Page 19 of The Moment You Know

Brandon and Lucas both turned to look at him, as did what seemed like everyone else in the lobby, including Paige. At first, her expression was somewhat confused, but then it turned to one of recognition.

“David,” she whispered, a layer of relief in her voice. “You’re here.”

He gave her a forced, quick smile. “I’m here.”

“You two know each other?” Lucas asked Paige.

“He’s … my husband.”

“He’s what?” Over his shoulder, Brandon gave David a look that said Where you been hiding, man?

Paige slowly held out her hand toward David, obviously wanting him to come and take it. Without a second thought, he went to her side and tucked her hand into his, not caring that Ashley was glaring at him, or that Paige’s date was frowning; David’s main concern was the person lying on a stretcher looking at him like he was her lifeline.

He held Paige’s hand as the paramedics asked her a few more questions, until her eyes fluttered closed again and this time, it was allowed. Brandon and Lucas then began preparing Paige for transport and as they secured her to the gurney, Brandon gave David an assessing look and asked in a low voice, mindful of the people around them, “Are you really her husband?”

David cleared his throat. “I used to be. We’re divorced.”

Brandon glanced down at David and Paige’s clasped hands for a moment before he said, “We’re taking her to Holy Trinity, if you want to follow us.”

“Can I ride with you, instead?”

After a brief hesitation, Brandon nodded. “You can ride.”

“Thanks.”

Ashley practically jumped on David. “What are you doing?”

“What do you think I’m doing? I’m going to the hospital with Paige.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“Jesus Christ. Yes, it’s necessary.”

“David, we were supposed to go out after dinner and—”

“Change of plans, thanks to you.” Shoving a hand in his pocket, he pulled out a set of car keys and thrust them toward Ashley as Brandon and Lucas started to roll the gurney toward the front doors. “I’m now going to the hospital and you’re going home.”

She looked at the keys but didn’t take them. “No. I’ll go to the hospital with you.”

“Ash, I’m not fucking around, here. Go home. Pay the babysitter. Give Jacob a bath and put him to bed.”

He shoved the keys at her again. Grudgingly, she snatched them from his hand. “When will you be home?”

“I don’t know,” he replied, then without a backward glance, David followed the paramedics to the ambulance and got in.

Chapter 6

At the hospital, Paige was taken into the ER and transferred to a bed. Medical personnel in scrubs of varying colors were scurrying around and one of them asked David to wait in a chair, out of the way. A curtain was pulled around Paige, shutting off his view and leaving him with nothing to do but watch the clock, until a young, female doctor came out to talk to him.

“I’m Dr. Helms,” she informed him as she extended a hand. She looked tired, like she’d already put in a long day, which David figured was a common occurrence when working in an ER.

He got to his feet and shook her hand. “David Lowe.”

“You came in with the patient? You’re her ex-husband?”

“Yes. How is she?”

“Paige has a mid-grade, moderate concussion, which puts her injury somewhere in the middle of the concussion spectrum.”

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