Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
Morgan
I pulled into the parking garage of the FBI building, staring at the license plates until I found Agent Weather’s vehicle.
“There you are.” I parked, climbed out, and placed a tracker under his vehicle. I heard voices from behind. Turning around, it was he and another agent, perhaps his partner. I climbed back into my car, watched as they entered theirs, and drove off. I followed them to a restaurant in Chinatown. They went inside. After waiting a few moments, I entered the restaurant and saw them sitting at a table in the corner.
“How many?” the hostess asked.
“Just one. Would I be able to sit at the table over there?” I pointed to the one a few feet from where they were sitting. “My boyfriend and I always came here, and that was our special table. He was recently killed in an accident, and sitting there would bring me comfort.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. Of course, you can sit there.” I followed her to the table, sitting in the seat that faced the FBI agents and carefully listening to their conversation. It wasn’t hard because Agent Weathers had a voice that carried across a room, no matter how quietly he tried to speak.
Nothing. He said nothing of importance. His words were complaints about his wife, his marriage, and how he didn’t know how much longer he could take it.
After I finished my lunch, the server laid my bill on the table, and a hand reached over and grabbed it.
“It’s on me, little lady.”
I glanced up. Our eyes locked, and my heart raced.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that.”
“Sure you can. Have you ever heard of paying forward?” He flashed a disgusting smile. “Now, be a good girl, and let me pay for your lunch. My eyes stayed locked on his as the memory damn of that night broke and flooded my head.
“I appreciate it. I’ll make sure to pay it forward.”
“That’s all I ask.” He grinned. “FBI Agent Colin Weathers.” He extended his large hand.
“Morgan Bentley.” I lied and placed my hand in his.
The last thing I wanted to do was shake his filthy hand, but I had to play it cool.
“Are you from around here?” he asked.
“I’m from New Jersey. I’m visiting the city for the day.”
“You don’t sound like you’re from Jersey.”
“I’ve only lived there a year. Thank you again for lunch. It was nice to meet you.” I grabbed my purse, hooked it over my shoulder, and left the restaurant.”
I climbed into my car and let out a breath, my heart racing erratically. The pinging of my phone jolted me. Reaching into my purse, I saw a text from Roman.
“Hi. What are you doing?”
“Hi. Just leaving Chinatown. ”
“Chinatown? Care to tell me why you’re in Chinatown?”
“I had lunch at a restaurant where my father and I always ate.” I lied. “Is there a reason you’re texting me?”
“I just got out of court and was thinking about you. Are you going to be home for dinner? I was planning on cooking.”
A smile crossed my lips as I read his last message.
“I didn’t know you cooked.”
“I can cook.”
“And I can help. I’ll be heading home soon. I have one more stop to make.” I glanced at my watch.
“I’ll see you at home.”
“See you at home, Roman.”
I stepped into the Kind Medical Center and walked up the stairs to the second floor. I placed my hand on the handle of Dr. Georgia Kind’s office, opened it, and walked in.
“Good afternoon.” A pretty brunette behind the desk smiled.
“Hi. I have an appointment with Dr. Kind. My name is Morgan Ashley.”
She gathered some papers and clipped them to a clipboard, then handed me the clipboard and a pen.
“These are new patient forms. Bring them back up here once you’re done filling them out.”
“Thank you.” I smiled.
Once I filled out the paperwork, I took them up to the desk.
“Thank you. Have a seat, and we’ll call you back shortly,” she said.
I waited only ten minutes in the waiting room, a record time at an OB/GYN’s office. So far, I was impressed.
“Miss Ashley, it says here you need a refill on your birth control pills. ”
“Yes. I have an OB/GYN back in New York, but he wouldn’t refill it because I haven’t been in to see him in a while.”
“Okay. I just need you to change into this gown, and Dr. Kind will be in soon.”
“Thank you.”
I sat on the table, looking around the room. I hated my annual visits, hence the reason I hadn’t been to mine back in New York for a while. I had taken my last pill. My period was due soon, and I needed a refill because the last thing I wanted was for Roman to have to use condoms again for as long as I was still here.
The door opened, and a beautiful woman with long brown hair walked in.
“Miss Ashley, I’m Dr. Georgia Kind. It’s nice to meet you.” She smiled, extending her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Dr. Kind.”
“You can call me Georgia. I remember you from when we met at Four Kinds. How have you been?”
“Good. Thank you.”
“So, I see you need a refill on your birth control pills.”
“Yes. I took my last one the other day.”
“Have you started your period yet?” she asked.
“No, not yet.”
“Are you sexually active?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Are you doubling up on birth control? Your pills and condoms?”
“No condoms.”
“I see.” Her brow arched.
“I know what you’re thinking, Georgia. I never have condomless sex, but the guy I’m sleeping with ran out, and I told him I was on the pill, and we just stopped using them. ”
“Roman Hamilton?” A smile crossed her lips.
“Yeah.” I smiled.
“Okay. I’m going to exam you first, and then we’ll do some bloodwork.”
“Bloodwork?”
“We must run a pregnancy test before I can write you a refill.”
“I’m not pregnant.” My brows furrowed.
“I believe you, Morgan, but I have to do it anyway. We’ll draw your blood and run the test here. The results usually only take about ten minutes. Once we confirm you’re not pregnant, I’ll write you a refill, and you can go get your pills.”
After she examined me, her nurse walked in with the blood draw kit and drew my blood.
“You can get dressed, and I’ll be in shortly with the results and a script for your refill.” Georgia smiled before leaving the room.
I liked her, and she would become my new gynecologist if I decided to stay in Los Angeles.
About fifteen minutes later, Georgia walked in, sat on the stool, and rolled over to me, placing her hand on mine, which I thought was odd.
“Morgan, you’re pregnant.”
“What?” My brows furrowed. “That’s impossible. I take my pill at the same time every night, and I’ve never missed one.”
“Unfortunately, these things do happen.”
“No, Georgia. Not to me. Not when I’ve taken it perfectly.”
“You said that you’ve never had sex with a man without a condom, right?”
“Never. Only with Roman. ”
“It is possible that you are carrying a genetic variant that produces an enzyme that breaks down the hormones in birth control pills and makes them ineffective.”
“I cannot believe this.” I cupped my face in my hands. “I cannot have a baby, Georgia. My life is a mess, and Roman—oh my God. Roman doesn’t do relationships. He said they make him feel trapped, and I agree.”
“I know this is upsetting. I’m going to refer you to my sister-in-law, Dr. Charlotte Kind. Talk to her first before you do anything.”
“What kind of doctor is she?”
“She’s a psychologist and one of the best. I promise you’ll feel better after talking with her. Her office is next door. After you leave here, walk over there and make an appointment. Please, Morgan.”
“Alright. I’ll talk to her.”
“I want to see you back in a month for your first prenatal visit and?—”
“I don’t know what I’m doing. I may not even be in Los Angeles still.”
“Just make the appointment, Morgan.” She patted my hand.
I left the medical center and climbed into my car. I gripped the steering wheel and laid my head down while tears streamed down my face. There was no way I could have a baby—not now.
“Why are you doing this to me?” I screamed as I looked up. “Do you think this is funny? Why would you think I’d be a good mother? Hell, look at my own mother! What a great role model she was!”
I arrived home before Roman. Walking down to the beach, I sat in the sand and stared out at the water. It was overcast now without a glimpse of the sun, turning the ocean water a moody shade of gray. Just an hour ago, the wind had been gentle. But now, it was picking up speed. A storm was approaching. Not only could I see it, but I could smell it. What the fuck was I going to do? I did what Georgia asked and made an appointment with Charlotte for next week—one week was all I had to wait before I made my final decision.
“There you are,” I heard Roman’s voice from behind. “What are you doing down here? It looks like a storm is coming.”
“I was just thinking,” I said.
“About taking the job I offered you?” A smirk crossed his lips.
“Roman, I’m in no mood.” I stood up, dusted the sand off, and began to walk away before he grabbed my arm.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. I’m just tired of you bringing up that damn job offer.” I yanked out of his grip and returned to the house.
“Okay. I won’t bring it up again. Whatever is going on with you, don’t take it out on me.”
“I’m sorry.” I opened the sliding door and stepped into the kitchen. “That time of the month is approaching, and I’m feeling it,” I lied because there was no way I could tell him about the baby.
I noticed the bags from the grocery store sitting on the island.
“What did you buy?” I asked.
“I’m making my famous chili. I hope you like chili. You do like chili, right?”
“Yes.” I lightly laughed. “I like chili.”
“Good. It’s my mom’s special recipe, handed down to her by her grandfather, who lived in Texas.”
“Which mom?” I smirked .
“Katherine.” He smiled.
“Go pour yourself a drink and relax while I start it.”
“Let me help.”
“You really want to?” he asked.
“Yes. I can chop the onions.”
“Have at it.” He grinned, handing me a large knife.