23. Chapter Twenty-Three
chapter twenty-three
. . .
Olivia
My eyes darted between the door and the clock on the wall. The sterile hospital room felt suffocating, and I couldn't banish the image of Ethan's angry face from my mind.
The door opened, and I flinched before realizing it was Mel. Her calm presence washed over me in a soothing wave.
“Security's been notified about Ethan,” she said. “He won't be allowed anywhere near your room.”
I exhaled slowly as the tightness in my chest eased. “Thank you, Mel. I don't know what I'd do without you.”
She pulled up a chair beside my bed. “That's what friends are for. Now, how about we talk about something else while we wait for the doctor? Did you hear about that new dog cafe opening downtown?”
I latched onto the distraction gratefully. “No. Tell me more.”
As Mel described the cafe's concept—a place for people to enjoy coffee while playing with adoptable dogs—I gradually relaxed .
But our conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. A doctor entered, his face unreadable as he glanced at his tablet.
“Ms. Parker?” he asked, looking up at me. It took me a moment to process. The Parker last name didn’t fit me anymore. No, I was Olivia Friedman.
I nodded, my throat dry.
The doctor's eyes flicked to Mel. “I have your test results. Would you like to discuss them privately, or...?”
“It's okay,” I said quickly. “Mel can stay.”
The doctor grunted an acknowledgement. The room fell silent, and I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.
“Ms. Parker, you're pregnant.”
I blinked, certain I had misheard. Pregnant?
The last few weeks replayed in my mind. Carter and I hadn’t exactly been careful. I looked at Mel, hoping to see my disbelief mirrored on her face. Instead, I saw shock giving way to… excitement? Oh, yep. She’s smiling.
“I... I can't be,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.
The doctor continued speaking, but his words sounded far away, as if I were underwater. Something about anemia and fainting spells. Prenatal vitamins. Iron supplements.
My hands moved to my stomach of their own accord. There was no bump, no physical sign of the life growing inside me. And yet, in that moment, the full impact of it hit me—the hope, the fear, the overwhelming responsibility.
Memories flooded my mind. The joy of my first positive pregnancy test with Ethan. The crushing despair of each subsequent loss. The way my body had betrayed me over and over again .
My chin quivered, and I blinked furiously, trying to hold back tears. What right did I have to hope this time would be different? And how could I bear it if it wasn't? I wanted to run, to hide, to wake up and find this was all a dream.
“Olivia.” Mel's voice cut through the chaos in my head. I registered the warm weight of her hand on my shoulder. “Breathe with me, okay? In... and out.”
I concentrated on her voice, trying to match my breathing to hers. Gradually, the room came back into focus.
“That's it,” Mel said softly. “You're okay.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
“Dr. Thompson,” Mel addressed the doctor, her voice taking on a professional tone, “I'll be overseeing Olivia's care as her OB/GYN. Can you send over her full test results?”
The doctor agreed, looking relieved to have another medical professional taking charge. He left the room after a few more instructions, leaving Mel and me alone.
At first, neither of us spoke. I stared at my hands, still resting on my stomach.
“How are you feeling?” Mel asked.
I let out a brittle, humorless laugh. “I don't know. Scared. Confused. Guilty.”
“Guilty?”
I pressed my lips together and gestured at my stomach. “For wanting this. For daring to hope, when I know how it could end.”
Mel squeezed my hand. “Hope isn't something to feel guilty about, Olivia. It's what keeps us going.”
“But what if,”—my voice broke— “what if I lose this baby too? I don't think I can survive that again. What if Carter?— ”
“Whoa, slow down,” Mel said firmly. “Right now, you and this baby are healthy. That's what we need to focus on.”
I nodded, trying to take her words onboard.
“And when it comes to Carter Cassidy, I can assure you, he won’t let you down. I’ve known that man for more than twenty years. He is the best of them, and he loves you, Olivia.”
“He does not.”
Mel snorted. “Just because he hasn't said it, doesn't mean it's not true.”
Could it be? Does Carter really love me? Could he want this?
“Does this mean—am I high-risk?”
Mel took a moment to consider. “Given your history, yes, we'll consider this a high-risk pregnancy. But that doesn't mean anything's wrong. It just means we'll monitor you more closely.”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath and nodded. “I can handle that.”
“Of course you can,” Mel said, smiling. “You're one of the strongest people I know.”
I managed a faint smile in return. “I don't feel very strong right now.”
“Strength isn't about never feeling weak. It's about getting back up when life knocks you down. And you've done that time and time again.”
Her words stoked a tiny spark of courage inside me. “Thank you, Mel. For everything.”
She patted my shoulder. “Of course. Now, do you want to talk about how you're going to tell Carter?”
“Oh, God.” I threw my head back onto the pillow and stared at the ceiling. “What am I going to say to him? We've only been together for a few months. This is going to change everything. What if he doesn't want a baby? What if this is too much for him?”
“Olivia,” Mel said, “that man punched your ex-husband and got himself arrested because he was worried about you. I don't think a baby is going to scare him off.”
I made a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh. “I still can't believe he did that.”
“Love makes people do crazy things,” Mel said with a wink.
I took a slow, measured breath and some of the panic ebbed away. Whatever happened next, I wouldn't have to face it alone.
“So,” I said, squaring my shoulders, “how exactly does one tell their boyfriend of a few months that they're pregnant?”
Mel chuckled. “Well, I doubt there's a Hallmark card for that specific occasion. But I'd start with 'We need to talk.'“
I gave her a dry look. “Those are the four most terrifying words in the English language.”
I sat up in the hospital bed as Carter and Wick entered the room. Their worried expressions made my stomach lurch with guilt.
“Hey.” I forced a smile. “Thanks for bailing Rocky here outta jail.”
Wick clasped Carter's shoulder. “Dude's my hero for punching Ethan. I'm just mad I missed it.”
Carter's eyes anxiously searched mine as he took purposeful strides toward my bedside. “How are you feeling? ”
“The doctor says I have anemia. That's why I passed out earlier.”
Wick stepped closer, frowning. “Anemia? Is it serious?”
“Not too bad,” I assured him. “Just need some iron supplements and rest.”
Mel's gaze bored into me from across the room. She wanted me to tell them everything.
Carter took my hand in his. “Is that all? You look shaken.”
I opened my mouth, the words on the tip of my tongue. But fear gripped me, memories of past heartbreak flooding my mind. I couldn't bear to get my hopes up only to have them dashed once more.
“I'm just tired,” I mumbled, hating myself for the lie. “The anemia's taken a lot out of me.”
I glanced at Mel, and she granted me a sad but understanding smile. I'd have to face the truth eventually, but for now, I clung to the fragile safety of denial.
“Where's that asshole Ethan now?” Wick's expression darkened, his protective instincts kicking into high gear. He looked between Carter and me, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
I shrugged, trying to sound indifferent. “Not sure. Security escorted him out earlier.”
Wick nodded, a determined gleam in his eye. “Right. I'm gonna go handle this.”
“Wick, don't—” I started, but he was already striding away.
He paused at the door, offering me a grim smile. “Don't worry, Livvy. I'm not gonna do anything stupid. I'm just gonna make sure he understands he's not welcome here anymore.”
With that, he disappeared into the hallway, leaving a heavy silence in his wake. I exchanged a worried glance with Carter, who stroked my hand reassuringly.
“Do you want me to go after him?”
I shook my head. There was no stopping Wick when he was in this mood. “No, let him go. He needs to do this.”
“Good, because I don't want to leave your side.”
He settled on the edge of my bed, his hand gripping mine. I winced at the sight of his bruised knuckles.
“Does it hurt?” I asked, carefully running my thumb over the purple splotches.
“Nah, it's nothing. I've had worse paper cuts from blueprints.”
He threw me a playful wink, and I tried to laugh, but it sounded more like a choked sob. Everything—the pregnancy, Ethan's reappearance, Carter's arrest—crashed down on me at once.
“Hey.” Carter cupped my cheek with his free hand. “Talk to me, Sunny. What's really going on?”
I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes against the sting of tears. The urge to spill everything was overwhelming, but fear still held my tongue hostage.
I forced a smile and looked up at Carter. “I'm fine, really. Just a little tired from all the excitement.”
He gave me a long look. “Are you sure? You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“Of course,” I said, my voice unnaturally bright. “I'm just ready to get out of here and back to normal life.”
A nurse bustled in, tablet in hand. “Alright, Ms. Parker, I've got your discharge papers here. Just need you to sign a few things, and you'll be all set. ”
My hand trembled as I scribbled my signature on the forms. Carter noticed and placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Easy there,” he soothed. “No need to rush.”
As I finished signing, he gathered my belongings. His movements were slow and deliberate, as if he was afraid I might shatter at any moment.
“Ready to go?” he asked, offering me his arm.
I nodded, sliding off the bed and leaning into him. My legs felt wobbly, and I was grateful for his steady presence beside me.
We made our way down the stark, echoing hospital corridor. I avoided Carter’s eye. If I let myself see the tender concern on my face, my resolve would crumble.
As we approached the exit, the burden of my secret pressed down on me, making each step feel like a monumental effort. I wanted nothing more than to curl up in Carter's arms and tell him everything, but I was too scared.
“Let's get you home,” he said. “I'm sure Pete misses his mom.”