. He watched her for a moment, before striding from the room. Waiting until he had put the kettle on, he dragged out her phone and punched in a number.
“Darling, are you okay?”
Michael had naturally assumed it was Janelle’s phone.
“This is Harry.” His voice was terse as he picked out a box of herbal tea and searched for a cup. “She is not looking too hot. What’s the name of her OB?”
“You are finally there.” The voice sounded resentful and full of attitude.
“Look, we don’t like each other, and you’re pissed, so am I. But right now, I’m thinking of her. Only her. I need the name of her doctor, and I need it bloody now.”
There was a slight pause before Michael responded. “It should be under the name: Dr. Reed. She switched doctors just after she found out she was pregnant with twins. Apparently the good doctor is an expert when it comes to multiple births.”
“Good. Thanks.”