Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN IN THE NEXT BED
“Wellness retreat?”
Leah repeated.
Simone glanced toward her.
Then she smiled.
“It sounds better than hospital observation.”
Leah almost laughed.
“Does whoever you were talking to know where you actually are?”
Simone’s expression changed for half a second.
“My situation is complicated.”
“Fair enough.”
Leah turned back toward the window.
She had enough problems of her own.
At three that afternoon, Nathan arrived carrying flowers he had clearly bought from the hospital gift shop.
Doreen walked in behind him.
Leah’s stomach tightened immediately.
“You came.”
She said to Nathan.
“Of course I came.”
He kissed her forehead.
Doreen ignored Leah and walked directly toward the ultrasound monitor.
“What did Celia say?”
Leah noticed the first-name familiarity again.
“Dr. Rusk said they want to monitor me.”
Doreen nodded.
“That is sensible.”
Then her eyes moved toward Simone’s bed.
Simone was pretending to sleep.
Doreen froze.
Only for a second.
But Leah saw it.
Simone’s fingers tightened around her blanket.
Doreen recovered quickly.
“Nathan, get your wife some water.”
Leah frowned.
“There is water right here.”
But Nathan went anyway.
The moment he left, Doreen leaned toward Leah.
“You need to be careful about making yourself difficult with the nurses.”
Leah stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
“You’ve been emotional.”
“I’m pregnant.”
“You had nightmares.”
“One nightmare.”
“You argued with Nathan.”
Leah’s jaw tightened.
“Did Nathan tell you that?”
Doreen smiled.
“Married people sometimes need family guidance.”
Leah turned toward Simone.
Her eyes were open now.
Watching.
Doreen followed Leah’s gaze.
Then looked back at her.
“You should rest.”
After Doreen left, Simone remained silent for almost a minute.
Then she whispered.
“That woman knows my name.”
Leah turned.
“What?”
“She knew who I was before anyone introduced us.”
“How?”
Simone looked toward the door.
“I don’t know.”
But her face said she did.
At six that evening, Nurse Mae Rowland came to check Leah’s blood pressure.
Mae was in her late forties, calm, observant, and impossible to rush.
She looked at Leah’s chart.
Then looked again.
“Have you ever been treated for psychiatric illness?”
Leah blinked.
“No.”
Mae frowned.
“Anxiety disorder?”
“No.”
“Depression?”
“No.”
“Any psychiatric hospitalization?”
Leah sat up.
“What is this about?”
Mae closed the chart.
“Probably a clerical error.”
But she did not sound convinced.
After Mae left, Leah opened her patient portal.
A new note appeared.
MATERNAL BEHAVIORAL RISK FLAG.
She stared at the screen.
The note had been entered that morning.
By Dr. Celia Rusk.
And beneath it was a recommendation Leah had never discussed with anyone.
POSTPARTUM PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION REQUIRED BEFORE INFANT DISCHARGE.
Leah’s hands began shaking.
May you like
Across the room, Simone quietly said.
“You need to call someone who isn’t your husband.”
