Page 40 of Missing Marcus

“Is this what’s bothering you? You can’t relax because you’re worried about us getting along?” he asked.

“What happened between us can’t affect the baby,” she demanded.

“I agree. How about you close your eyes and rest? I can sit here with you or I can go to the waiting room. I’m not here to argue with you.”

“I can’t sleep,” she confessed. “I close my eyes and I worry about the baby.”

Knight leaned over the railing and soothed her brow. “Close your eyes. I’ll watch over the baby,” he whispered. “No more talk about custody or divorce. We’ll agree to figure everything out. It doesn’t need to happen tonight.”

Reluctantly, Gabby lowered her eyelids and relaxed as he stroked her head softly. Within minutes, he heard her slight sigh, giving in to sleep. Her left hand loosened its grip on the pillow and her right lay over her stomach as if to protect her unborn child.

When he knew she fell deeper into slumber, he leaned back in the chair and watched over her. Saint’s words echoed in his head. Did he have trust issues? Thinking back to his team, he wondered if they stopped relying on him to have their backs. When did he stop being trustworthy? The guilt gnawed at his gut. He hadn’t only let Gabrielle down, hefailed his team. Maybe Zepher felt Knight’s distance. He spent long periods alone as a sniperto cover his team. He did his job when he stayed in position to ensure their hasty retreats. When they finished the assignment, he always kept himself back. As if seeing himself through a magnifying glass, Knight caught a good, hard look at the man he’d become. It didn’t reassure him at all. He hardly recognized himself.

Gabby stirred and he pulled the blanket over her shoulder. He hung his head in sorrow at a loss about how to proceed. His actions put his wife in a hospital bed and left Gabby to defend herself while she carried his child.

When did he lose faith in the woman he loved with all his heart? Gabby didn’t deserve it. She turned his run-of-the-mill house into a real home. Whenever he returned, she painted a wall, added flowers, and made him a man’s den with comforting colors, a cozy couch and a big screen TV.

He smiled when he realized she probably purchased the television to keep from hearing the football and basketball games. It didn’t matter. She added little comforts, helping him to de-stress after weeks on assignment. Little things, like his favorite beer stocked in the fridge, she cooked his favorite meal the day he returned and left him notes in his go bag. He frowned when he recalled the first time he opened his bag last yearto discover she didn’t leave one.

Raking his hand through his hair, he closed his eyes, wishing he knew what happened to the man who freely laughed and nearly jumped out of his skin to return to her. Love never came into question. She held his heart more than she ever knew. Then why did he crush hers with his fist and leave her to pick up the pieces?

Knight didn’t understand. His and Gabby’s divorce would befinalized in a few weeks. If he didn’t make some drastic changes, Gabby might walk away forever and never look back.

24

Gabby blinked as she rose in bed. Knight sprang into action the moment she moved.

“What do you need?” he asked as he scanned her from head to toe. His forehead wrinkled in concern.

“Nothing. I have to pee. The baby’s sitting on my bladder. What time is it?”

“It’s seven,” Knight informed her as he lowered the railing. “Do you need a nurse? Did they say you can get out of bed?” He frantically searched for the call button. “Shit. I probably should’ve asked before lowering the bedrail.”

“The nurse will unhook me from the monitors. I already pushed the button when I sat up,” she stifled a giggle that threatened as he continued to appear frazzled.

“Good morning, Gabby. I’m Catherine, one of the nurses here. Kassie asked me to come down and check on you. What can I do for you?”

“Can you unhook me? I need to use the restroom,” she explained.

“Absolutely. When Dr. Beecham returns this morning, she may discharge you to the cabin if your vitals stay stable.” Catherine unplugged the monitors and removed the belt around her stomach. Gabby pulled the blanket higher, not wanting Marcus to see how big her belly appeared.

“I’ll help her,” he offered.

“No. It’s fine. I’ll be back in a jiffy,” Gabby hastily reassured him. Catherine walked beside her while she entered the bathroom. The nurse left, giving her privacy. When she finished, she washed her hands and opened the door to discover Marcus waiting for her.

“Catherine received a page. I assured her I’d help you back to bed. The OBGYN will arrive in fifteen minutes.”

Gabby let out a relieved sigh. “I hope she discharges me. I missed the view of the mountains Saint promised me.”

“It’s still early. We might still get a nice view,” he offered. “Gabby, I understand you’re upset with me and have every reason to be. I want to ask if I can stay at the cabin with you. I promise not to argue. It’ll give us time to talk and figure things out.”

Gabby slowly sat on the bed. “Marcus. I don’t think it’s agood idea.”

“I can care for you and the baby. I want to show you I’ll be there when you need me,” he blurted out.

Gabby closed her eyes. “Did they find Jackie yet?”

“No. They found her apartment and she’s not there. Leo stopped by this morning before PT. Taco and Matthew staked out the accounting firm, hoping to catch her there,” he informed her.

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