Chapter 12
The tires squealing twisted her stomach as she stared at the oncoming vehicle. Bright headlights seared into her eyes as she froze for an instant. Horns blared as the car continued to barrel toward her despite the red light facing it.
At the last minute, she dove for the pavement, landing hard and sliding across it as the car’s wheels missed her by mere inches. The car skidded into the street amidst a cacophony of horns, weaving its way through traffic to disappear. Another car swerved to avoid it, smashing into an SUV. Traffic snarled to a halt with a few more fender benders.
She lay sprawled on the pavement, the world spinning in a dizzying blur. The blare of horns and distant voices sounded miles away, but the scent of burning rubber filled her nostrils. Her heart pounded against her ribs, each beat echoing in her eyes, and she worried her hot chocolate may wind up on the street rather than remain in her stomach.
Her mind raced, a jumble of fear and shock. The closeness of the car, the screech of the tires, the glare of the headlights were all too surreal. A cold shiver ran down her spine and her body trembled as the reality of her near-death experience sank in.
She tried to push up to sit, but her arms felt like rubber, and pain shot through her arm as she bore weight on it. The rough pavement stung the scratches on her skin. Her head pounded, adding to her disorientation and scrambled thoughts.
“Julia!” a familiar voice shouted. “Julia? OMG!”
She twisted to find Sierra toddling toward her on her spiked heels, her usual poise shattered by what appeared to be genuine fear flickering in her eyes. Her voice trembled, revealing a rare glimpse of vulnerability before she composed herself, her commanding demeanor returning. “OMG, don’t move. I’m calling nine-one-one.”
“I-I’m okay,” she murmured, but Sierra already had the phone pressed to her ear. A small crowd had gathered around her, a mix of concerned faces and murmurs of shock. One woman frantically gave instructions to someone over the phone while someone else directed traffic, his arms flailing.
Sierra glanced down at her with worry creasing her normally confident face. “Julia, stay with me, okay?”
“I’m fine.”
A man pushed forward through the throng of people, his demeanor calm yet commanding. “Excuse me. I’m a doctor, excuse me.”
He crouched next to Julia, studying her eyes for a moment before he slid two fingers onto the inside of her wrist. “Ma’am, don’t move. I’m a doctor.”
“I’m okay,” Julia insisted.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” He flicked his piercing light blue eyes up as he grinned at her. The act reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t place it.
She offered him an uncertain smile as he assessed the scratches and bruises on her arms.
“Did you hit your head?” He spoke with confidence, attesting to his excellent bedside manner.
“Uh, no, no, I didn’t. I broke my fall with my arms.” She rolled her shoulders as the brunt of the impact set in, making her sore all over.
He maneuvered her wrist, his touch gentle. She winced and yanked it away. “Ouch.”
“Sorry. You may have a sprain, but I don’t think it’s broken. Did you get the license plate of the car?”
She knitted her brows as she shook her head. “No. Sorry, I didn’t get the license plate when the car nearly ran me over.”
The man chuckled at the joke. “Maybe someone here did. He came right at you. And you had the right of way.”
“I know,” Julia said, her forehead creasing. She’d been lost in thought, but certain she hadn’t tried to cross on the wrong signal.
Next to her Sierra stamped a high heel. “There isn’t anyone here yet. Do you know who I am? Do you know who my daddy is? My stepmother is lying almost dead in the streets and there isn’t an ambulance in sight.”
The doctor offered Julia a confused glance. “Ah, I’d better handle that. Sierra?”
Finally, a siren screamed toward them. “Oh, good, here they come now. Now, I won’t have to sue you!” She tugged the phone from her ear and jabbed at the display before she faced Julia.
“Sierra, I’m fine.”
“We don’t know that. He nearly ran you over.”
The ambulance came to a screeching halt, and two paramedics descended on her. The doctor passed along a slew of medical information about Julia to them as they assessed her.
“Elevated pulse, tenderness in wrist, scrapes, bruises, says she did not hit her head, but I’d double check that.”
A penlight blinded her as the cold stethoscope pressed against her arm.
“Is she going to be okay?” Sierra demanded of them.
The doctor stood, patting her on the shoulder. “She’ll be fine. Just a few minor injuries.”
“But she had a concussion not long ago. What if she hit her head again?”
Julia winced as the paramedic tested her wrist, her gaze falling on Sierra. Did she detect a note of genuine concern in the woman’s voice?
“We’ll be sure to check that,” the doctor said. “Where are you taking her?”
“St. Mary’s,” the paramedic answered as they loaded her onto a stretcher.
“I’m fine. I don’t need to–“ She gave up as no one listened.
“What a coincidence,” the doctor said with a smile. “That’s where I work.”
“You want to ride along, doc?”
“Sure,” he answered as they loaded her into the back of the ambulance.
Sierra climbed aboard with her. “I’m going, too.”
The doors slammed shut and within seconds, the siren screamed as they raced toward the hospital.
“Any dizziness? Blurred vision?” the doctor asked as they raced through the streets.
“No, none.”
“And you said she had a concussion recently?”
Sierra bobbed her head up and down. “Yes. She got hit really hard, and she had a severe concussion. She had to stay in bed for like two days.”
Julia caught the edge of panic in her voice. She grabbed her hand, and Sierra’s eyes went wide. “What is it? Are you sick?”
“No, Sierra. I’m fine. It’s okay.”
Sierra flicked her gaze down to their clasped hands. “We’ll see what the hospital says.”
“We’ll take extra precautions and order a few more tests,” the doctor said, giving her a nod.
She narrowed her eyes at him. Something fleeting, but unshakable in his voice reminded her of someone, but her splitting head didn’t allow her to assess it further.
Instead, she shook her head. “I really don’t need any extra tests. I’m fine. A few scrapes and bruises, that’s it. I didn’t hit my head.”
“That you can recall, and I would like to get a better look at that wrist that seems to be extremely sensitive.”
Julia winced as she tried to prove to herself that it wasn’t hurt. She heaved a sigh. She wouldn’t get out of this. She hoped she escaped without too much trouble, though. A bum wrist was the last thing she needed. She had planned to dedicate the weekend to logging substantial writing hours on her manuscript, which had been neglected for far too long. With any luck, she’d be out of the hospital and home before anyone else was aware of the situation. Maybe a ride along with one of the doctors would expedite things.
Her mind wandered to her morning meeting. She winced as she imagined an evening news report with her face on it. There would be no hiding her marriage then. She hoped no one picked up the story or that Ethan didn’t watch the news.
The doctor settled onto a seat next to Julia after a quick review of her vitals, setting his icy blue eyes on her. “I don’t think I caught your name.”
“Julia,” she answered. “I don’t think I got yours either.”
“Julia. What a lovely name. Dr. Kyle Carter.” He gave her hand a gentle shake. “And what does a beautiful woman named Julia do in the great city of New Orleans?”
Sierra sliced a hand through the air at the words. “She’s Mrs. Grant Harrington. That’s what she does. She wifes.”
The doctor flicked his eyebrows up before narrowing his eyes at her. “Sierra, right?”
“Yes. Sierra Harrington. Daughter extraordinaire, publisher, and so much more.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you ladies. I must say, Julia, you do not look old enough to have a daughter Sierra’s age.”
“She’s not my mother. She’s my stepmother.”
“I see.” He returned his attention to Julia. “And do you do anything outside of wife-ing?”
“I’m an author.”
“Oh, how fascinating. Well, then we will take extra care of these wrists.” His hand lingered on hers for a moment too long.
The opening of the ambulance doors interrupted any further interaction. The doctor hopped out first, immediately issuing orders to the hospital staff who met them. “I want an X-ray of both wrists, MRI, blood draw, and a tetanus booster unless she’s had one in the past year. She’s got several scrapes and bruises that need to be cleaned up.”
They wheeled her out and whisked her through the wide doors into the hospital. The clinical air surrounded her, giving her a chill as they pushed her into a curtained-off cubicle. The fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow over the bustling activity. The sharp smell of antiseptic mingled with her underlying exhaustion.
Sierra stomped behind her with a sour look on her features. “I don’t like that doctor. I’m going to insist on a second opinion.”
“Sierra, let’s not jump the gun on anything. I just took a little spill. I’m fine.”
Sierra pressed her cell phone to her ear as she arched an eyebrow. “We’ll see about that.”
Why did it sound strangely like a threat anytime her stepdaughter spoke?
Sierra pulled the phone away and frowned at it. “Are you serious?” Her manicured nails pounded across her phone’s display, her toes tapping angrily on the floor.
A second later, her phone rang. “Finally,” she said as she swiped to accept the call, stepping into the hall. “Daddy!”
Julia let her head fall back against the flat lump they called a pillow. Had it been up to her, she would have been treated, released, and drove herself back home without a word. Grant’s presence, particularly after the tension last night, would just complicate things.
“It’s Julia!” Sierra’s voice pierced the air, her words sharp. “She was hit by a car.”
Julia’s jaw unhinged at the words.
“Sierra!” she called but to no avail.
“We’re at St. Mary’s Memorial. Just get here.” Sierra jabbed at her phone before she stomped back into Julia’s area.
“Sierra, I wasn’t hit by a car,” Julia said.
“Umm, yes, you were.”
“Sierra–”
“Shhh, quiet. Just sit there and let them do whatever they have to do to fix you.”
Kyle strode in, tugging on a white coat before he tapped on a tablet. “All right, Julia–”
“Mrs. Harrington,” Sierra reminded him, her eyes narrowed.
“Right,” he said with a coy glance at Julia. “It looks like you had quite a severe concussion a few weeks ago after…rescuing a woman from a warehouse?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Well, it seems wife-ing is a more perilous occupation than I expected.”
Sierra heaved a sigh, crossing her arms as she scowled at him.
“Really, Dr. Carter–” Julia began.
“Oh, please, call me Kyle.” He offered her a warm smile as he peered up from the tablet.
“I’m really fine. I don’t need all this fuss.”
“We’ll see. They should be by to take you down for your scans. After that, we’ll talk and find out just how much fussing you need.” With a wink, he tapped a few more times on the tablet and stepped into the hall. “Liz? Liz, can you get this patient down for scans immediately? She’s a priority.”
“Of course, doctor,” the transportation aide said with a nod before she hurried to rush Julia down to radiology.
“Sierra, don’t exaggerate when your father gets here.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’m going to tell him exactly what’s going on here.”
Julia’s eyebrows knitted as the woman shoved her away from the emergency room. What was that supposed to mean?
Within minutes, her questions regarding Sierra were ripped away and replaced by the tiny MRI space before she moved on to have her wrists X-rayed. After the whirlwind of activity, the woman wheeled her back to the emergency room cubicle.
Her heart tensed as she spotted Grant talking to Sierra. She glanced over her father’s shoulder, her eyes going wide. “There she is.”
Grant twisted, a flicker of worry crossing his features. “Julia. What happened?”
“I told you already,” Sierra said, her voice laced with annoyance, “someone tried to run her over. Thank goodness she jumped out of the way.”
“Are you okay?” Grant’s voice, carefully neutral and calm, mixed with an undercurrent of concern.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she assured him.
“You don’t look fine. This was too close of a call.” A flicker of guilt flashed in his eyes as his features pinched. He reached for her hand before he abruptly stopped.
“Really, I’m fine,” she assured him.
“I really wish you’d let me be the judge of that, Julia,” Kyle said as he flitted back into the room.
Sierra took up her defensive stance as he strode back inside. “I asked for another doctor.”
Kyle tapped the display in his hand. “And since the patient is perfectly competent mentally, that request was ignored.” He raised his eyes from the tablet, a smile on his lips as he eyed Julia before it slipped when he slid them to Grant. “And you must be the husband.”
Grant narrowed his eyes at the doctor. “Yes, Grant Harrington.” He thrust his hand forward, but Kyle pretended to ignore it, tapping on the tablet again.
After he finally retracted it, Kyle glanced up again. “Well, your daughter tells me Julia’s main occupation is…as she put it ‘wife-ing,’ and honestly, I’m tempted to recommend she change occupations.”
Julia tugged her lips back into a wince as the annoyance on Grant’s features was unmistakable.
The doctor chuckled at his supposed joke as he stepped closer to Julia. “Two hospital visits in as many months. I’m a little worried that being Mrs. Harrington may be fatal.”
Julia offered a polite smile as he deftly picked up her wrist again and swept a finger over it, turning her skin into goosebumps.
“Oops, ticklish?” he asked with a grin.
Grant removed his jacket and slid it around Julia’s shoulders. “Probably cold. You look cold, Juls.”
Julia waited a moment as the doctor’s hands lingered on her. “Do you have my test results?”
“Yes, I do. I just wanted to take a look at this wrist again. It’s a slight sprain. Ice and rest should have it back to normal, but I’d still like to see you in my office one week from today to make sure.”
“Is there a problem?” Grant questioned.
“No, other than a bit of overuse, it looks good, but given her other occupation–which seems to be far less dangerous–I’d like to be certain.”
“We’ll make sure she follows up with our orthopedic, thanks.”
Julia raised her eyes to stare at the two men, one on either side of her bed, as they locked eyes. They were alarmingly similar in how neither wanted to back down.
“Is there anything else?” Julia interjected.
Kyle shifted his gaze to her, a warm smile on his face. “No concussion, just minor injuries, we’ll get these scrapes cleaned up, boost your tetanus, and get you on your way. I’d recommend you take it easy for the rest of the day. Any problems, call me. This is my personal direct line.”
He slid a card toward Julia.
Grant’s hand shot out, snatching the card from Julia’s reach. His voice was as tight as his jaw as he muttered, “Thank you,” with a hard edge in his eyes as he glanced at the doctor.
“Try to get someone in here quick,” Sierra snapped as the doctor left the room.
The hospital staff descended on her within minutes to clean up the scrapes on her arms. Grant remained exceptionally quiet. Julia chewed her lower lip as she studied him, scanning his emails while they worked on her. Perhaps the weight of pretending he cared had become too much for him.
She imagined the conversation he’d wanted to have with her, certain he’d wanted to draw a line in the sand. Once she’d been discharged, Sierra offered to drive her car home, leaving her with Grant and James.
The silence stretching between them made the ride home uncomfortable.
She appreciated Worthington’s kind smile as she entered the house. “Mrs. Harrington, how are you feeling?”
“Fine, thank you. I’m okay. Just a close call.”
“You should rest,” Grant said, his voice still tinged with a stoniness she couldn’t identify.
“Right,” she said with a tentative smile and a nod before she climbed the stairs.
Grant’s silence was an impossible sea to navigate. He seemed to be wrestling with unspoken thoughts, though Julia couldn’t say what they were.
She spent the remainder of the day alone, fielding a few messages from Ethan. Miraculously, the jar of jam survived the incident. She set it on her nightstand, her eyes trained on it as memories of home flooded into her mind.
Memories of another uncomfortable situation pressed in on her, making today’s uncomfortable silence from Grant even more distressing.
The house remained quiet when she awoke the next morning. Worthington delivered her breakfast to her bedroom, and she took her time dressing for her charity board meeting.
Worthington informed her James had brought the car around, and she gathered her purse, heading down the stairs. She found Grant at the bottom.
“Julia, how are you feeling?”
“Much better, thanks.”
“I’m sorry, I was swamped yesterday. I didn’t get the chance to check on you. Heading out again?”
“I have the ballet charity meeting.”
“We never had that conversation I promised you.”
She let her gaze fall to the floor. She would have to face the inevitable soon, but she”d be late if she didn’t leave soon.
“I think it’s really important that we do that,” he added.
“Right,” she said, her eyes not leaving the floor for another moment. “Uh, maybe later?”
He hesitated, as though unsure. Before he could answer, a shriek sounded from his private office. Both of their gazes snapped to the ajar door.
Sierra wandered out, a folder clutched in her hands, her eyes wide. She raised them to Julia, her eyes filled with anger and upset. “You cheating bitch!”
Grant’s face scrunched. “Sierra!”
“How could you do this?” Sierra shrieked.
“Do what?” Julia asked.
“Oh, don’t play innocent.”
“Sierra, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Julia answered.
Grant knitted his eyebrows as he studied Julia, upset clouding his eyes.
Sierra’s face twisted with anger as she hurled the folder at Julia’s feet, her words like daggers. “Explain that!”
Julia stared down at the pictures now sprawled across the floor, her stomach turning over. Picture after picture of her with Ethan spread across the marble. Her features pinched as she bent to pick up one photo of them sharing a glance over their hot beverages.
She glanced up at Grant, her face questioning. His split-second reaction showed a mix of emotions brewing before he quickly hardened his features. She had to explain. But how?