“I’ll get a bottle for you,” Kate said, smiling as she passed Jonah.
A few minutes later, Sally cradled Atlas with practiced ease, her eyes filled with tears again. But this time, they seemed…well, not happy, but maybe wistful and loving.
“He has her nose,” she said, almost to herself. “And those little ears…”
Jonah sat on the arm of the couch, watching.
“I miss her every day,” he admitted, his voice low. “She made me laugh. She made me crazy. I didn’t deserve her, but I loved her.”
Sally looked up at him. “I know you two had your differences, but she was certain you had a great future. She loved that you had found your path to the kitchen and being a chef.”
“Still just starting,” he said. “But I promise you, Mrs. Danes, I will?—”
“Please, call me Sally,” she said. “Or Grammie Sal. I always wanted that to be my Grandma name.”
He smiled. “Grammie Sal. That’s what Carly told me we would call you.”
For a moment, they both sighed, holding each other’s gaze. Jonah was aware of Gary watching, and maybe he was warming, too.
The conversation shifted to Jonah’s studies in the culinary program, and the building of this house, and Kate talked more about her father. Eli stepped in and asked Sally about the cross around her neck, and they bonded as Christians.
Finally relaxed, Jonah barely noticed that his phone kept buzzing in his pocket. Standing up to get Gary another soda, he finally pulled it out and looked at the screen.
Meredith:Come up. I need help. Please.
What the…
He glanced around the room, decided not to say anything except excuse himself, and then slowly went upstairs like nothing was wrong.
But…something was wrong.
“Mer?” He knocked once before pushing her door open.
She was on the bed, rolled up, weeping. “I’m bleeding,” she announced on a ragged whisper. “Jonah…I think I’m losing the baby. It hurts.”
He shot toward the bed, arms out, heart freefalling. “Are you sure? Is a little blood normal?”
“It’s more than a little!” she wailed. “And I want this baby!”
“I know you do, I know, Mer Bear.” He stroked her hair, trying to think, trying to prioritize, trying to…not feel cursed again.
Swearing under his breath, he pushed up. “We’ll get you to the ER.”
“But the grandparents…the people.”
“Are fine. But you’re not. You can’t lose this baby, Meredith.”
“I think it’s too late,” she moaned. “I’m sorry to bother you with everything going on.”
“You did the right thing,” he said, though he felt like the world was tilting off its axis again. Another person he loved, another nightmare.
Another sign that he really was cursed.
But he didn’t say it. He just held her quickly, then pulled back, kissed her forehead, and said, “I’ll get Dad. And Kate. And I’ll come with you. Just gimme a sec.”
Downstairs, the room was still full of light and easy conversation. He hated that he had to step into this with yet another tragedy. Hated it.
Taking a breath, he leaned over his father and put a hand on his shoulder. Dad looked up and Jonah didn’t have to say a word.
