Lauren sat up slowly.
Her back screamed.
“What did the ICU team say?”
“They told her you weren’t her attending.”
“She asked again?”
“Three times.”
Lauren looked at the fetal monitor.
Hannah had already disconnected it.
A sticky note on the machine read: GO HOME OR I WILL PERSONALLY SEDATE YOU.
Lauren almost respected the threat.
Twenty minutes later, she entered Madison’s ICU room.
Ethan was not there.
Madison’s face was colorless.
A nasal cannula rested beneath her nose.
Her left arm was splinted.
Two drains disappeared beneath the blanket.
She looked at Lauren and immediately started crying.
Lauren closed the door.
“If you start apologizing, I’m leaving.”
Madison swallowed.
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Good.”
Madison looked toward the window in the door.
“Is Ethan here?”
“Somewhere.”
“Don’t let him in.”
That surprised Lauren.
“Why?”
Madison’s heart rate increased on the monitor.
“Because I don’t know what he knows.”
