Page 34 of Missing Marcus

“Gabby?” he asked.

She refused to meet his eyes. Saint appeared at the door. “Come on, man. If you continue delaying her, we won’t get to the bottom of this. Change your shirt and Gabby needs clothes. Take care of your wife’s needs. We’ll meet you in the waiting room.”

Knight glanced at Gabby, who raised her chinin stubborn determination. He wanted to beg her to listen to him, to let him explain his actions, yet he never gave her the opportunity. She tried to tell him about the baby, and he sent her to his lawyer.

Resigned, Knight walked out closing the door behind him.

Gabby watchedMarcus walk out like he had done several times over the past year. Only this time, she didn’t feel the urge to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him until he laughed. She locked up her emotions, refusing him access to the deepest part of her heart.

Kassie waited until Gabby turned her watery eyes toward her and hugged her. She ran her hands soothingly up and down her patient’s back, allowing all the hurt and pain to leave her body.

When she finished, Gabby sat up, and Kassie moved to a bin. She pulled out two warmed blankets and wrapped them around her. “How about we take your BP and take a peek at the baby?”

“I don’t want to know the sex,” Gabby informed her.

“I’ll keep the screen turned while I take a look, and then I’ll let you see,” she reassured her. “Do you have any dizziness? Nausea? Headache?” she questioned her.

“I forgot my meds when I left Bryanna’s, and I feel a bit weak,” Gabby admitted as Kassie fluffed a pillow behind her and helped her lie down.

“Your BP’s high but not too bad. We’ll keep an eye on it. You need to keep off your feet. They’re swollen.” She moved to the ultrasound machine and held up the bottle of gel.

Gabby didn’t care. The need to see her baby overtook anything else. Kassie rubbed the wand over her stomach, and the rapid heartbeat filled the room. She grinned widely as Kassie checked everything and turned the screen toward her.

“It appears the baby likes to suck its thumb. Everything appears fine.” Kassie moved the wand around, careful not to give anything away while allowing her patient to gaze at the tiny form, before turning it off, handing her some pictures of the baby and sitting on the stool. “Let’s talk about you. Whatever you say here remains confidential. I want to warn you, in all fairness, I’m a friend of Bryanna’s. I arrived this morning to check your BP and you were gone. She blames herself for your disappearance. I’m not sticking up for her. Once, she acted as Switzerland when my best friends, Catherine and Samantha, stayed upset with me for months. It sucked.” Kassie placed her hand on Gabby’s knees. “Everyone needs a friend at some point. I’m offering myself up as Switzerland. If you need to vent, I’m here.” Kassie pulled a tissue from the box on the ultrasound machine stand.

Gabby blew her nose. “It’s complicated.”

Kassie rolled her eyes. “Tell me anything that isn’t.”

Gabby smiled, liking the woman. “Marcus hurt me. Bryanna and I always got along. When he insisted on the divorce, I tried calling her to see if she might speak with Marcus on my behalf. She refused to take my calls.”

“I’m sure that hurt,” Kassie consoled her.

“Marcus told me about his dad abandoning them when Bryanna came along. Their mother did her best under the circumstances, but I don’t believe they ever got over what he did. To discover Bryanna married Saint surprised me. She always avoided the military type.”

Kassie chuckled. “Saint worked on her for months. He visited her bakery every day. They didn’t even tell anyone about getting married until Saint ended up shot and Bryanna stood up and announced it at the hospital.”

“She didn’t even bother to tell me,” Gabby admitted sadly.

“I’m not sticking up for her. She can plead her own case with you. I don’t know Knight, but I’ve gotten to know Bryanna. They watch out for one another. It seems Knight confided in her about your ‘alleged infidelity.’ As his sister, did you expect Bryanna not to take him at his word?”

“Bryanna never gave me a chance to explain. She cut me off. If losing the man I loved didn’t hurt enough, I lost her, too,” Gabby sobbed.

“You didn’t lose me. I’m sorry, Gabby.” Bryanna stood halfway in the door. “I knocked and when you didn’t respond, I wanted to peek inside to make sure you were all right. I’ll leave if you wish.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’ve acted like a terrible friend and I apologize for hurting you.”

Gabby sobbed and attempted to get to Bryanna. Her friend ran to her and wrapped her arms around her. “I’ve already given Marcus a piece of my mind. How did he arrive to such a conclusion?”

Kassie interrupted. “I’m sorry, ladies. The team wants to speak with Gabby. She needs to rest. Maybe some space will give you time to consider your options. We have an empty cabin not far from here. You’ll need someone to stay with you and check your BP.”

Bryanna shook her head. “No. You’re coming home with me. Let’s start over. I want to hear about your pregnancy. I’m dying to show you what we planned for the nursery,” Bryanna gushed.

“Thank you for the offer and apology. I feel it’s best to go to the cabin for a while. I need to figure out what’s right for me. I don’t know what I’ll do now. Marcus and I will be getting divorced. I don’t want you to pick sides, Bryanna. He’s your brother and the divorce isn’t the result of only one thing. It’s all the little ones combined. For the record, I never cheated.”

“Marcus asked me to give you these.” Bryanna handed her a bag full of her clothes. “He returned to your apartment to get you a few things. He said if you needed anything else to let him know.”

“Thank you,” Gabby whispered as Bryanna gave her a gentle hug before leaving.

“I’ll help you into a hot shower if you’ll pick out your clothes. I’ll grab some towels and whatever else you might need.”

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