Rabbits in the Garden by McHugh Jessica

Author:McHugh, Jessica [McHugh, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Post Mortem Press
Published: 2012-02-14T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Sophie Marie Dillon started packing her bags to make her voyage into the world just after two o'clock while Paul was in the middle of a biology exam. Luckily, Noah was nearby when Natalie went into labor, and he rushed her to the hospital with plenty of time for Faye to scold her for not getting there sooner. Since the week before Natalie’s due date, Faye had been staying in a hotel off-island so she’d be close when the call came. She was beaming the entire drive to Massachusetts General, but as soon as she walked into Natalie’s hospital room and saw the fair-haired stranger holding her daughter’s hand, her joy was abruptly dashed. It was bad enough that Natalie had slept with Paul, bad enough that she’d gotten pregnant, and bad enough that she’d had to quit school to be a wife and mother, but if she was also dallying some other boy, something might have to be done.

“Don’t worry, Miss Hayworth, she’s doing fine. I’m glad you’re here though,” Noah said as he shook Faye’s hand.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Noah Hanson, Paul’s friend. We met at the wedding. I was the best man.”

“Of course, forgive me. I’m afraid I was a bit more focused on my daughter that day. As I should be now,” she said as she pushed past him.

She really tried to keep her mind focused on Natalie, but her eyes kept slipping suspiciously back to Noah. He was holding Natalie’s hand just a bit too tightly, and she was staring up at him with a bit too much intensity. It made Faye’s skin crawl.

“Are you the husband?” the nurse asked him.

“No, just a friend,” Noah replied, and Faye noted that his voice had a hint of sadness as he squeezed Natalie’s hand and she looked up at him longingly.

It was then that Faye knew for certain.

Soon after Paul arrived, it was time for Natalie to push, and the nurses escorted Faye and Noah out of the room. He smiled at her as they sat down in the waiting room, unaware of his impending doom, and Faye smiled right back, completely aware and loving every minute of the calm before the storm.

“So, you’re Paul’s best friend, right?” she asked.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“And does he know that you’re sleeping with his wife?”

“Excuse me?”

“I suppose I shouldn’t even assume that the baby is Paul’s. I guess it could be anyone’s.”

“Miss Hayworth, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but Natalie’s a good girl, and that is definitely Paul’s baby. Natalie would never - ”

“Never what: sleep around? Why not? She’s been doing it for years. She thinks I’m stupid, but I’m not. Not when it comes to my children.”

“She told me you were a bit intense,” Noah said, and Faye chortled loudly.

“What a lovely euphemism.”

“Miss Hayworth, I care very deeply for Natalie, and I won’t allow you to insult her.”

“How gallant you are. I’m sure it didn’t take you long at all to worm your way into her bed.”

“What is wrong with you? You don’t even know me.

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