She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 191

(Natasha)

I hate how familiar St. Jude's smells by now.

A weird blend of antiseptic liquid and the lavender oil Tracy keeps on her desk because she read it lowers anxiety.

It does not lower mine but I appreciate the thought.

Lily is on the exam table with one fist around my thumb and the other in her mouth.

She’s decided fingers are a food group this week.

She’s also doing the thing where she rolls onto her stomach and then can't quite figure out how to push herself up, and complains about it with gusto.

I’m sure she’s going to be crawling any day now.

James comes in with her file.

"How's my favorite patient?"

"Sleeping eight hours. Eating like she's training for something."

"Weight check."

He scoops Lily up without asking.

She tolerates being weighed because James is the one weighing her.

Anyone else and she screams.

He writes down the numbers and puts her in my lap.

Listens to her chest.

Pen-light in her eyes, which she abhors because it confuses her.

He finishes the check-up and smiles.

"She looks great," he says.

"Better than great. Hemoglobin is holding. Kidney function is steady. We'll do another panel in three weeks but I'm not worried."

"Okay."

He looks up at me. He hears something in okay he doesn't like.

"Are you all right?"

"No.”

He waits for me to continue.

I shift Lily so she's facing me.

She watches my mouth like she might catch a word.

"I know the truth," I tell him. "My mother told us. Two days ago."

His face doesn't move at first.

Then his shoulders drop about an inch. Like he's been holding them up for a long time.

"She told you what, specifically?"

"All of it. About your father. About Nathanial. About Sonia. About why she left me."

"Did she tell you about me?"

Oh no. Please tell me she didn’t sleep with James as well.

The way this week’s going, he’s probably Sonia’s father.

"What about you?"

He looks at his hands. Then at Lily. Then at me.

"I was nineteen. I came home from college for Christmas. Arrived a day earlier than I told them, because I wanted it to be a surprise.”

He shudders visibly.

“Turns out I was the one who was surprised. My mother was at her weekly book club and I guess Clarice and my father took the opportunity. I walked in on them right in the middle of..."

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