What the hell? Did I hear Serena correctly? Nicole can’t have children?
I grab Serena by the arm. In a low growl, I admonish her. “What the hell is your problem? Leave Nicole alone and get the fuck out of here before you make a spectacle of yourself. And by the way, I’m taking Lucy home with me tonight.”
I’m so engrossed in my anger toward my ex-wife, I don’t even realize that Nicole ran out. Once Serena knows that she got what she wanted, she gives me her gotcha smirk and leaves.
Looking around, I see Lucy getting some ice cream. I also scan the crowd for Nicole, but I don’t see her. Finding Lucy’s other teacher, I ask her if she can hang out with Lucy for a few minutes. I need to go find Nicole.
Walking through the halls of the elementary school, I look through open classroom doors. I don’t see her anywhere, but I’m pretty sure that she wouldn’t just leave the event without telling anyone.
My heart rate quickens with each passing second I can’t find her. I want her to know that it doesn’t matter to me if she can’t have kids. And how the fuck did Serena find that out?
Fuck. Stopping in my tracks, I can’t believe it. Serena works for her boyfriend, who just happens to be a doctor. Goddamn it. Is Nicole a patient of his? Did Serena see her at the office?
Feeling hopeless that I won’t find Nicole, I hear crying coming from the ladies room. Shit, that must be her. I can’t just barge in there, so I knock on the door. “Nicole, is that you?”
“Please just leave me alone, Daniel. I’ve been humiliated enough tonight,” she says between sobs. What kind of man would I be if I just walked away, as she asked? I can’t do it.
I open the door slowly and see her sitting in a chair located in the corner of the sink area.
She doesn’t look up at me, but she lets me know exactly what she thinks. “I’m so embarrassed. I can’t go back in there and face everyone. Hell, I can’t even look at you.”
My heart breaks looking at the pain she’s in. Kneeling in front of her, I wipe the tears from her cheeks with my thumbs. I’d give anything to take back what just happened, but I can’t. But I can make damn sure Serena leaves her the fuck alone.
“Hey, can you look at me, sweetheart?”
Nicole slowly looks at me. Fuck me. There is so much pain in her eyes. It goes beyond what happened tonight. “Daniel, how did Serena know my medical history?”
“Well, I’m going to have to ask you some personal questions so we can figure it out, OK?”
Nicole nods, but I still feel as if I’m prying into her life, and I have no right to.
“OK, have you gone to see a Dr. Stenson since you’ve been here?”
“Yes, I just went the other day. Why?"
This is difficult to tell her, but she needs to know.
“That’s the guy who slept with my wife when we were married.”
“You mean he told her about me? About my condition?”
“I’m not sure, but there’s something else. Serena works for him. She may have seen you at your appointment.”
“Oh god, Daniel.” She sobs as she puts her face in her hands. I pull her close to me so she can cry in my arms. If I thought I hated Serena for what she did to me, I hate her even more for doing this to Nicole.
Rocking her in my arms, I let her cry without trying to stop her.
A minute later, it’s as if someone flipped a switch. She abruptly stands up and turns away from me. “Daniel, thank you for being here, but I need to be alone for a while.” Fearing that I’ll make matters worse at this point, I tell her OK and leave the bathroom. The minute the door closes, I can hear her start crying again.
I don’t know how I’m going to fix this, or if I even can, but I’m sure going to try.