“Good day, Mr. Grey,” Clark says, saluting me, then walks on up the corridor.
Taylor rises from his chair outside Ana’s room and follows me into the nurses’ kitchen, where I deposit the tray. “Sir, I’ll take care of that.”
“Thanks.” I leave him to wash up and return to Ana’s room, where I hang back while Dr. Singh completes her examination.
“You’re good. I think you can go home,” she says, with a pleasant smile to Ana.
Thank God.
“Mrs. Grey, you’ll have to watch for worsening headaches and blurry vision. If that occurs, you must return to the hospital immediately.”
Ana nods, beaming, clearly as grateful as I am that she’s being discharged.
“Dr. Singh, can I have a word?”
“Of course.”
We step into the corridor, and I’m relieved that Taylor is still away from his station on the chair outside. “My wife… Um—”
“Yes, Mr. Grey?”
“Her injuries… Will they stop us…”
Dr. Singh frowns.
“Sexual act—”
She interrupts me, finally understanding my gist. “Yes, Mr. Grey, that’s fine.” She smiles and adds in a quieter tone, “Provided your wife is…you know. Willing.”
I give her a broad smile.
“What was all that about?” Ana asks as I close the door.
“Sex!” I give her a wicked grin.
Ana colors. “And?”
“You’re good to go.”
Ana can’t hide her amusement. “I have a headache.” Her teasing smirk makes me doubt if she’s being entirely truthful.
“I know. You’ll be off-limits for a while. I was just checking.”
She frowns, and if I’m interpreting her look correctly, I’d say she’s disappointed. Nurse Nora bustles into the room, and after a haughty glance at me, she removes Ana’s IV.
Ana thanks her and Nora exits. I smile as she leaves. I don’t begrudge her at all; she’s taken good care of my wife. I resolve to make a substantial donation to the hospital staff appreciation fund.
“Shall I take you home?” I turn to Ana.
“I’d like to see Ray first.”
Grey, of course, she wants to see her dad! “Sure.”
“Does he know about the baby?”
“I thought you’d want to be the one to tell him. I haven’t told your mom, either.”
“Thank you.”
“My mom knows. She saw your chart. I told my dad, but no one else. Mom said couples normally wait for twelve weeks or so to be sure.” I shrug. This is her decision.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to tell Ray.”
That’s probably a good idea. “I should warn you, he’s mad as hell. Said I should spank you.”
Ana’s mouth drops open. It’s such a gratifying response, I laugh. “I told him I’d be only too willing to oblige.”
“You didn’t!” Ana gapes at me, but her eyes shine with amusement.
Will this ever get old?
Shocking my wife?
I’m glad I still can.
I wink at her. “Here, Taylor brought you some clean clothes. I’ll help you dress.”
Ray is quietly overjoyed to see his daughter. It shows in his eyes, unmasked for a moment when he sets them on Ana—fear, relief, love, and anger are all reflected in their dark depths. I beat a hasty retreat, knowing he’s going to reprimand Ana as she deserves to be reprimanded. Taylor is waiting outside by her door. “Sir, there are still photographers outside the main entrance.”
“Find a back way out, and have Sawyer meet us there with the car.”
“Will do.” He strides off, and I reach for my phone to call Welch.
“Mr. Grey,” he answers.
“Welch. Any news?”
“Yes. I’m waiting to board my plane. Let me find a quiet corner.” There’s rustling, and I hear a muffled airline departure announcement—but not to Seattle. “Right,” he grunts. “I have uncovered some information about Hyde. I’ll bring that to you. I’d rather you see it in person than have me go through it over the phone.”
“Can’t you tell me now?”
“I’d rather not. It’s a little public here, and this is not a secure line.”
What the hell could it be?
“Also, the police discovered several USB sticks in Hyde’s apartment during their fingertip search. Sex tapes. All of them. With his old assistants. With Morgan. It’s some pretty heavy stuff.”
Fuck. My scalp crawls.
“My guess is he used the footage to buy their silence, and also to blackmail Morgan.” Welch’s gruff voice drives the point home.
I knew about Morgan—but his former assistants?
Thank God I stopped Ana from going to New York with him.
“They’ll probably charge him with that, too,” Welch continues. “But they’re still building their case.”
“I see. Any word on who posted bail yet?’
“Nothing certain. But I’ll get into that when I’m back.”
“What time can I expect you?”
“I’ll be there around five p.m.”
“See you then.” I hang up and wonder what he’s found that connects me to Hyde.
Ana is subdued as we head down to the rear entrance of the hospital. I think she’s been chastened by the reunion with her father, and even though I’m with her dad all the way on this, a very small part of me feels sorry for her. I would not like to be on the receiving end of Raymond Steele’s ire.
Once in the car, Ana calls her mother. “Hi, Mom…” Her voice is husky with controlled emotion; Carla, on the other hand, I can hear through the phone as she sobs and wails.
“Mom!”
Ana doesn’t stand a chance. Her eyes fill, and I reach over to take her hand and give her a supportive squeeze, brushing my thumb over her knuckles. But I tune their conversation out as my thoughts turn to Welch and what he might have discovered. I’m irritated that he didn’t give me a clue over the phone.
Do I even want to know?
I stare out of the window and wonder.