Page 35 of Her Dark Melody
Pushing the thought away, she settled into making some oatmeal raisin cookies, and when she slid them into the oven, the kitchen began to fill with the scent of cinnamon and nutmeg. Ebony rubbed her belly unconsciously, then startled as she heard a step behindher.
Cormac Duggan smiled at her, but his eyes were narrowed and cold. “Ah, Ms. Verlaine. I see you’ve made yourself athome.”
Don’t rise to it.“I think Atlas would rather you didn’t come here at the moment,Mr.Duggan,” she snapped back. “Not while you’re waging this petty custodybattle.”
Cormac hooted. “Wow, he’s really turned you into his Stepford Wife, hasn’t he? Tell me, with your month-long experience of this family, what else Atlas wouldlike?”
Ebony grimaced and turned away, but he grabbed her wrist. “I asked you aquestion.”
Ebony wrenched her arm from his grip. “Don’t you ever touch me again,” she spat at him, then took a deep breath. “Look, I’m asking politely. Pleaseleave.”
At that moment, something in her stomach cramped violently, and with a gasp, she bentdouble.
Cormac’s mood shifted immediately. “Are you alright? Here, sit down.” He pulled a chair across and helped her into it. Ebony kept her head down, black dots appearing at the corners of her vision. She heard Cormac running the faucet then he was back with a damp cloth. “Here, put this on yourhead.”
Ebony sucked in a couple of lungfuls of air and concentrated on figuring out what the pain was. Was she miscarrying?Jesus, woman, don’t be so dramatic, it’s probably gas.Another sharp twinge and she clenched her fists tightly.Ouch. A definite cramp, but she knew it could meannothing.
“Are you okay, Ebony?” Cormac’s voice was softer now. She nodded, but then an even harder cramp hither.
“Jesus, no…I’m not okay. Pregnant,” she hissed through gritted teeth. The next moment, Cormac had swept her into his arms, and before she knew it, she was in hiscar.
“What the hell are you doing?” She managed to choke out the question between doubling-up.
“Getting you to an E.R.,” Cormac said. “Not only is it the responsible thing to do, and you do seem to be in considerable pain, but I can only imagine how Atlas would use the fact I was with you if you domiscarry.”
Ebony looked at him. “Atlas isn’t that petty,Cormac.”
Cormac gave a short bark of laughter. “Ebony, don’t be so naïve. I know you love him, but you’re young, and you see him through rose-tinted glasses. Mateo wasn’t mature enough to raise a child – what makes you think Atlasis?”
“Mateo was a wonderful father, and you damn well know it.Oh…oh…”The pain was getting worse, and she cried out as the car went over a pothole. Ebony felt Cormac’s hand on her back, rubbing it. She didn’t understand him; he seemed so kind, and yet he was set on making Atlas’ – and by extension, Fino’s – lives a livinghell.
“Cormac, I’m asking you to please drop this lawsuit. When our baby is born, Fino will have his cousin and we’re going to be a family. If you really love that little boy … don’t tear usapart.”
Cormac didn’t answer her but instead tapped on the phone on his dashboard. A second later, Ebony heard Atlas’svoice.
“Atlas, I’m with Ebony…I’m driving her to the E.R. at Rainier Hope. I think she’s just experiencing cramping. I just want to get her checkedout.”
Atlas was silent for a second. “Can I speak toher?”
“You’re on speaker phone. I’mdriving.”
“Atlas?”
Immediately Atlas’s tone softened. “Are you okay, sweetheart? Has Cormac been botheringyou?”
“No, not at all. I’m sure this is nothing, but it’s best to get a doctor to sayso.”
“I’ll meet you in the E.R., baby.” There was a silence. “Thank you for bringing her to the hospital,Cormac.”
“You’re welcome. See yousoon.”
Ebony didn’t have the chance to say goodbye before Cormac shut off thephone.
Atlas was waitingfor them at the entrance, and he helped Ebony into the cubicle the receptionist directed them too. Cormac followed them, but as he stood by Ebony’s bed, Atlas turned to him and offered him his hand. “Thanks for bringing her in,” he said coolly, “But we can take it fromhere.”
Cormac looked at Atlas’s offered hand a long moment before shaking it. He gave Ebony a look she didn’t understand, then nodded, once, briefly. “I’ll let Bella know what’s goingon.”
“Thankyou.”
