The brisk nurse pressed more tape over the IV tube in my arm. “Is there anyone we can call for you?”
“No, thank you,” I croaked. “Please,” I could hardly get the words out. “May I have some pain relief?” Jeez, where was Tara when you needed her. She was a walking illegal pharmacy.
“That’s not possible, honey.” The nurse stroked my forehead with a wet wipe. “Not with … well, we’ll see when the doctor comes. Soon, I promise.” The nurse patted my hand and left me alone.
Laying still was the only way to stop the pain, so I tried not to move. I couldn’t close my eyes without the cab coming towards me again, just before it hit. Instead, I stared at the ceiling. How had it all gone so wrong?
The pain of my broken bones was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.
The stakes were high on a house of cards that came tumbling down. I had gambled on a lie and lost everything.
***
My handsome hottie arrived unannounced, while I lay sleeping. It was dark but this time I could see his face.
***
When I wakened he was there, holding my hand. I thought I was still dreaming.
“Hey,” he whispered, stroking my hair away from my face. “You had me worried, Holly Martin.”
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “You didn’t think you could get away from me that easily, did you?”
My chin quivered and tears welled up. “Oh Nick. I’m so sorry. So, so sorry for everything. How did you find me?” I tried to sit up, but nothing was working. My head sank back into the pillow.
“Your Cathwell’s pass was in your purse. I came as soon as I got the call. Do your parents know?”
“No. I’m going to call them later. But first, there’s something I have to tell you, Nick, and I want you to know that if you can’t forgive me, I completely understand.”
A look of surprise crossed Nick’s face and he raised his eyebrows. “I’m sure there’s nothing I can’t forgive you for, Holly. But first, I need to tell you that Sarah passed this morning. Her mother and I were there, but Don didn’t make it in time. He’s completely distraught.”
“Really? Oh, Nick. Poor Sarah. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
The tears started again. If that car hadn’t stopped in time in front of me, I’d be a gonner too.
Nick’s face was etched with grief. “Holly, please don’t leave me. I need you more than ever. I’ve made my peace with Sarah and said my goodbyes. I think she was trying to say goodbye too. I have to live with my guilt forever for what happened to her. I couldn’t protect her, but I want to look after you for eternity. Please, let me try. I’ll do whatever it takes for you to give me another chance.”
“Nick, I love you very much, but I don’t deserve you. I’ve lied to you, but I have to tell you the truth. All of it. I’m pregnant, or at least I was. I was bleeding after the accident, so I don’t know yet if the baby is okay. I’m waiting to have a scan.”
It was Nick’s turn to get choked up, big fat tears running down his cheeks. His hand, clenched round mine, gripped me tighter.
“Holly, this is a miracle. You don’t know how much this means to me. I understand why you didn’t tell me, with Sarah, but please, no more secrets. I’ll go and find a doctor for the scan, we need to find out if everything’s okay.”
Nick’s chair scraped the floor as he leapt up.
I called after him, “Wait, Nick, that’s not all. The baby might not … ”
We were interrupted by the curtain being pulled across.
My mouth fell open.
There he was, as cheeky and cool as ever.
“Hey, Holly.”
“Hello, Adam.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing,” grinned Adam. “You’re pregnant, Holly? Wow. That’s brilliant news. Congratulations.”
If I could have jumped out of bed and strangled Adam there and then, I would have had a go, but it was out of the question.
“Adam, I have no idea how and why you are here, but can you please leave? I was just in the middle of telling Nick something.” The bile was rising in my throat.
“Nope. Sorry to ambush your confession, Holly, but I have to stop you right there.” Adam held one of his hands up in a halt sign.
“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” said Nick, agitated.
“Sure,” said Adam. “I’d be happy to. Let’s see. Holly’s about to tell you that she cheated on you and the baby might not be yours, but everybody calm down. It’s not true. I set her up. All a big scam, thanks to Don Gribben.”
“What?” said Nick, clenching his fists.
“Is this true, Adam?” I asked. “What about the tape?”
“Gribben’s bluffing, Holly. Two minutes of you dancing around like a stripper then you conked out on the bed. So I wiggled on top of you for a bit because that’s what Gribben was paying me for. But sorry to disappoint you babe,” Adam winked. “We didn’t do it.”
“So why are you telling me this now, Adam?”
“Simple,” said Adam. “Gribben’s fucked me over. And that’s not all he’s fucking.”
Before Adam could finish, Nick raised his fist and threw a right jab at Adam that Holyfield would have been proud of. Adam hit the deck with a crash.
“Thanks, Nick. I would clap if I could,” I smiled. I was charmed by Nick’s uncharacteristic outburst.
Nick bent over to kiss me. “I already read the letter, Holly. I was home earlier. I was here for you anyway, Adam or no Adam. No more secrets, promise?”
“I promise.”
“Good. That’s my girl. Now let’s find you a doctor.”
***
The jelly was cold on my tummy. Nick held my hand, our eyes glued to the screen as the sonographer placed the ultrasound probe under my belly button and moved it around.
The black and grey image on the screen showed no clues. I held my breath, and prayed to the creator of unborn children, that ours had made it.
“Can you hear the heartbeat?” the sonographer asked. She pointed to a dot on the monitor. I nodded like I could see it. Nick gasped in delight.
“It looks like everything’s fine,” she continued, smiling. “But because you had some bleeding we’re just going to keep you here for a while under observation. You’re very lucky.”
I know. “Thank you.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Six months later, I roared with laughter as I watched Nick try to build a baby swing in the garden of our cottage in the Netherlands. My tummy was huge and the birth was only weeks away. I had been blessed with a smooth pregnancy and my life had turned out better than I could have hoped for, or than I deserved.
After Sarah’s death, we had left New York and all its memories behind, to make a fresh start in Nick’s homeland. Nick’s family welcomed me with open arms, and my parents were delighted to have me closer to England.
I had put work on the back-burner for now, and was happy making a home for Nick and our baby. Nick was commuting to Amsterdam to work, but was true to his promise of spending more time at home.
Gribben backed off when his secret was exposed. Adam’s outburst at the hospital confirmed what I had seen moments before being struck by the cab—Gribben in flagrante in the car outside his office with none other than Alexa, Nick’s former PA.
Adam’s wet dreams had come true when he finally hooked up with Alexa and brought her to New York with him for his payday from Gribben. But Alexa upgraded and was servicing Gribben in a hotel room the morning Sarah died. Nick extorted all of my dodgy video evidence from Gribben in exchange for not telling Sarah’s mother about Gribben’s fling with Alexa.
Tara and her new guy, some Russian oligarch, were jetting off all over the place, but she’d promised to visit after the baby was born.
And so life went on. I never said it was perfect, but Nick and I did our best, and our future looked promising.
***
I lifted the stack of p
ost that was sitting on the table, and flicked through the envelopes. The hand-written letter with a London post mark caught my attention. It was the only one addressed to me. I ripped it open.
Dear Holly
I am sorry to contact you out of the blue like this, but before the baby is born there is something I have to tell you.
I hate to spoil your happy ending, really I do.
You didn’t really think I could resist you that night, did you?
I’d wanted you for so long. Did you not know what would happen when you threw yourself at me like that, after teasing me for two years?
Gribben paid me to set you up but that doesn’t mean I didn’t get my end away too.
You were good, Holly, really good. Nick’s a lucky guy.
Wonder how he will feel knowing that little baby Adam sperm were swimming around inside you that night?
I didn’t think I cared, but I’ve changed my mind. I have a right to know if the baby is mine. That’s only fair, don’t you think?
I’ll be watching.
Adam
***
My hand shook, holding the sheet of paper. I read it again, then set it down on the table.
At the back door, I called to Nick to come in. I motioned for him to sit, and handed him the letter.
THE END
***
Don’t miss Tara and Alexander’s story in Gold Digger!
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Duplicity 2 (Duplicity New Adult Romance) Page 6