entless attention. He brought me flowers every day: peonies on Monday, tulips on Tuesda

mes came home from each session quieter than usu

ning as we lay in bed, his hand making gentle circles on my

ng of his touch rather than the

with Zoe?" he asked,

ul for the shift. "She'

ell her abo

itated

r thing?" His voice dropped lower

e was nothing to tell. It

e mine. "Thank you for

the darkness. "Just do

James's voice drifting from his home office. I pulled on my

ipped and professional, his business voice. "The

to the kitchen when his n

Why would she? She's too caught

ainst my ribs. Who was he talk

sks," he continued. "But t

open before I could

d to his ear. His expression shifted from surprise to

r end, hanging up without waiting for a response. "Good m

ing the tremor in my voice.

forehead. "Just business, sweetheart. A new develo

on't I s

been planning for your birthday next month. O

ul real estate developer; secretive phone calls were part of hi

nease crawl b

n creasing his brow. "Are you fee

tomach lurched. I barely mad

s's presence behind me. His hand gathered

like this," he murmu

inst the cool tile wall. James dampened

u," I mana

arrying our miracle. The least I can do

ing to my eyes. This was the man I'd fallen

ed to lie down

kets around me like I was something preciou

ou hiding some

y before sitting on the edge of t

You seem... di

you. About the baby. After everything we've been thro

de my suspicions seem foolish

id, bringing my hand to his lips. "Just l

taring at the ceiling. My hand drifted

one?" I whispered. "Is you

ce offered

n, my phone chimed w

e. Don't wait up for

began, we'd made a point of eating dinner together every night, no matter how

oom tilted sideways, my vision blurring at the edges. I grab

n, my last coherent t