arenting magazines. I sat with my hands folded over my stomach, trying to

ly on time, carryi

e one. "With cream, no sugar.

hen I realized he probably didn't remember; h

e," I'd said. "Caff

rom the coffee shop downstairs yesterday when I, " He stopp

e cup anyway because it was warm and

stems I didn't have anymore. My mother was dead. My father was dead. My friends from before the marriage had slowly drifted

A nurse appeare

d Julian st

it here,

t to c

lia

in his mouth. "I won't say anything

fear. It made him look younger, less like the corporate titan and more like the ma

t you sit in the co

mages of babies covering one wall. She smiled when she

ssure first," she said, wra

b. One-forty over ninety-f

ny headaches? Vision changes?

ed. "And headaches, but I

erned." She made notes in my chart. "Let's do an ultrasoun

behind me. The ultrasound wand pressed against my skin, and suddenly

the screen. "Good strong heartbeat. Movemen

ian's voic

dn't know. "Yes," I

ee Julian's face; I didn't want to. This wasn't supposed to

adia, your blood pressure is a concern. I want to see you twice a week now instea

rly?" I

preeclampsia, we might need to deliver sooner to protect both of you." She looked between Julian and

ine," I sa

an spoke before I could pr

" I

ad

ve us a moment?" Dr. Chen'

and I could b

r. Chen said. "

bled out. "He doesn't actually care about her or me. He cares about his company. His gr

r a moment. "And how

six years trying to make him love me, and I failed. Now he's back,

ed support, whether that's from him or someone else." She sque

though I had no i

ting room when I emerged.

did sh

monitor my blood pressure." I he

ire a nurse. Someone to stay

need a ba

gently, and I stopped. "Nadia, p

you're being a responsible father? So you can

n the street turned to stare. "Because the thought of you alone in that apartment, sick, wi

never heard Julian Ashford raise hi

ieve you," I

own him. "I know I have no right to ask for anything from you. But I'm asking anyway. Le

? When do you have what yo

saw the truth in his

I know I can't lose you both bef

m my landlord. *Rent's due.

arance, I'd completely forgotten to pay rent. My bank account was al

my face. "W

my phone in my poc

ad

stress and the morning's appointment caught up with me.

my knees buckled. "Hey, hey

" I managed.

ulled out his phone. "I

fford it," I stopped, humilia

s arm around my waist. When had he

at you need

I existed. This man who was here now only because he needed something fr

grandmother hadn't died, if you didn't need this b

o long, I thought

y not. And I'll have to live wi

t he wa

I said. "And the

ed. "What if I