“When will we know the results of the x-rays?” Ivy asked the nurse, who checked in on them and delivered pain medication for Geoff.“The x-ray technician will read your son’s x-rays and send a report to the doctor. Once the doctor receives the report, he’ll return with a plan on what will happen next. Now if you follow me, I’m afraid there are some documents that must be completed. It’ll help speed things up to get you out of here more quickly once we know how to proceed.” The grey-haired paediatric nurse said with that all-knowing grandmotherly tone that many senior nurses seemed to cultivate when they liked a patient.“Do you think I’ll walk like my mom after this?” Ivy hadn’t expected Geoff to make the connection between her limp and his injury. He sounded like he was eager to limp around like her, and she realized he’d not only made the connection, but he was using it to relate to her.Ivy’s heart broke because of this. The bond he desperately tried to have with her made her heart
Heath took the elevator to the underground parking and found his car. As Heath settled into the driver’s seat, he realized how his life had changed. This car was fine to drive to work. But it wasn’t a family car. He’d need a family car. Geoff and Ivy wouldn’t fit in this car. Especially with Geoff’s injury.With that though, Heath wrote a reminder for himself to purchase a new car for them tomorrow.He knew Ivy didn’t have a parking space, because she took public transit. Heath didn’t feel it was safe for them.He found a parking space at the hospital. Heath called Parker for assistance. “Hey, Parker, I need someone to pick up my car from the hospital. I’ll send you the location.”“Why Heath?”“I can’t get my son and his mother home in this car. So, have a driver on standby with a limo. I’ll call them when we’re ready to leave. They can pick us up from the ER entrance.”“I’ll get that done, Heath, and message you when it’s done. He’s seven, right? He’ll need a car seat. I’ll make sure
“I’ll defer to you then. Joseph here is an expert at fitting and building casts. We’ll let him take care of fitting and creating the cast. Since Geoff is so young, I believe a fibreglass walking cast is best and aluminum crutches. It’ll be lighter and less bulky. Geoff, it’s your turn to talk to Joseph about what colour you want. I think he has several colours to choose from. These are his care instructions and his next checkup. He’ll probably need a new cast at that time too because by then the swelling around his ankle will have gone down and this cast will be too large.”“I’ll make sure he attends the appointment.”“May I see you outside for a moment, sir?”“Of course. Geoff, I’ll be a minute or two, but I’ll be back.” “Find Mom. she promised to help me pick a colour.” “She’s probably exhausted after everything that’s happened today. You gave her a big scare. How about you pick the colour and if she gets upset, I’ll take the heat for it?”“Okay. Anything I wan
Ivy wasn’t sure how she ended up accepting him for taking them home. But it was easier in the end. Geoff wouldn’t have been as comfortable in a cab. Heath surprised her with a car seat installed in the limo between them.Geoff seemed to accept his father as if he’d always been a part of his life. She felt horrible about this and a little betrayed. Ivy thought Geoff might not trust his father or be angry about him not being there for him before this. Now she worried he might be angry with her for not telling Heath about him or letting Heath be a part of his life.She’d handle it later. The last thing she expected was for Geoff to invite Heath up to their apartment, but he did, and she’d look like the monster if she said no after how Heath had generously gone to the hospital to take them home. So, there they were all three of them heading up to their fourth-floor apartment. They called it a condo, but it wasn’t like any of the condos Ivy ever visited. “Can I watch
Ivy watched Heath stand up and head into her apartment again. “Before I go, where do you keep this medication? I’ll bring it to you. Take it and if you can’t get an appointment with the doctor who prescribed it, then we’ll get a referral to someone who will actually do something about managing your pain.” “Heath, I didn’t ask for your help.” “How are you supposed to be at your best if you can barely get around Ivy? That’s no way to live.” “Please stop it, Heath. I’ve talked to the doctor and there’s nothing that can be done. It’s too late.” “In this modern era? I highly doubt it. It sounds like a cop out on part of the doctor. He’s either unwilling to keep up on research and technology or he’s gaslighting you. I lean towards the gaslighting. Now, if we’re going to co-parent, you need to be able to pull your weight, and you don’t do that if you’re in crippling pain.” Ivy wasn’t sure how she was supposed to argue with this. She coul
“Ivy, I did no such thing, and you know it. I asked you to explain the photos and who that was. You have to admit they were convincing.” “No, they weren’t convincing because I don’t know where those were taken or who the guy was in those photos. I can’t even tell you who took the photos, for that matter.” “I didn’t know they were fakes back then, but I know they’re fakes now. At the time I only wanted to hear you say that it was a mistake and you only wanted me.” “I said I only wanted you, but I didn’t cheat on you, so I didn’t make a mistake.” “I know that now. Those photos didn’t change how I felt about you.” “Really? You could have fooled me, Heath.” “Do you need a demonstration about how I feel about you?” “Do you think that’s a smart or an appropriate question to ask at a time like this?” “Smart? No, but I’ve been dying to kiss you since I laid my eyes on you at the meet and greet.
Heath’s mind was on changing all his plans for the weekend. He had a son, now he had to figure out a way to explain this to everyone. His problem was Monica knew about Geoffrey. She’d already tried to use Geoffrey with him. Of course, it failed, but would she stop there? Monica was still involved heavily with his mother. The two were thick as thieves, in his estimation. Now he’d have to figure out what limits he’d set on his mother, because Ivy could set all the limits she wanted to for his mother and Heath knew his mother would ignore those limits. What about publicly? When the media found out about Geoffrey, it would end up with people following Geoffrey, Ivy, and his family. He’d have to plan for security for them at some point. With his driver taking him home, Heath busily made notes while he was in transit. There were many things he’d have to do, including buying a new car. How he’d find time for that would be a miracle. As s
“That’s crazy Heath. Of course you’ll stay here with me. Where would you live? You’re being silly and emotional.” Emotional? Only she could be emotional. No, Heath knew this was her way of controlling her world and the people in it. “I said no. I’m done with you. The only reason we married was because you claimed you were pregnant. Which you weren’t, and don’t lie about it. I have the proof. That’s fraud, Monica.” Heath never raised his voice or his hand to her. After what happened with Ivy, he would never yell at a woman again. But that didn’t mean he had to put up with be manipulated and made to feel like less of a person. “It wasn’t a lie. I really thought I was pregnant.” He didn’t buy that for a minute, not when she stood there as if she owned everything and him. Monica believed she had the upper hand if she acted like she had the upper hand. “You weren’t, and you knew it.” Monica had pressed the pregnancy issue with his parents rather