The Doctor's Husband (Colorado Blues) (15 page)

Denver lay still in the bed ignoring the activity surrounding her. The nurses came in to check her blood pressure every hour and she let them do it without a fuss while she zoned out, her thoughts churning over and over as she tried to make sense of the last few days. Evan visited her and tried to plead his case, but she wasn’t in the mood to listen. It felt as though her father was winning again, organizing her life for her, taking control as he always had.

For a time there after her hurried marriage, she’d thought things would work out well for her and Evan. He wasn’t the type to be bought by promises and glitter. He was a down to earth country boy with a good heart and an easygoing nature. Perhaps she’d judged him wrong. The directorship of the ED was what he’d wanted before she’d met him. Before they’d moved to the tiny town that was his family home.

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep. The staff moving around the hospital became a low drone that she pushed out of her mind. Her peace shattered as footsteps came thudding down the hallway, an angry voice boomed at the nursing station and her heart pounded in her chest.
It can’t be, surely?

“Denver, what is going on here?” She opened her eyes and saw her father looming in the doorway, his face a mask of dismay.

“Daddy, what are you doing here?” She propped herself up in bed as he stepped into the room. His glance around the tiny space made her wince. She knew what he was thinking and it annoyed her. Nothing was ever as good as the hospital he ruled with an iron fist.

“I heard you were unwell and of course I came. I’m going to arrange for you to come home. You need better care than you can get here.” He stepped over and picked up her chart.

She would have loved a hug from her father, but that was never going to happen.

“Why didn’t you call me when you found out you were pregnant? I had to find out about it from Dr. Dunlop when he called about your husband. You know I only want the best for you.” He flicked over a page and frowned. “They aren’t equipped to deal with this here. I want you at my hospital until the doctors decide you can go home, and then you’re coming back to the mansion. Your old suite will be ready for you and the child.”

“No. I’m not going anywhere. This is my home now and this is where I’m staying.”

He glanced over the clipboard at her, annoyance showing in his face. “Even when your husband takes up his new job?” He hooked the report on the end of her bed again and looked down at her.

“Evan has a job here, as do I.” Her heart beat wildly in her chest and she pushed the call button. She wanted her husband by her side.

Her father smiled, a secretive nasty little smile that she knew bode no good will. “For now. Since you are pregnant, Denver, he will be given the job he wanted. It is what I promised him if he got you with child and it looks as though he’s delivered.”

The stars swirled in her peripheral vision and she fought against the dizziness swamping her. “No. He wouldn’t do that to me, not now. He wanted a baby for us, not for you or the job. Evan wouldn’t do that to me, no matter what you try to say. I know him better than you ever will.”

Her father laughed and she could see the face of a worried nurse at the doorway before she ran back to the nurse’s station.

“You would be surprised how many people would put their own needs on hold to get what they want. Your husband is no different to many other young doctors with stars in his eyes, eager to do whatever I want to curry favor from me.” He leaned on the foot of the bed, staring her down. “You will move back home if you know what’s good for you.”

***

Evan ran down the hallway toward Denver’s room and heard the threatening tone in his father-in-law’s voice. He brushed past the elder man and hurried to his wife’s side. Her face was pale and she was trembling.

“Shhh, it’s okay, I’m here.” He kissed the top of her head and held her against his chest, worried about her state of mind.

“Daddy said...”

“He’s wrong. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you. We’re going to stay right here and raise our child in this town surrounded by family that love us. Don’t you ever doubt that, Denver.”

“Sentimental bull shit. You have a brilliant career ahead of you, Evan. Wasted in this small backwater of a town. I’ve made the arrangements. You’ll take up the job at the end of your stint here, three or four weeks isn’t it? You and Denver can move into her suite of rooms at home and she will be taken care of around the clock.” He gave the room a cursory glance and looked back at them. “This place is lacking as far as I’m concerned. I’ll make the arrangements.”

Evan stood up but kept a hold of his wife’s hand, feeling her grip tighten. “I think not. I’m not taking you up on your offer as ill timed as it is. You might think this is a little backwater hospital, but its where we both want to be.”

“Evan, I did promise you if Denver got pregnant, the job was yours. Surely you’re not reneging on the deal?”

“Funnily enough I don’t remember a deal being made. You made the offer and I was too shocked that you would bargain with your daughter’s life and that of an unborn baby to make any sensible reply. I would never take up an offer like that regardless of what you thought.” The grip on his hand relaxed. “Denver and I will be staying and raising our child here.”

“You can have the job of your dreams if you come back. You can’t turn that down.” Her father looked horrified and it gave Evan a small twinge of satisfaction.

“I can and I have. The board decided to take up Denver’s idea of us doing shared duties as director even after the baby arrives. That’s if she still wants to do it that way.” He looked down at his wife. “What do you think, honey? Care to share with me so we can take turns looking after the little one when it’s born?”

“Yes. I’d love to. Thanks for visiting Daddy. If that’s all you came for, you may as well leave.”

They watched as he mouthed quiet words, swallowed, and turn on his heel leaving them alone.

“Oh baby, I’m sorry about that. I didn’t realize he was here until the nurse called for me. The sleazy overbearing bastard. Fancy trying to get his own way like that.” Evan sat down on the edge of the bed and held Denver into his chest.

“I heard him offer you the job before we left the city.”

He looked down at her pale face. “Is that the reason you didn’t tell me about the baby? You thought I was going to do that to you?”

She tensed in his arms. “He has a way of getting what he wants; always has.”

“Denver, there’s no way I’d stoop that low. I thought you’d know that.” What could he do to make her see that?

“I do, but I was so scared he would win. It wasn’t that I was unsure of you and your love for me, Evan. It was more like I know how ruthless he can be.”

“Don’t ever doubt me again, honey. I’ll always be there for you and our baby. I want you to know that.” He leaned back on her pillows and pulled her across his chest. “Don’t worry about your father, he can’t hurt you while I’ve got you.”

She sighed and snuggled closer. “I know. I love you, Evan.”

“Love you too.”