And So It Goes (Stevens Book 10)

Chapter 24

Agatha's stay in the hospital was brief but with plenty of visitors. Everyone danced around the fact that Merrick had brought her to the hospital and that Silas handled the surgery, hoping for some little tidbit that they could pass along, but once everyone realized that she wouldn't share the details with them, they stopped visiting.

Merrick stopped by regularly, as did Silas, to check on her, but she mostly slept in between contemplating her future with Merrick. When the time came for Agatha to go home, Sam was the one that arrived to escort her to the car.

Sam must have guessed her thoughts because he grinned. "Never fear, my lady. Your handsome knight is bringing around the chariot to escort you to your castle."

He helped her into the wheelchair and gently set her belongings in her lap.

"Would you like to hear the rumor?" Sam asked as she pushed the down button for the elevator, then spun her around and pulled her in.

"Sure, I know there has to be one." Agatha sighed.

"The rumor is that you were carrying Merricks love child," Sam whispered in her ear as if someone might hear.

"Well, at least they got it right for once." She snorted in a very unladylike fashion. "Was that your delicate way of finding out some answers to your questions?"

"You never did answer me directly on the subject last week." Sam defended himself.

"Yes, the baby was Merrick's." Agatha's voice was soft as she was again overwhelmed with sadness that she had lost the child.

"I'm sorry, Aggie. I hope you two figure it all out," Sam kissed the top of her head as the elevator door opened.

Agatha could see Merrick outside the main entrance with the car. When he noticed them, he came to take over for Sam, helping Agatha into the car's passenger side before thanking Sam, who gave a brief wave goodbye and then took the wheelchair back into the hospital.

"I can't recall ever seeing two doctors escort a patient out of the hospital." Agatha smiled as she gently buckled her seatbelt. "Where are we going?"

Merrick made sure she was tucked into the car. "Where would you like to go? We can go to your place or mine." He looked at her pale face as he waited for an answer.

"Where are you staying?" If he was staying at a four-star hotel, she was going to say his place.

"I'm renting Silas's garden apartment."

"My place. I want privacy." He didn't fight her request as he closed the door and moved to the driver's side.

"I take it you're going to stay with me?" Agatha closed her eyes to hide that she was relieved that she wouldn't be on her own.

"Yes, but I understand if you don't want me. We can call someone else if you would prefer," Merrick offered, misreading her reaction.

Agatha turned and met his eyes. "I would prefer you, if you don't mind?"

"I don't mind, Agatha." His voice was rough, and she knew that her acceptance of his offer meant a lot.

"Do you have to get right back to the hospital, or can we talk?" She rested her head on the back of the seat as he pulled out of the hospital's entrance.

"I took a few days off," Merrick said before focusing all of his attention on traffic for the short journey home.

When they arrived, he helped her out of the car and straight to bed.

"Do you need anything?" he asked as he pulled the blanket up over her.

"What's for dinner?" she asked as she felt her eyes start to close. The trip home had taken a lot out of her.