‘He told me.’ The enthusiasm in her face dimmed, and she became very interested in smoothing down the lapels of his jacket. ‘He actually said that if I was interested in a new career, he would like to hire me.’
‘Really? I told you he was impressed.’ But he wondered why she didn’t look happier, why, if anything, she looked uneasy. ‘Are you interested?’
She hesitated, conflict written all over her face. ‘I mean…working in the art world has always been my dream, but I’d resigned myself to it not happening. And now that we have a baby on the way… I want to be there to raise them and I know you want that too…’
His brow drew together. Was he the reason she was hesitant? Did she think he would prevent her from taking a job she so clearly wanted? But then again, after all those years of her stepmother, how could she not…
‘What I want,’ he began, speaking around the lump that had formed in his throat, because he hated that she even considered it a possibility that he would hold her back, ‘is for you to be happy and to have everything you desire. I meant it when I said I didn’t want to control you. And you’ve missed out on too much already to not take advantage of this opportunity.’
Her eyes searched his. ‘Do you really mean that?’ she asked, looking so hopeful and yet so frightened to hope.
‘I do.’
Caleb hadn’t even got the words out before she threw her arms around him and held on so tightly that he could feel the exaggerated beats of her heart. He smiled at her happiness, thrilled to be the source of it…but when exactly had her happiness become quite so important to him? More important, it seemed, than all else.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Content.
That was what Serena felt when she woke the following morning. It had been so long since she’d felt anything close to it that it took a moment to identify, but she smiled as she did. Because she was happy—as happy as she could ever remember being. Over the years she had learned to draw fulfilment from what she was fortunate to have in her life, like her brother and sister, and her evenings painting, but she hadn’t been happy. But now it seemed as if her life was falling into place. Kit and Alexis were happy and cared for, her pregnancy was on the verge of entering its second trimester where the risk of miscarriage lessened, Caleb was proving to be a wonderful partner and she had just been offered her dream job.
She’d wanted to tell Caleb about the offer as soon as Roberto had made it, but she’d been wary—what if he didn’t like the idea, after all she knew it mattered to him that their child wasn’t left in the care of others? But he had been so supportive and encouraging, and that had touched her heart in ways she couldn’t even explain.
Stretching out to find his warm body, she was disappointed when she didn’t, only then remembering that the beach club was having an inspection and so he was leaving earlier than usual. He emerged from the dressing room, straightening the cuffs on his jacket, and Serena threw back the bedcovers, rising to wish him luck, but Caleb had gone still, his eyes fixed on something on the bed.
‘What is it? What’s wrong?’
She turned to see what had frozen his expression and felt ice course through her own veins as her eyes took in the red stain on the sheets.Blood. Her heart lurched and slowly, terror twisting its way around her, she lowered her eyes to her legs, gasping at the streaks of blood there too.
Her heart listed in her chest.
It was happening again.
The wait to find out what was happening was interminable.
Fear rattled in Serena’s chest with every breath that she drew, the worst-case scenario unspooling in her mind on a loop as the jagged memories that had finally been fading from her mind returned with furious vengeance. Was this another baby she was destined to never know, another loss to be etched on her heart?
The only thing stopping her from falling apart completely was the pressure of Caleb’s hand around hers, the knowledge that she wasn’t on her own and didn’t have to navigate the nightmare alone, as she had last time.
He hadn’t wasted a second to spring into action back at the villa, guiding her to the car and driving to the hospital as if hellhounds were on his heels. He hadn’t left her side, hadn’t once let go of her hand, even as all she could do was stare at the blank wall opposite, her mind trapped somewhere between the past and the present and too scared of what the imminent future could hold to want to get there. For a moment there she had been really, truly happy. Excited for all of her tomorrows…
But wasn’t this why she was so wary of happiness? Because she knew it never lasted. That eventually it always came crashing down.
A tear rolled down her cheek, and before she could swipe it away, Caleb did, moving from his chair to sit on the edge of the bed, taking her face in his hands. ‘Hey. We don’t know that there is anything wrong. There is every chance that everything is fine…’
‘Please don’t say that.’ She couldn’t hear those words. Couldn’t let that injection of hope into her mind or her heart, not when she knew how hope turned so easily to ashes. ‘Please don’t tell me that everything is going to be OK, when you can’t possibly know that.’
‘OK.’ He nodded, his eyes serious. ‘How about I just tell you that whatever is happening, we’ll deal with it together.’
Would they though?
Even as she sank into the warm, cocooning embrace of his arms, comforted by his strong presence and grateful for it, she couldn’t help but fret over how long she would have him if the worst was happening. They had only married because she was pregnant, so what would happen if there was no longer a baby? Would the fact that they had grown so close hold any power? She knew he cared for her. She’d felt it…but as much as he gave with his body, he’d offered no words or promises to back up the actions. He had been clear their marriage was not an emotional affair and was primarily to safeguard their child’s future. So, if there was no longer a baby…
It was on the tip of her tongue to voice her fears when the door opened and the doctor entered. Caleb held her hand tightly in his as she was examined, holding her eyes with his own, promising that she wasn’t alone.But for how long?
‘You and your baby are perfectly fine, Madame Morgenthau,’ the doctor announced after a series of tests.
‘You’re sure?’ Caleb demanded of him urgently, leaving no doubt that he had been as fearful for the well-being of their baby as she had.
