Page 47 of Medical Malpractice

If anything, Austin got a bit exasperated from all the attention his younger siblings doted on him. He was the cool big brother everyone wanted to follow. At first, he found the idea grand, which soon staled when he was weighed down by the burden of popularity.

The only source of unease was between Leonardo and Owen, Austin’s adoptive father. It wasn’t hostility, but more an underlying awareness of how to navigate their roles as dads moving forward.

They soon took a stroll together, leaving Alexis and I with the two youngest, splashing around in the shallows.

“Do you think they’ll be okay?” she asked, gnawing on her bottom lip in concern.

I stared after their retreating backs, knowing they’d come back reassured and settled, purely for the sake of their son.

“Yes, I think they’ll be okay.”

I was right. The two males had returned smiling, finding a common interest and love in their professions. Owen was a respected physiotherapist who specialised in neurological conditions, which happened to be my husband’s field of expertise.

Despite Alexis and Owen being over a decade younger than us, they were mature for their ages, insightful in their views and had shown grace as we navigated our way towards a new normal.

Our families surprisingly clicked well, and I was glad to know Austin was brought up in such a supportive community. It made me optimistic for the future.

After a quick dinner and a bath, the girls fell asleep immediately, exhausted after a big day of play.

As I came out of Celeste’s room, Leonardo hovered in the kitchen, hands digging deep in his pockets as he stared off into space.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, switching on the coffee machine.

He chuckled before shaking his head in disbelief. “Okay? It’s more than okay. Today was… magnificent. Seeing my son alongside his sisters. God, I thought my heart was going to burst.”

I prepared my hot drink, avoiding his gaze, avoiding the overbearing emotion. “It seemed to be a success.”

“Mm... And how are you, Ella?”

My head shot up then, catching his grey gaze on me, penetrating and inescapable. “I just want to check in with you after today. I know it was a lot,” he said.

“My feelings are void in this. I’m glad—”

“Like hell they are. You are my wife, Ella. And you have every right to feel any type of way about this scenario.”

I closed my eyes, slumping back against the bench as I calibrated my thoughts. I felt conflicted. Not necessarily angry or frustrated, just dog-tired. I’d hit my emotional quota for the day, and my energy was waning.

“It doesn’t matter,” I murmured, barely coherent.

I was unsure on how long I stood there, mute. But I was coaxed back by warm, sure hands that softly sifted through my hair, just the way I liked.

“I’m here, Ella. Talk to me, darling. About anything. Tell me how you feel. Tell me what you’re thinking. Rant at me, call me names, cuss me out, lay everything on me. I can take it. You matter. You’ve always mattered.”

I don’t want to talk right now. I don’t think I can. “Not… Not yet,” I managed to say in a broken whisper.

“Not yet is better than never, so I’ll take it.”

I continued to keep my lids fully shut and concentrated on my breathing. I was so overwhelmed and overstimulated that I didn’t have anything else to spare.

Leonardo had always been able to read me—my deepest wants, my incessant needs. And at that moment, I desperately wanted to be alone.

“I’ll leave you now, but before I do, I want to say thank you, Ella. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I was a fool to ever doubt you. You are the most gracious, kind-hearted, empathetic woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Just promise me that you’ll call if you need me. Anytime, anywhere, I’ll come running.”

I felt his fingers affectionately stroke the pendant at my throat—the one he’d gifted me so long ago. Then the soft impression of his lips lightly pressed against my forehead.

“Sleep well, darling. I love you.”

Chapter 27