Page 45 of Airborne
She pressed End, filled with loathing for the man who’d discarded her and his child like trash.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
HEATHER REGRETTED THE WAYshe’d allowed Chad to upset her. She’d attempted to sleep after his call, but fitful dreams, ghosts, voices, and even billboards blamed her for the virus.
The 9a.m. press conference this morning could encourage viewers to offer evidence and free her from the torment. She massaged her arms as though the filth of whoever was responsible had rubbed against her.
And maybe he had.
Last night before going to sleep, she’d read her Bible. She prayed for those caught up in the virus, even those responsible. Thanked Him for the new life growing inside her and prayed the baby’s test results continued to point toward good health. Her prayer concluded with a plea for the culprit to be stopped and face a jury. That pious action happened before Chad called, when she was convicted to kick-start a new prayer for forgiveness. Now she’d have to start all over again.
Today she’d concentrate on spending time with quarantined people. They needed to see her as a friend, to establish trust beforeshe could help calm their fears and find out if they knew anything to assist the investigation—whether they were aware or not. Late morning, she’d remind Jordan about talking to patients in isolation.
A jiggle in her stomach, then a second caused her to giggle. So unexpected. She touched her womb. Her sweet baby boy had kicked her, not once but twice.Little one, I love you. Kick me 24-7. Let me know you’re alive and healthy.
“I heard you laugh,” Catherine whispered. “It was a sweet sound.”
“My baby moved for the first time.”
“Boy or girl?”
“Boy.”
“Congrats,” Tatum whispered. She tossed back her blanket and sat on Heather’s bed between her and Catherine. “I’ve been praying for you and your baby.”
“Oh, thank you.” Heather’s eyes moistened. “The initial testing shows he’s fine. The ob-gyn will monitor me until we’re released.”
Tatum took her gloved hand. “Any names rising to the surface?”
What a blessed diversion. “Since I was a teenager, I’d planned to one day use my dad’s name for a boy, Levi, and my mom’s maiden name, McCoy, for Levi McCoy.”
“Love it.” Tatum covered her mouth, but a laugh escaped anyway.
“A strong name.” Catherine scooted up in her bed and leaned back against her pillow. “A baby is a gift, and your baby is hope for all of us.”
“What’s all the whispering?” one of the women said.
“Heather’s baby kicked for the first time.”
“Aw, I’m sure you’re excited. This is Jackie.”
“Thanks,” Heather whispered.
Ada chimed in with her congrats.
“So sorry to wake you,” Heather said.
“Good news is never an interruption,” Jackie said. “Be sure to write down the date and time your baby moved.”
“Great idea.” Heather grabbed her phone and calendared his little kick so she’d never forget how God blessed her in the midst of chaos. A news pop-up stole her breath.
Dr. Chad Lawrence of Houston, Texas, is a person of interest in a deadly virus case on board quarantined flight3879.
The embedded link to Read More urged her to continue, as though she hadn’t already guessed the contents. As predicted, the report offered Heather’s refusal to give Chad a divorce as motive.
“What’s wrong?” Tatum said.
“Nothing I haven’t heard before. I’d love to talk for hours and forget about why we’re here, but I need to get ready for the press conference before everyone heads for the shower.”
