gut.
He could do many things. Forgetting what she’d been about to say wasn’t one of them. “You were listing your losses. Your parents, Tony… and who else?”
“Janine,” she said quickly, averting her gaze.
“True, but it’s not who you meant.” Kevin had no desire to torture her any more than he wanted to bring the issue to light. But if he and Nikki didn’t resolve their night together once and for all, her pain, resentment, and anger would eat her alive.
He might deserve to be horsewhipped for leaving her, but she needed to expunge her anger. Then they’d have to find a way to go on.
He placed a finger beneath her chin and raised her head until their eyes met “Who else, Nicole?”
“You,” she spat. “You left me too.” Eyes blazing, cheeks also on fire, yet Nikki held her own. He was proud of her. Maybe they’d come to terms with each other yet.
“And each time you say or do something like this…” She gestured around the sterile room. “You tear me apart all over again. I won’t have it, Kevin. Do you want to know why I’m here?”
Not trusting himself to speak, he merely nodded.
“For prenatal care. Where else would I go for basic visits? I don’t have insurance, I can’t afford a private doctor…” Her shoulders shook as she spoke, testament to the effort this confrontation was taking.
He knew how difficult this trip must have been for her alone. He’d had a hell of a time finding the clinic and he wasn’t afraid to venture down side streets and alleys.
He wrapped an arm around her and led her back to the examining table. Her soft skin brushed his fingers, and her tantalizing scent touched his heart. She sat down and inhaled deeply.
She had enough strength for both of them, he thought. He took some of her courage and drew it into himself. From now on though, she’d lean on him. He’d see to it.
“If you’d been willing to sit down with me and talk, we could have resolved some of those issues instead of you having to turn to clinical care. Alone.”
“Why would I sit down with you? You walked out once. Even if you’re here to stay now, and for the record, I believe you are—”
“You do?”
She sighed. “You’re a good man, Kevin. That’s half the problem. You’ll be here for the baby. I know you wouldn’t abandon your child. But there’s no way in hell I’ll rely on you again.”
Before he could respond, the door creaked open on old hinges. “Everything okay in here?” the doctor asked.
“‘Yes,” Nikki answered.
“Then if you don’t mind, we have to get started. I have patients waiting and I’m running late as it is.”
“Come on in.” He spared a glance at Nikki’s pale, drawn face.
“Weren’t you just leaving?” she asked.
He shook his head. “It’s our baby’s heartbeat, Nicole. I’m not going anywhere.”
* * *
Nikki had protested, but Kevin drove her home from the clinic. They drove in silence. Given the many confusing thoughts she was having, she figured he was lost in thought too.
When they passed by one of the local colleges, Nikki’s gaze was drawn to the wide-open spaces and people milling about. “I’d like to get out here.”
“Here?” He slowed the car. “Why?”
“I need air, space, time to think. I want to walk and feel the breeze against my face. I want to deal with everything I’ve learned in the last couple of days. Alone,” she added softly.
He hesitated, but slowed the car even more.
“I’m an adult. I can take a walk and grab the subway home. I can even take a cab if it makes you feel better, but please give me the space and respect I need.”
He pulled into the first open space on the side of the road. “Do you have money on you?”
“Do you think I’m a complete incompetent? I’ll be fine. I just want some time.”
He nodded. “Then you’ve got it”
“Thank you.” She got out of the car, slamming the door behind her. She didn’t look back to see if Kevin watched or pulled
He could do many things. Forgetting what she’d been about to say wasn’t one of them. “You were listing your losses. Your parents, Tony… and who else?”
“Janine,” she said quickly, averting her gaze.
“True, but it’s not who you meant.” Kevin had no desire to torture her any more than he wanted to bring the issue to light. But if he and Nikki didn’t resolve their night together once and for all, her pain, resentment, and anger would eat her alive.
He might deserve to be horsewhipped for leaving her, but she needed to expunge her anger. Then they’d have to find a way to go on.
He placed a finger beneath her chin and raised her head until their eyes met “Who else, Nicole?”
“You,” she spat. “You left me too.” Eyes blazing, cheeks also on fire, yet Nikki held her own. He was proud of her. Maybe they’d come to terms with each other yet.
“And each time you say or do something like this…” She gestured around the sterile room. “You tear me apart all over again. I won’t have it, Kevin. Do you want to know why I’m here?”
Not trusting himself to speak, he merely nodded.
“For prenatal care. Where else would I go for basic visits? I don’t have insurance, I can’t afford a private doctor…” Her shoulders shook as she spoke, testament to the effort this confrontation was taking.
He knew how difficult this trip must have been for her alone. He’d had a hell of a time finding the clinic and he wasn’t afraid to venture down side streets and alleys.
He wrapped an arm around her and led her back to the examining table. Her soft skin brushed his fingers, and her tantalizing scent touched his heart. She sat down and inhaled deeply.
She had enough strength for both of them, he thought. He took some of her courage and drew it into himself. From now on though, she’d lean on him. He’d see to it.
“If you’d been willing to sit down with me and talk, we could have resolved some of those issues instead of you having to turn to clinical care. Alone.”
“Why would I sit down with you? You walked out once. Even if you’re here to stay now, and for the record, I believe you are—”
“You do?”
She sighed. “You’re a good man, Kevin. That’s half the problem. You’ll be here for the baby. I know you wouldn’t abandon your child. But there’s no way in hell I’ll rely on you again.”
Before he could respond, the door creaked open on old hinges. “Everything okay in here?” the doctor asked.
“‘Yes,” Nikki answered.
“Then if you don’t mind, we have to get started. I have patients waiting and I’m running late as it is.”
“Come on in.” He spared a glance at Nikki’s pale, drawn face.
“Weren’t you just leaving?” she asked.
He shook his head. “It’s our baby’s heartbeat, Nicole. I’m not going anywhere.”
* * *
Nikki had protested, but Kevin drove her home from the clinic. They drove in silence. Given the many confusing thoughts she was having, she figured he was lost in thought too.
When they passed by one of the local colleges, Nikki’s gaze was drawn to the wide-open spaces and people milling about. “I’d like to get out here.”
“Here?” He slowed the car. “Why?”
“I need air, space, time to think. I want to walk and feel the breeze against my face. I want to deal with everything I’ve learned in the last couple of days. Alone,” she added softly.
He hesitated, but slowed the car even more.
“I’m an adult. I can take a walk and grab the subway home. I can even take a cab if it makes you feel better, but please give me the space and respect I need.”
He pulled into the first open space on the side of the road. “Do you have money on you?”
“Do you think I’m a complete incompetent? I’ll be fine. I just want some time.”
He nodded. “Then you’ve got it”
“Thank you.” She got out of the car, slamming the door behind her. She didn’t look back to see if Kevin watched or pulled
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