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Told you he’d come. How’s that going?
He’s angry, but he’s amazing with Remi. She adores him. He’s speaking with the doctor at the moment. When will you be here?
I’m just leaving. See you in a couple of hours.
Please prep, my brother. This won’t be pretty.
Okay, see you soon. Thanks, Kat.
No shit, it wouldn’t be pretty. He already knew that Kat was aware of Remi, but her being here might only throw fuel on the fire. Jensen was due back tomorrow night, too. I ran a hand through my hair as my heart started to thump heavily inside my chest.
I turned back toward Chase and Dr. Radar. Both men had real concern on their faces and Chase was nodding and proffering his hand to shake the doctors. There had been a fair bit of shock on Dr. Radar’s and the nurses’ faces when he walked in and took charge. They just nodded when they all looked at me expectantly, as if I’d offer up an explanation. Thankfully, they were professional and went about their business as soon as the initial surprise wore off.
“Why don’t we all go into the consulting waiting room?” Dr. Radar suggested as I reached the two of them again. “Will your husband be joining us? he asked in a quiet tone.
I could see Chase visibly stiffen and a muscle in his cheek flexed as he clenched his teeth. I shook my head and led the way to the little room at the end of the hall. “Jensen is traveling.”
I’d spent a lot of time in this place with the doctors and Jensen discussing options, and came here at other times when I felt helpless and I needed to be alone and cry.
It was a small room lined with small couches and two reclining chairs in front of a television and one large window on the far wall. The sun was streaming in and the blue sky with its fluffy white clouds outside looked glorious. As I sat down, opposite the doctor, I couldn’t help but wish that I could take Remi to the zoo or the park and that Chase could join us.
Chase sat next to me after a short hesitation. “How long will this take?” he asked, his deep green gaze intent on Dr. Radar’s face. He sat leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, urgently seeking answers. “Finding out if I’m a match, I mean.”
“The DNA test typically takes twelve to seventy-two hours. If it comes back that you’re a good match, we’ll proceed with a battery of other tests, and if everything works out, we’ll move ahead with the radiation.”
“Can’t you do the remaining tests in the meantime? I don’t want to wait for the DNA results to get started.”
Dr. Radar’s eyes flashed between my face and Chase’s. “Jensen’s health insurance is very good, but it won’t pay for donor tests until we can confirm the match.”
Chase inhaled and closed his eyes for a split second, before snapping them open and answering without a pause. “Thank you, Doctor, but I’ll pay for the tests. I’ll pay for all of it. I’m Remi’s dad, not Jensen Jeffers.”
It was clear that Dr. Radar knew the situation was delicate and he proceeded with care. “I understand your eagerness, Mr. Forrester. It’s fortunate that we have another match opportunity. I’m hopeful this will be what our little Remi needs, but to change insurance in the middle of it will only slow the process, and that isn’t in her best interest.”
Chase stood up and went to the window to look out. “I don’t care about the money. She’s my little girl, and I want to take care of her.” His words were stiff and anger-filled. I was praying to God he didn’t explain how I’d betrayed him in front of the doctor, but I knew it was raging just beneath the surface. The whole thing painted a bad picture of me and I deserved any humiliation that he heaped on me, but I hoped he wouldn’t feel the need to do so. “End of story.”
I cleared my throat at the pain gathering; thankful Chase took pity on me. “Dr. Radar, may I please speak to Chase alone for a minute?”
“Certainly, Teagan. I have rounds to make, and I’ll check in before I leave the hospital in a couple of hours.” He stood, professional in a dark suit and muted tie in silver and black under the white hospital coat, with the stethoscope half-stuffed into the right-hand pocket.
“Thanks, again,” Chase murmured over his shoulder. “For everything.”
“Of course. Remi is one of my favorite little patients. I want nothing more than to see her well.”
After Dr. Radar left the room and the door closed behind him, the silence boomed as I stood watching the tall, proud man standing in front of me. I was aching to wrap my arms around his waist from behind and press against the strong muscles of his back. He was hurting and I wanted to comfort him. Regret threatened to drown me in its intensity, and tears blurred my vision as I took a few steps closer.
“Chase, I’m so sorry.”
His head dropped and his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans. “It doesn’t matter now, Teagan. How we got here is in the past. It’s over.”
“I know it matters, Chase. No matter what happened, I still know you. I’m so profoundly sorry.”
His voice was thick with emotion when he spoke. “How could you do this? I find out I have a baby, but only when I might lose her?”
Sorrow and guilt engulfed me. I started to shake and I clasped my hands together to steady them as the first tears of the day tumbled down my face. “I know it was wrong, and how hurt you are. I’ll deserve it if you hate me forever and never forgive me, but there is so much to it, and I can explain. I’ll tell you everything if you’ll let me.” I inched closer, my hands coming out to almost touch him.
“I don’t want to hear it.” He shook his head. “It hurts too fucking much, Teagan.”
“Chase, please,” my voice broke on a small sob. I had no right to cry at the misery I myself had inflicted, but the pain was so incredibly intense, I could barely breathe. “You have no idea how much I regret it.”
