Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno 4)

A short doctor, who had dark hair and dark eyes, stood at the door. “Come in,” he greeted Gabriel.

“Are you all right?” Gabriel stared at Julianne with concern.

She gestured for Clare and he placed her in Julia’s arms. He put the diaper bag at her feet.

“I’m okay,” Julia hedged. She reached into the diaper bag and removed a small, thin blanket, which she placed over her shoulder. Then she discreetly moved Clare beneath the blanket and began to feed her.

“I’m Dr. Khoury.” The physician introduced himself, shaking hands with Gabriel. He indicated for Gabriel to sit down. “I’m the neurologist on call.”

“Gabriel Emerson. Is the ankle broken?” Gabriel was unable to take his eyes off his wife.

Dr. Khoury turned his back politely on Julianne and the baby, but addressed her. “Is it all right if I share your diagnosis with your husband?”

“Yes,” Julianne replied quickly.

The neurologist continued. “Your wife’s ankle is sprained and she sustained some torn ligaments, but according to the X-rays the ankle isn’t broken. However, based on her reports of numbness in her other leg I was called in for a consult. I performed a number of tests and believe she sustained some nerve damage, possibly as a result of the epidural she received back in September.”

Gabriel’s eyes swung to the neurologist. “Nerve damage?”

“She has feeling in her left leg, which is why she is experiencing pain. But she has diminished sensation in her right leg. She said the numbness began around the time she came home from the hospital after having the baby.”

Gabriel stared at Julianne. The look of surprise on his face quickly morphed into an expression of hurt, then blankness.

Dr. Khoury lifted his hands in a calming gesture. “Numbness is a common side effect of epidurals and occasionally a patient will experience it in only one limb. Sometimes it can take several weeks for the numbness to abate. Sometimes the nerve damage is permanent. I recommend following up with a neurologist in Boston, after the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Gabriel assessed the neurologist quickly and passed a hand over his face. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” The neurologist continued giving Julia his back, out of respect for her privacy for Clare’s feeding. “Mrs. Emerson, elevate your ankle to combat the swelling, and ice it as much as possible. Use over-the-counter medication for pain. And follow up with a neurologist when you get back to Boston.”

“Thank you.” Julia’s tone was subdued.

“You’re welcome.” Dr. Khoury shook hands with Gabriel and exited the examination room.

Gabriel was deathly silent. Julia could barely hear him breathe.

She peeked over at him. “Darling?”

“Were you going to tell me?” His tone edged toward harshness.

“I thought the numbness would go away.”

Gabriel swiveled his head in her direction. “You thought or you hoped?”

Julia bit the inside of her mouth.

Gabriel dropped his voice. “So you were going to tell me after it abated?”

She nodded.

Gabriel grew silent once again.

Clare finished feeding on one side and Julia burped her and transferred her to the other breast. And still Gabriel didn’t say anything.

When she’d finished feeding and burping Clare, Gabriel took the baby and changed her efficiently. Then he handed Julia the crutches.

“Thank you,” Julia said meekly. She waited for Gabriel to say something.

He didn’t.