Chapter 15 #2
“Well, just think—soon you’ll have a little grandson or granddaughter for her to spoil too!” I said, rubbing my own belly at the thought. “My mom can’t wait.”
Jenna tucked her hair behind her ears and cast her gaze down. “Yeah … that’s true. But it’s hard, knowing my dad will never get to meet the baby.”
“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” Ellie said.
Jenna smiled sadly. “Thanks. You know, I haven’t lived in the city that long; I moved here for a job, but I resigned after his death because I just couldn’t handle it. It’s really nice to have friends like you two in the city now.”
Ellie and I both smiled at her. It was hard to believe we’d known her less than six months; her friendship was such an unexpected blessing.
Jenna decided to come back to my place for a bit after we left the bistro. We lounged on the couch together as we talked a little more about her dad. Eventually, the conversation wound its way back to my troubles with Madison.
“You said this stalker works for Dr. Quinlan—do you think she’s the one who got into your medical records and found out the baby is a boy?”
“She must be. Who else? I just need proof that Madison was behind it—that she did it for her. Then I’ll report her to Dr. Quinlan.”
Jenna shook her head. “This is all insane, Savannah. You have to do something. Madison has no right to mess with your life like this.”
“I’m supposed to get some free legal advice this weekend from—”
A knock at my door interrupted us. “That’s weird—no one rang the intercom.” I shared a look with Jenna before making my way to the peephole. Please don’t let it be Madison. Thankfully, it wasn’t. I opened the door.
Max stood there, his hands on his hips. “Savannah, can we please talk?”
I sighed, which Max took as an invitation. “I have company right now, Max,” I objected as he walked inside.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t—” He stopped midsentence as Jenna rose from the couch.
“Jenna, this is Max.”
Jenna gave an awkward, shy smile and reached for her purse.
Max mumbled, “Nice to meet you,” and raked his hand through his hair as he looked back at me expectantly.
“I should really get going anyway,” Jenna said to me. “I’ll see you later, Savannah.”
“You don’t have to go,” I said. I hated that she felt pushed out by Max.
“No, I probably should, it’s getting late.” Jenna gave me a quick hug and disappeared out the door and down the stairs.
I closed the door and turned around, not bothering to hide my frustration. “What—you don’t call or text first anymore? What are you doing here, Max?”
He let out his breath in a quick whoosh, his hands still on his hips. “I know you’re upset about what happened.”
“You’re damn right I am. I can’t believe she would do something so cruel—and that you would let her.”
His hands flew up defensively. “I had no idea she was going to post that. Like you, I didn’t know the gender until that moment in the doctor’s office. But, Savannah—she showed me the text.”
“The text?” I scoffed.
“The one from you. Do you really not remember sending it to her?”
My body flooded with heat. “Max—” I growled in frustration. “I am so sick and tired of her lies. I did not send that text.”
“Look—she showed it to me.” He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and held up a screenshot. “See? Right here.”
Savannah Mitchell: Madison, guess what?! I changed my mind and called the doctor’s office. The baby is a BOY!
I laughed out loud. “And you believe this?”
Max shoved the phone back into his pocket, a sad, pitying look on his face. “Savannah … look. I have to ask. I know things have been stressful lately. Are you sure you didn’t have, maybe, a drink or two and just … forgot?”
I was so mad I started pacing, my hands in my hair, tempted to pull out entire tufts as I screamed.
“I swear to God, if one more person asks me that, I’m going to lose my mind, Max.
I’ll get on the phone with Dr. Quinlan’s office right now and have them read to you the results of all of my blood and urine tests since the day I found out I was pregnant! They are all completely clean!”
Max opened his mouth to respond, but I wasn’t done.
“Oh—and did I mention the tech at the cellular store found a spy app on my phone, Max? And that they said my phone was probably cloned? I’ve tried to tell you many times that I thought someone had done something to my phone.
There was the text that looked like it came from my boss but it didn’t, the text I sent you about the ultrasound that you say you never got, and now this phony text.
Well, I was right. Any idea who could possibly be behind all of it?
” Sarcasm dripped like acid from my voice.
“I don’t see how it could be Madison. She’s not exactly tech-savvy. I wouldn’t have the first clue how to do any of that stuff either.”
“Pretty sure she figured it out, Max. You can find anything on YouTube if you search hard enough.”
Max’s face was creased with concern. But I didn’t want concern. I wanted action.
“Let me talk to her, and see if we can figure this out, okay?”
Yeah, I’m not holding my breath. “Go for it. But in the meantime, I need to protect myself and my child.”
“What does that mean? Savannah, I would never let anything happen to our child either.”
“Until you decide to do something about your girlfriend, I don’t want to hear it,” I said. I walked past him and held the front door open for him. I was done.
Max sighed as he walked past me. He didn’t look angry. Just sad. “I will talk to her, Savannah. Please … take care of yourself, okay? I’ll talk to you soon.”
I closed the door as he walked away.