Chapter 4

Someone nearby shouted with relief, "It's Mrs. Wilson! We found her! Someone tell Mr. Wilson!"

Before Sophie could react, a broad, warm embrace enveloped her.

Jeremiah held her tight, his voice trembling. "Sophie, where did you go? You scared the hell out of me!"

She looked up and saw that the hospital, which should have been filled with nurses in white, was now crawling with men in black suits.

They all stood behind Jeremiah, heads bowed respectfully.

Sophie scanned the crowd but saw no sign of Alice.

She asked, "Where is she?"

"Who?"

"Alice."

Jeremiah was still frowning as he looked her over from head to toe.

Once he confirmed she was unharmed, he finally relaxed.

He let out a heavy sigh and pulled Sophie into his arms again. "I had someone take her home.

"What about you? You said you were going to buy water. I searched every convenience store and coffee shop nearby and couldn't find you anywhere."

Sophie caught the faint, lingering scent of cigarette smoke on him.

She asked, "Did you smoke?"

Jeremiah froze for a second, then denied it. "Sophie, you know I never smoke."

"I smell cigarettes on you."

He said, "I must have brushed past some guy who was smoking."

Sophie nodded. "Oh."

Sophie thought, 'It was just me, Alice, and him in that stairwell. It wasn't me, and it sure as hell wasn't the pregnant Alice. So who lit up? The answer's pretty damn obvious.

'Jeremiah, you're still lying to me.'

Jeremiah suddenly frowned. His dry palm touched Sophie's forehead and found cold, clammy sweat.

The nurse had told Sophie that reactions to the medical abortion varied from person to person.

Some women felt nothing worse than a heavy period. Others felt like a meat grinder was churning through their insides.

Unfortunately, Sophie fell into the second category.

She had gritted her teeth and endured it in the women's restroom for a solid hour, and her underwear was now drenched in sweat.

Sophie swatted his hand away from her forehead and frowned. "I'm fine. Alice likes coconut lattes, and there aren't any coffee shops nearby. I ran a bit trying to find her one, so I worked up a sweat."

Jeremiah's eyes filled with pity. He pulled out the softest part of his shirt and gently wiped the sweat from her brow. "Running yourself ragged for someone else.

"Silly Sophie. You vanished without a word and scared me half to death. Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

One of the men in black chimed in, "That's right, Mrs. Wilson. Mr. Wilson was about to tear this whole hospital apart looking for you."

Another added, "Good thing you're alright. Mr. Wilson was this close to calling the cops."

Just then, Jeremiah's hand brushed against the wad of tissue Sophie was still clutching.

He immediately pried her fingers open. When he saw the stark, glaring red staining the tissue, his whole body went rigid. "Sophie, what is this? Why is there blood on this?"

A nurse happened to walk by and called out, "Miss, how are you doing? Are you feeling okay?"

Suspicion flickered in Jeremiah's eyes. He asked the nurse, "Are you with obstetrics? What exactly happened to my wife?"

Before the nurse could answer, Sophie jumped in. "I was running too fast earlier and felt a little dizzy. This nurse was just kind enough to help me out."

Jeremiah still looked unconvinced.

He pointed at the bloody tissue. "And this? What is this?"

Sophie tossed the wad of tissue into a nearby trash bin and said flatly, "I coughed a few times. There was a little blood in my phlegm. It's nothing."

"Then where's the coffee you bought?" he asked.

"I was running too fast. I dropped it on the way."

Jeremiah's face crumpled with guilt. He pulled Sophie into another crushing embrace. "I'm so sorry, Sophie. I never should have left your side, and I definitely shouldn't have sent you off to get some stupid coffee."

Sophie struggled against his hold. "I'm fine now. You can let go."

Jeremiah only held her tighter. "You're the person I love most in this world. How could I ever let you go?"

Sophie thought bitterly, 'The person he loves most? If he loves me so much, why did he cheat on me?'

She said, "I'm really fine. People are staring. Let go of me."

Jeremiah rested his chin on the top of her head and nuzzled her gently. "Let them stare. Haven't they ever seen a couple in love before?"

Nearby, the nurse still stood there looking bewildered.

She probably couldn't understand why Sophie had insisted on terminating the pregnancy and hiding the truth, especially with a husband who seemed so devoted and concerned.