OBSESSION (The Bening Files (Novella) Book 4) by Rachel Trautmiller
Authors: Rachel Trautmiller
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“A-Amanda…”
CHAPTER EIGHT
LACK OF SLEEP, the stress, and a case she couldn’t wrap her mind around was catching up to Amanda with a vengeance. A pulsing headache built behind her eyes. It mingled with the buzz of unanswered questions.
“How’s our girl?” Lilly walked into Paige’s hospital room in a pair of maroon scrubs, a stethoscope around her neck. Her dark hair was tied back with an ever-present bandanna.
“Sleeping,” she whispered. Amanda downed the last of her coffee and glanced at the girl. A lock of long brown hair tumbled across her forehead as she lay on her side, facing Amanda and Robinson. She’d fallen into a fitful sleep sometime around three in the morning, after her doctors had managed to stop her preterm labor and ordered a steroid to help both babies’ lungs develop quicker.
Now they had to pray her body would incubate the infants a little longer.
I want my mom.
Paige’s words echoed through Amanda like a bullet train without a driver and on a boomerang track. The teen had sobbed the sentence mid-contraction, while gripping Amanda’s hand with the strength of a grown man. And she’d wanted to join her, both in sentiment and tears. The only thing that had stopped her was the man currently sitting next her with his own lukewarm cup of caffeine in hand.
He’d been the calm in the chaos, offering soothing words where Amanda had been too choked up to do much more than pat her niece’s hand for fear she’d break down and sob like an injured toddler.
His fingers worked circles on her neck as if he understood the emotions waging war inside her heart and the aggravating pain inside her skull. As if they hadn’t had a disagreement without resolution less than twelve hours ago.
Lilly checked the solution working its way into Paige’s veins. “You guys should go home for a bit. Get some rest. A shower.”
“No.” She wouldn’t forgive herself if something happened while she was gone. Even for necessities. Paige needed her here.
“I get off in thirty minutes. I’ll sit with her for as long as you need. Maybe Dexter could drop Ariana off in a little while. Besides, the doctor believes we can keep those babies in there a few more weeks if she rests. Doesn’t get overworked or stressed.”
That if was so big it might as well have been taking up residence in the room. “I appreciate the offer, but you haven’t slept in over twenty-four hours.” Amanda gave Robinson’s leg a squeeze, then stood. Paced to the wall closest to the door and then turned back to the room’s occupants. Taking on a Robinson family ambush wasn’t in her today. “We aren’t going to ask you to do that.”
“Okay.” Lilly turned toward her, her lips pressed together. Her blue-green eyes were the exact same shade as Robinson’s and cracked fire as if Amanda had copped attitude. “You’re not asking. I’m forcing you to go home for a while.”
Amanda braced for the impact of Robinson’s agreement.
“Leave it be, Lilly.” The last came out on a bit of a yawn as he stood and stretched his neck.
Huh. Her muscles relaxed. Dark circles lined his eyes as if he’d been awake for a week straight. Exhaustion hung from his frame. He headed for the exit and stopped by her side. Then he took her cup. “You need something besides coffee, A.J.”
The initials ran together in that familiar way only Robinson used, and came out sounding like age. It conveyed so much. The rocky road they’d traveled together for too long. The way he always stood up for what was right no matter the cost. How he always had her back. Even when he didn’t agree.
That didn’t mean he wouldn’t find a way to get his point across. While he’d clearly articulated his suspicions concerning Davis, he’d been silent about almost everything else. Until last night.
Had she forced him into all of this? “So do you.”
“Already got it.” A sad smile lined his lips as he exited the room.
It
CHAPTER EIGHT
LACK OF SLEEP, the stress, and a case she couldn’t wrap her mind around was catching up to Amanda with a vengeance. A pulsing headache built behind her eyes. It mingled with the buzz of unanswered questions.
“How’s our girl?” Lilly walked into Paige’s hospital room in a pair of maroon scrubs, a stethoscope around her neck. Her dark hair was tied back with an ever-present bandanna.
“Sleeping,” she whispered. Amanda downed the last of her coffee and glanced at the girl. A lock of long brown hair tumbled across her forehead as she lay on her side, facing Amanda and Robinson. She’d fallen into a fitful sleep sometime around three in the morning, after her doctors had managed to stop her preterm labor and ordered a steroid to help both babies’ lungs develop quicker.
Now they had to pray her body would incubate the infants a little longer.
I want my mom.
Paige’s words echoed through Amanda like a bullet train without a driver and on a boomerang track. The teen had sobbed the sentence mid-contraction, while gripping Amanda’s hand with the strength of a grown man. And she’d wanted to join her, both in sentiment and tears. The only thing that had stopped her was the man currently sitting next her with his own lukewarm cup of caffeine in hand.
He’d been the calm in the chaos, offering soothing words where Amanda had been too choked up to do much more than pat her niece’s hand for fear she’d break down and sob like an injured toddler.
His fingers worked circles on her neck as if he understood the emotions waging war inside her heart and the aggravating pain inside her skull. As if they hadn’t had a disagreement without resolution less than twelve hours ago.
Lilly checked the solution working its way into Paige’s veins. “You guys should go home for a bit. Get some rest. A shower.”
“No.” She wouldn’t forgive herself if something happened while she was gone. Even for necessities. Paige needed her here.
“I get off in thirty minutes. I’ll sit with her for as long as you need. Maybe Dexter could drop Ariana off in a little while. Besides, the doctor believes we can keep those babies in there a few more weeks if she rests. Doesn’t get overworked or stressed.”
That if was so big it might as well have been taking up residence in the room. “I appreciate the offer, but you haven’t slept in over twenty-four hours.” Amanda gave Robinson’s leg a squeeze, then stood. Paced to the wall closest to the door and then turned back to the room’s occupants. Taking on a Robinson family ambush wasn’t in her today. “We aren’t going to ask you to do that.”
“Okay.” Lilly turned toward her, her lips pressed together. Her blue-green eyes were the exact same shade as Robinson’s and cracked fire as if Amanda had copped attitude. “You’re not asking. I’m forcing you to go home for a while.”
Amanda braced for the impact of Robinson’s agreement.
“Leave it be, Lilly.” The last came out on a bit of a yawn as he stood and stretched his neck.
Huh. Her muscles relaxed. Dark circles lined his eyes as if he’d been awake for a week straight. Exhaustion hung from his frame. He headed for the exit and stopped by her side. Then he took her cup. “You need something besides coffee, A.J.”
The initials ran together in that familiar way only Robinson used, and came out sounding like age. It conveyed so much. The rocky road they’d traveled together for too long. The way he always stood up for what was right no matter the cost. How he always had her back. Even when he didn’t agree.
That didn’t mean he wouldn’t find a way to get his point across. While he’d clearly articulated his suspicions concerning Davis, he’d been silent about almost everything else. Until last night.
Had she forced him into all of this? “So do you.”
“Already got it.” A sad smile lined his lips as he exited the room.
It
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