Chapter 5
Emily whispered, "So Tom isn't real?"
I didn't say anything.
Henry answered for me. "Tom isn't real. The baby is mine. She's lying to you, and to herself."
"I did not..., " Sophie started, but stopped.
"Sophie." Henry suddenly crouched down, meeting my eyes as I lay on the gurney. He was so close I could see the red veins in his eyes. I wondered how long has he been working today?
"The baby looks like me," Henry insisted.
"You didn't look properly. All babies look the same when they're born."
"I got a good look," Henry replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "The ears are exactly like mine."
"Seriously? Who checks a baby's ears?" I blurted out.
"Anesthesiologist," Henry said, straightening his collar as he stood up. "We notice every little detail on a patient's face. It's what we do."
He was nuts and had definitely lost his mind. Who the hell uses ears to figure out who the dad is?'
Emily raised her hand. "Uh, I know this might not be the best time to butt in, but Sophie, let's be real, your story about Tom is pretty hard to believe. You don't drink, so why would you go to a bar?"
"Emily, whose side are you on?" I shot back.
"I'm here for the drama."
I closed my eyes, feeling that life had lost all meaning.
The nurse wheeled me into the hospital room, with Emily following close behind.
The nurse stopped Henry at the door. "Chief Carter, visiting hours are for family only."
"I am family," Henry said.
"Uh what's your relation?"
"I'm the baby's dad."
The nurse blinked. "Oh."
Like that? She let him in?
Where's the security? What about the family verification process? Don't they need to check IDs or something?
Did he get to call the shots now?
Henry walked in and sat down by my bed like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Emily stood on the other side, glancing back and forth between us, looking like she was watching a tennis match.
Emily said carefully, "So, what's going on with you two? Are you together or not?"
"We broke up," I said.
"We didn't," Henry said at the same time.
We locked eyes.
"We broke up." I snapped, raising my voice. "Eight months ago. It was crystal clear. I was the one who ended it."
"That's your side of the story," Henry said, leaning back in his chair with one leg crossed over the other. "I never signed off on that."
"Since when do I need your permission to break up?"
"You don't. But getting back together? That needs my say."
"Who says I'm getting back together with you?"
"You will," Henry said, locking eyes with me. "Give it a few days."
Where does he get all that confidence?
I am still supposed to be recovering from childbirth, and he already wants to get back together? In your dreams.
Emily whispered, "Uh, Sophie, you should get some rest. I'll come by tomorrow. You two can talk things out."
"Don't go!" I blurted out.
"I feel like I'm getting in the way."
"You're not. He's the one who's in the way."
Henry didn't move.
He took out his phone and started scrolling through it.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Shopping for baby supplies," Henry said, not looking up. "Have you got everything ready? Let me see what you're missing."
"That's none of your business."
"It is my business," Henry finally looked up. "I told you, the baby's mine. You kept it from me for eight months, and now you've had the baby. There's zero chance you're getting away from me now."
"What do you want?"
"We're doing a paternity test tomorrow."
My heart skipped a beat.
He noticed my reaction right away.
His eyes crinkled with amusement.
"Scared?" he asked.
"I'm not scared," I shot back.
"Then let's do it.
"Sophie, you've been dodging me for eight months." Henry put his phone away and leaned forward, elbows on his knees, locking eyes with me. "From now on, you're not going anywhere."
A baby's cry echoed down the hallway. It was my daughter.
The nurse wheeled her in.
"Ms. Lane, your baby's hungry. Why don't you try feeding her?" the nurse said.
I shot Henry a look. "Can he step out for a bit?"
The nurse glanced at him. "And who you are?"
"The baby's father," Henry replied, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"That's fine, Dad can stay and help."
"No way!" I shot back.
I finally managed to shove Henry out of the room.
He stopped at the doorway and glanced back at me.
"Sophie," he said.
"What now?" I replied.
"Thanks."
Then he closed the door behind him.
I was stunned. He thanked me? For what?
For hiding it from him for eight months? For making up Tom? For going to all those prenatal checkups by myself? Or for actually having the baby?
My nose stung again. It had to be the anesthesia and nothing else.