“I’ll meet you there.”
I drive to the hospital and park the car in front of the emergency room. Zane is waiting for me with his mom in front of the doors.
He wrenches the rear door open and picks up Adele. I follow him inside.
Jessica trails after us. “I spoke to Dr. Allens. She has a room for us.”
Zane marches to the room where the doctor is waiting for us. “This must be baby Adele.” She motions to the bed. “Lay her down. I’ll examine her.”
A nurse rushes into the room. “Let’s give the doctor room to work.”
She tries to herd us outside but Zane doesn’t move. “I’m not leaving my baby.”
“You must be mommy?” she says to me.
Before I have a chance to answer, Zane does. “She’s not the baby’s mom. She’s the nanny.”
Pain lances through me. Is that what Zane thinks? I’m merely the nanny? He didn’t say I’m his girlfriend or his partner. He said nanny. Someone who isn’t a member of the family.
“I’ll… ah…” I motion toward the door but no one’s paying any attention to me.
I back out of the room. But once I’m in the hallway, I don’t know where to go or what to do. Should I stay? I don’t feel welcome here. But Adele is sick. I don’t want to abandon her.
She’s the nanny.
Zane’s words echo in my mind. No matter how much I want to stay, I’m not welcome here. Zane doesn’t need me.
Maybe I should go home. Home. I’ve been searching for a home my entire life. I thought I finally found one. But maybeI was wrong. I’m not Zane’s girlfriend or his partner.She’s the nanny.
I head for the exit. Shit. Zane’s car is still parked in front of the entrance to the ER, blocking everyone. I quickly move the car and give the keys to the nurse at the desk.
I wring my hands as I stand in front of the exit, trying to decide what to do. I don’t want to leave until I know Adele is going to be okay. But I’m the nanny. I’m not welcome here.
I notice Jaxon, Kai, Miles, and Eli piling out of Rhett’s truck. My decision is made. I’m not staying here with the Raider family. I thought I was one of them. I thought I found a family.
She’s the nanny.
I’m such an idiot. I thought Zane had changed his ways. I should have known better. People don’t change. Look at my mother.
Miles waves as he approaches me. Escape! I need to escape!
I race toward the front entrance but Stuart is coming in that way. I spin around. There must be another exit.
There! An employee only hallway. I’ll hide there until the Raiders are all gathered together in the waiting room and then sneak out the front.
I peek through the window of the door to make sure there’s no one in the hallway before pushing it open.
“We’re still waiting on the lab results.”
“The lab should have had those results by now.”
Oh no! Someone’s coming. More than someone, by the sounds of it. I scan the area.
Storage closet. Perfect. I rush to it. It’s unlocked. Finally. Something’s going right for me. I enter and shut the door behind me.
I don’t dare switch on the light. Instead, I stand perfectly still in the middle of the closet and wait for the people to pass me.
Shoes squeak on the tile floor as they pass. I blow out a breath. Phew. That was a close call.
