Chapter 47
CHAPTER 47
NORA
T he sound of knocking wakes me, and I blink my eyes open just in time to see a scrub-clad nurse roll a cart into my room.
“Hi, I’m Andrea, and I’m here to do your ultrasound.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice still thick with sleep.
She smiles and wheels the machine to the far side of my bed.
“I have to ask, do you want it to be just you, you and dad, or…” Her eyes ping back and forth between Atlas, Ellis, and me.
My reply is instantaneous.
“We’re all family here.”
To Andrea’s credit, her smile never falters.
If anything, it grows when Ellis hops out of his chair, crowing like a kid on Christmas morning who just got everything he asked for.
“Family,” he murmurs, dropping unceremoniously back down onto his chair.
“I like the sound of that.”
Andrea’s lips tremble as she tries to hold in her laugh.
“Ignore him,” I stage whisper.
“He can’t help it.”
She sucks in a deep breath and then slowly exhales it.
“Alrighty then, let's get this show on the road.” With quick, methodical movements, she rolls down the blankets that Atlas tucked so tightly around me and lifts my gown, all while making sure to keep the important bits covered.
“Fair warning, this is going to be cold.”
I try my best not to tense up, but I do, because she’s right—it is cold. A sharp hiss escapes me as pain ricochets through my body.
Atlas interlaces his fingers through mine. “You’ve got this, Pip.”
I force myself to unclench my muscles, my body sagging back against the pillow as I exhale.
“Easy now, Nora,” she murmurs, pressing the wand into my abdomen.
Instantly the sweetest whooshing sound fills the room.
“Hear that? He’s got a nice, strong heartbeat.” Tears burn the back of my eyes as I watch James—our little jellybean—on the small screen. “He's doing just fine, dear.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard a better sound,” Atlas whispers roughly, giving voice to my very thoughts.
“I love you,” I tell him, meaning it with my entire being.
He squeezes my hand before leaning in and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Love you, too, pretty girl.”
“And I love you both,” Ellis says, effectively lightening the moment.
“Well, that’s my cue,” Andrea says, handing me a towel to wipe the goo from my belly.
“Thank you. So much.” I know she’s just doing her job, but the peace and reassurance she gave me is something I’ll be forever grateful for.
Andrea offers me one last smile as she rolls her cart out the door, once again leaving the three of us alone.
“How are you feeling?” Atlas asks, stroking his thumb across the back of my hand.
“Better.” I wince, a fact Atlas doesn’t miss. Ellis either for that matter. “Better mentally,” I amend. “Tired. Hungry. Sore. Thankful. Mostly, I just really, really want to go home.”
Atlas brings my hand to his lips and brushes a kiss across my knuckles. “Let me go check on that discharge paperwork, yeah?”
I nod and he stands, heading for the nurses’ station in search of answers.
“Alone at last.” Ellis wags his brows as he leans forward, bracing both arms on his knees. “How are you really feeling?”
“I meant what I said. I feel all of those things. But also… relieved. Thankful. He can never hurt me again.”
“Fucking right,” Ellis growls.
“Guilty,” I hiccup the word out on a sob.
Ellis rears back. “Why?”
“Atlas killed his own father because of me. What… what if he regrets it or resents me because of it?”
He snaps his fingers together. “Gonna stop you right there. That man loves you. Fucking adores you. Worships the ground you walk on. I was there when he found out you were missing, that his dad took you. The only regret he could possibly have is not ending that miserable son of a bitch sooner. He was a monster, Nora. You know it, I know it, and Atlas damn sure knows it. He was a threat to not only you, but women as a whole, and frankly, the world is better off without him. So cut that shit out, you hear me?”
I sniffle and nod. “I’ll try.”
He sighs. “I mean it. And if you can’t, talk to Maggie about it, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah, I promise.”
“Promise what?” Atlas asks, walking back into the room.
“Your girl here was just promising to make me your son’s godfather.” He whistles and nods his head. “His namesake and his godfather. I must be a helluva man. A role model, even.”
“Christ,” Atlas groans. “This has all gone straight to your head, hasn’t it?”
Ellis shrugs, his lips curled into a shit-eating grin.
“Anyway.” Atlas pointedly turns away from Ellis. “Nurses’ station said it’s basically a waiting game for the paperwork at this point. So, good news, you definitely get to go home today. Bad news, I’m not super sure when.”
“As long as I get to go home, I’m good.”
Atlas leans over me and presses a kiss to my lips. “Just rest, Pip. We’ll be out of here soon enough.”
Soon enough just so happens to come three hours later.
“Now, don’t forget,” Dr. Duplantier says, “your follow-up appointment with the orthopedist has already been scheduled; you can find the date and time in your discharge paperwork. And, as I mentioned earlier, I strongly suggest following up with your OB and a mental health professional.”
I nod, too exhausted to talk. I am so beyond ready to get out of here. All I want is to shower this godforsaken day off me, find something to eat, and snuggle up with Atlas. I’m desperate for the comfort only he can offer me.
“Well then, let’s get you out of here.” The doctor’s words are punctuated by a nurse stepping into the room with a wheelchair in tow.
A groan escapes me as I cross my arms over my chest. “Is this really necessary?” I ask.
Atlas and Ellis both cross their arms over their chest and glare at me, saying yes in tandem. Dr. Duplantier just laughs. “Hospital policy, I'm afraid.”
“Fine.” I uncross my arms and push the blankets down, only to realize I’m wearing nothing more than a hospital gown. “Um…” I force myself to swallow as my cheeks burn crimson. “I need clothes.”
“Wait!” Ellis jumps up. “I brought some from the house. They’re in my car. Be right back!”
True to his word, Ellis is back in a flash. Atlas helps me hobble into the bathroom and takes great care dressing me in my favorite leggings and one of his sweaters. Unfortunately, Ellis forgot my shoes.
I could wear the ones from earlier today, but the thought of putting them on makes my skin crawl. The only thing I want to do with anything I was wearing today is burn it.
Good thing they brought the wheelchair, I guess.
“You ready, Pip?” Atlas asks.
“So ready.”
“Let’s get you home, then.”