The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 59

For some people, money erased all trace of humanity.

Ignoring the stinging pain in her neck, Suzie slowly moved the scalpel a little further away. Leaning one hand on the edge of the operating table for support, she spoke, her voice low and broken. “If you save my children today, you’ll be doing the right thing. In the future, I will bring them back to thank you. You’ll be my saviors.”

Her voice trembled so violently she could barely finish the sentence. She knew her words might be useless, but she was desperate to appeal to their compassion, to appeal to whatever conscience they had left as doctors.

Seeing that they were all keeping a cautious distance, she slowly began to lower her guard.

The female doctor spoke again. “Don’t get too emotional, it could harm the babies. Why don’t you sit down in that chair and rest for a moment? Let me come over and treat your wound, is that okay?”

Suzie immediately shook her head. She grabbed a piece of gauze from a nearby medical tray and gently pressed it against the cut on her neck.

And so they waited. The staff stood at the foot of the bed while Suzie sat in a chair beside it. They remained in a tense stalemate until the scheduled surgery time had elapsed. Only then did Suzie signal for them to turn off the lights and open the door.

As the OR lights went dark, the knot of terror in Suzie’s chest finally began to loosen. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks.

She cradled her stomach, her voice a choked whisper. “My babies... we made it.”

Before the door was opened, the middle-aged doctor spoke to her in a warm, low voice. “I don’t know if Mr. Baylor will come in, but you should probably lie on the table, just to look like you’ve just come out of surgery.”

Suzie looked up, her face streaked with tears. After a moment’s hesitation, she clutched the scalpel and climbed onto the operating table.

As the doctor came over to cover her with a sheet, Suzie’s eyes remained fixed on her, still wary.

Only when she was certain the woman’s kindness was genuine did Suzie slowly slip a bracelet from her wrist and press it into the doctor’s hand. “This belongs to Richard. Keep it. If Jamie gives you trouble, show this to him. He’ll leave you alone.”

Her laughter stopped abruptly. A playful, mocking look entered her eyes. “Jamie… for three babies, is there enough on that card?”

“It’s enough for your recovery,” he said flatly.

“Is it?” she taunted. “Is it enough to pay for what you’ve done?”

Jamie paused for a split second, his eyes glancing at her stomach before he changed the subject. “I told the doctors to get the anesthesia right. It didn’t hurt, did it? Are you feeling any other discomfort?”

Suzie laughed again, this time silently, a laugh filled with pure contempt.

When she was finished, she lay there, staring at him with empty eyes. “Jamie,” she said, her voice slow and deliberate, “after this, we are sworn enemies. Now, get the hell out of here!”