A Hollywood Bride (Billionaires' Brides of Convenience Book 2) (15 page)

I wait, feeling superfluous. Dr. Silverman is thorough and obviously knows her business. Finally, Paige lies on a bed and arranges her clothes to reveal her belly.

“Come closer.” Dr. Silverman gestures at me. “We’re going to look at the baby. Don’t you want to see?”

I swallow. I came with Paige for moral support, but didn’t expect to see the baby. She hasn’t shown me a single ultrasound image.

I drag my ass over and position myself so I can hold Paige’s hand and look at the black and white monitor. The doctor spreads some kind of gel over Paige’s stomach and runs a wand over it.

At first I don’t see anything except some white lines and dots all over the monitor. I’m not sure which one of them is supposed to be the baby. Then the image settles into a black hole and a tiny bean-shaped dot inside it.

“Isn’t it sweet?” Dr. Silverman says. “That’s your baby. It’s fine and healthy in there as far as I can see.”

I blink. That tiny life is the reason why Paige agreed to marry me in the first place. It was the cause for both of our scares when she bled.

The doctor measures the baby and makes notes on how far along it is. It seems impossible that she can do that with something that small inside Paige, but well… I guess that’s medical science for you.

“Everything’s on track. I don’t see anything to worry about. Six weeks and five days. Perfect. Let’s see if we can hear the heart beat.” Soon I can hear loud and rapid
whoosh-whoosh-whooshe
s.

“What is that?” I ask, while Paige’s jaw slowly slackens.

“Your baby’s heartbeat.” Dr. Silverman looks at the measurement. “Let’s see… One sixteen per minute.”

“It’s so…fast,” I say in awe. Paige’s hand tightens around mine.

“It’s actually pretty normal.”

“Wow.” I run my hand over my face and realize I’m shaking. Some emotion I can’t identify rises up in my chest until I feel like my sternum is going to crack. Seeing the little bean and hearing its heartbeat makes the baby feel so real. It’s no longer just an abstract concept growing inside Paige. It’s so much more, and I’m at a loss to describe the wonder of it.

Dr. Silverman tries, but she can’t quite hide the smile that’s threatening to come out. “Congratulations. The baby is healthy.”

“Then why did I bleed?” Paige asks.

“Sometimes that happens, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re having a miscarriage. Of course, we should take extra precautions, and I want to see you again next week. Also, I strongly urge you to not overexert yourself. Get plenty of rest and avoid stress as much as possible. I understand you have a wedding coming up, a ‘once in a lifetime’ event, but so is your baby. Delegate as much as you can.” Then she gives me a look. “I expect you to make sure that happens.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I answer meekly.

We thank the doctor and leave. I have Paige sit in the waiting room, while I talk to the receptionist about the next appointment. The young woman is nowhere near as professional or cool as Dr. Silverman. She’s virtually fucking me with her eyes.

I let it roll past. Other women are no longer my concern. They can look all they want, but right now the only person I care about is Paige.

As the receptionist hands me an envelope with the print-out of the ultrasound and a card with the information about the next appointment, I hear a loud gasp behind me.

“No!” Paige cries. She’s looking at her phone, her face drained of blood.

I shove the envelope in my pocket and take a few big strides toward her. “What is it?”

“Bethany.” Paige’s eyes are wide, and her face is so pale I’m afraid she’s going to pass out. “She’s been in a car wreck.”

Paige

I manage to calm my nerves and drive to the hospital address Oliver has texted me. If the roads weren’t wet, Ryder would probably take over, but…

If it had been anybody but Bethany, I would’ve assumed the weather had something to do with the accident. But she’s not a California native, and she’s a great driver, even in snow.

Ryder puts on shades and an old cap as I park the car. Renni and Gary are already in the waiting room by the time we make it inside. Oliver’s usually smiling face is devoid of color, and his narrow shoulders are hunched almost level with his ears. The rimless glasses sit skewed on his nose, but he doesn’t seem to notice.

I run over to him. “Bethany?”

“The doctors are with her right now,” Oliver says.

“What happened?”

“The police think somebody ran her off the road.” He drops his hands. “There were skid marks. But they aren’t telling us anything more.”

“How about the other driver?”

“Didn’t stop.”

Anger laces through my worry. I know some people are horrible about stopping and doing the right thing, but this is just awful. Ryder puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. I lean toward him, grateful for his support. My knees are unsteady, and I can’t help but imagine the worst.

“The baby?” I manage to ask.

“I don’t know.” Oliver wipes tears away. “There was blood on her, Paige. So much blood.” He covers his face with shaking hands.

My vision dims. Bethany and Oliver tried so long and hard for that baby. If anybody deserves one, it’s—

“Paige!” Ryder’s urgent voice rings in my ear. His arms are tight around me.

I blink a few times until my eyes focus. Ryder’s peering at me, his brows scrunched.

“What?” I ask, my voice low.

“You went limp, and I thought you fainted.”

Maybe I did faint for a moment. I have no idea. I find a seat and try to collect myself.

Ryder watches my every move. Eventually he turns back to Oliver and the others. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

Oliver shakes his head and sighs. “I doubt it. You should go home. I didn’t mean for all of you to come. I have no idea what I was thinking.”

I stand up—gingerly—and walk over to hug him. “You did the right thing. You deserve our support.” Gary and Renni nod.

I don’t know if Oliver can hear me though. His gaze is focused on something beyond us, and his mouth is tight with denial. I recall the terror I felt when I was brought to the hospital, bleeding, and I wasn’t going through the trauma of an accident on top of it. He and Bethany must be petrified. What if the unthinkable happens…?

Ryder checks his phone and texts for a moment. He probably needs to cancel whatever appointments he has for the afternoon. I realize that even though I’m supposed to be his assistant again, I don’t know what he has scheduled for the day.

Finally he gets up. I put a hand on his forearm. “Don’t go,” I say.

“I’m not leaving. Just need to check on something.”

“Let me come along.” I don’t want to be alone with my dark thoughts. Renni and Gary don’t seem to know what to do either, Gary staring at nothing and Renni tapping her feet two hundred beats per minute—her little tick when she’s tense and worried. It seems like Ryder is our only steady anchor, and I need that.

He debates a moment, then nods. “Okay. Come on.”

We take an elevator to the top floor. He leads me down a hall until we reach a section marked PRIVATE, which of course means nothing to Ryder. He pushes the door open and walks in. A secretary in a regular street outfit of a blouse and slacks looks up. “Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but I’m pretty sure Rob Sanders will see me, assuming he’s available,” Ryder says, taking off his cap and sunglasses.

The woman’s eyes go wide with recognition. “Oh my god… Um, of course. Right this way.”

She takes us to a small conference room with a view of the parking lot. I look out onto gray, wet concrete and spot our Mercedes.

Within minutes, an enormous man walks in. Thicker than an old oak, he’s in a short-sleeve button-down shirt and black slacks that are held up by suspenders. His thick red beard covers a big portion of face, and freckles cover the rest. Other than the beard, he has no hair on his head.

“Good to see you, Ryder.”

Ryder shakes hands with him.

“And your beautiful fiancée. So lovely to meet you. I’m Rob, director of this fine hospital.” His big hand closes around me. He is surprisingly gentle and careful, a man very much aware of his own strength.

We all sit down at the table. “So. What can I do for you?” He winces apologetically. “Normally I’d spend more time on preliminaries, but I have an appointment in fifteen minutes.”

“It’s about a patient who just came in. Car wreck.”

“This damn weather,” Rob mutters, glancing at the rain outside.

“She’s pregnant,” Ryder says. “I have no idea what her insurance is going to cover, but I want you to do everything in your power to make sure she’s okay. If there’s a procedure that can increase the odds by even half a percent, I want you to do it. Don’t worry about the cost. I’ll cover it.”

I jerk my head his way, but Rob has already produced a pen and scrap of paper from some pocket or other.

“What’s the name?”

“Bethany…” Ryder glances at me.

“Uh, Smith. Bethany Smith,” I say. “Her husband’s in the waiting room. His name is Oliver.”

“Okay.” Rob jots both names down. “I’ll take charge of her care myself.”

“Appreciate it,” Ryder says.

“No problem. Tell your mother I said hello.”

“Will do.”

We exchange goodbyes and leave. Ryder puts his cap and sunglasses back on.

“Thank you,” I whisper as we take the elevator back to the first level.

“No problem.” He links his fingers with mine. “Bethany shouldn’t have to…” He swallows, then clears his throat. “Money shouldn’t come between her and the care she needs.”

I rest my head against his shoulder. He speaks as though it’s the most obvious thing, but not every person can be so open and generous. I’ve seen people in his social circles who are so tight-fisted they could make a penny squeak. “Don’t say it’s nothing. It means everything to Bethany and Oliver. And to me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

* * *

Ryder

We wait until a doctor comes out and tells us that Paige’s sister is stable for the moment. Even so, she can’t go home yet because they want to make sure she’s really out of danger, especially since she’s pregnant. He wants to limit her “excitement” and says only Oliver can see her.

Oliver tells us to go home and rest for a bit. It isn’t until then that I realize we’ve been at the hospital for close to five hours, and none of us have eaten.

Paige’s friends, Renni and Gary, had to leave earlier to go to work. She texts them both to update them.

By the time Paige and I finally exit the hospital, the rain’s stopped. The roads are a patchwork of wet and dry spots. I put a hand on her shoulder.

“I’ll drive,” I say, pulling out my keys. “We should stop by a restaurant on the way and get you fed.”

She blinks at me. “Food?” Like it’s a foreign concept.

“Food.” I open the door for her. “Gotta keep your strength up.”

That stubborn look comes into her eyes, but I shake my head. “Nuh-uh. You’re pregnant, too, Paige. Neglecting yourself isn’t going to help Bethany.”

Suddenly the fight goes out of her, and her shoulders slump. “You’re right.” She slides into her seat.

I close the door and get behind the wheel, thinking,
Well
,
that was easy enou
—

“I really don’t want to go to a restaurant though,” she says. “Can we just eat at home?”

“Sure. Let’s call the housekeeper.”

The drive back is somber. Silence hangs heavily, but neither of us breaks it. I’m aware of her breathing, the way she’s looking out the window without seeing anything. It’s as though the happy glow from the visit with Dr. Silverman vanished, just like that, and only an ashen dullness remains.

The chef has prepared grilled cheese sandwiches with salad, and it’s all probably delicious. At least the texture’s nice, but I can’t taste anything even though I’m forcing myself to take hearty bites. I suspect Paige is the same from the way she nibbles at the corners of her sandwich. A sparrow would be taking in more calories.

“Paige, come on,” I say. “Eat.”

“Sorry. I just…don’t have any appetite.” She puts the food down, resting her elbows on the table and buries her face in her hands. “It feels wrong to eat now.”

“Bethany wouldn’t want you to skip meals.”

“I know, but…” She sighs. “It’s like, I’m okay, and my baby’s okay, and she and her baby are maybe not okay. And between the two of us, the fact is, she’s the one who deserves a baby more.”

Her voice carries sorrow and an odd thread of self-recrimination, and my heart aches for her. “What is this, a competition?” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “You both deserve good things. You both deserve to be happy and fulfilled. Just like every expectant mother.”

“But Bethany and Oliver have tried so hard to have a child. They’re married, and stable, and can provide the best of everything. So why me? I’m pregnant with my ex’s baby, who by the way is such a jerk that he secretly filmed us having sex and then put it up for all the world to see. I’m using you so I won’t be a poor single mom, and so you’re forced to go to the doctor’s appointment to…” She shakes her head. “God, we were at Dr. Silverman’s office, looking at my baby, hearing its heart beat, while Bethany…Bethany…” She chokes and stops. “Excuse me.” She jumps to her feet and runs upstairs.

I sit for a moment, wanting to give in to tiredness. Then I push my chair back and level myself out of it.
Nope
.
Nuh-uh
. Not going to let her get wound up like this. Not going to give those toxic emotions a chance to fester.

I go after her.

Paige

I run into my suite and shut the door behind me. Tears scald my cheeks, and I press a fist against my mouth to muffle the sound. Once I get myself slightly under control, I slip off my rain boots, put them in the closet, and then just sort of stop, wondering what to do.

I know Ryder is right about my stepsister and me both deserving good things in life. But I’m also right. Bethany is the one who can provide a better life for a baby. Every statistic and study I’ve read says she has all the pieces in place to raise a child successfully. And I don’t.