Page 169 of Heartless
The door of the room opened on Sienna and an older man in a lab coat, and my body locked into place.She had her back to me but when he clocked me, he straightened up, which led Sienna to glance over her shoulder.
She blinked slowly before turning toward her doctor.“Goodbye, Dr.Hailsham.”
More tension tightened my shoulders.She wasn’t a kid anymore, but her tone was a far cry from the affectionate ‘Duncle Hailsham’ she’d talked about.
Once the door closed behind the doctor, my beautiful Sienna walked slowly toward me and lifted her shiny gaze to mine.“Thank you for being here.”
I touched the side of her neck, and her arms curled around my waist.
My tone came out harsher than I’d intended.“What’s wrong, baby?What did the doctor say?”
“Can we talk about it in the car?”
I cupped her face while my pulse hammered.“Is it your heart?”
Her brows knit briefly.“No, we were just...talking.”She shifted closer.“Can we go, please?”
I tucked her to my side and led her to the reception area.We stopped by the pregnant woman, who had stood up and was wearing a big grin while she rounded her desk to hug her.
“Sienna, it’s so lovely to see you again.”Her mouth dropped.“I’m so sorry we couldn’t make it to Caitlin’s funeral.Colin was sick, and with three children—”
Sienna touched her elbow.“It’s okay, Hannah, I understand.Thank you for the flowers.”Her smile dipped on the woman’s stomach.“How’s baby number four doing?”
The woman rubbed her stomach.“She’s our last attempt at a girl.”She giggled.“I love my thugs to death, but I need a little princess.Even the dog is male.”
They both laughed at that before Sienna curled her fingers around mine.“Hannah, this is Jake.”
“Nice to formally meet you, Jake.”
“Same here, Hannah.”I drew Sienna closer.“Baby.”
Sienna touched the receptionist’s hand.“I have to go, Hannah.Give my love to Colin and the boys.And I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a girl.”
“Keep your toes too.It might take that.”After another hug, she returned to her desk.“I’ve got you booked on November six.We’ll have—”
Sienna’s whole frame tightened.“Dr.Hailsham won’t be my doctor anymore.He’s recommended Dr.Bailey for my next checkup.”
The woman frowned.“Why?”
“I’ll let him explain,” Sienna replied quietly.
I caught her waist.“Let’s go, baby.”
After buckling her seatbelt, she swept a curl of hair that had fallen over her eye.“Do you mind if we visit my mom for a few minutes?”
What the fuck had happened?“We’ll stop at the flower shop on the way.”
“I brought her fresh flowers yesterday.I just need to feel her close.”
We rode in silence to the cemetery.Near her mother’s grave, I stayed a few steps behind, but she took my hand and pulled me to the tombstone with her.Her grip was tight, and her other hand curled around my wrist.
“Mom, this is Jake.”
A cool wind was picking up, and when she shivered, I pulled her close.“Let’s go home, baby.”
On the way to the car, a drop of rain hit my hand.Sienna lifted her face to the sky and whispered, “I love you, too.”
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