bsp; “They don’t know? You’ve been operating on people with numb hands, blind, and the board doesn’t know?”
“The numbness comes and goes,” he said defensively. “And there’s only been the one episode of blindness and I’d finished my portion of May’s surgery.”
The enormity of what he was saying hit her. Adam could lose his career as a surgeon.
“Now you see why you have to have an abortion.”
Liz stared at him in confusion. “What? I don’t see that at all.”
“I have MS, Liz. That means any child I have has a three to five percent increased chance of developing MS.”
“I’m not having an abortion.” If he’d said the odds were one hundred percent, she wouldn’t abort his baby.
“Liz, once again you’re not thinking straight. You can go and be artificially inseminated. There’s no reason to take this chance.”
“Do you realize what you’re saying, Adam?” Despite her aching muscles, she shook her head. “By your own standards, you wouldn’t be here, wouldn’t have been born.”
His jaw clenched. “You’d be a lot better off if that were the case.”
“I’m not the one who’s not thinking straight. Adam, MS isn’t a death sentence. I’ve cared for patients with MS. Most lead wonderfully normal lives.”
“What about the ones who don’t?”
“How did I miss what an optimist you are?” she asked sarcastically.
“The same way you missed all my symptoms,” he shot back.
“I…”
He shook his head, visibly remorseful. “Don’t bother, Liz. That was a low blow on my part. I know the reasons why. They were the same reasons why I didn’t tell you what was going on. Why I did my best to hide what was going on from you.”
“I thought I told you to stay away from my patient because I didn’t want her upset.”
Liz and Adam both glanced toward the door. Dr Graviss stood in the doorway with a grim expression.
“She came to my office this afternoon.”
Dr Graviss gave Liz an expectant look. “Why would you do that?”
“I told him about the baby.”
Dr Graviss looked intrigued. “Which would explain why I got a call that you two were in here, arguing.”
They both winced. The hospital, the place where they worked, really hadn’t been the best place for their revelations.
“Were we that loud?” Liz asked, hoping they hadn’t been.
“You were.”
“Great.” Adam exhaled, ran his fingers through his already ruffled hair. “Just great.”
“Why don’t you call it a night? Give yourselves some time to let the news sink in. You can talk in the morning.” Dr Graviss exchanged glances with Adam. “Or, better yet, you can discuss this tomorrow afternoon once Liz is at home.”
“I’m being released tomorrow?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Good,” Adam told his friend, ignoring her completely. “I’ll take Liz back to my place for a few days while she recuperates.”