Chapter 2 - The Hospital Door
Daniel drove because Emily’s hands were shaking too badly to hold the wheel.
Margaret came too.
Emily objected immediately.
“She is not coming into the delivery room.”
Margaret sat in the back seat as if the decision had nothing to do with her. “Don’t be ridiculous. Daniel needs his mother.”
Emily turned in the passenger seat. “Daniel is not giving birth.”
“Enough,” Daniel said. “Both of you.”
Both of you.
As if they were equally responsible for the morning.
At the hospital, a nurse named Tessa saw the bruise forming on Emily’s cheek before anyone said a word.
“What happened?”
Emily glanced at Daniel.
That glance told Tessa more than the answer.
“I fell,” Emily said quietly.
Margaret smiled. “She’s clumsy when she’s tired.”
Tessa did not smile back.
Within minutes, Emily was in triage. The contractions were real, but the doctor hoped to slow them. The baby’s heart rate was steady.
When Daniel tried to follow Emily into the exam room, Tessa blocked him.
“I need five minutes alone with the patient.”
Margaret scoffed. “For what?”
Tessa looked directly at her. “Because that is hospital policy.”
The door closed.
Emily stared at the white sheet over her knees.
Tessa pulled up a stool.
“Did somebody hit you?”
Emily’s eyes filled.
She still almost said no.
Years of practice sat on her tongue.
Then the baby kicked.
Emily placed a hand over her belly.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“My mother-in-law.”
“Does your husband know?”
“He watched.”
Tessa’s expression changed.
Emily began crying before she could stop herself.
“She has hit me before. Pushed me. Grabbed my hair. Daniel always says I provoked her.”
Tessa reached for a form.
“I’m going to ask you a few questions. You can say no to anything. But you need to know you have options.”
Emily wiped her face.
“I don’t have anywhere to go.”
“You do tonight.”
Before Emily could answer, someone pounded on the door.
Daniel’s voice came through.
“Emily? Why is security outside?”
Tessa stood.
Then another voice came through the door.
A man’s voice.
Calm. Official.
“Mrs. Carter? This is Officer Ramirez. We need to speak with you about an assault report.”
Emily stared at Tessa.
“I didn’t call the police.”
May you like
Tessa’s face tightened.
“I did.”
