Page 47 of The Doctor's Promise
Zani gave a cough, and with a painful gasp, regained consciousness and flailed around. “Zani, listen, it’s me, Noemi. Just relax.”
She made the mistake of stepping too close, and he lashed out, his closed fist connecting with her cheek. She staggered back as one of the paramedics caught her. “I’m okay,” she said.
“They do that,” the paramedic said sympathetically, steadying her. “We’ll put restraints on him before we take him to the hospital. You okay?”
Noemi nodded. Rafa came back and put his arms around her as they loaded Zani into the ambulance. “We’ll follow you,” he told the paramedics. “Are you okay, baby?”
Noemi nodded, shaken but calm. “I’m good. Listen, let’s get Bepi and—”
She tailed off as she saw a car approaching the house. Leo’s car. What was her sister doing here?
Leonora got out, his eyes full of concern. “I just saw an ambulance… is everything okay?”
Rafa explained and Leo nodded. “Why don’t I come with you? I can look after Bepi while you’re with Zani.”
Noemi was surprised and while Rafa was getting Bepi, she turned to her sister. “Why were you coming by?”
“I was rude to you, and I wanted to apologize. I’m happy you’ve found love, Noe, I really am. Rafael’s a good man.”
Noemi smiled at her sister. “That’s a popular opinion. Come on, let’s go.”
They drove into the city,and Leo took Bepi to the Relative’s Room while Rafa and Noemi went to see Zani. To their great relief, he was conscious—rambling—but conscious. He reached out his hand when he saw them. “Rafa… Noe... I fucked up. I’m so sorry. So sorry.”
The ER doctor nodded to them to step outside. “He’ll be fine. He’ll need rehab, but you probably already know that.”
“He’ll get it,” Rafa said grimly, but his face registered relief. “Is that something he can have here? If he’s discharged, it’ll take a miracle to get him into a facility.”
“We have the ability, but we can’t force him to agree. That’s down to you.” The doctor smiled at Noemi. “You know where to go and who to see, right, Noe?”
“I do, thank you.”
She waited until they were alone, and she and Rafa sat down in the hallway while Zani was being treated. “Do you want to call your parents?”
Rafa shook his head. “This would kill them. And Zani… the one leverage I have is not telling them. I can use that to get him to agree to rehab.” He looked at her. “You’re very pale, Noe. Are you okay?”
She nodded but truthfully, she had begun to feel nauseous. “I think I just need some water.”
He went to get some for her, putting his arm around her shoulders. “Maybe we should get you checked out too. You took a fall.”
Noemi leaned against him. “Hey, if being thrown down stairs doesn’t do it…”
“Don’t joke about that. Look, I’m going to get someone. I’m taking a risk on you or the twins.”
He got up and Noemi sat back sipped the cool water and closed her eyes. Soon enough, Rafa returned with Joan, who said, “Come on, you. Let’s get you checked out.”
As Joan checked her vitals, Noemi insisted that she didn’t need a doctor. “I think he just caught me with his elbow and bruised my stomach. The babies feel fine.”
“Well, the scan will make sure. Your vitals are good.”
A few minutes later, she smiled at Noemi and Rafa. “Your babies are doing just fine. This is getting exciting, people.” Noemi leaned against Rafa, relief flooding over her. Rafa kissed her forehead.
“Bepi was getting fussy.” Noemi looked up to see Leo staring at the scanner, still pressed against Noemi’s bare belly. Bepi was at her side. Noemi felt her heart sink.
Rafa got up and took Bepi’s hand. “Thanks, Leo. Listen…”
Leo turned away. “Leo!” Noemi called out to her sister, seeing the stricken look on her face, but she couldn’t get off the bed fast enough. “Rafa, go after her.”
Rafa shook his head. “No, Noemi. Let her go. She needs to process this.”
