Page 93 of This Love
Her eyebrow lifted again. “I’m here to assess Ava’s safety.”
Right. “What else do you need to know?”
“Have you ever been accused, arrested, or convicted of domestic violence?”
What kind of question was that? “No.”
“Do you have feelings of anger, frustration, or rage that you feel could get out of control?”
“What? No.” Other than maybe right now, with her.
She watched me. “How long have you been with Ava?”
“Since we were seventeen. So, uh, eight years.”
“And how long have you been married?”
“Eight months.”
There went that eyebrow again. “Did you know Ava was pregnant when you got married?”
“Yes, of course. That’s why we got married.”
More scribbles. “Do you have reason to suspect the child is not yours? Did this make you angry?”
I knew a leading question when I heard one. “Do I need a lawyer?”
She looked up from her tablet. “What makes you think you need a lawyer?”
“This sounds like an accusation. Look, she’s my wife. She has a condition almost nobody understands. And she’s alone and scared. I need to get back to her.”
Clarissa set her tablet on her lap. “Mr. Giddings, if I don’t believe Ava is safe with you, you don’t get to see her at all. I call the authorities.”
I let out a long, slow breath. This day kept getting worse.
I pulled out my phone. “I’m happy to wait out here. Her neurologist is Dr. Simmons. He’s been her neurologist for years and can easily verify her condition and our personal history. Her OB/GYN is Dr. Chancellor. If he comes in, he will also be able to verify everything I’ve told you.”
Clarissa took my phone and tapped the number into her form. “All right, Mr. Giddings. I’ll follow up with these physicians. I’ll check in with you and Ava in a little while.”
I sagged onto the chair. I’d passed.
She got up and swished down the hall. I took a moment to compose myself and headed back to Ava’s room.
No one was outside of it. I wasn’t sure if I could go in.
I paced on either side for a moment, then knocked.
The nurse in green scrubs who’d had trouble getting Ava to take the IV, opened the door. “We’re almost done. I’ll come for you.”
I hadn’t missed anything. As the door closed, I got a glimpse of Ava curled on her side. She must have been between contractions, as she had her head down and didn’t seem in distress.
I leaned against the wall again.
We would get through this day. We had to.
Chapter 36
Ava
