Chapter 76: Settling In

A few minutes later, there was a knock on their bedroom door. Julien opened it and Dr. Silva was standing there. "Well? What did the test say?" The doctor sat in the chair next to the bed, looking more like a kind friend than a doctor.

Lacey forced a smile. "I'm not pregnant." Then she bit her lower lip and released it. "So, do you think I have appendicitis?"

"I think you really need to rest." Dr. Silva sighed, his eyebrows pulling together in concern. "But I'll tell you what. Right now, you don't have a fever and you're not vomiting, so let's get an IV in you and see if the fluids will help. Then if you're not better by morning, we'll take you to the hospital for a possible appendectomy."

Julien looked at her and raised his eyebrows, silently asking her permission.

Lacey nodded. "Yes, that's fine."

It was time that she started being brave. She had learned a long time ago that she needed to be the one to save herself. But now she had Julien. And whether he was with her or not, she had