Chapter 14 - THE APPOINTMENT SHE CAN’T ATTEND
Elliot canceled Charlotte.
He did not tell Vivian until Monday night.
“My meeting’s moved.”
Her fork stopped halfway to her mouth.
“To when?”
“Next month.”
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“I wanted to.”
Vivian placed the fork down.
“What about the board?”
“They’ll survive.”
“And your investors?”
“Vivian.”
“What?”
“I’m coming to the appointment Wednesday.”
She smiled.
“I know.”
He watched her.
“What time is it?”
“Ten-thirty.”
“Where?”
“Hawthorne.”
That was new.
Earlier Vivian had implied her obstetrician practiced elsewhere.
Elliot said nothing.
Vivian caught the silence.
“What?”
“I thought you were seeing Triangle Women’s Partners.”
“I am.”
“Then why Hawthorne?”
“Dr. Raymond consults there.”
Again, plausible if true.
Elliot nodded.
Tuesday morning Vivian claimed she had started bleeding.
Not heavily.
Just enough to create fear.
Elliot reached for his keys.
“We’re going in.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“The doctor said monitor it.”
“When did you talk to her?”
“Five minutes ago.”
“Then call her back.”
Vivian burst into tears.
“Stop interrogating me!”
Elliot froze.
There it was.
The familiar move.
Only this time it did not work.
“I’m not interrogating you. I’m asking why your doctor would tell a pregnant woman who fell down stairs and is now bleeding not to be examined.”
Vivian’s face changed.
Just slightly.
“Because it’s spotting.”
“Then let a doctor confirm that.”
“I said no.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m tired of everyone treating my body like evidence!”
The sentence was powerful.
Elliot almost backed down.
Then he remembered Margaret’s face after the slap.
His mother had been treated like a defendant from the first second.
No privacy.
No presumption.
No patience.
Only certainty.
He picked up his phone.
“I’m calling Hawthorne.”
Vivian stood.
“You will not.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“Then tell me why.”
Her mind moved quickly.
She needed pain.
Fear.
An accusation.
Something larger than the question.
“You don’t believe the baby is yours.”
Elliot stared.
“What?”
“That’s what this is.”
“No.”
“Your mother got into your head.”
“Vivian, stop.”
“You think I cheated.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
This time the phrase angered him.
“No.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“You keep doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Putting words in my mouth, then making me apologize for them.”
Vivian went still.
Elliot continued.
“I asked to attend an appointment.”
“You’re questioning me.”
“I’m your husband.”
“You’re supposed to trust me.”
“Trust does not mean I’m forbidden from seeing a doctor while you’re carrying my child.”
Vivian picked up her purse.
“Where are you going?”
“Away from you.”
“Vivian.”
She walked toward the door.
Elliot did not stop her.
That frightened her more than if he had grabbed her arm.
She drove to the Caldwell Grand.
Miles would not answer.
She went to his room anyway.
Gone.
Checked out.
She called his office.
No answer.
Then Sam Ortega called her.
“Ms. Hale?”
“Yes?”
“I represent Miles Corbett.”
Vivian’s blood went cold.
“Why?”
“I’m notifying you that all future communication with my client regarding financial transactions should go through me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I expected you’d say that.”
“Did Miles tell you to call?”
“Yes.”
“What has he told you?”
Sam paused.
“I’m not discussing privileged communications.”
Vivian hung up.
For the first time, the architecture of her plan began collapsing from multiple directions simultaneously.
Margaret had the lab result.
Claire had the ultrasound.
Nathan had doubt.
Elliot had questions.
Miles had counsel.
And the trust was unsigned.
Vivian returned home at seven.
Elliot was in the nursery.
She stood in the doorway.
“I’m sorry.”
He looked at her.
She almost said the next line she had rehearsed.
I’m scared.
Instead she realized fear had been overused.
So she chose honesty.
A piece of it.
“I know our marriage was bad before the pregnancy.”
Elliot’s expression shifted.
Vivian continued.
“I know you were thinking about leaving.”
He said nothing.
“And I’ve been terrified that if something happens to this baby, you’ll decide there’s no reason to stay.”
That was true.
Truth inside a lie made the lie stronger.
Elliot softened.
“I’m not staying because of obligation.”
Vivian’s eyes filled.
“Then why were you leaving before?”
He had no easy answer.
She stepped closer.
“I need you to believe we can survive this.”
Elliot looked at the crib.
“I need you to let me come Wednesday.”
Vivian closed her eyes.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
He embraced her.
Over his shoulder she stared at the wall.
Wednesday could not happen.
By tomorrow night, there would be no appointment to attend.
May you like
Because there would be no baby left to examine.
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