I nodded, my chest heavy as if weighed down by stone.
“Yes. Please schedule the surgery as soon as possible.”
After paying, I headed out—only to bump into Ryan, scattering medical forms across the floor.
He froze. “What are you doing here? Your hair’s wet, you’ll catch a cold.”
I ignored him. As he bent to pick up the papers, my heart nearly stopped.
Then his phone rang. Sarah’s shrill voice pierced the air.
“Ryan, where are you? Your brother’s gone and you dare ignore me? You’re dead!”
If Ryan looked at the papers for even a second, he’d know about the baby.
But he just stuffed them back into my arms without a glance, then hurried to reassure Sarah.
“I’ll be right there. She’s drunk, I can’t leave her alone.”
Before leaving, he tried to placate me.
“Be good, honey. I booked a fireworks show to make it up to you. Go enjoy it—we’ll have our night together.”
Without waiting for my reply, he was gone.
Every time I needed Ryan, Sarah’s call would drag him away.
Too many times to count.
When I collapsed in the bathroom from acute appendicitis, Ryan Walker was busy playing video games with Sarah Lee.
When I worked late into the night with a high fever, Ryan went hiking with Sarah to watch the sunset.