Her Husband's Other Life novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Heartbeat

Cora's POV

Ross was out of his car before Nate had parked.

"Stay here," I told Nate, and he said, "I'm walking you in," in the voice of a man who had already decided.

I didn't argue.

Ross reached the clinic doors ahead of us and held one open, as if we had arrived together.

"Cora, thank God. I called the clinic and they wouldn't tell me the time. I had to guess."

"You followed us."

"I drove the same way." He looked at Nate. "Who is this?"

"Nate Brandeis," Nate said. "We've met. You were wearing a suit."

Ross went white around the mouth, and then he put on the face he used for clients.

"I'm here for my child's first appointment," he said, loud enough for the desk. "I'm the father."

The waiting room had eight women in it, and a man holding a toddler.

All of them looked up.

I signed in with a hand that stayed steady, which surprised me.

Ross sat down in the chair next to mine and put his hand on the armrest between us.

"You can't keep this from me," he said, very low. "It's half mine."

"It's seven weeks old," I said. "It's mine."

"I have a right."

"To what?"

"To be in the room when they find the heartbeat."

The woman across from us put down her magazine.

"Cora Oxley?" the nurse called from the door.

Ross stood up first.

I stood up second.

"No," I said.

He smiled at me patiently, which he did when he thought I was tired.

"Cora."

"No, Ross. You don't come in."

"Don't do this in front of people."

"Everything you've done was in front of people," I said. "You had a photographer."

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