“In here. It’s right here.”
He crawled behind her and made it to the toilet before he threw up.
Great—so much for her big plan. “It looks like we’re going back to the emergency room.” She was startled by a loud banging on the front door. “Just stay here.” As if he could do anything else. She threw a towel at him and made for the door, fastening her shirt on the way.
“Hello, Dr. Dickson.” Josh pushed his way inside when she opened the door. “Is something wrong with your phone?”
“I... I didn’t hear it. I’ve been rather preoccupied.”
“So you didn’t get my message?”
“Uhmm... No, I’m sorry. But actually it’s good you’re here. I think Brad’s gotten worse.”
“So he’s with you? We’ve been looking for him.” For the first time he noticed her state of undress.
“We were... This is strictly confidential, of course. We were in bed, and well... Afterwards, he started feeling nauseous.”
“You were in bed? With Dr. Gates?”
“I don’t know what came over us. It was a moment of weakness, I guess.”
Josh’s eyes were hard as flint. “Where is he?”
“In here.” She led him into the bathroom.
Josh took in the scene and mumbled something before bending to speak to him where he lay on the floor. “Brad! Let’s go. Can you get up?”
His eyes fluttered open. “My head. Stabbing.”
Josh said, “Dr. Dickson. Help me get him up.”
She pulled her pants back on, and together they got him to his feet.
“I’ve got him from here,” said Josh. “You go get a cab.”
She dashed to the street, still in bare feet, to secure a ride, hoping Brad wouldn’t vomit on her carpet before Josh got him outside.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Kara asked as Josh deposited Brad’s wobbly, moaning form into the cab, his shirt still flapping open.
She couldn’t help wincing at
his ferocious tone. “No, Dr. Dickson. I don’t want you to come to the hospital with Dr. Gates.”
“Look, I’m sorry about sleeping with Brad. But these things happen, you know. He may want me with him when he comes back out of this.”
“I doubt that very much.” Josh’s jaw was clenched as tight as his fists. She hadn’t foreseen his virulent reaction to her revelation. But no matter—she should be able to manipulate both of them with her claim. After all, no one could refute it.
*****
Both Hannah and Claire regarded Grace with rather triumphant expressions when she opened her eyes, blinking against the bright lights.
“Is it over?” Her voice sounded as raspy as it felt.
“Here Gracie.” Connie placed a straw to her mouth. The cool water soothed its way down her parched throat. “Yes, it’s over. But you need to wake up a little more before we can take you home.”
“Are you surprised to see Hannah and me?” asked Claire, with one corner of her mouth twitching in a smile. “You thought you could get away with it, didn’t you? You sent Mom a text about the biopsy time, but not the rest of us.”
“It was an accident.”