“Knock-knock.” She called and opened the door, “Look who just arrived!” she announced and ushered me into the room before she spun on her heel and bounced back down the hall.
If she had waited a few more seconds, she would’ve realized that her announcement had not been well received.
It wasn’t just the stunned expressions on their faces that made it clear my arrival hadn’t been expected. It was also the fist that crashed into my face as my former best friend snarled, “what the fuck are you doing here?”
“My wife is in the hospital.” I said dumbly as I shoved him back from me. His mother grabbed his arm and shook her head once. I rubbed my jaw and glared at him while he stood there visibly shaking from the effort it took to restrain himself. All that could be heard was his heavy breathing and the rhythmic beeping from the monitors attached to Melanie.
“Ben.” Melanie’s voice sounded like the crack of a whip in the almost silent room. I finally dragged my eyes from the immediate threat and looked at my wife. She looked so small and pale in the ugly hospital gown, surrounded by wires and gadgets. “Why are you here?” there was an icy edge to her voice that brought goosebumps to my skin.
“I was worried about you.” I admitted and took a step towards her.
She raised a hand to halt me at the same time her brother growled something obscene under his breath.
“Don’t.” She whispered. I nodded and froze in my tracks. She observed me for a moment and then tilted her head. “How did you know I was here?”
“I… uh.” I stammered. I hadn’t thought of how I was going to explain my arrival; I just knew I needed to be with her.
“Are you having me followed?” She asked in a deceptively calm tone.
“No.” I lied, quickly.
“Hmm.” She hummed and looked at Griffin. He met her look with silence, but a message was exchanged anyway.
“Benjamin.” Mr. Walsh said from the side. I spun and looked at him for the first time since I’d stepped into the room. He was standing near the door with his arms crossed and a cold fury in his eyes. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“We are still married.” I pointed out desperately. “I’m still her emergency contact.”
“No, you’re not.” Mrs. Walsh informed me. “I am.”
I took an involuntary step back. I was surprised by how much that piece of information gutted me. Of course, I wasn’t her emergency contact anymore… we were getting a divorce, but the speed at which she’d made that change seemed impossible.
“I-I…” I spun back to look at Melanie. “I need to talk to you, for just a few minutes. Are you okay? What happened?” I blurted out.
“I’m fine.”
“Why are you here? What happened?” I repeated.
“That’s none of your business.” The firmness infuriated me.
None of MY business. You’re still my WIFE.I wanted to scream.
“Melanie. Tell me.” I demanded.
“You’re not in any position to tell her what to do.” Kyle snapped.
“Are you sick? If something is wrong, I deserve to know. First you were at some Podunk clinic and now you’re in this budget hospital.” I realized too late that I had revealed too much.
“How did you know about the clinic?” She asked, her eyes narrowed.
“Don’t answer my questions with a question!” I deflected.
“I was getting tested to make sure my husbands wayward dick hadn’t given me any diseases. How. Did. You. Know?” she hissed. She had leaned forward in the bed and was staring me down with barely controlled rage.
“Insurance…” I lied, again. She raised an eyebrow and smirked.
“Of course.” She didn’t believe a word of it.
Griffin shifted subtly from the other side of the bed and smirked. I glared at the cocky motherfucker and sneered.
