“Of course we can. As long as you’ve come to see that you were wrong.” Her heart fell. “We’ve always stood up together for lobotomy—in the beginning when the medical community spouted that ridiculous nonsense about it altering the essence of what made a man a human being; when your father accused me of being medieval in my approach; even when Edward grew so jealous that he made up lies about me and my method. You were always there by my side. That’s why I cannot understand what has happened now.”
“Robert.” She tentatively took his hand, devastated over the loss of all she had believed to be true and, at the same time, sad and sorry for this man who had grown so deluded he couldn’t discern fact from his carefully crafted fiction. The winds hadn’t simply shifted whimsically away from lobotomy. “I read files while you were gone—Deena Rice, Sam Orenbluth—and what you’re doing isn’t just failing, it’s medical malpractice.” She watched his face turn to stone. “I will stand by you and we can find our way through this together, but you must promise to stop, now. Forever.”
“Are you mad?” he yelled, snapping his hand away from hers and standing up. “You read my files? My private patient records? Why, I could sue you for that breach.”
“Sue me? Robert, don’t you see that your career is already over? You’re going to lose your license, possibly go to jail. Your reputation, mine, the hospital’s—it will be destroyed. All the good we have done, obliterated by your recklessness.
“I can’t help you undo this, but I can help you move on. We can build a new life, together.” She wasn’t sure if she would be able to, but she desperately wanted to believe that it was possible. That she could still love him. That they could weather this hideous storm together.
“You manipulative bitch! While I was in the city thinking of the best way to make amends with you, you’ve been trespassing in my office, reading my files, building a false case against my work.”
“It is not a false case,” she said in a voice steely with determination. “You are ruining lives and preparing to ruin more.”
“Ruining lives?”
“And in the end, that’s all you’ll be known for—” She stood, drawing back her shoulders and lifting her chest to square off with him at her full height. As soon as they locked eyes, she saw her mistake. He was out of control. Beyond reason. Her eyes darted toward the door, hoping to escape, but it was too late.
“Enough!” he bellowed, smacking her across the face with his full force.
She fell hard to the floor.
“Once and for all, shut your goddamned mouth! You’re not a doctor, and as soon as I report your breach to the hospital’s board, I suspect you’ll no longer be an administrator. And, once I retain a lawyer, you’ll no longer be my wife.”
Robert turned and stormed out of the room. He didn’t even turn back to see that his blow had left Ruth knocked out cold.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Frank’s foot bounced as he sat on the bench outside the doctor’s office. “What’s taking him so long? Didn’t you have an appointment ten minutes ago?”
“He’s usually very punctual. He did call personally last night to confirm this appointment.”
Just then Dr. Apter opened the door. “Mr. Baxter, so good to see you. Maggie should be ready to be taken home in an hour.”
Margaret was surprised by his appearance. Usually, he was well coiffed and calm, yet today, his hair was wild, his tie was askew, even his eyebrows were a mess—like an absentminded grandpa. She almost giggled at the absurdity of it.
“We want to speak to you together,” Frank said as he pushed past Robert and into his office, Margaret trailing behind him. “This won’t take long.”