Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
Jamieson
“What the hell did he say to you?” I asked Grace.
“It doesn’t matter. What did Tracy want to talk to you about?”
“It does matter, Grace. I want to know what the hell happened.”
“I promise to tell you later, and then you can tell me.”
“Grace,” I pursed my lips.
“We’ll talk later, Jamieson. Now let’s go mingle.”
Grace and I left the gala before it was over and headed home. As we were driving, I felt it was the right time for her to tell me what had happened between her and my father.
“Talk to me. What happened between you and my father? What did he say?”
She sighed as she looked over at me and placed her hand on my leg.
“Your father is a very angry man. He was insulting you, and I wouldn’t stand around and let him. So, I told him that maybe if he weren’t such a terrible father, you wouldn’t act that way towards him.”
“Jesus, Grace. You said that to him?”
“Yes. And I don’t apologize for it, either. He is everything you told me he was. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt because every story has two sides. But he proved it right off the bat. Your father is a complete asshole.”
I let out a light laugh.
“I told you he was. Tracy said she thinks something is wrong with him.”
“Like what?”
“She said he’s been having trouble swallowing and choking a lot on his food. He’s been having frequent headaches, mood swings, and his blood pressure is high, so he prescribed himself blood pressure medication.”
“I noticed a couple of things myself while he was verbally assaulting me.”
“What things?”
“His uncoordinated eye movement, for one, and the fact that when he went to pick up a glass of champagne from the tray, he dropped it. Maybe there is something wrong.”
“I don’t know. I told Tracy there was nothing I could do if he didn’t come to see me, and we both know Hell would freeze over before that happened. First, he’d have to admit he was having problems, and he’s a stubborn son of a bitch. He’ll almost have to be on death’s bed before he seeks help.”
I pulled into the driveway and we both climbed out of the car and went inside the house.
“Maybe you could talk to him?”
“Talk to him? Are you kidding me? I am not talking to him. If he doesn’t think he has a problem, there’s nothing I can do. Plus, I might punch him for what he said to you. So, I don’t think you want me talking to him.”
We both went upstairs, and she asked me to unzip her dress.
“I thought you’d never ask.” I softly kissed her neck as I grabbed hold of her zipper and slowly pulled it down. “I’ve been waiting to take you out of this dress all night.”
The next morning, Grace climbed out of bed, and I noticed she was walking funny.
“Are you okay? You’re walking weird.”
“Really?” Both her brows raised as she turned and looked at me.
“What?” I held out my hands.
“We did it like four times last night. And pretty rough, may I add. Excuse me if I’m a little sore and inflamed.”
“I’m sorry.” I pouted. “Let me take a look. I can kiss it and make it all better.” I smirked.
“Absolutely not! You aren’t going anywhere near there for at least a few days. So, keep your dick in your pants, Dr. Finn, because my pleasure box is closed for maintenance.”
“Damn, Grace.” I laughed. “Since you put it that way, I’m afraid your pleasure box is now a hazardous zone.”
“That’s right. Remember that!” She pointed at me as she waddled her way into the bathroom.
I couldn’t stop laughing. She was just too adorable, and I loved having her with me.
One Month Later
Grace
“What do we have?” I asked as I pulled open the back door of the ambulance.
“Krista Reeves, a thirty-three-year-old female who is thirty-six weeks pregnant. She fell down a couple of stairs and is complaining of back and abdominal pain.”
“Hi, Krista.” I smiled. “I’m Dr. Harper. Let’s see what’s going on.”
We wheeled her into trauma room two and transferred her to the bed.
“Did you hit your head?” I asked.
“No. My back is killing me.”
“Dr. Lasher, page OB.”
“Right away, Dr. Harper.”
I hooked her up to the fetal monitor and then performed an ultrasound.
“OH MY GOD!!” she screamed as she gripped the sides of the bed.
“Your baby looks great, Krista, and it appears you are in labor. Dr. Lasher, let’s get an X-ray of her back to be safe.”
“Make it stop, Dr. Harper. I can’t have this baby yet. My husband is out of town on business. He’s due back tomorrow.”
“I’m going to examine you to see what’s going on with your cervix. Is that okay?”
She lightly nodded her head as she let out another scream. I put her feet in the stirrups and examined her.
“Krista, your baby is coming. Where’s OB?” I asked Dr. Lasher.
“She’s in surgery right now.”
“FUCK!” Krista screamed.
“We need to deliver your baby, Krista, so I’m going to need you to take in a deep breath and get ready to push.”
“No. I can’t without my husband. I need him here. I need his support. We were supposed to do this together. I’m not pushing until he gets here. Do what you have to. Push that baby back up there.”
“Dr. Lasher, hold her hand.”
“No. I need my husband,” Krista spoke. “I am not doing this without him.”
“How about a substitute husband?” I asked her, and Dr. Lasher shot me a look.
“What do you mean?” she shouted.
“I can get someone in here to help you out, and you can pretend he’s your husband.”
My God, what was I saying?
“I can’t do it. I’m not having this baby yet.”
“I’m sorry, Krista, but your baby is coming whether you like it or not. Trust me. You will like whom I have in mind.”
“Fine,” she spoke.
“Page Dr. Finn stat.” I smiled at Dr. Lasher.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. I know he’s available because he doesn’t have any surgeries today. He’s doing his research.”
Krista moaned and groaned.
“You paged me?” Jamieson spoke as he walked into the room.
“Yes. Can I speak to you in the hallway for a moment?”
“What’s up?” he asked.
“My patient is having her baby, and she refuses to push until her husband gets here, and he’s out of town at the moment. So, I need you to be her pretend husband and tell her to push and support her so she can deliver this baby without any complications.”
“You can’t be serious?”
“I’m dead serious.”
“Grace, come on.” He cocked his head. “Screaming pregnant women make me nervous.”
“Get in there!”
“For fuck’s sake.” He sighed.
“Krista, this is Dr. Finn. He’s going to help you through your labor. Just pretend he’s your husband.”
“Lord have mercy.” She smiled at me.
“It shouldn’t be hard to pretend. Plus, he has experience pretending to be someone’s husband.” I grinned. “Now, let’s bring your baby into the world.”
Jamieson clasped her hand and talked her through her labor pains.
“Push, Krista,” I spoke as I could see the baby’s head.
She gave one hard push and collapsed back onto the bed.
“I can’t do this anymore. Just go up there and rip this kid out of me. She’s killing me.”
“Come on, Krista. You can do this,” Jamieson spoke. “A couple more pushes, and you’ll be holding your baby in your arms.”
“Just focus on Dr. Finn, Krista.”
Jamieson shot me a look and I couldn’t help but smile.
She stared at him as she screamed and pushed as hard as she could.
“Here she comes. One more is all it will take. One more, Krista.”
“I can’t. I’m sorry. I can’t,” she spoke in exhaustion.
“Krista, push that baby out now!!” Jamieson spoke in a stern tone.
She sat up, gave one last push, and heard the cries of her newborn baby. OB finally made it down and took over.
“You’re a little late,” I spoke as I looked at Dr. Edmonds.
“I was in surgery. Good job, Dr. Harper. I got it from here.”
Jamieson and I walked out of the room, and he kept rubbing his hand.
“Damn it. I think she broke my hand.”
“You’re fine. Thank you.” I smiled.
“Don’t ever do that to me again. You owe me.”
“Fine. Whatever you want.”
He laughed as he began to walk away.
“You’re going to regret saying that, Dr. Harper.”