Maxwell looked at the doctor with steely eyes, “Her mother had her at a younger age and she survived, right up till the moment she dumped her at my house. She will.”
“Come on, Mr. Price, it’s obvious that that girl loves you a great deal. She has been dreading having to tell you and you proved her right for fearing so. You can’t just push away someone you love because of a mistake.”
Maxwell shook his head and bitterly he said, “I was never really there for her mother when she was growing up. I was a widower, always working, trying to provide for us, I left Clara with nannies and focused on traveling to bring home the bacon and provide everything for my daughter. By the time I was settling down, establishing the ranch, and ready to become the father I had sucked at being before then, it was already too late. My daughter was a rebel who cared not a hoot about me or my sacrifices. And when she got pregnant, that broke me but I knew I was partly to blame. I thought I got a second chance with Emma. She was my everything. We never missed a moment in each other’s lives, she was my best friend and dear to me. And now, I find it was all a waste. She is the true daughter of her mother. I have no business being here.”
Maxwell hurried off and before the doctor could say anymore, the elevator doors closed. She sighed and turned around. The nurse who had been with her sighed as well and said, “Do you think he will come around? The old man is really hurt.”
“He is hurt because he loves her but he does not hate her. You never can tell with the heart of man but I really hope he does come around. It is obvious that he needs her as much as she needs him. That girl is really hurting and I worry not just about her physical health and her baby’s but also her mental state.”
Dr. Kingston walked away and headed to Emma’s room. She found the girl staring into space. Dr. Kingston’s gray eyes flitted around. She could not find Carrie.
“Where is Carrie?” she asked.
Emma looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time. She wiped the tears off her cheeks with the back of her palm and said, “She went to get a wheelchair. I'll like to go out to the garden.”
“Really? The garden?” A surprised doctor asked.
Emma nodded. “I feel the walls closing in on me in here, doc, like I am suffocating. If I stay in here any longer, I might go crazy.”
Carrie came in just then with a nurse and they helped Emma into the wheelchair. As they headed off, Dr. Kingston’s eyes followed them.
“I guess she is stronger than I thought,” the doctor said as she smiled in relief. Still, she had to continue keeping an eye on the girl. What if she snapped from the pressure? Doctor Kingston shuddered as the thought crossed her mind. She hurried out of the room and off to her next patient.
Chapter Three
John picked up the empty pizza box and groaned. His roommate Brad had consumed the last piece once again. He grabbed the handle of the fridge door and pulled. His eyes scanned the inside and as he pulled out a beer making a mental note to restock. He opened the beer and took a huge sip, then swallowed. His eyes scanned the studio apartment. It was a mess. They really needed to do some cleaning.
He settled in front of the television and started scrolling through channels. His lazy afternoon was interrupted by the sound of a knock on the door. Grumbling, he stood up and headed to the door. They were not expecting the girls till seven so it was probably Brad. He must have forgotten his keys. He threw the door open and his mouth fell open as well. In an instant, he shut the door.
The knock was back but now knowing who it was, he was determined to ignore. After several more raps, the knocking stopped. John took another swig of his beer and grunted,
“What on earth is wrong with that bitch? I can’t believe she found where I stay. From now on, I am staying away from virgins. They are just too much drama. Heck, it was one night and she just won’t stop pestering me.”
Just then, he heard Brad’s voice accompanied by a female’s. He quirked a brow. What was going on out there?
“Uh huh, John is at home. He probably did not hear you knock, come on,” John heard his friend say.
“No, no, no, you fool,” John groaned. What was his friend thinking bringing that Emily girl into their apartment?
The door swung open again and Brad stepped in, followed by Emma and a pissed Carrie. Brad walked up to John and slapped his shoulder,
“Hey, man, look who I met out in the hall.”
“Are you stupid?” John snapped. “Why would you let them in? When I slammed the door in their faces, I thought they got the message but apparently they did not because they lingered in the hallway. Are you both stupid or what?”
“Hey you fool, you better not insult us,” Carrie snapped as she started forward but Emma held her back.
“John, can we talk? It is rather important and you need to listen to me,” Emma said calmly.
“I don’t have to listen to you, what I need is for you to get out, now!” John shouted.
Brad placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “Come on, man, hear her out. You never can tell what she has to say.”
“I do not care what she has to say, that is the point,” John glared at his friend who he was considering choking in that moment.
Emma looked at the chair nearest to them and said, “Can we sit?”
“No,” John said shortly. “Say what you have to and leave.”
