Chapter 48

… Dickinson POV…

I walked into the hospital with my mom, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Anxiety, guilt, and hope all swirled within me as we made our way to Emily's room.

As we passed by the emergency room, an ambulance pulled up, and a patient was being wheeled in on a gurney. My mom and I exchanged worried glances, but continued on towards Emily's room.

A nurse pointed to us. "Sit there and wait while the doctor is inside with the patient," she said.

"Ok ok" I said and followed my mom to the seats at the corner. We sat for a few minutes in silence then the doctor came out and I stood up to greet him. The doctor greeted us as he shook my hand with a smile. "She's doing much better," he smiled at my mom. "She's awake and responsive, which is a great sign."

My mom let out a sigh of relief and clutched my arm. "Thank goodness," she said.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt wash over me. If it weren't for my mistakes, Emily wouldn't be in this situation. But now all I could do was hope for her recovery.

We walked into Emily's room, and my heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. She was hooked up to various machines, but her eyes were open and she was looking at us with a weak smile. "Hey," she whispered.

Tears filled my eyes as I walked over to her bedside. "Hey," I said back, my voice choked with emotion. "I'm so sorry."

Emily reached out and took my hand. "It's not your fault," she said softly. "It was a mistake. And we'll figure it out together."

My mom stepped forward and hugged Emily gently. "We're just glad you're okay," she said.

Emily nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Me too," she said.

We spent the next hour sitting by her side, talking and catching up. Emily was weak and tired, but she was also determined to get better.

The doctor came in and said that she would be able to leave the hospital in a few days.

On the drive back from the hospital, my phone rang. It was Dr. Jones. I answered, "Hello, Dr. Jones. How can I help you?"

He replied, "I just wanted to inform you that Emile came to see me today with her mom. They've decided to keep the pregnancy."

I let out a sigh of relief. "That's great to hear, Dr. Jones. Thank you for letting me know."

But Dr. Jones wasn't done. "I also wanted to remind you that this whole situation is your fault. If you had been more responsible, none of this would have happened."

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. He was right, this was all my fault. I had been so focused on my own issues that I hadn't stopped to think about how my actions would affect others.

"I know, Dr. Jones. I take full responsibility for my actions and I apologize for any harm I may have caused."

Dr. Jones huffed and then hung up the phone. I turned to my mom and told her the news, "Emile is keeping the baby."

My mom's face lit up with delight. "That's wonderful news, Dickinson! I'm so happy." She said as she beamed a smile. As we drove home, I couldn't help but think about the road ahead. Emile was going to have a baby, and I had a lot of making up to do. I knew it would take time, but I was willing to do whatever it takes to be a part of my child's life and to make things right with Emile.

I stood in front of my closet, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me. I had a lot of office work to do, but my mind was preoccupied with other things. My secretary had called me earlier and informed me of the pile of work waiting for me in the office, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

I quickly grabbed a navy blue suit and matching tie, feeling a sense of detachment as I dressed. I knew my mom would question me when I came downstairs, but I couldn't bring myself to think about that yet. I passed through the living room, my mom looked up at me. "Where are you going?" she asked looking up from filling her nails.

I was dressed in a tailored navy blue suit with a crisp white shirt, and a matching tie. I looked professional, but my mom could tell something was different. "You're not dressed for work, are you? Where are you going?" she asked.

I replied, "I can always delegate someone to do the work. I have something more important to take care of today".

I knew I couldn't tell her the truth, that I couldn't bear to sit in my office and pretend like everything was okay.

"It's just something I need to take care of," I repeated, avoiding her gaze. I grabbed my keys and headed out the door, not wanting to have this conversation anymore.

I made a brief stop at my office to sign the last document of a contract and dropped it on my Secretary desk on my way out.

As I walked out of my office, my secretary called out to me, "Mr. Dickinson, there's a paper that needs your signature." I groaned inwardly, not in the mood for paperwork.

But, I knew it was something that needed to be done, so I walked over to her desk and signed the paper, handing it back to her as I prepared to leave.

"If anyone comes looking for me, just let them know I'm not available," I told my secretary as I walked out of the office.

I made my way to Emile's house, feeling a mix of nerves and guilt. Emile's mom greeted me at the door, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of remorse as I apologized to her.

"It's alright," she said, "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."

As I walked into Emile's house, her mom greeted me with a worried expression on her face. "Dickinson, I've been waiting for Emile to return from her stroll. She left a while ago and hasn't come back yet," she said, her voice filled with concern.

I could feel my own worry start to rise. "Did she say where she was going or how long she would be gone?" I asked, trying to remain calm.

Emile's mom shook her head. "No, she didn't. She just said she needed some fresh air and would be back soon," she replied.

I took a deep breath and tried to think of what to do next. "I'll try calling her and see if she answers," I said, pulling out my phone and dialing her number. But it went straight to voicemail.

I could see the concern etched on her face and I knew I had to do something to reassure her. I pulled out my phone again and quickly typed out a message to Emile, telling her that I wanted to speak with her.

"Everything will be fine," I told Emile's mom, trying to sound as confident as possible.

She nodded, but I could see the worry in her eyes. I made a mental note to myself to make sure to speak to Emile as soon as possible and clear up any misunderstandings between us.

I left the house feeling a weight on my shoulders, knowing that I had a lot to make up for.

...Emile POV…

My mom placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, as we stepped into the elevator and headed to the fourth floor. I could feel my anger growing with each passing floor.

As we walked out of the elevator, I saw Dr. Jones waiting for us at the end of the hallway. He greeted us with a warm smile, but I could see the guilt in his eyes. By his side the doctor that injected me when Dr Jones was not around stood by his side.

"Emile, Mrs.," he said, as we approached him. "I want to apologize on behalf of the hospital for the mistake that was made. We understand how difficult this must be for you."

"Difficult?" I exclaimed. "I'm carrying a child that I never wanted and you want to talk about how difficult it is for me?"

Dr. Jones winced at my words. "I understand your frustration, Emile," he said. "But I want to assure you that we will do everything in our power to make this right for you."

"Make it right?"My mom said, "What kind of compensation are you offering for this mistake?"

"We are willing to offer no charge for the pregnancy, from the antenatal to when the child is immunized and compensation and any necessary counseling for Emile," Dr. Jones replied.

"Compensate my foot, you are just helping me keep the baby", I scoffed at him, not mincing words. On His face was an embarrassed as he led my mom and i to his office