"You're making a mistake, Olivia. I'm just concerned about you and our baby," he whined. I didn't move my head an inch nor did I shift my gaze. He fumbled about for a moment, sputtered like some old boat engine, and then turned and charged out of the office, nearly knocking Dolores out of his way as he crossed the room.
"Come in here, Dolores," I ordered, "and sit. You'll take notes on what I want done tomorrow," I said. She grabbed her pad and hurried into the office. "Close the door. I don't want to be disturbed," I said and we began.
Despite my enthusiasm and determination, my rage and the effort it had taken to get to the office took a severe toll on me. I ran out of steam less than an hour later and felt myself weaken. It came in a wave over my body, numbing my legs first and then making me feel as if all the weight of my entire body had been placed on my lower back muscles. The ache grew so intense, I had to take deep breaths.
"Clear off the settee," I told Dolores. Samuel had piled folders on the leather sofa. She did so quickly and I rose from the chair. Dolores could see my difficulty and nearly leaped to my side.
"Let me help you, Mrs. Logan," she said taking my left arm and putting her right arm around my waist.
"I just need to lie down a moment," I said.
"Of course. You haven't stopped for nearly an hour and a half."
I sat and then lay back. Dolores lifted my feet and placed my legs on the settee. She fluffed a pillow and placed it under my head.
"Get me some cold water, please, Dolores."
"Yes, Mrs. Logan."
By the time she had returned, the pain in my lower back had begun to travel around to my abdomen and felt like a thin wire being tightened and tightened, cutting into me. I drank the water and took some deep breaths.
"Are you all right?" Dolores asked.
"I need to rest," I moaned.
"Should I call Mr. Logan?"
"No," I said firmly. "I'll be all right."
I closed my eyes and actually fell asleep. When I opened my eyes again, Samuel was sitting in the matching leather chair beside the settee, his head back. He started to snore.
"Samuel!" I cried and he nearly leaped up.
"What? Oh," he said scrubbing his face with his palms quickly. Then he stopped and looked at me angrily. "Well, you've exhausted yourself. Satisfied now?"
"Yes," I said. "We'll go home. Call Raymond."
"I did. He's been waiting outside for about an hour. Everyone else has gone home. They wanted to stay, but I sent them off."
"Good."
"I'm glad I did one thing right in your opinion," he said. I sat up and he rose to help me stand. "Any pain?"
"No," I said. The sharp pain had gone. All I had was the continuous dull ache in my back. We started out of the office, but just as we reached the door, the phone rang.
"Just forget it," he said. "It's after hours."
"That's why it must be something important, Samuel. See who it is." He hesitated. "I'm not losing another client because of an unanswered or unreturned phone call. Answer it!"
He mumbled his complaints under his breath as he returned to the desk. I turned and waited.
"Hello," he said and just listened, his face losing color. "No, you did the right thing. We'll go directly to the hospital and meet them, Effie," he said and cradled the receiver.
"What?" I cried.
"Your father . . . he collapsed and fell out of his chair. Effie called the paramedics and they're rushing him over to the emergency room."
"Let's go," I said and started for the front entrance. "Maybe you shouldn't go, Olivia. You've already done more than you should."