Page 98 of Deliria

“Mr. Forster.” He says. “The lady in question is not your spouse, we will not discuss any medical matters pertaining to her with yourself due to patient confidentiality.”

“Fuck patient confidentiality.” I snarl back. “She needs help. She needs to be seen by someone…”

“If the lady in question is pregnant and is suffering a miscarriage, then it would be a very early-stage pregnancy so the risks...”

“Excuse me?” If he was here right now, I’d have him up against the wall by his throat. How dare he be so disinterested in her pain, in her situation.

“She is tested.” He says, sounding flustered. “The medicine she is on is teratogenic and would prevent any healthy conception.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, Mr. Forster, she wasn’t pregnant two weeks ago.” He states, finally losing his cool. “Let the miscarriage run its course. If she is still bleeding in a few days, she may need something to sort it, but she is in no immediate risk.”

No immediate risk. The way he says those words, the way he’s so dismissive of her needs, makes me lose what little control I have left. I start yelling, ranting, demanding that he get his snivelling little arse here even if he has to get a shitty little boat and row himself across the channel.

Only, the bastard hangs up. I don’t know when. I was too lost in my anger to even hear the deadline line humming back at me.

The phone is still pressed to my ear while my heart is pounding with rage and helplessness.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself before going back into the bedroom.

I don’t want to scare her. I don’t want to do anything that might infringe on her peace.

Could he be telling the truth? Could it be okay? Just a simple case of letting nature fix itself? I don’t know. I don’t know shit about women’s bodies and stuff like this.

But he does know what’s at stake. He knows what Alexander’s end game is because he’s signed off on it, signed the paperwork, authorised the Power of Attorney and certified that she’s insane enough that there needs to be a conservatorship put in place. He must be in line for a payout when this is all done and dusted. Would he risk that now? Would he be so blasé about her care that he’d risk whatever fortune he’s in line to get?

I draw in a deep breath, clenching my fists. In the end there is nothing I can do. Thereisa storm outside, so no helicopters can get through. It’s the reason Alexander and my father have had to stay in the city.

I can give it until the morning. I can reassess then.

I creep back into my room, not wanting to wake her but as my eyes adjust to the dimness, I can see she’s sat up, staring at the ceiling with her knees huddled up.

She looks over at me as I enter, her gaze filled with so much sadness it makes my chest ache.

“Why aren’t you asleep?” I ask softly, sitting down on the bed beside her.

She shakes her head slightly. “Can’t, can’t sleep.”

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by that.

I climb into the bed behind her, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her back against my chest. I can feel her tense at first, then slowly, she relaxes into me, her body fitting perfectly against mine.

“It’s okay,” I murmur into her hair. “I’m here now. You can rest easy. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She lets out a soft sigh, her hand coming up to rest on top of mine. I can feel her heartbeat, steady and strong beneath my palm, and I can pinpoint the exact moment she drifts off again.

Scarlett

Sunlight pours in through the window, but it feels so different to the light that fills my room.

It feels less trapped. Less oppressive.

I can hear the smattering of rain, the howl of the wind; the storm that raged all night has still not blown itself out apparently.

Rafe’s arms are wrapped around me and though I shouldn’t feel any comfort in them, I do.

I got up in the night to pee, and realised that I must have stopped bleeding. That it was over. All done and dusted.

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