Page 68 of Irish Betrayal

She took several deep, slow breaths as the doctor suggested and felt her heart rate slow and soften. “We discussed it after the condom broke. I’ve known Daniel since I was a child. He would stand by me as I would him.”

The nurse who brought her back knocked and poked her head out from behind the door. The doctor told her to come in. She handed Dr. Mitchell the results. As he scanned them, Blair glanced at the nurse, who unfortunately had a brilliant poker face.

Dr Mitchell set the paper aside and spoke to the nurse, but he was looking directly at Blair so she could read his lips.

“Kate, Miss Barr is going to need an ultrasound and the new mom packet of goodies.” Then he clasped one of her white-knuckled fists and patted her hand. “Congratulations, Blair. I have a feeling you and your Daniel are going to be brilliant parents.”

thirty-one

PETER

Blair was at the student clinic for over an hour. Peter followed her at a distance, hoping she might have been going into town where he could have approached her.

He was simultaneously worried for her health and furious. This had been the longest stint since she’d started full time at Trinity that they’d gone without seeing one another.

He was also furious because of the call he received on the way.

“Peter Samson?”

“Yes.”

“This is Helen Thompson. Human Resource Director at Trinity. I’m afraid your sabbatical has been revoked. You need to return to Dublin immediately. Oklahoma State University has been notified.”

Peter was dumbfounded. “I’m not sure I understand. I received permission in advance.” He tried to keep the exasperation out of his voice while he parked behind a medical supply delivery truck in the clinic parking lot.

“That’s been revoked, Dr. Samson. Your questions should be directed to the department head, Vicki Fink. She expects you in her office within five days.”

“And if I’m not?”

“Your position at Trinity will be in jeopardy,” she said, with little to no emotion.

“Fuck them. Five days,” Peter ranted inside his car. “Screw that.” He couldn’t leave until he had Blair back. He needed her. Over the years, she had become everything that was good.

He mentally flagellated himself yet again for scaring her, but there was still hope.

There was always hope.

Finally, Blair exited the clinic, and she looked…scared.

Peter wanted to go to her and soothe her worries as only he could. She would lean into him and smell his cologne that she loved, trusting him to fix her woes.

She stood next to her Jeep holding a medium-sized plastic bag, the flimsy handles wrinkled in her palms.

“What is troubling you, my girl?” he asked into the silence.

The annoying buzz of his phone briefly drew his attention from the red-haired siren.

His mistake was answering without checking the caller ID.

“Samson,” he answered, his attention on watching which direction Blair was headed. East. Back to the main campus parking.

“Dr. Samson, this is Lila White. I work HR for OSU. Your contract with us has been canceled. Your duties for Botany 101 have been reassigned.”

Peter felt heat wash over his body. “What the hell is going on?”

A call from both universities within an hour was no coincidence. His gaze traveled to the Jeep he was trailing.

“Your final paycheck will be at the Financial Services department by eight tomorrow morning.”