My Peace (Beautifully Broken 5)

“After a few years ago. When you had… your issues.”

“My issues were never being an alcoholic,” I remind him. “Did I use it to lose myself? Yeah, I guess I did. But that was a choice I made. When you’re an alcoholic, it’s a need. I didn’t need to. I wanted to. I’m fine.”

He doesn’t look completely convinced, but doesn’t say anything more.

Our drinks are delivered, and I drink mine quickly.

Within a minute, my chest is warm, and within another five, the pain has dulled. I signal for another. If one is good, two is better.

10

Chapter Nine

Mila

There is something wet between my legs.

I realize that as I watch Zuzu play in the back gardens, and I am sitting in the shade of the house, curled up a chair.

I’m bleeding.

I call for Natasha. She comes out, casually at first, then she sees my face.

“What’s wrong?” she asks in alarm.

“I need to go to the doctor, I tell her. “Please watch Zuzu.”

I am out the door, leaving her staring after me in confusion.

I try to call Pax from the car, but his phone goes straight to voicemail. I call his office.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Tate,” Sasha tells me. “He left for the day over an hour ago.”

“Are you sure?” I ask her. Because he hasn’t come home.

“Quite sure,” she assures me.

“Ok,” I answer, hanging up. I call Maddy next.

“I’ll meet you at the hospital,” she responds, after I explain.

She actually beats me there, and when I arrive, she is pacing in front of the ER doors.

“Where’s Pax?” she asks, glancing around me.

“I don’t know.”

We head to the admittance desk, and within thirty minutes, I’m in an exam room, with my gown tied in the back.

“If you could like flat,” the doctor tells me, “We’ll have a look-see.”

He’s got a sonogram wand in his hand, and the gel is warm on my belly. I hold my breath as he searches for a heartbeat and Maddy clutches my hand.

Then,

Then,

There it is.