“I won’t,” he said, knowing damned well it was a lie.
She let go of his arm. “How did they let you stay?”
He smiled a little. “I said I was your husband.”
“Oh.”
“How did you fill out the intake paperwork?”
“I got help.”
Her eyes grew very wide, then narrowed. “You called my brothers?”
“Only one.”
Oh, she looked pissed.
Why?He knew her family was close. Very close. He’d thought she’d want them around her for support.
“Crap,” she muttered. “Good thing they’re in Munich.” She shook her head. “Which one did you call?”
“I texted Adam. I had his card. He wrote his cell number on the back.”
She closed her eyes and sighed. “Thank you for … everything.”
I didn’t do anything.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done, but …”
Ah. There was abut.
Her voice was flat.
“I need to process this alone.”
His heart sank. She was pushing him away. He sat there, trying to think of something, anything, that he could say to convince her to let him stay. Let him help her get through this. Care for her.
“I feel overwhelmed right now and need some space.”
His throat closed. “I understand.”
He stood, a bitter smile on his lips. He thought to reach for her hand, then thought better of it. “Adam has my number. Anything you need, call me.”
Jannie nodded, turning her gaze toward the window in evident dismissal. “Take care, Nick. You can go now.”
Her eyes reflected a world of pain. She had no intention of contacting him; he could tell. Heart leaden, Nick headed out, the click of his shoes on the tile floor sounding like a drumbeat of impending doom.
CHAPTER 8
Jannie
“Dr. Larssen?”
Chart in hand, Jannie paused, her palm poised on the door handle of Room 5, where she knew a patient had been waiting for nearly forty-five minutes. She turned to see Sandy, the receptionist, rushing toward her, her face flushed. In her eyes, Jannie read extreme distress, and her stomach tightened in anticipation of what Sandy had to say.
“It’s Cassie Edwards. She’s on the phone.”
Jannie’s fingers tightened on the chart. “OK.”
