Page 7 of Coming Unraveled
As she picks up Grace, Nikki asks, “So, how do they look?”
He laughs as both mother and baby rub noses against each other.
“They look spectacular. All three are developing on rate. I’ll print their growth charts for you on your way out.”
“And Everett?” Avery inquires from her position crouched in the corner where she is busy securing him into his carrier.
Small towns. It is the only place he had ever practiced where families scheduled all of their appointments to take place together at the same time. HIPAA is a rare thing he found here.
“So far he seems to be right on track and he is almost the same size as his sister. I don’t believe you’re going to have anything to worry about.”
He watches as Avery takes a deep breath and relaxation finally settles across her shoulders. She had been worrying night and day about Everett while he was at the Asheville Medical Center NICU. Hell, Brooks had been worried too, but the infant made a speedy recovery with the help of his twin sister. The babies were notorious for holding hands and lying right next to each other while in the incubator.
“Good. That’s good.”
“Well ladies, do you have any other questions for me?”
A look crosses their faces as they gaze at each other and then glance back towards him as he closes his laptop.
“So, we haven’t seen you for a while.”
He bobs his head in confusion.
“Where did you go? Anywhere exotic?” Nikki asks as she rests Grace on her shoulder and pats her back.
“No, just to see my grandmother, she isn’t doing very well. And then, of course, I went to watch Ryker and Harlan in Vegas.”
“Ah, yes, Vegas. Anything fun happen besides Sydney and Dylan eloping? Everleigh has been a grouch since she came back,” Avery adds trying to dig up some dirt.
She and her siblings had been adamant that there is a history with them. Unfortunately, the only history they had is him feeling a sense of protection over her when they first met, which triggered her anger, and that anger in the past few months has resulted in kicked shins, black eyes, and a bruised ego; all from her.
“It was fun, did a little gambling. Pretty uneventful.”
He isn’t convinced that they believe him when he watches them whisper to each other as they scurry from the room.
“Have a good day, ladies. The front desk will set you up for their next appointments.”
“Goodbye, Dr. McCafferty.”
Knowing that Avery and Nikki were his final appointment for the afternoon, he heads towards his office to decide his next plan of action. Brooks removes his stethoscope and plops down in his chair before opening the packet once more and skimming over the legal documents. He drops them with a huff and plants his elbows on his desk, resting his head in the palm of his hands.
What would make her do this without discussing it with me first? Is it because I had to leave so suddenly? Is it me?Brooks questions himself as his anger and confusion swirls profusely in his stomach. No, it has to be something more. She has to feel this between us.
With a new resolve pulsing through his veins merging with the rage still bursting inside, Brooks slams his office door as he walks through the threshold, heading for the glass walkway leading him to his destination.
His Heaven or Hell.
As he passes through the edge of her pharmacy he stops abruptly to find a well-dressed man, a good-looking one at that, standing next to his woman. She is gesturing wildly with her hands, something Brooks realizes that she does when she is nervous, and then they both look over in his direction. As if pulled to her by an invisible force, Brooks stalks towards the entrance of the production area.
Gravely, he asks, “Can I come in?”
He watches as she places her delicate hand on the man’s arm, her fingers splaying across his suit jacket, which, from his expression, he doesn’t seem to mind. She turns her attention towards Brooks and walks in his direction, stopping just inside the pharmacy counter and not opening the small door for him.
“Can we discuss this later? I’m meeting with a vendor.”
“No, we cannot,” he growls as he holds up the papers rolled in his hands.
Her eyes skirt over to the contents and she shrinks a smidgen, just enough for Brooks to see that she is worried about his reaction.
