Page 34 of Reflections of Peonies
Julian had placed his hand on my shoulder, and I squeezed it. Dread rushed through me at her tone. Or, maybe I was imagining things.
“—visiting hours are over,” she said. “Miss Brosnan needs her rest.”
“My last name isn’t Brosnan,” I said, forcing myself to focus through my panic.
My skin felt strange, but I stood and brushed my gown with shaking hands. “My name is Bianca Dubois.” I glanced at Bryce, who stood straighter at my words and added, “Now that my husband has arrived, you’ll see that he wants me released from this establishment immediately.”
7
The nursefinally looked at me. “Excuse me?”
Despite the thundering of my heart, I tried to fake my confidence. “I’m leaving.” I crossed my arms. “Bring me my discharge paperwork.”
Her gaze drifted to Bryce, who had moved to stand behind me. “What?” she asked.
“You heard what she said,” Bryce replied, his voice calm. “And make it quick. We’d like to make it home before it gets too late.”
She appeared to be stunned, and her gaze shot to the others. But when no one else interjected, she glanced at us again.
“I don’t know,” she squeaked, backing out of the room. “Give me a moment.” And with that, she hurried off.
I turned to Bryce. “Do you think it worked?”
“She’s gone to get someone higher up, I imagine,” Julian said, stepping to my other side. He pulled me from Bryce and led me back to the bed. “I’m proud of you. Now, sit before you collapse.”
“I was so nervous,”I admitted as I obeyed.
“They will ask where you’ll be going when you’re discharged,” Julian stated, handing me the third uneaten cheeseburger.
“She doesn’t have to answer,” Damen said, moving to my other side. “It’s not any of their business.”
“But if she has nothing to hide, she will,” Julian told Damen. “Besides, it’ll look better for the transfer of the conservatorship if Bryce has a plan in place to take care of her. She needs continued medical treatment and observation.”
“I have every intention of taking care of her.” Bryce was hovering nearby as he watched us. “And I have a condo in this realm, we’re going there. Where else would she go?”
A chill ran down my spine as I looked at him. We were going to live together, alone?
“You live an hour out of the way. The commute must be exhausting.” Damen’s voice was tight. “Why don’t you move in with me? I have plenty of room.”
“You want me to move into that run-down shack?” Bryce said, incredulous. “Why in the world would I—” But his statement ended in a yelp as Damen elbowed him. “You!”
Before Bryce could finish threatening Damen, Dr. Reed hurried into the room. “What in the world is going on here?” she asked.
“Hello, Mother. We’re ready to leave now,” Julian said.
“Don’t be daft,” Dr. Reed replied, glancing between us. Finally, her eyes settled on me. “Bianca, what is this? I hear that—”
“I want my wife,” Bryce interjected. “I’ve come to take her with me.”
“What?” The look she shot him was a strange mixture of alarm and exasperation. Then, as she pinched the bridge of her nose, she said, “Bryce, just no.”
“Do we have a problem?” Bryce didn’t seem intimidated by the doctor. “Surely you aren’t going to fight thelaw?”
Dr. Reed opened her eyes. “And where do you think you’ll be taking your beloved? What does your father think about this insanity?”
My pulse picked up. His father…
That… he would be my father, too! What wouldhe think? I had no idea what he was like. What if he was just like Bryce?
