I switch my gaze between him and the doctor. Doctor Latimer gives me a sympathetic nod, and my throat tightens.
Mark wants to know how bad it really is.
I should be here.
I should know.
But maybe he also has questions he doesn’t want to ask in front of me, and I should respect his privacy—no matter how hard it is to leave the room.
“Okay,” I whisper.
He gives my hand a squeeze. “I’ll come and find you when I’m done.”
“There’s a cafeteria in the main building, and some other food places if that helps,” Doctor Latimer says.
“I’m sure I can find it.” I give him a shaky smile.
“Thanks, babe.”
I stiffen my spine and leave the room. It’s not until I’m outside that I catch my breath and release a sob.
He’s shutting me out.
I had a feeling that was happening, but now I know for sure.
Mark’s trying to protect me. But we’re supposed to be partners.
I walk across the road to the main building, and the signage guides me to the cafeteria where I order a latte and a scone.
I’m not really hungry but my stomach is all over the place and I need something to steady it.
And once I start eating, it turns out I’m ravenous.
I wolf it down and sip my coffee.
What’s happening to us?
We’ve been solid for so long but the first time we hit a real roadblock, Mark starts freezing me out. It really began that day we found out his sperm count was low, but now? Now it’s becoming even more obvious.
“Cassie?”
A deep voice shakes me out of my thoughts, and I look up into familiar blue eyes.
My throat tightens.It can’t be.Not today.
“Patrick,” I croak.
He gives me a tentative smile. “I … I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again.”
“Same.” I look back at the cup of coffee I’ve been cradling.
“Mind if I take a seat?”
I shrug. “Sure.”
The heat of his stare makes my heart thud. He’s the last person I ever expected to run into—at the worst possible time of my life.
The chair scrapes the lino floor as he pulls it out and drops onto it. “Are you okay? Your knuckles are white with how tight you’re holding that mug.”
