Page 46 of Never To Forever

GARRETT

Pulling up to the hospital,I park my truck and release a long breath. I can’t wait until I don’t have to come here anymore. This is one of my last physical therapy sessions. Part of me doesn’t really think I need to anymore; I feel great and am ready to finally put the accident fully behind him. At the same time, I don’t want to do anything to mess up my recovery, so I get out of my truck and trudge up to the hospital’s entrance.

Check in is fast and I make my way toward the PT offices. On the way, I pass by the closed door to the maternity ward. A familiar figure suddenly turns the corner ahead of me and I come to an immediate stop. Haven is walking slowly, her head ducked as she looks through some sort of pamphlet in her hand.

“Haven?”

She looks up, startled, and comes to an immediate stop.

“Garrett? What are you doing here?” she asks, looking more anxious than happy to see me, which puts me instantly on alert. Something’s wrong.

“I’m here for physical therapy,” I explain cautiously. “What are you doing here? Do you have an appointment?”

Why isn’t Christian here with her?

She blinks and seems to take a moment to comprehend what I’ve just asked.

“Oh… oh, yeah! Yeah, that’s why I’m here. Just a regular check-up. That’s all.”

I arch a brow. I’m definitely not buying that. She’s visibly nervous, her leg bouncing up and down, and she keeps glancing around as if afraid someone’s going to spot us here together.

“Haven, what the hell…?”

Before I can finish my sentence, a nurse appears at my side and looks between me and Haven.

“Excuse me, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she says before focusing solely on Haven. “I knew you went down to the cafeteria, so I just wanted to let you know that they’ve finished Marie’s exam if you want to go back to her room.”

Haven’s face drains of color as she says, “Great… thank you.”

The nurse turns and hurries away, leaving Haven and I alone again. I stare down at my sister, confused and stunned.

“Haven… why is Marie here? Why is she in the maternity ward? What’s going on?”

Haven swallows and fidgets with her pamphlet, which I can see is about something called hyperemesis gravidarum. Her eyes go wide with anxiety.

“Garrett, look… there’s a good explanation for all this…”

“Haven,” I say in a firmer voice. “Don’t try to give me any bullshit excuses. I can tell when you’re lying. What’s wrong with Marie?”

She stares at me, and I can practically see her internal struggle playing out in her gaze. I don’t break eye contact with her, not willing to give her an inch right now.

Finally, she releases a long sigh and her shoulder slump, as if in defeat.

“Marie… Marie is pregnant.”

Everything around me seems to slow to a crawl. Pregnant? No… no, that can’t be right. Marie can’t be pregnant. If she’s pregnant, then that would mean I’m…

“Where is she?”

“Garrett, you need to take a beat here,” Haven says. “I know you’re upset…”

“Haven, for God sakes, take me to Marie, now!”

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

“All right,” she replies at length. “Come with me.”

She turns and leads me through the doors to the maternity ward. We make our way down the corridor until we reach a half open door and she pauses to look back at me.

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