“I suggest you be careful, Rebecca. You think I don’t have the necessary evidence to send to your precious club? I do, and they can find out just want a spiteful little cunt you are.”

****

“She’s not dead?” Bishop asked, entering the room.

Preacher looked up at his son and shook his head. “She’s not dead. If you look closely you can still see her breathing.”

“I … had no idea this could happen.” Bishop stepped up to the bed, and as he did, Preacher let go of her hand so he wouldn’t see.

“What do you mean?”

“I know I didn’t want her to be pregnant, but I didn’t want any of what happened between the two of you to have happened, you know. Robin’s going to be heartbroken.”

Preacher stayed silent. There was no need to confirm what happened.

“What are you going to do?” Bishop asked.

“What I have to.”

“What is going to happen to Robin now? Will she stay with us? Go back home?”

“You’re both still married. I guess that’s between the two of you.” He noticed his son never wore a wedding band. “Why don’t you wear one?”

He had Robin’s on a chain around his neck. He’d taken it off her while they led her into the surgery.

“It’s here,” he said, pointing to his chain around his neck. “I never wear it I guess because it had never seemed real.”

“You’re married to her, so why can’t it seem real?”

“We’ve never been together.”

“Son. Not everything is about sex. It takes more than fucking to be married.”

“How would you know? You’ve never been married.”

“You’re right, I’ve never been married, but I’ve been witness to many married couples and believe me, you need more than good sex to stay together. I need to get some air.” He got to his feet. If he stayed in the room with Bishop for another moment, he’d kill the kid, and it wouldn’t be pretty. “Will you stay here or run out when I need you to be here?”

“I’ll stay,” Bishop said. He took the seat beside her. “You can count on me.”

“That would be a fucking first,” Preacher said, leaving the room.

He walked down the long corridor, passing nurses, doctors, and other medical staff. He stood at the vending machine, looking at the coffees on offer or the hot chocolate. None of them appealed to him, but he needed to stay awake. He could sleep when he knew Robin was okay.

“I can recommend the plain coffee with sugar,” Randall said.

“What are you still doing here?”