"You mean that?"
"If you’ll let me, I'll prove it to you—every day."
"You meant what you said about waiting?"
"Of course. Tell me, if you could have whatever you want in life today, what would it be, including world peace?"
"Anything?" she verified, and he nodded. "The rest of my life spent with the man I love in a house on a lake in Virginia and working a normal schedule." Elizabeth placed her hand over her heart.
"Are you saying you'll consider coming to live with me when Austin is better?"
"Yes. We still have a lot to learn about each other. But nothing is keeping me here. Being in your arms is a piece of heaven."
The rest of their meal, he had her giggling like a schoolgirl. "Sunshine, you came in fourteen hours ago. You need some rest. I want to wait for Austin. Would you like me to stop by after?"
"Yes, but, no, you need to rest too. I’m on-call; Friday nights are always busy in the ER, which means a long day tomorrow. I should sleep tonight.” She blushed once more.
Martin walked Elizabeth to her car. "Sleep well, Sunshine."
Chapter Twelve
Saturday, July 13th
Elizabeth operated until late afternoon. Finished with her surgeries, she conferenced with Virginia. "Austin is waking up. He's growing agitated."
"How long has he been doing this?" Elizabeth found the PAs applying gentle restraint to his four limbs while his sisters attempted to soothe him.
"On and off since 0900. We are trying to keep from over-sedating him," Judson said.
Elizabeth concentrated into space. "Try swaddling him."
The two PAs wrapped Austin like a newborn baby.
“It’s working,” Judson reported, settling Austin without sedation.
Elizabeth continued her rounds and went to examine Tonette. "What happened to you?" The sonogram proved her child was conceived while she was in custody.
"Mmm, aren't you a princess?" An imposing man with a ponytail of coffee black hair and cold, coal-colored eyes sauntered into the room and pulled the wall of drapes closed.
"Can I help you?" she asked, noticing the guard stationed at the door was gone.
"My woman is in that bed." Tonette's boyfriend loomed between her and the door.
"Only immediate family are allowed in intensive care. Tonette's visitors require police permission."
"Ain't no one here to say no. Toni is mine. We live together; we fuck only each other, and we tell everyone we’re married. Is that good enough for you,holier than thoubitch?" He took another menacing step closer to her. "Now, tell me how she is?"
"She is very ill. The methamphetamine she put inside her body almost killed her."
"What are you accusing me of?" His fist struck her hard to the side of her face, propelling her to the floor.
"Not a thing, Mr...?" She blinked a few times to bring things back into focus.
"Jasper Satanta. Who are you?"
"Dr. Reed, Tonette's doctor."
"Where are the drugs that were in her?"
