Chapter 7
The hospital.
Vincent.
Vanessa.
The argument.
And—
“Noah.”
Claire tried to sit up.
Pain shot through her body.
A nurse hurried toward her.
“Mrs. Moretti, please.”
“My babies.”
“Emma is with your sister.”
“Noah?”
The hesitation was enough.
Claire’s heart began pounding.
“Where is Noah?”
“Claire.”
Her sister, Rachel, appeared at the doorway holding Emma against her shoulder.
Claire’s eyes immediately searched behind her.
“Where’s Noah?”
Rachel’s face broke.
Claire ripped the oxygen cannula from beneath her nose.
“Where is my son?”
“He had a complication.”
“What complication?”
“They took him to surgery.”
“No.”
“Claire—”
“No.”
She threw the blanket aside.
The nurse moved forward.
“You cannot get out of bed.”
“That is my baby.”
“You’re still recovering.”
“I don’t care.”
“Claire.”
The voice came from the doorway.
Deep.
Familiar.
Claire froze.
Vincent stood there.
His coat was open.
His tie was gone.
For perhaps the first time in all the years she had known him, Vincent Moretti looked genuinely afraid.
Not angry.
Not controlled.
Afraid.
Claire’s face hardened.
“You.”
Vincent stepped inside.
Rachel moved instinctively closer to Claire.
Vincent stopped several feet from the bed.
“Where is he?” Claire demanded.
“Operating room three.”
“You saw him?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Five minutes ago.”
Claire’s voice trembled.
“Was he awake?”
Vincent swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Was he crying?”
“No.”
That somehow hurt worse.
Claire covered her mouth.
Vincent continued quietly.
“He was looking around. One of the nurses gave him a small blue blanket.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
“The one with the whales?”
Vincent nodded.
“He kept holding the corner.”
Claire broke.
A sob escaped her.
Rachel put Emma carefully into Claire’s arms.
Claire pressed her daughter against her chest and cried into her soft hair.
Vincent stood motionless.
He wanted to cross the room.
Wanted to hold Claire.
Wanted to touch Emma.
Wanted to tell her Noah would be fine.
But he had no right to promise anything.
And perhaps no right to touch any of them.
So he remained where he was.
After several minutes, Claire finally looked at him.
“Why are you here?”
The question was quiet.
That made it worse.
Vincent answered truthfully.
“Because I know.”
Claire went still.
“Know what?”
“Everything.”
Her eyes changed.
Vincent continued.
“The notifications.”
Claire stared at him.
“The certified letter.”
Her grip tightened around Emma.
“The birth announcement.”
Claire’s lips parted.
“The pediatric acknowledgment.”
Now tears stood in her eyes for an entirely different reason.