51. Emma
Chapter Fifty-One
EMMA
E mma blinked as Dr. Saha’s replacement shone his penlight into her eyes.
“And you don’t remember anything after taking your pills? Nothing about the construction site or why you went there?” Dr. Desjardin asked, putting the light away and smiling placidly at her.
She shook her head. It didn’t hurt anymore, although she did still feel a bit fuzzy as if someone had replaced her gray matter with cotton wool.
“Just my head hurting and then having a weird conversation with Garrett.”
One that had taken place on a rickety metal rail suspended over a twenty-foot-deep hole. She was glad her brain couldn’t supply a clear picture of that.
“I heard your boyfriend was very heroic.” Dr. Desjardin twisted a little, casting that benevolent smile at the man hovering over his shoulder.
Garrett glowered back. “I’m her husband, not her boyfriend.”
The doctor’s smile dimmed a touch. He turned back to her with a noticeably less effusive bedside manner. “Of course. And you’re not feeling any numbness anywhere? Not your toes, fingers? ”
“No. Only my head is fuzzy. Like I’m hungover.”
“That’s to be expected under the circumstances. But don’t worry. It will pass quickly.”
The doctor continued to check her reflexes and other responses.
“Why the hell is that expected?”
Garrett didn’t look or sound angry, but she recognized that flat expression on his face. This is the hard-ass CEO, she thought.
“I thought these new pain meds were supposed to have fewer side effects than the previous ones,” he added, his tone accusatory.
“They are,” the doctor replied, pretending to be unbothered by the billionaire about to bite his head off. “But complications can arise when they aren’t taken as directed. Didn’t Dr. Saha or the pharmacist who filled the prescription explain the need to transition to them slowly?”
Emma frowned, trying to remember if either of those people had said that about the pills. “I don’t think so. But it could have been in the papers that came with them.”
All her medication came with FAQs and disclaimers, but she rarely took the time to go through them beyond a cursory glance.
She’d been on the same meds so long there hadn’t been a need.
Dr. Desjardin frowned. “They should have explained that in person when they prescribed them. The abrupt transition between medication types can lead to episodes like this.”
“But I had taken them at least once before.” She looked over at Garrett, apologizing with her eyes. “I didn’t think it was that big a deal.”
“I didn’t either,” he said, his face grim. “Dr. Saha didn’t mention it as far as I know. But I had one of the PAs that works for my company pick up the medication. If the pharmacist had any instructions, they didn’t pass them on.”
Uh-oh . Emma had a feeling that PA was about to find themselves in the crosshairs.
“It’s more likely the pharmacist didn’t say anything,” she said, willing it to be true. For the poor assistant’s sake .
He didn’t reply. “Do we need to change her meds back to the old ones?” he asked the doctor, still glowering.
Dr. Desjardin shook his head. “No, I don’t think that’s wise. Going back and forth is what led to this. Emma should be fine on the new meds provided you step back on the dosage.”
He explained they should buy a pill cutter to slice the tablet into fourths, taking one piece to start and then steadily increasing the dosage until her body was habituated to the new medication.
He continued to offer other advice, being particularly thorough in an obvious effort to thwart any future accusations of malpractice.
She couldn’t blame him. Garrett’s suit screamed, ‘I have expensive lawyers.’
After they were done, he called the car service so he could sit with her in the back seat.
Emma was glad he did, tucking her under his arm to cuddle.
“You might have to carry me upstairs,” she warned. “Every limb feels like it gained a hundred pounds.”
Garrett pressed his lips to her hairline. “Done,” he mumbled, wrapping his arm tighter around her. “What do you think of Desjardin?”
“He seems okay.” She tipped her head back to look at him. “Why do you ask?”
“I don’t like him.”
“The medication thing isn’t his fault. Dr. Saha might have told me about building up to the dose and I forgot. Or maybe it would have happened anyway, even if I had done it the right way.”
“Today took ten years off my life,” he growled. “But that’s not what I’m talking about.”
Emma didn’t hear anything after the first part. It made her stomach hurt. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
His hand reached up to cup the back of her neck. He squeezed lightly, his touch reassuring. “ Hey . It wasn’t your fault. Never think I blame you. I’m simply reacting to what might have happened. I almost lost you today and I’m deflecting by focusing on the doctor and his inappropriate behavior.”
His what now? “What are you talking about?”
“The good doctor was clearly upset to learn that you’re married.”
He rubbed his fingers on her neck again, the touch distinctly possessive this time.
She would have laughed if she had the energy. “That’s crazy. He didn’t say anything like that.”
“I saw his reaction. That was disappointment.”
“You were standing behind him!”
He sniffed. “I know what I know.”
His jealousy was adorable. “Trust me, a woman knows when a man is interested in her—even one with brain damage. To him, I’m an interesting case. Traumatic memory loss like mine isn’t that common. He doesn’t want me. Not like that.”
Garrett sniffed. “What he wants from you is a HIPPA violation.”
Emma snickered. “I think you’re projecting. I also don’t think you know what a HIPPA violation is.”
“Of course, I’m projecting. Doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
Emma let her weight rest against his broad chest. “I’m sorry.”
He squeezed her to him. “Don’t be. The only person at fault is me. I shouldn’t have been so eager to mess with your medication. From now on I’ll take much better care of you.”
His voice rang with self-recrimination.
Okay, she had to stop this before he spiraled. “I did some research after the fact. The new medication is supposed to be better. I wouldn’t have taken it if it wasn’t.”
He was already shaking his head. She put her hand on his chest, over his heart. “You want what’s best for me. And I know I don’t always act like it, but I want that too. I got complacent with all my pills. I also stopped doing the exercises the physical therapist prescribed before I met you too. But I’m going to get back on track. I’ll start working out and taking these new and improved meds.”
“I shouldn’t have insisted.”
“They do have fewer side effects. Not just for me, but for a baby.”
Garrett jerked.
“Or should I say developing fetus?” Emma bit her lip. “Dr. Saha mentioned that you had concerns about that when she first prescribed them. Which just goes to show how far ahead you were planning.”
“No, I wasn’t.” He stopped and scowled—at himself. “All right, maybe I was. But it was too soon to consider making a baby. That hasn’t changed. We need to focus on your recovery. There isn’t room for anything else.”
“So, you weren’t planning on knocking me up?” she joked, but it was weak.
“Not yet. Someday. But not yet.”
She looked down at her lap. “It is too soon. But it won’t be always. If we want to try for a baby in the future, I can stop taking the meds.”
“ No .” He reached over, taking her hand at the wrist and positioning it over his heart.
“My headaches are less frequent now,” she pointed out. “In a couple of years, I might be able to manage without medication.”
“I would never ask that of you. I can’t stand seeing you in pain.”
He took a deep breath as if bracing himself. “As for whether your pills are okay during pregnancy, examining every contingency is what I do. It’s a personality flaw I’ve managed to turn to my advantage in my work, but when it comes to our relationship… I don’t want it to cause friction.”
She put her fingers on his. “Garrett, it’s okay. I’ve come to terms with having a billionaire stalker.”
He stared at her a second before bursting into loud, hoarse laughter.
“I love you,” he said, wiping the corner of his eye.
She reached up to caress his cheek. “Good. Carry on.”
That earned her another deep belly laugh. Then he hauled her into his lap and kissed her.
She put her arms around his neck. “You know we have been sitting in the parking garage for the last five minutes.”
“I do.” He reached out and opened the door. “And now I’m going to carry you upstairs.”
“I was kidding.” Climbing off him, she got out of the car. “The last thing we need is for you to throw your back out.”
Garrett kicked the door closed with a neat little maneuver and swept her up in his arms. “As if that’s a possibility.”
“Compromise!” she squealed as he swung them toward the elevator. “Put me down inside the cab.”
His very put-upon sigh was his only answer. But he did as she asked.