Chapter 9 - The Heartbeat
The waiting room at the upscale obstetrician’s clinic was decorated in soothing pastel colors.
Lucy sat nervously in a plush armchair, flipping mindlessly through an ancient parenting magazine.
This was her first major ultrasound since the terrifying incident in the elevator.
She desperately needed to see her baby wriggling on the screen to know everything was truly alright.
The heavy glass door of the clinic chimed open, and a tall, familiar figure walked in.
It was Mark, still dressed in his crisp, dark blue station uniform.
He held two steaming cups of coffee in his hands.
"I come bearing decaf lattes," Mark whispered, taking the empty seat right beside her.
"You didn't have to take time off work for this," Lucy smiled, gratefully accepting the warm cup.
"My shift ended an hour ago, and wild horses couldn't keep me away," Mark replied earnestly.
"Besides, nobody should have to sit in these nervous waiting rooms alone."
Just as Lucy was about to reply, the heavy glass door burst violently open again.
Alex stormed into the quiet clinic, looking completely deranged.
His eyes wildly scanned the room until they locked onto Lucy.
And then, they shifted dangerously to the large, muscular firefighter sitting far too close to his wife.
"What the hell is going on here?" Alex roared, completely ignoring the shocked stares of the other pregnant women.
He marched angrily toward them, his hands balled into tight, shaking fists.
Mark stood up slowly, deliberately placing his large frame between Alex and Lucy.
"Keep your voice down, buddy," Mark warned, his tone calm but carrying a lethal edge.
"You are causing a scene in a medical facility."
"Step aside, hero," Alex spat, his face turning an ugly shade of red.
"That is my wife, and this is my baby’s appointment."
Lucy stood up, her face completely void of any emotion as she looked at the man she used to love.
"It's not your appointment anymore, Alex," she said coldly.
"My lawyer explicitly told you not to come near me."
"You replaced me with this glorified boy scout?" Alex yelled, pointing a shaking finger at Mark.
"Is this the guy you've been sleeping with behind my back?"
Before Lucy could even process the ridiculous accusation, Mark stepped forward.
He didn't yell, and he didn't raise his hands.
He simply used his imposing height to completely dwarf the arrogant CEO.
"If you ever disrespect her like that again, I won't wait for security," Mark stated quietly.
"I will personally throw you through that glass window."
Alex swallowed hard, suddenly realizing he was hopelessly outmatched in every physical way.
"Mr. Sterling," a stern voice interrupted from the front desk.
The head nurse was holding a phone to her ear.
"I have the police on the line, and they are on their way."
"I suggest you leave immediately."
Alex looked from the nurse back to Lucy, his eyes filled with a desperate, pathetic panic.
"This isn't over, Lucy," he hissed, backing away toward the door.
"You are still my wife."
He turned and practically ran out of the clinic, his pride completely shattered on the floor.
Lucy let out a long, shaky breath, her knees suddenly feeling incredibly weak.
Mark instantly reached out, gently supporting her elbow to steady her.
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"Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"I am now," she whispered, looking up into his protective, steady eyes.
