Mr. Harold looked up in surprise.
“What? Is everything okay?”
All I could do was give an unconvincing nod and try to not look horrified. I didn’t want to tell him who had called or why because I didn’t want to worry the old man in the state he was already in. I was afraid the news might give him a heart attack, and I didn’t need more people in the hospital. I would let him know what was going on when I had more answers.
“Sorry, Mr. Harold. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I said before slipping out the door, leaving him with a confused and helplessexpression on his face, forced to do this on his own for the time being.
I quickly jogged for the elevator, willing it to speed up as it descended down to the lobby, which was now dimly lit at this hour. I gave the bored security guard a nod and quickly got into my car, barely looking for oncoming traffic as I peeled away from the curb. The hospital wasn’t far, but with New York traffic, it felt like it could be in a different state.
I hit my palm against my steering wheel as I hit another red light.
“Damn it,” I said loudly.
Why couldn’t that Juliet woman give me any insight as towhyGabriella was in the hospital? The worry in my stomach made me nauseous, and then I thought about the baby, which made me want to puke right there in the car. They had to be okay.Bothof them. When the light turned green, I hit the gas and my tires squealed.
Calm down.
I wouldn’t be of any use if I landed myself in the hospital too.
Forty minutes later, I pulled into the parking garage of the hospital. The night had already settled in the city, the tall building lit up under the moonless sky. I shuddered looking up at it as I strode quickly for the doors. I waited impatiently behind the man talking to the nurse at the front desk, tapping my footagainst the tile floor. He was asking where the nearest restaurant was for takeout, as if this was a pressing issue.
“Come on, man,” I said under my breath.
He turned and shot me a look before continuing his conversation with the nurse.
“Isn’t there a cafeteria you can go to?” I asked, stepping forward, nearly shoving him aside.
“It’s closed, asshole,” he said, hostility in his voice.
“Then use your phone and Google it.” I turned to the nurse who looked between us nervously, as if we were about to brawl. I would if it came down to it. “Now, I need you to tell me where a Gabriella Harold is.”
“And you are?” she asked, looking up at me speculatively.
“I’m Chandler White. I need to see her.”
“Sir, what is your relation to the patient?” she asked, clearly not caring what my name was.
“I’m her…her…”
I didn’t know what to call myself. The man still waiting on a stupid restaurant recommendation stood by snickering. I shot him a look, resisting the urge to give him a vulgar gesture.
“Look, I’m the father of her baby. I need to see her right now.”
The nurse looked at her computer and typed on the keyboard.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t see you on here as a list of visitors,” she said. “It’s family only.”
“I told you I’m the father.”
“Are you married?” She raised a brow.
I tried to ignore the judgmental look on her face.
“No.” I sighed frustratedly.
“Then I’m sorry, sir.”
“This is ridiculous,” I said, my voice rising, catching the attention of others in the waiting room.
