“Hey, buddy, there’s someone here who’s been asking for you.” His tone is gentle now as he speaks to Noah.
Noah lifts his head from where he’s buried it against Copper’s neck. His cheeks are flushed from crying, and his eyes are glassy from whatever meds they’ve got him on.
“Bee,” he whispers brokenly.
I hold my arms out for him.
Copper places him carefully on my bed, reminding him, “Gently, okay? You’re both hurt.”
Noah nods, but he doesn’t settle until his head is on my chest, his tears soaking through my gown. “Don’t leave me,” he whispers.
“Never,” I whisper, pressing my lips to his head. “I’m never leaving you.”
“’Kay,” he sighs, relaxing. A few seconds later, he’s sound asleep.
The nurse stands in the doorway, muttering about protocols.
Until Dad has had enough. “Do you know who we are?” Dad demands.
The nurse’s eyes widen when she sees Dad cut.
“That’s right. We donate a lot of money to this hospital. In fact, the new children’s wing was funded and built by the woman lying in that bed.” Dad jabs a finger in my direction. “So, if she wants her child with her, she can bloody well have her child with her. If you have an issue with protocols, I suggest you take it up with Dr Rea Davies, or better still, with the man behind you, Kane Crow.”
Reaper appears in my doorway, and his eyes soften as he sees the boy snuggled against my chest. “I’ll sort it so he can stay with you, Bella.”
It will take my family a while to get used to calling me Bee, but I can live with it for now.
“Thank you, Reaper.”
I’m exhausted. I need to sleep, but I know I won’t until the man hovering at the end of my bed, looking like he wants to punch someone, is lying next to me.
“Copper.”
He looks at me. I pat the bed next to me. He knows what I’m asking, what I need, without my having to say anything. And I know it will go a long way in relaxing him. He needs to rest, too. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but we’ll manage.
Copper removes his boots and climbs onto the bed with us. He slides his arm under my head, so my face is pressed against his neck. I breathe him in. His scent is more effective than any of the painkillers they’ve given me as I melt into him.
“Thank you,” I whisper as his other arm wraps around Noah and me.
Copper presses his lips to my head. “No thanks necessary, Bee. I’ll always make sure you’re cared for.”
Sleep tugs at me now that he’s with me. “Cop?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Our mums are both called Maggie.”
“They are,” he whispers, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
“If we have a little girl, can we call her Maggie?”
My mum sobs.
My dad mutters, “Fuck.”
And from the doorway, I hear a soft, “Oh, Bella.”
I turn to see Copper’s parents.
