Page 71 of Rough Cowboy
“Not here,” I say.
“You know what I’m afraid of.” Sammy mimics his posture—the two glare at one another.
“Why don’t you repeat it in front of Elsie.”
“Stop!” I’m on my feet. Both men reach for me. “No. Stop it. This is the moment we learn if the baby is healthy or not. If there are any issues, we might have to worry about them. They’ll test and screen for genetic problems. Any issues with my uterus or cervix, and you two are fighting over nothing.” Now I sound like my research sister. “Can I please just enjoy this moment without worrying about you two starting a fistfight?”
“It ain’t nothing,” Sammy says, and the pain cracking his voice breaks my heart.
“I know it isn’t nothing, but I can’t deal with it right now.”
“What are you talking about?” Silver demands.
“I need air.” When they both begin to stand, I hold up my arms. “By myself.”
I step outside the quaint clinic into the crisp autumn air. It’s a beautiful November day, and I wish I felt as happy as the sunshine.
“Elsie?” My sister’s voice brings me instant tears even before I see her.
“Lena.” I skip down the stairs, and she meets me in a giant hug. “I messed up.” I cry in her hair.
“Shhh. It’s okay.” She strokes my hair the way she soothed me when we were little.
I let her. Minutes pass before she pulls away and wipes the hot tears off my cheeks. I’m sure my cheeks are a blotchy red mess.
“Both Sammy and Silver are in there, and it will turn into the baby-daddy reveal all over again. Fists flying and truths coming out, and then everyone will hate me. Sammy. Silver. His family. They’ll forgive him, but they won’t forgive me. No one is going to forgive me.”
She cups the side of my head and brings her face close to mine. “Elsie, take a deep breath.”
My body trembles as I deeply inhale, and my exhale shudders out of me. I repeat.
“This isn’t working. Sammy and I have to tell Silver that he’s the father of my baby. I can’t keep this from him. And that’s going to destroy Sammy.”
“Elsie.” Lena’s eyes peer over my shoulder.
I know by the look on her face we’re not alone.
I turn, and Silver stands at the top of the stairs. The angry way his face twists tells me he overheard.
“The doctor is ready for you.” His tone is stone-cold and distant.
“Silver—”
He shakes his head. “Don’t.” He turns and storms inside. He hits the door so hard it rattles the hinges.
“I messed up.” Another round of tears threatens, and my chest painfully constricts.
Lena takes my hand. “Today is about the baby. Come on. I’m right beside you.”
***
SILVER
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THE BABY IS MINE.
It makes no sense, but I know what I heard. And I fucking heard it from Elsie’s mouth.
