Page 4 of Wine & Whiskey: Everything for You
Nick nods and strides down the hallway, swiping his phone screen. Too many messages he doesn’t give a damn about unless they threaten her safety. He shoves the cell into his pocket as Carrie approaches, a deep frown darkening her face.
“I need to talk to you.”
Fucking shit. His pulse races, ready to sprint into Shae’s room. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, Dr. Callahan’s in with her.” She collects her hair into a ponytail and twists it around as she talks, her anxiety matching his. “She’s worried about us fighting, and I promised her we wouldn’t.”
“Agreed.”
“But, if you’re going to go off the deep end and dump her again, I need to know it now. She can’t take much more, and if you leave her, I think she’ll have a nervous breakdown.”
The accusation stings like a kick to the ribs. Yet, totally deserved. He’s let them both down, and now, he has to prove he can be trusted again. “I know I fucked up. It won’t ever happen again. All I want is for her to come home with me so I can take care of her, if she’ll let me.”
“It’s up to her. I’ll support whatever she wants to keep her from getting upset.”
As always, Carrie’s right. Desperate to be with her, he pushes too hard for what he wants. He needs to let Shae decide what’s best for herself. “Me too.”
She wraps her hair and lets it fall again. “By the way, I’m sorry about your cousin.”
Not as much as he is. “Thanks.”
“Carrie?” They both turn as a tall man with gray hair and black framed glasses approaches them.
“Yes, Dr. Callahan?”
“I’ve finished examining Shae.” The physician directs her to a small sitting area in the corner of the waiting room. “Let’s talk for a moment.”
Carrie nods to him. “This is Nick, her fiancé.”
The men shake hands before sitting down. Dr. Callahan’s gaze flicks to the security team filling the narrow space, wariness lining his brow. Fuck the man’s suspicions. All he cares about is Shae, not defending the need to protect her. “How is she?”
“Overall, she’s in good physical condition—healthy and very fit. After a few days of rest and increasing her fluids, she should be back to normal.”
The tension in his jaw loosens, yet fear still grips his chest. They both have to be all right. He steels himself for the answer to his next question. “What about the baby?”
“Right now, things seem stable. I see that Dr. Patterson has ordered additional blood work for tomorrow. That will tell us more.” Dr. Callahan looks up from the tablet and glances from Carrie to him. “My biggest concern is for her mental health. It seems she’s been through a lot lately and blames herself for what happened yesterday. Her anxiety and fear levels are high. It’s not my area of expertise, but any more trauma could force her beyond her limits.”
Carrie jumps in before he can get the words out. “What can we do to help her?”
“I’m going to release her, but I highly encouraged her to speak with my colleague, Dr. Elizabeth Meyer. She’s a board certified psychiatrist who specializes in working with victims of assault and other crimes. She’s the best in her field. Shae has agreed to an appointment later this week, and I want you to make sure she keeps it.”
Guilt turns his stomach. God, he’s a fucking bastard. He’s let his fucked up world push her too far, and now, he has to do whatever it takes to bring her back. “I promise. She’ll be there.”
“Good. I’ve signed her paperwork, so the nurse will be here soon to get her ready to go home.”
“Thank you.” Carrie turns to him after Dr. Callahan walks away, her face flushed as her gaze meets his. “I know it’s not all your fault, but you’ve got to find a way to make this stuff stop. The media’s lit up about what’s happened, and Gail’s going nuts and wants to meet with her.”
He has never met this woman, but knows he can’t stand her. There’s no way in hell he’ll let her get to Shae. “No, she’s not doing that. She doesn’t need her shit too.”
“I’m keeping her phone from her, and I’ll put Gail off for as long as I can. You’ve got to dial down the crazy on your side, and then, I think we can get her through this.”
Carrie’s loyalty never wavers, but he isn’t her only struggle. “What about Nathan?”
She lets out a long breath before shaking her head, her confidence dipping at the mention of her fiancé’s name. “You keep her safe, and I’ll try and figure out the rest.”
Nick raps on the door before pushing it open. “How is it?”
Shae sits covered in bubbles, the scent of raspberries vibrant in the steamy air. “Thank you for all of this. It’s wonderful.”
