Hope on the Rocks by Annabeth Albert

Thirty

Quinn

I barely made it to the pharmacy before they closed, but luckily, I was able to pick up Adam’s medication and make it to his place not too long after our phone call. Hoping he’d managed to fall asleep, I let myself into the kitchen as quietly as I could, but I was greeted by the sound of voices and pulled up short.

Adam’s mother’s voice rang out, and I was about to announce myself when I heard my own name and pulled up short.

“I don’t see why Quinn didn’t tell you she was pregnant.” Adam’s mother had a full head of steam, and I waited to hear what else she had to say. I couldn’t see either of them more than the back of Patsy on the couch, but the rigid set to her shoulders was echoed in her voice. “She said she’s known since Wednesday. She came for breakfast with Teddy and ended up with another dizzy spell. I begged her to tell me what was going on, and she said she’s expecting.”

I stayed still, wanting to hear if Adam agreed with her ire at me.

“Quinn couldn’t tell.” He sounded resigned. And exhausted. He should be in bed. “Doctor/patient stuff. Don’t go getting mad at him.”

“I’m not.” Patsy said that, but she sure sounded upset. “I’m just so worried about Ramona. If she’s going to have a baby without Darren, that’s a rough road as I know all too well.”

“We’ll all help. Me especially. She knows she can count on me. You can tell Ramona not to worry. We’ll all have to pitch in, but we’ll make it work.” He gave a pained grunt with the final word.

“Oh, sweetie. You’re really hurting, aren’t you?” Patsy’s arm came around the couch. I needed to announce myself and soon. I padded back over to the kitchen door as Adam gave another weary sigh.

“I’m fine. Worry about Ramona.”

“I worry about both of you.”

“You’re a good mom. And when she’s ready to tell me herself, I’ll offer to move back in, help out that way, especially with her not feeling the best.”

I’d already figured that change was coming, but my jaw still tightened. The best thing for Ramona might not be the best thing for Adam’s already overscheduled life. Or me, selfish as that thought was.

“Yes, that would probably help,” his mother predictably agreed. “But we don’t want you sick too. You’ve been working too hard. Too many late nights as well, I reckon.”

“Thought you said you weren’t mad at Quinn?” Adam said mildly.

“I didn’t mean that. Just that you’re pulling too many long days. Something has to give.”

She was right. Something had to give, and I was pretty sure what the something was, and it was going to kill me, but she had a point. Adam was running himself ragged, and I couldn’t ask him to choose time with me over a family that needed him and a job he loved. That wouldn’t be fair to anyone either.

“I know. I know.” The resignation in Adam’s tone said he likely agreed with her. He might not like it any more than me, but he agreed.

“What can we do for your head?”

That was my cue. I opened and shut the back door, louder this time, calling out, “Adam? I’ve got your headache meds.”

“See, Mom?” Adam swiveled toward the kitchen, giving me a tight smile. Slot canyons had more give than the narrow line of his lips right then. “My rescue squad has arrived. Let me take the meds and get some sleep, and I’ll be okay. Promise.”

“Well, all right. Guess I should leave you to your rest.” Patsy hefted herself off the couch and brushed by me on her way toward the front door, far frostier than usual. “Quinn. Thank you for helping out.”

“No problem.” I gave her a smile that she didn’t return.

“We’ll talk more when you’re feeling better, Mom.” He waved in the direction of the door. “You can tell Ramona she can call me. Even with the headache, I’m still here for her.”

“She’s probably going to be mad that I told you. I was just so worried. I didn’t know who else to talk to.” Her nervous eyes underscored exactly how important Adam was to his family—he was their rock, and of course, they were always going to come first for him. As they should.

“Don’t worry, Mom. It’ll all work out.” Adam slumped back against the couch cushions. “And I’ll act surprised.”

“You get lots of rest now.” With a last concerned glance at Adam, she let herself out, door shutting behind her with a decided click.

“Thanks.” Adam accepted the white paper pharmacy bag from me. “How much did you hear?”

I should have known my double entrance trick wouldn’t work on him. He was too damn observant, even in pain. “Only that your mom found out about Ramona and is mad I didn’t tell.”

I conveniently left out hearing her concerns about Adam’s loaded schedule as I stood behind him on the couch to rub his shoulders.

“She’ll get over it.” He stretched into my massage, but his tone was bitter enough to make me pause.

“And you?”

“And me what?” He tilted his head back to meet my gaze.

“Are you mad at me too?” I had to ask, especially given how frosty Patsy had been on her exit.

“Of course not. I know you’ve got that doctor oath thing. You were in a crappy position. You did the right thing, even if I didn’t like not knowing. And Mom will understand that too. She was just in a Mama Bear sort of mood. You’re a good doctor, Quinn.”

“Thanks.” I resumed my massage even as my eyes stung. His understanding meant more than I’d realized. Even knowing what likely had to happen between us going forward, I still couldn’t bear the thought of him truly mad at me. “And I’m sorry. I couldn’t tell. It wasn’t my news to share. Not really your mother’s either.”

“I know.” Adam groaned. “This was less gossip and more being worried about Ramona, so it made her extra-protective.” Shaking his head, he whistled low, more pain clouding his eyes. “Damn. Hell of timing.”

He lurched away from my grip, swallowing hard, all the signs of riding a wave of nausea, including a way greener pallor.

“Let’s get your pill into you before the nausea worsens.” Coming around to the front of the couch, I retrieved his glass of ice water from the side table. “I brought food too, but that’s in the kitchen.”

“Doubt I can eat.” He grimaced again. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Do you want me to leave so you can rest?”

“No. I’m fucking awful company, but I want you to stay.” He exhaled hard. And that right there was one of the things I liked most about him. My mom had struggled with headaches too, but she’d often pushed my help away. It wasn’t easy for Adam to accept help either, but he let me in emotionally, which made my heart swell even as I remained concerned for his pain.

“I’ll stay.” I dropped down to sit next to him on the couch and rubbed his tense fingers. “What do you need most right now?”

“To worry about everything tomorrow.” He dropped his head to my shoulder, as vulnerable as I’d ever seen him. In that instant, there was little I wouldn’t do for him. “All I want is to take my meds and lie down with you. Everything else can wait.”

“It can.” My voice came out all thick. Everything could wait, but not forever. Soon we’d have to talk, truly talk, but right then, all I wanted was to take care of him the way he deserved.