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“And what about the baby?” my father barks at the doctor.
“The pregnancy seems to be progressing normally,” the doctor says. “All things considered. But, Mr. Morino, I am worried about your daughter. Her pregnancy won’t be stable for much longer if this continues. She needs to walk around and get some sun, things that every person needs anyway.”
My father rolls his eyes as if every word she says is nothing but nonsense.
“I actually love to do those things,” I say. “There’s nothing quite like the feeling of the sun on my skin. But still, he keeps me in here, don’t you, father?”
“It’s for your own good, and you know it,” my father says. “She can’t be trusted, doctor. I promise you, she is safer inside, under my watchful eye.”
“Just please make sure she eats better at least,” the doctor says and it’s clear that she feels very uncomfortable.
“I won’t eat it,” I say. “I don’t want to stay here, and he won’t let me go. So, I need to take whichever way out of this that I can.”
“You’ll starve to death,” the doctor says with panic in her eyes.
“Precisely,” I say. “That’s the plan.”
It’s not actually the plan, of course. But my father doesn’t know that, and neither does the doctor. Neither of them know that I’m expecting to be released at any moment. Nonetheless, I will say whatever I can to annoy that bastard and upset him while I can.
“So,” I say, with a shrug and a sigh. “Take away my television and do what you must. I won’t eat until I am let go.”
“This can’t go on,” Doctor Sharp says grimly, before squaring her shoulders. “Mr. Morino, it is not my place to tell you how to live, but you cannot keep her locked in here like this. She needs some freedom. Not only for her own health but the health of the child.”
“You heard her, father,” I say.
“These conditions are not healthy,” the doctor continues. “I do not see any sign of a medical reason for you to keep her in here. I cannot stand by and let you do this.”
The doctor’s sudden confidence takes me by surprise. Either she’s not afraid of falling out of his favor, or she’s new in town and has no idea who my father is in the first place. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone argue with him to his face like this, so I’m betting on the latter. Maybe he chose her preciselybecauseshe’s new in town.
Either way, she stares him down and for a moment I think she might win the argument. But when I look back at my father, I can see a familiar look on his face. He’s been pushed too far and I wonder if I should warn the doctor and beg her to leave before she causes any trouble.
The thought crosses my mind a second too late. My father takes a step closer to her and grins a sinister grin.
“If you do anything to help my daughter outside of your purview as a medical professional, or if you breathe a word of what is happening to her to anyone, I will come after you, and I will come after your family,” he says in a low growl. “So, before you say another word to me, I want you to think of your two young sons.”
The doctor’s eyes stretch wide. It looks almost as if she has stopped breathing.
“Keep your mouth shut and your sons are safe,” he continues, shrugging as if he didn’t just threaten her loved ones. “Do anything else, and dropping them off at that little school in West Ridge tomorrow morning will be the last time you ever see them. I promise you that.”
As if they’ve rehearsed, the two guards standing behind my father place their hands on their weapons and I know that the kind doctor has seen it. I feel sorry for her. She had no idea what she was getting into when my father requested her.
“And I tell you what,” my father says with a smile. “Do what you can to help her today, and there’ll be a nice cash bonus for you at the end. It’s an awfully long drive to that little school, isn’t it?”
The doctor closes her eyes and takes a breath.
“Keep your money,” she says, looking my father straight in the eye. “I won’t say anything, you have my word. As long as my family is safe from you in return, this remains our secret.”
My father smiles; he’s pleased with himself for this.
“And as for Aria,” the doctor continues. “I’ll help her with her medical needs. But I’m not doing it for you, I’m doing it for her and the baby, is that understood?”
Her tenacity takes my father by surprise, but I can see that he appreciates it. She has managed to earn his respect, not that I think she’d be all that proud to know it.
“We have a deal,” my father says with a sly smile. “I’ll leave you to it.”
I stare in disbelief as my father calmly leaves the room. I’ve never seen a stranger stand up to him that way, and I am impressed with the doctor. Her actions remind me to remain courageous, and suddenly, I find my hope restored.
“You’re a brave woman,” I tell her, once the door has shut.
