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“What was that?” Mark nearly shouts.
“Nothing.” I try to keep my voice smooth. “I’ve just been having some dizzy spells this morning, and I was wondering if you could come pick up Maddy for school.”
“Are you telling me you just fell down?”
“No, I dropped my phone. I’m fine, but it probably wouldn’t be safe to—”
“You’re not fine,” he grits out. “Dizzy spells could be serious. It could be your heart.”
“It’s not my heart. It’s just anxiety. I’ve had this bef—”
“We’re not taking that risk. I’m coming over now.”
Just as I open my mouth to tell him I need him to take Maddy to school, the line goes silent. Great. He’s going to insist on taking me to the emergency room, and Maddy will be late. He’s always been so high-handed when it comes to my health.
I won’t let him this time. It’s not his place anymore.
Less than five minutes later, a pounding reverberates from the front door. “Maddy,” I call upstairs. “Your dad is here to pick you up.
My head is clear when I stand up from the couch. Good. I can use this as evidence when Mark tries to take me to the ER.
As soon as I open the door, Mark storms inside and grabs me by the shoulders. “Look at me,” he says.
I roll my eyes before meeting his gaze. Those dark-green eyes frantically roam my face. “Your color looks good,” he mutters.
“See, I told you I’m fine.”
He scowls. “I’m still taking you to the doctor. I already called Dr. Leigh.”
Heat washes over my skin. “I did not give you permission to call my doctor. She’s going to think I’m a lunatic, and Maddy’s going to be late for school.”
“Cole will be here any minute to take her.”
I raise my chin. “I’m not going to the doctor.”
His nostrils flare. “Yes, you are. We’re not taking risks with your health.”
“There is nowehere. This is my health.Mydecision.”
His stern expression doesn’t waiver, and when he opens his mouth, likely to insist, I jab a finger in his face. “Don’t bulldoze me.”
His eyes soften, and I can almost see the thoughts racing behind them. He knows what I mean. I won’t have my choices taken away from me anymore.
His gaze falls to the floor. “Alright, but I’m staying here for the next hour to keep an eye on you.”
When I open my mouth to protest, he speaks over me. “This is for our children, not for me. Cole told me not to leave you alone. If something happens to you because I left you, he’d never forgive me.”
His words are warm, and yet they knock the breath from my lungs.
He’s the only person who will ever truly understand my love for my children. Not just any children, but those three achingly perfect human beings who embedded themselves into my soul when they grew inside of me.
We’re a family.He’smy family.
“Okay.” My voice is just above a whisper, because it’s all I can manage.
Mark
“Is the Xanax kicking in?”I ask.
