Chapter Fifteen
“Damn, where is she?” Christina paced a corridor in Auckland hospital and slammed the cell phone against her thigh.
The disinfectant scent made Susan’s head ache, while worry for Julia had her stomach roiling like the Hauraki Gulf during a storm. She dialed Connor. Nothing. His phone was switched off.
Christina stalked back to her, her runners squeaking on the faded tiles as she executed an abrupt turn.
“Stop pacing. It’s driving me nuts,” Susan snapped.
“Julia looked so pale. You don’t think she’s taken drugs, do you? They wouldn’t tell me anything because I’m not family.”
“It was lucky we went round to her flat,” Susan said.
Christina frowned. “Both Connor and Maggie were at rugby. That’s the last time I saw them.”
“Well, neither of them is answering their phones. I’ve rung them at home. Connor’s flatmate said he was away for the weekend with some woman.”
Christina’s frown deepened. “Do you think they’re together?”
Susan laughed. “Romantically?”
“Yeah. They’ve both been acting strange recently.”
“Don’t be silly. Maggie isn’t Connor’s type. She’s not blonde, for a start. They’re friends, that’s all. Besides, we have a pact. We made a promise not to become involved with Connor. Heck, the pact was Maggie’s idea. Remember?”
Christina started pacing again, and Susan had to bite her lip to stop snapping at her. They were both worried about Julia. They didn’t need to snarl at each other.
“I guess you’re right.” Susan bounded to her feet when she saw the doctor. “Let’s see if we can find out anything. Doctor, how is Julia?”
“Your friend is lucky you found her before it was too late. She’s lost a lot of blood, and, she’s lost the baby, but she’ll recover.”
Susan stopped listening when the doctor said baby.
“Baby?” Christina blurted. “I didn’t even know she was pregnant.”
Susan knew how Christina felt. “How far along was she, Doctor?”
“About two months,” the doctor said.
“But she was drinking,” Susan said. “How could she? Why didn’t she tell us?”
“I can’t help you with that,” the doctor said.
“At least she’ll be okay,” Christina said. “Now if only we could reach Maggie and Connor. They’ll know what to do. Connor and Julia are close. Maybe he knew about the baby.”
A nurse bustled out. “You can see her for a moment. No longer than five minutes. She’s awake, but needs to rest.”
They hurried into the hospital room.
“Man, I hate the smell of hospitals,” Susan muttered.
A hoarse laugh came from the bed. “Me too.”
“Julia, how are you feeling?” Christina smoothed the tangled hair from Julia’s face.
“Like I’ve been run over by a bus.” A tear tracked down her cheek.
Susan swallowed. Although she’d known Julia for several years, she’d never seen the other woman cry. She was about good times and parties, popular with men and sometimes aloof with other women. Susan had held reservations about Julia at first, but once she’d come to know the other woman, she’d realized she possessed a big heart. She’d do anything for her friends.
