Page 39 of Temporary Wife Temptation

“Not now. She’s going to be okay,” Natalie said, blindly stretching her hand behind her. Garrett knew she was looking for his hand, so he took hers and squeezed. “She has to be.”

There was so little he could do for her. Natalie usually acted as though her spine was made of steel, but when the phones started ringing in Ojai, she’d crumbled like ancient clay. He’d never be able to forget the horror in her eyes.

Garrett wished he could’ve done something to spare her from the pain. He’d never felt more helpless in his life. Over the next couple hours, he stayed by Natalie’s side and held her whenever he could, but she seemed leagues away. She sat motionless, as though she was an empty husk of herself, all the blood gone from her face. Only the sporadic fluttering of her lashes indicated she was alive.

Garrett dragged his hands down his face and shot to his feet. He stepped out of the waiting room and stood uncertainly. He didn’t want to leave her, but she didn’t seem to notice when he walked out.

Just ten minutes. He’d stretch his legs and come back.

After no more than five minutes, he hurried back to Natalie with a cup of hot tea in his hand, hoping it would warm her up. As he neared the waiting room, he heard loud sobbing. Pain shot through his heart. It was Natalie. He ran the rest of the way and came to an abrupt halt at the entrance.

Natalie and Adelaide were hugging, laughing and crying, while a doctor in blue scrubs stood nearby. His dad stared at the ceiling with red-rimmed eyes, his lips pressed tight. When Natalie spotted Garrett at the door, she launched herself at him, barely leaving him time to move the hot tea out of the way. Leaning against the door frame to balance himself, he held her tightly against him.

“She’s okay. All the tests were normal.” Her voice was muffled against his shoulder, but her relief was palpable.

He squeezed his eyes shut. Thank God. They stood wrapped around each other until he heard a small cough. He opened his eyes to find the mild-mannered doctor smiling at them.

“Mrs. Song, you can come in and see Sophie for ten minutes,” he said. “She needs rest but I’m sure she misses you.”

“Thank you.” Natalie’s hand flew to her mouth as her eyes filled with fresh tears. Then she hesitated and turned around to face the Davises. “Would you like to see her first?”

Lily had her face buried in her hands, and Steve mutely shook his head. They needed more time to pull themselves together. Natalie bit her lip, concern for the older couple clouding her exhausted face. Garrett was standing behind her with his hands on her arms. Small tremors shook her frame and he wanted to pull her back into his embrace.

“Will you come with me?” She looked over her shoulder at him.

“Of course.” His voice caught in his throat.

When they entered the room, the baby looked so pale and small in her hospital bed that Garrett wasn’t surprised to hear Natalie’s choked sob. She ran to Sophie’s side, cooing soft words he couldn’t make out, but the little girl smiled in her sleep. Garrett stood back as long as he could, but when Natalie’s body shook with the force of her sobbing, he went to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Let Sophie sleep. Come with me.” He helped Natalie to her feet and tucked her to his side, then quickly glanced back at Sophie. “Sleep tight, baby girl. We’ll be back soon.”

Garrett had to twist their arms to make the rest of the family go home. In fact, they wouldn’t cooperate until Adelaide put her foot down.

“Sophie’s okay. We’re not helping anyone by becoming sleep-deprived zombies,” she said, packing up her things. “Natalie, you have my number. I’m here if you need me.”

“Thank you.”

Adelaide hugged Natalie then kissed Garrett on the cheek. His father followed Adelaide’s example. He squeezed his shoulder on the way out and Garrett nodded his understanding. His father was there for him, too.

With a sigh of relief, Garrett turned to Natalie and helpless anger surged inside him. She hugged herself tight but her teeth were still chattering. Damn it. He dragged his fingers through his hair.

“She’s okay, Natalie. She’s going home tomorrow.” With her grandparents... The Davises seemed stricken and unsure of themselves, and frustration filled him. Sophie should be with Natalie. They should see that now.

“I... I know...” she stuttered through the tremors. “But I keep thinking...what if I’d lost her?”

“Hush,” he said. He sat down beside her and tucked her close to his side. She snuggled her face against his chest. “But you didn’t lose her. Focus on that.”

Natalie didn’t answer but her shivering eased. Then her soft deep breaths told him she’d fallen asleep in his arms. He kissed the top of her head and let his eyes drift shut, holding on tight.

Thirteen

“Sophie!”

Natalie bolted upright, blood pounding in her ears. She gradually registered her surroundings, and her heartbeat regained its normal rhythm. Sophie had been discharged midmorning, and went back with the Davises to their extended-stay hotel. And Garrett had marched Natalie straight to bed as soon as they got home.

What time is it?

The room was pitch-black, but she didn’t know whether it was because of the blackout blinds or because it was the middle of the night. She could’ve been asleep for two hours or fourteen.

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