Divorced! Now what?
Chapter 118

Bethany POV

The thrill of bringing new life into the world always stays young. I do love that side of medicine. However, that is not my calling. Mine was to try and find a compound that won't be rejected and can expand a little, so the poor child does not have to have so many operations in their little lives. It is a terrible thing for a child to be born with a heart condition, one that is only fixed by many operations until they are adults and the heart stops growing. That is where my research comes in: making reliable hearts so one does not have to wait for someone to die before they get the heart they need.

By the time I was up and ready to leave for the den, no one had come home from the hospital, so I called Dad to find out if he was and if he was going to come at all. He was so excited about being with Thomas, Judy, and the baby.

'Hey, Bethany, what is up?' He sounded tired as if he should have been if he had not gone to bed. Napping in a chair is not really sleeping, and he is not young anymore.

'Are you coming to the den? Or staying at the hospital with the new family?' I did not mind if he stayed with Thomas. I would be there, too, if I did not feel I would be overcrowding them. They already had the maximum number of people allowed in the room. 'Staying here, you don't mind, do you?'

'Dad, you need to be where you need to be. Don't feel bad about missing one day. I would have come too, but you don't need me in there; someone would have to leave the room to let me in, and those that need to be in there are!'

'I understand; you did a good job; by the way, the doctors and nurses here praise your work. He was boasting again. I could tell he loved to put me on a pedestal, one I do not think I should be on.

'I will send your regards to Hank and Kitty.' We chatted a bit longer about weight, size, and other things that were on his mind, and I was happy to listen as I sat in the back of the SUV, keeping my mind off the road. I am not ready to drive yet. You should ask Scott about driver training before I return to the wheel.

Theo informed the family about what happened at the birth, and I provided them with the baby's size and weight. The baby was named after Dad.

'Is that why your Dad is not here? He was at the hospital holding mini Bob?' Kitty giggled, and Margaret and Cindy arrived in time for all the news to be repeated.

The den was different without Dad there. It had been a while since I celebrated the game with others, which had not included my Dad being there. I genuinely hope he gets to spend more time with Thomas and his little growing family; the three of us used to be closer and somewhere along the line. Wendy chased him away. I am sad that I had not noticed her doing it. I was too busy at the time, getting my doctor's degree, and missed out on seeing my brother at a critical time in his life. I hope he knew I supported him with his life choices.

'Bethany, the lass, is out of hospital and back home. She has her family with her to support her, and the courts have put the man in jail. She can get a divorce from him. Now he is in jail. It has made it easier. I believe she will sell the house and move in with her sister. Until she gets her life back in some order, she will need a lot of therapy before she trusts again! Kitty said casually as if it was nothing, but I know it meant more to her than the light way she talked about it; maybe it was her way of coping with all the hurt she sees all the time. It's a different kind of hurt than what I deal with.

'That is good news. That woman needed to get out of that toxic situation, and now she is out, maybe she will recognize it for what it was. Theo said he wanted so much to castrate that man.

The teams we followed won, but then they were expected to, and I did enjoy the day. Kitty tried to join in, but when you do not love sports like us, she was the odd one out. She did not follow many of the rules and cheered when the wrong team scored. I laughed each time she got it wrong because Hank had to bite his tongue and not say anything negative, and for the first time, I saw the funny side to it and waited with bated breath each time she got it wrong to see how Hank coped with it. 'Time for home, I think, sweetheart. You are yawning! Theo said, nudging me awake.

'Yeah, you are right. Hank and Kitty walked us to the door. I am trying to remember the drive home. I fell asleep, and that was a shock. I had been so uptight when in a car. If you had said I would fall asleep, I would not have believed you.

When I woke, it was morning, and I was in my bed. Theo must have carried me to our bed, and he was still asleep next to me. The phone was ringing next to me. Theo would have placed it there. I quickly grabbed it and rushed out of the room before I woke Theo. 'Hello?' I sounded terrible. It must have been all the screaming on the television yesterday.

'Bethany, it is Jacko!'

'Morning Jacko, is everything alright?'

'I tried to get your father, but his phone was switched off."

'He is still with Thomas, the new baby has been named Bob, and he is enjoying getting lots of love for the new lad.' I said, wondering if he had heard.

'That is wonderful news. He must be proud.

'Yeah, he is. Can I help you with anything?'

'Are you alone?'

'No, Theo is still in bed. Something is wrong.'

'Wendy was beaten up last night, and one of the women managed to sneak in a knife. I am sorry, but Wendy did not make it.' That was not the sort of news I had expected. 'Cynthia?'

'Still in surgery. Last I heard. They had both been beaten up a few times since being there. We have no idea why, but one of the women somehow was armed, and late last night, she stabbed both women repeatedly. I think it had something to do with the wedding group, but we are still piecing it together. I think one of the guards got scammed by the woman at one of the hotels and was very angry. I hope to know more soon!

'Thank you. I will let Dad know and call Thomas's phone and get him to put it on speaker. They should both be told.'

'I will leave it in your hands then and keep you posted. We said goodbye, and I contacted Thomas.

'Thomas, are you still in with Judy?'

'No, I am at the cafeteria having breakfast.

'Can you go to a quiet place and put the phone on speaker? Dad needs to hear what I need to say!

'Give me a few. I will call you back. Thomas hung up, and I headed back to the bedroom. Theo was still sleeping, so I nudged him awake.

'What? It is too early.' He grumbled.

'Wake up. I want you to hear this news. I have to tell Dad and Thomas. I may need you to hold me,' I said, fighting back the sob that threatened to take over. He sat up and stared at me, and soon, he was out of bed and pulled me into his arms. I had just gotten myself back under control, and the phone rang.

'Hello?'

'Sweetheart, we are outside on a park bench. Talk to us. Thomas spoke kindly.

'Cynthia and Mum have been beaten up a number of times since they arrived at the sanatorium.'

'I heard this. Jacko has the place under investigation. Dad interrupted me.

'Dad, last night one of the ladies took a knife into the room and, during the night, stabbed both Mum and Cynthia multiple times.

'How are they?'

'Mum did not make it, and Cynthia is still in surgery. Jacko will update us as news comes to hand. I replied, and Theo pulled me closer to him, giving me his love and support.

'Did Jacko say what hospital?

'No, and I did not ask!

'I will call him and get the information, and I will organize the funeral. D, you want to be a part of this?'

'If you need me to be with you as you make the arrangements, I am okay with being with you on this!

'Okay, I will let you know when I need you.'

Dad hung up, and I let out the tears I had been holding out. Theo held me tight, reassuring me that I would get through this.