“You shouldn’t be thanking me.” Luke shook his head. “I was stupid to run off like that. And I should have come sooner, but I was in surgery. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. It all worked out.” Bella traced the rosebud curl of James’s mouth with one fingertip. “I’m just glad we’re all okay.”
“We are. And if you feel up to it, we should talk.”
Dread settled in Bella’s stomach, but she nodded. “Okay. Please put James in his cot.”
Luke gently lifted their baby from her arms and set him in his cot. Then he sat beside Bella on the edge of the bed and took her hands.
“Bella, I am so sorry,” he began.
“You’ve said that.” She smiled in a way she hoped was reassuring.
“I know, but I am. I should never have left you like this. I made a mistake because I was scared. Terrified. After I lost Jenna, it seemed all too easy to lose everyone I care about. I thought it would be easier if we had some distance between us, that I wouldn’t be as scared of losing you. But I realized today that I was an idiot. Just because we aren’t in the same place, doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you.”
“I understand,” Bella said softly. “You lost someone you loved. It makes sense you’d be worried that it would happen again.”
“I might still worry,” Luke admitted. “No, I definitelywill. But I never want to leave your side again. In this life, nothing is guaranteed, but I want to love you and our baby as much as I can, for as long as I can.”
“Love?” Bella asked. This conversation had taken a turn from what she’d expected — she’d thought Luke would repeat what he’d said earlier, about them being co-parents and nothing more.
“Yes.” Luke nodded. “I love you, Bella. I think I have for a long time, even though I was too scared to admit it. You turned my life upside down in the best possible way. I thought I’d live therest of my life apart from everyone, as a kind of surgery hermit.” His lips quirked into a smile, and Bella smiled back. “It seemed easiest to insulate my heart and focus only on work.
“After I met you, though, that became impossible. How can I focus only on work when you’re here? You’re funny and smart and insightful and gorgeous, and you’re the mother of our child. You made me live again, Bella. I will always be grateful for that. And yes, I do love you. I love you so, so much.”
Tears filled Bella’s eyes, and she squeezed Luke’s hands tightly. “I love you, too.”
“You do?” Luke grinned, and it was like the sun coming out.
“I do.” Bella nodded. “The only thing I want is for us to be a family — you, me, and James.Youturnedmylife upside down too. I thought I’d never really trust anyone and that I’d live most of my life alone, as a chef hermit.” She smiled. “It feels good to finally say it. I love you.”
“I know.”
Bella frowned for a split second, then burst into laughter. “Really? AStarWarsreference? Now?”
“I couldn’t help it.” Luke smiled at her. “When you meet my parents, you’ll need to be ready with all yourStar Warsreferences.”
“I will.” Bella smiled back. “But listen, Luke. I just have one request.”
“Okay.” He sat up, his expression serious now. “Anything.”
“Don’t run away again, okay? Don’t bury yourself in work. Parenthood, and being a couple, will be hard on us both.Wonderful, but hard. And the only way through it is if we work together.”
“Absolutely.” Luke squeezed her hands. “I promise, Bella, I’m never going to run away again. In fact, you’re going to have a hard time getting rid of me.”
Bella smiled even wider, her face relaxed, all tension slipping away. “Good.”
“I have one request, too,” Luke said.
“Okay.”
“Can I kiss you? Once you feel well enough.”
“I feel well enough now.”
So, Luke leaned forward and, very gently, brushed his lips across Bella’s. It wasn’t anything like the passionate kisses they’d shared before, as he was clearly being careful not to hurt her, but it was better, somehow. It spoke of promise, of a shared future, and of many more kisses to come.
Just then, James stirred in the cot beside them. Bella held out her arms, and Luke laid James into them, but the baby slept on, his chest rising and falling. Luke and Bella stared down at him for a long time, just watching him sleep.
