Page 359 of Small Town Firsts

“Come in,” I say, bringing a hand to my throat; even speaking hurts.

"Mrs. Price, it's so nice to see you awake and alert. How are you feeling?"

"Like I tried to die."

The doctor hums thoughtfully under her breath. "Indeed you did." She checks something on the stationary computer in the corner of the room before coming to stand beside my bed. "Is this the first time you've tried to take your own life?"

"Yes."

"Do you regularly have suicidal thoughts?" The weight of her words and their implication are almost too much for me to bear. If Sterling wouldn't have found me, I really might have died. The thought is as sobering as it is terrifying.

Still, it feels so weird to talk about this in front of Sterling, but they all think he's my husband, so of course, no one bats an eye.

"I've, um... I've thought about it before, but this was the first time I've ever tried anything."

"I see. Your husband told me a little bit about your past and the abuse you suffered. Given your circumstances, we're going to place you on a seventy-two-hour hold."

Shame and regret and a little bit of panic race through me as my eyes move from the doctor to Sterling. "You talked to people about me?"

"Your husband wanted to make sure you received the best care possible. Now you can enter the hold on your own volition or I can mandate it. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

I nod.

"The choice is yours."

"Not much of a choice," I muse. "Go to the psych ward by choice or go by force."

She offers a sympathetic smile.

"It's fine."

"So, you're agreeing to go?"

I lift one shoulder in a half-shrug. "Sure."

"Now, I have to ask, do you still feel like harming yourself, Mrs. Price?"

"No. No, I just want to sleep."

She nods thoughtfully. "I'll get the ball rolling on that and we'll get you moved shortly. If you need anything at all, just press the call button and until then enjoy some time with your husband."

It's on the tip of my tongue to shout that he's not my husband, but I don't have the energy to fight this or anything else. Hell, I barely have the energy to keep my eyes open.

"You all ready tohead home, honey?" Kelsey, my favorite nurse, asks.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

She smiles warmly. "That's the right attitude to have! The paperwork's all signed, we're just waiting on your ride." Shechecks her watch. "That husband of yours should up any second."

I lift my lips in some semblance of a smile at the mention ofmy husband.I've had a lot of time over the last three days to think—and talk—about everything that happened.

I see some things a little more clearly, but I have questions about a lot of things, too.

But... I'm fairly certain that Sterling wasn't involved. Sure, he's not perfect, but I don't believe he was plotting against me either.

I'm actually of the belief that someone set him up. And Iknowthat someone is Rob.

All the way down to the deepest depths of my soul, I know it.

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