Episode 120
EPISODE 120
A BUN IN THE OVEN
Brett
Two paramedics carry a stretcher into Evangeline’s suite while another checks her vitals. Riv, Seb, Alex, and I stand back, making room in the already crowded area. We already dismissed the staffers.
I try to stay detached as the scene unfolds, but my heart pounds anyway. Evangeline is always pale, but at the moment she almost looks ghostly.
“I’m fine,” she tells the paramedic checking her pulse. “I just fainted. Who hasn’t fainted once or twice?”
The paramedic, a stocky man with graying hair, doesn’t respond. He continues to run his tests as if Evangeline hasn’t spoken at all. Evangeline flicks her gaze to us, her eyes wide and pleading.
Alex shifts uneasily on his feet, scratching his jaw. Seb stares at Evangeline, and River? He’s a million miles away. I know where his thoughts are. They’re back on Old Man Larson’s ranch twenty years ago.
“Her pulse is good,” the paramedic says. “She’s breathing okay. How long was she out for?”
“You can speak to me,” Evangeline says. “I’m right here. Don’t act like I’m some kind of child.”
“Sorry, ma’am.” The paramedic makes some notes on his phone. “What have you eaten today?”
“Only a small fruit salad for breakfast,” Evangeline replies, managing to sound indignant even under the circumstances. “But I assure you, I am adequately nourished.”
The paramedic raises an eyebrow at this but doesn’t argue. He merely nods, makes another note on his phone, and then pulls out a small flashlight, shining it into Evangeline’s eyes.
“I understand you’re just doing your job,” Evangeline says, shutting her eyes against the intrusive light. “But my condition is due to exhaustion and nothing more. This is a huge event I’m running on this island. I’m simply?—”
“Evie,” Seb interrupts, “that’s all you’ve eaten all day? No wonder you’re fainting.”
“I’ve been nauseated,” she says dryly.
“No signs of concussion,” the paramedic mutters. “BP is normal too. You say you’ve been nauseated, ma’am?”
“Yes,” Evangeline admits, her gaze meeting the paramedic’s with a flicker of unease. “But it’s only stress. There’s a lot riding on this event being successful.”
“Any other symptoms?” he asks, his voice clinical and detached.
“Headaches,” she says reluctantly. “But again, it’s only stress.”
“Any dizziness before you fainted?”
She doesn’t respond immediately, her gaze shifting uncomfortably across the room. She then murmurs an almost inaudible, “Yes.”
“That could be due to low blood sugar, dehydration, or perhaps overexertion,” the paramedic says. “You said you only had fruit salad today. Have you been drinking enough water?”
“I’ve had some, yes. But I’ve been busy.”
Alex sighs and rubs at his temples. “You need to take better care of yourself.”
“Agreed, Evie.” Seb lets out a heavy sigh and runs a hand through his hair, worry etched onto his face.
River remains silent, although his expression has hardened. I feel my own fear creeping up, but all I can do is watch as the paramedic makes more notes.
Then he rubs his temples and clears his throat. “Ma’am…is there any possibility that you could be pregnant?”
The ghostly paleness of Evangeline’s face morphs into a redness that creeps onto her cheeks at the suggestion.
Damn it all.
She’s fucking pregnant.
“Jesus.” River rubs his forehead while shaking his head. “It’s all making sense now. This is what Misty has on you, isn’t it?”
River’s been in a mood all evening from what I can tell, and now he’s about to blow. “Easy, Riv,” I say. “She’s weak.” I turn to Evangeline. “Is it true? Are you pregnant?”
Evangeline gulps. “This in no way will affect my work. I promise. I can do this job.”
“It’s already affected it,” River grouses. “You’ve been sick since the first night. And now you’ve fainted in your room and you require medical attention.”
“Why didn’t you just tell us you were pregnant, Evie?” Seb asks. “We could have made sure you had everything you needed.”
“It’s just morning sickness,” she says. “It will pass.”
The paramedic rises and glances at his colleagues who are still holding the stretcher. “I think we’re probably done here. Unless you want to be taken in, ma’am.”
“Whatever for?” Evangeline asks.
“You may benefit from some IV fluids. We can hook you up here and we can draw some blood, but we won’t be able to give you any results. I think, though, that you need to eat better. The nausea is bad for some pregnant women, but they always feel better when something is in their stomach. And you’ve got to stay hydrated, ma’am, especially in this heat.”
Evangeline nods. “Of course. I don’t want to go to the hospital. I’ll take better care of myself.”
“That would be wise, ma’am.” The paramedic begins to put his equipment away.
As the stretcher is wheeled out of the room, a palpable silence sets in, broken only when Alex drops into one of the velvet-covered chairs against the far wall.
River speaks first. “This is bullshit. Absolute bullshit. You nearly fell into my arms earlier when I came to see you during the cook-off. Why didn’t you tell me then what’s going on with you? The rest of this could have been avoided. We should have a medical professional here, like I told you. And if you had been honest with us in the first place, this could have all been avoided. Do you know how much it costs to have medics helicoptered in? We’ve had to do it twice now.”
I’m the only one who can handle River when he gets like this. “Easy,” I say again. “This is pennies to us. Let’s just figure out where we go from here.”
“That’s not the point. I told her today to get someone here and that money is no object. But this could have all been avoided, like I said. Now the women will be worried for no reason. What must they have thought when they heard the helicopter? When they saw the paramedics running in here with a stretcher? They’re already worried after what happened to Rachel.” He focuses on Evangeline again. “Is this what you’ve been keeping from us? Is this why you think your life may be in danger?”
River is on edge. After Rachel’s accident, the break-in at his parents’, and now this, he could blow. The man has a long fuse, but when he blows…
It’s not pretty.
“It’s only us here, Evangeline,” River continues. “We’re the ones who hired you, and we deserve an explanation. Why did you hide this pregnancy? Did you think we wouldn’t hire you if we knew? Because that would be illegal, and we all know it.”
Evangeline gulps audibly. “Of course I know that. I didn’t tell you because…” She closes her eyes.
“Why, Evie?” Sebastian’s voice is gentle, much gentler than River’s.
“Because the pregnancy,” she says, “is part of why I’m in danger.”