One You Never Leave by Lexy Timms

the fuck? Evan? Here? His hands formed a tight knot in Emily’s hair. That was it. He was taking his wife home, doctor or no doctor.
    Emily was crying harder now, Luke apparently being no comfort to her.
    “He, he said he was going to sue us for getting injured on your property, bankrupt us.”
    Luke scoffed. “Sweetie, is that what frightened you?” He lifted her head with his fingers and looked into her blue eyes. “Gee,” he said with a smile, trying to get her to smile back, “we have bigger problems than that. He’ll have to get in line if he wants to do some damage.”
    Emily swallowed hard. “He thinks that when you get deported, he and I will get back together.”
    “Baby, baby,” said Luke, clutching her tightly. “I’m never going to leave you. I can’t. I love you too damn much. I don’t care what the government does or what happens down the road. We’ll be together.”
    “I know it,” she said, drawing a deep, ragged breath to control her tears. “It’s just that he’s crazy and I don’t know what he’ll do next.”
    Luke wanted to find that jerk and pound him into the ground for upsetting his wife. Of course, that would get Luke arrested and make things worse for him and Emily, but the satisfaction of seeing that man’s face bleed was almost worth it. “I won’t leave you again despite what the hospital says. They’ll have to get security to drag me out of here.”
    As if to underscore that Luke wasn’t supposed to be here this early in the morning, Evelyn swept into the room and then stopped short. She looked Luke up and down.
    “This is my husband, Luke,” said Emily nervously.
    “Nice to meet you, Mr. Wade,” said Evelyn, “but you’re a little early for visiting hours.”
    “Who do I make a complaint to?” said Luke.
    “Complaint?” said Evelyn.
    “Yes, my wife’s ex was in here this morning and upset her. There’s a restraining order against him.”
    “What happened?”
    “Just that,” said Luke.
    “He’s an orderly here at the hospital,” said Emily.
    “What’s his name?” said Evelyn.
    “Evan Waters,” replied Luke. His jaw clenched when he said the name.
    “Evan, yeah I’ve seen him around,” said Evelyn. “He doesn’t seem like a bad guy.”
    “Believe me, you don’t know him. He caused a lot of trouble for my wife and was arrested for it.”
    “I see,” said Evelyn. “I’ll make a report to my supervisor and she’ll talk to his boss about not coming to your room again. But first things first. Here is some ibuprofen for your headache and something for your blood pressure. Your doctor was called away for an emergency delivery, so the resident will be in to check on you.”
    “I see,” said Emily. Luke watched her spirits sink and he squeezed her hand. “So I’m not going home today.”
    Evelyn gave a professional smile. “It’s up to the doctor, but yours wants some tests done to see how the baby is doing. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go home today; just not right now. Are you done with this?” She pointed to the uneaten food on Emily’s tray.
    “Yes. I can’t possibly eat it.”
    Evelyn picked up the cover to the food. “I see what you mean. I’ll go zap the eggs a second and get you some fresh toast. I hate soggy toast too. I’ll be back in a minute.” She left, toting the plate.
    “I think that’s her middle name.”
    “What?” said Luke. He was distracted by his thoughts of what punishment he’d like to heap on Evan Waters.
    “‘I’ll be back in minute.’ I’ve never seen a woman move so fast.”
    A knock sounded on Evelyn’s door and Amanda Dougherty stepped in, carrying a paper bag.
    “Hi, honey. Hello, Luke.” She went to the opposite side of the hospital bed and gave Emily a kiss. “Here; I brought you something.”
    “What?” said Emily.
    “As it happens, I made some donuts.”
    “Donuts?” said Luke.
    “Yeah,” said Emily excitedly. “She makes them for… oh, Mom, it’s Dad’s birthday,