A Brand New Twist, Chapter 32
by Luvin_Evian


Chapter 32

“What are you doing, Julian?”

Julian looked up at Dr. Harmon for a brief moment and then went back to buttoning his shirt. “For a smart man you seem to have a lot of trouble with uncomplicated things,” he cracked. “What I’m doing is called getting dressed. I get released today, remember?”

“We need to talk about that,” Matt said, making his way over and stopping his chair a few feet from where Julian stood by the bed. He opened the file resting on his lap.

Julian rolled his eyes, detecting that doctor sound in Matt’s voice. “What is it now?” he grumbled.

“Your blood pressure has been elevated for the past twenty four hours. It’s not exceptionally high, but it’s not where I think it should be. I want to keep you another day for observation.”

That was the last thing Julian wanted to hear. He shook his head. “No. I can’t stay in this hospital another day. I have things to take care of.”

“You have yourself to take care of.”

“I feel fine.”

“You might feel fine, but you’re not fine. Many a patient has walked out of a hospital with elevated blood pressure to fall dead with a stroke. That’s why it’s called the silent killer. Is that what you want?”

Julian grunted and continued buttoning his shirt. “Worse things could happen.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Look, you said my blood pressure was slightly elevated, that doesn’t sound like a stroke to me.” He tucked his shirt into his slacks and reached for his sports coat. “I need to deal with some things,” he said, pulling on the coat and straightening the collar, “and it will be easier to do so out of this hospital.”

“I’m sure Dr. Russell will be more than happy to deal with this business, whatever it is, while you recuperate.”

“Eve can’t!” Julian snapped picking up his small travel tote from the chair and moving to the little three-door chest against the wall. He couldn’t take another day in this hospital. At least at the mansion he had dozens of rooms in which to flee when avoiding Eve’s pleading eyes got too hard to do. He brushed his hand against the left pocket of his coat. Even through his clothing, that picture seemed to burn his skin, just as it had seared a permanent scar to his mind. “There’s nothing more for us to talk about, Dr. Harmon,” he said, gathering the few items Eve brought over for him.

“You’re absolutely right. I’m not releasing you.”

Julian stopped packing and cut his eyes to Matt. “You can’t keep me here.”

“You’re right, I can’t, but I won’t sign off on your release.”

“That’s fine.” He returned to the emptying the drawers. “I promise, if I die, I won’t sue you for malpractice.”

“You think this is funny?”

“No!” Julian exclaimed, turning to the doctor with a jerk. He winced softy and rubbed his chest. Matt shook his head. Damn! That man had eyes like an eagle. Julian dropped his hand and returned to his packing. “I don’t think anything that’s happened these past few days is funny.”

“You need to take it easy,” Matt advised. “Did you have your pain medication?”

“Yes, Nurse Stringer gave me the pills after her poke and prod a half hour ago.” That crotchety old woman was another reason he couldn’t wait to get away from this hospital. “My time is served. I’m ready to go.”

“I really think you should stay another day.”

“I disagree,” Julian said, removing the last of his items from the drawers and returning to the bed where he dropped the bag. “You can leave, Dr. Harmon. I’m sure you have other patients to see.”

“Actually, you’re the patient I need to see right now.” Matt clasped his hands and leaned forward on his elbows, his dark eyes probing. Julian detected a round of Twenty Questions on the horizon. “Do you have something on your mind?”

Julian gave him a sideways glance as he zipped the items in the carrier. “You’ve been talking to your wife,” he said.

“I talk to Ellen every day.”

“You know what I mean,” he said, not at all amused by the doctor’s response.

“I don’t have a clue. Should Ellen have told me something?”

“No, she shouldn’t have.”

“Uh-huh,” Matt grumbled.

Julian released a short breath. “Look, I had some questions about Eve and the baby, and asked her not to tell anyone. I thought she might have mentioned our talk to you.”

“She didn’t,” he said. “Is that why your blood pressure is elevated? Because you’re concerned about Eve and the baby? Ellen told me days ago she’s fine.”

“She also said Eve needs to stay away from stress.” Those words were the first of many reasons he couldn’t tell Eve about Sheridan. Learning his sister was actually one of two children she gave life would be the epitome of stress, and he would not put her life or that of their unborn child in danger. He would keep quiet, no matter how hard it was. “I don’t want Eve to be stressed.”

“You don’t think it will be stressful for her if your condition worsens? She loves you, and she’s worried about you.”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you having any headaches? Shortness of breath?”

“No,” Julian answered flatly. He rolled his eyes. “Did you not hear me say I was fine?”

“Oh, I heard you.” Matt frowned. “But why should I believe you?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest.

“Because you don’t have another choice,” Julian said, meeting the doctor’s unrelenting gaze. “I’m not having headaches or shortness of breath, and I’m not staying here another day. I called for my car and it should be downstairs right now.” Julian picked up his bag and looked toward the door. “I’m going home.”

“You’re not going to wait for Eve?”

“She thinks I’m being released later in the afternoon, so I’m not expecting her.”

“I scheduled you for some tests this morning.” Matt opened the file and flipped through a couple of pages. “They shouldn’t take more than a hour, hour and a half or so.”

Julian dropped the bag on the bed and folded his arms. “Harmon, are you just going to pretend you didn’t hear me say I was about to leave this place?”

“No, I’m not. I heard you loud and clear, but the tests are already ordered. You leave your things here, take the tests, and after we’ve gone over them, if you still want to go home, you can leave.”

“You’ll sign off on my release?” Julian asked hopefully. He still intended to leave regardless, but having consent would give Eve one less thing to question him about.

Matt shrugged. “I’ll consider it after I’ve seen the results.”

Julian sucked in an exasperated breath. He could never get a straight answer from that man.

Following a short rap on the door, the blue-haired, full-figured Nurse Stringer entered the room. “Are you ready for your tests, Mr. Crane?” she asked, pushing the empty chair up to the bed.

“I don’t need that thing,” Julian said, frowning at the wheelchair and the geriatric nurse, who seemed to a lot more pleasant in Dr. Harmon’s presence. He turned to Matt. “I didn’t agree to take these tests.”

“The chair is procedure, Julian, and you need to have these tests.” Matt explained. “The longer you put this off, the longer you’ll be here.”

Tossing his sports coat to the bed, Julian plopped into the chair. “Fine, I’ll take your damn tests,” he clipped. Elevated blood pressure! With so much on his mind, whose blood pressure wouldn’t be elevated?

Matt smiled. “Good. I knew you’d see things my way. I’ll be back here as soon as I get the results.”

“If you’re not back here in two hours, all you’ll see is those results, because I will be gone,” Julian warned, as the nurse wheeled him out the door.

~*~

Eve made her way down the hall to Julian’s room. Her steps were slow and measured, a direct contrast to her rapidly pounding heart. She was so worried about Julian and even his talk with Father Lonigan didn’t seem to do a whole lot of good. Perhaps his being released from the hospital would put him in a better mood. He wasn’t scheduled to leave until the afternoon, but if his spirits were higher she could break the news to him about Sheridan’s search for their son. He had to see what a good thing that was. Better still, maybe he’d finally get around to telling her whatever it was he felt compelled to keep to himself--this big secret that was eating him alive.

A hand closed around Eve’s shoulder just as she started into the room. She turned around. “Nurse Stringer?” Julian didn’t care much for the nurse, but Eve liked her. She was very efficient.

“Hello, Dr. Russell. I saw you heading this way and wanted to let you know Dr. Harmon scheduled Mr. Crane for some tests so you wouldn’t wonder where he was.”

“Thank you for letting me know” Eve said with a smile.

“You’re welcome.”

Eve stepped into the room and looked around. “I came over early to help Julian pack, but it looks like I’m too late.”

“Mr. Crane is anxious to leave. He was already packed when I arrived to take him to his tests. Speaking of,” Nurse Stringer said, checking her watch, “I need to go get him. Do you want to come with me?”

“No, I think I’ll stay here and make sure he didn’t forget anything.”

The nurse nodded. “Okay. I’ll be right back with him.”

Eve started over to the chest of drawers. Julian probably left a pair of socks in there. Halfway to her destination, the phone rang. She made her way back to the bedside table, and answered the call. “Hello.”

“Eve, I’m so glad I found you, it’s Sheridan.”

“Hi, Sheridan. What’s going on?” she asked, sitting on the bed. “You sound—I don’t know, a bit strange.”

“I’m a little confused about something,” Sheridan explained. “Eve, why didn’t you tell me you had twins? I know you thought your son died at birth, but you didn’t tell me you gave birth to two babies.”

Eve blinked. Two babies?

“What are you talking about, Sheridan. I didn’t have twins. What would give you that idea?”

“Thomas.”

“Your private investigator?”

“Yes,” Sheridan answered. “Eve, he’s very good, and because of his government experience he can cut through lots of red tape very fast. And he’s not in Father’s back pocket.”

“I remember you told me that, which is why you were so excited about putting him on the case, but Sheridan he’s wrong. I didn’t have twins.”

“Hmm. Are you sure you gave me the right hospital?”

“I’m positive.”

“Eve, Thomas told me it was really cold and just horrible winter weather during this time and on that particular day only one woman gave birth in that hospital, and she had twins. He hasn’t seen the file yet, but he’s seen the record of activity for the maternity ward and that was it.”

“Sheridan, I’m sorry. I definitely didn’t have twins, so the records have to be wrong. This sounds like more of Alistair’s roadblocks to me. I told you this wouldn’t be easy.”

“You did,” Sheridan grudgingly concurred. “Still, Thomas seemed so certain.” She expelled a long breath. “I’m not giving up, Eve. It’s only been a few days. I’ll tell him to keep digging. He got into the hospital records, I’m sure he’ll find what we need.”

Eve admired Sheridan’s optimism. It was good to know at least one member of Julian’s family was excited about his son and wanted to know him as much as she and Julian. “Me, too,” Eve said.

“Before I go, how’s Julian?”

“I haven’t seen him yet, he’s having some tests, but he’s packed and ready to go.” Eve laughed. “I’ll take that to mean he’s feeling pretty well.”

“That’s great.” Sheridan paused for a moment. “So, is today the day you tell him about my search?”

“Yes, I’m going to try,” she said.

“I’m certain it will go well. Please, give Julian my best.”

“I will. Thanks again, Sheridan. For everything.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Thank me when I reunite you and Julian with your son. I’ll be in touch. Bye.”

“Goodbye.”

Eve hung up the phone and picked up the sports coat lying on the bed. She brought the coat to her cheek and closed her eyes, breathing in his scent. “Julian,” she murmured, hugging the coat close to her. How she missed being close to him. Maybe he just needed to be home. Things would be better when they got home.

Eve stood up to finish checking the room, and noticed something on the floor—a picture. She leaned over to pick it up. “This must have fallen out of Julian’s poc--pocket.”

Sheridan’s words echoed in her head as she gazed at the unfamiliar, and extremely unlikely photo.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had twins?”

Eve stumbled back to the bed. Her throat tightened. Tears sprang in her eyes. “Oh, my God.”

“I don’t need that chair, Nurse Stringer, and I’m quite capable of walking into here without your help!” Julian charged, his voice carrying from down the hall.

Eve clutched the picture in her hand and repositioned the coat the way it was on the bed.

Julian entered the room, his cheeks flushed. He managed to flash Eve a tight little smile, before casting his gaze to the coat. “The nurse said you were in here,” he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he picked up the blazer.

“Yes, I thought I’d come over and help you pack,” she said, finding a way to speak over the knot in her throat. She watched Julian closely. He was trying to play it cool, but he was skittish as cat. And his eyes still carried that sadness she’d seen for the past several days. Painful, aching sadness. All of which could be contributed to this unbelievable picture she happened upon. She gritted her teeth as anger threatened to bubble. “I see you didn’t need any help.”

Julian turned his back and pulled on the coat. “No, I didn’t,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “I was anxious to get--” He stopped talking. His soft gasp could have well been a sonic boom in the deathly quiet room. Slowly, he turned to her.

Saying not a word, Eve held up the picture. Julian covered his face. His head dropped in shame, regret, or maybe even relief. She wasn’t sure. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she took in his heartbreaking reaction. His tortured sobbing. It said everything she didn’t have to ask. This picture was real. She had twins in that hospital on that cold winter’s day all those years ago. And for some reason, one she couldn’t begin to understand, Julian kept it all from her.


Chapter 33
Chapter 31
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