Free TheHealers by Lynsie Buchanan Page A

as we realized that the baby was okay. The bleeding stopped.
    “I’m still taking you to the hospital. I want to make sure everything is right.” The fear and command in my voice stilled her.
    “I’ll do whatever you say, Layna.”
    “Let’s call Jeff and tell him you had some pain. I came over and offered to take you for a checkup, since I have some privileges at the hospital.” I pulled open the cabinets to look for cleaner to get the stains up off of the tile. My body was hunched over scrubbing while I heard Cameron on the phone. Her voice quivered but she was able to convince him everything was fine and we would call if it was serious.
    “You don’t have to do that,” Cameron’s voice whispered from behind me.
    “I don’t want Jeff to be freaked out when he gets home and I don’t mind.” I looked in her eyes and saw the questions start to brew. The real problem was, what would I say?
    We both continued to spot clean the bathroom until the previous medical emergency was not at all visible. At least to our eyes. Cameron cleaned herself up and we put the clothes she had on in a garbage bag to dispose of at the hospital.
    I drove us in Leo’s car, since it blocked the driveway due to the haphazard state I was in when I drove up. Cameron had dressed in a long sleeve black cotton dress. This would keep her comfortable and allow for an easy examination.
    We pulled into the parking lot of the hospital about thirty minutes later and found a parking spot near the back. Apparently, hospitals are crowded on Fridays.
    We walked in through the sliding glass doors and I barely caught glimpses of the patients that came out. I did, however, notice the new mommy coming out in the wheelchair. Her baby was wrapped in a sweet baby blanket bundle. A man appeared close by her that was probably the father. The creases in his and the mother’s cheeks were almost painful to witness. They were starting their own little family. My heart stretched out with an ache to feel that love. Something so simple, yet so often abused and taken for granted. A family. I wondered if my heart was even capable of having that kind of love. Did I even deserve it? Even though I knew better a small — maybe a little bigger than small — part of my heart knew that there was something wrong with me. That was why my parents had left me. Every part of my mind knew better and had worked with people on many occasions that felt the same way. But that big fat organ in my chest that pumped blood wildly felt different.
    I walked Cameron to a seat and went to the desk to check her in as my patient, but I explained we needed some assistance from the women’s center. I pulled out my badge to confirm my access. We waited while they worked us into the schedule. At least that’s what I thought was going on, but I started to get suspicious when it became obvious they whispered and did not move fast enough.
    “Is there a problem?” The authoritative sound just started to peek out of my voice.
    “We’re just checking your credentials. I’ll let you know as soon as everything is cleared.” The snippy tone in her voice led me to believe that she was the desk shark of this hospital. Cameron and I stepped off to the side a little to allow others to check in, but I kept a sharp eye on what was going on at the desk.
    After close to fifteen minutes of our being ignored, the elevator next to the check in desk opened. Dark green eyes gazed at me before he stepped over to the desk to talk to the bitchy lady. It was Nicholas Carnegie. He was my doctor. Dr. Carnegie stepped over to take us onto the elevator with him. As soon as the doors closed, I met his stare. Whatever was going on, we would talk about it after Cameron was tended to.
    I waited outside of the room while Cameron was checked on. He took her into a triage room, since all of the other rooms were filled. I wasn’t nervous for Cameron and the baby. I just felt certain that they would be okay. I, on the other