Page 44 of Restless
Pressing the button to lift the top half of her bed forced Johnnie back. She felt nauseated and overheated. “Christopher would never—”
Johnnie seized the controller with buttons for the bed, to call the nurse, and to work the TV. “Wouldn’t he? Weeks after you met him, he asked you to have his baby. Do you think that’s changed?”
“We have seven children, Johnnie,” she said, her voice wavering. “Eight, if you count Patrick and nine with Diesel. Surely—”
“Leave him. I’ll give you five million dollars to walk away.”
She tried to snatch the controller from him, but he shoved her away and she fell against the pillows. He set it on the rollaway cart Christopher kept behind his chair when she wasn’t eating.
“I’m not leaving my husband, Johnnie.” Her pulse thumped, triggering an alarm.
He glared at her. “This isn’t fucking over.”
As the door opened, Meggie closed her eyes. She didn’t want bloodshed or violence but she wanted Johnnie gone.
“Mrs. Caldwell?” the nurse greeted.
Meggie popped her eyes opened and glanced around. “You made him leave?” she asked hopefully.
“Who, dear?” Her gaze fell on Meggie’s wet cheeks and she frowned. “Oh, my dear. You’ve had a nightmare.”
“No, I didn’t! John—”
“Please remain silent while I recheck your pulse and blood pressure.”
“But Johnnie—”
“Shhhhh. You’re fine.” She pressed a few buttons to measure Meggie’s vital signs again.
“Where’s Christopher?”
The older woman smiled. She had apple cheeks, salt-and-pepper hair, and a kind expression.
“He went to the nursery. As he usually does when you’re—”
“Call him. I need to talk to him.”
“But we don’t want to alarm him.”
“Please? Please,” she whispered. “I…please.”
“Okay. When I return, I’ll call him.”
“No, don’t leave me until he comes back. Johnnie might return. Please.”
The nurse laughed. “You’re having nightmares. I’ll get you a sedative, but I promise I’ll call him before I administer it.”
The moment the nurse left, Johnnie walked out of the private bathroom.
“Don’t tell Christopher I was here,” he ordered, his tone as cold as his eyes. “He doesn’t want you to know and you’ll hurt him further.”
He didn’t give her a chance to respond before he left.
When the nurse returned five minutes later, she held a cellphone to her ear. “Yes, Mr. Caldwell. She had a bad dream. Yes, sir. She’s still awake. Hold on a minute.” She handed the phone to Meggie.
“Baby, I’m on my way back to the room. I swear I ain’t leavin’ your side again.”
“Christopher, do you want more children?”
