“But sir—”
“You know who I am, and I said we’re good. Stand out in the hall if you need to,” Daniel tells them, then picks up his broken phone off the floor, and moves inside, shutting the door.
The room is deathly silent. Daniel coughs a few more times and limps over to sit down in the chair next to the window. We watch as he drags his hands through his hair and pulls at it before smoothing it down.
I join Elizabeth and she reaches for my hand. I take it and hold tight. She then reaches back for Jayson and takes his hand. Julien wraps his arm around his brother’s waist. We stand united in front of Daniel.
“I’m so sorry, Elizabeth. We were going to tell you eventually.”
“Daniel, did I have a baby?”
He nods yes and tears leak from his eyes. I can feel Jayson stiffen even from where I’m standing.
“Where is it?” Jayson asks, his voice raw and pained.
Daniel shakes his head and covers his face with his shaking hands.
“Daniel, where’s my baby?”
“Elizabeth, I’m so sorry.”
Elizabeth’s breath hitches and then she screams at him, “Where’s my baby, Daniel?”
“Elizabeth, she didn’t make it, honey,” he chokes out.
Elizabeth’s legs give out, but Jayson and I have her and pull her to the seat next to her hospital bed.
“She?” Jayson cries out. He falls down to his knees in front of Elizabeth and grabs her fisted hands. They look at each other.
“Oh God,” Daniel sobs. “Oh God.”
Of course, Jayson was the father if Elizabeth was pregnant before her attack. I’m sure Elizabeth and Jay have put two and two together by now.
“We had a daughter,” Jayson whispers brokenly.
Wait. Something doesn’t add up.
“How could Elizabeth have a baby she knew nothing about? She was only in a coma for two months? None of this makes sense,” I tell Daniel. Julien is quiet but I see he agrees with me.
Daniel looks up at Elizabeth, wiping his face with the backs of his hand. “We found out you were three months pregnant when we brought you home. The baby… the doctors weren’t sure if the baby would make it. The trauma you endured. The baby died six weeks after you arrived in Seattle.”
Elizabeth makes a strangled, mewling noise. She tightens her grip convulsively around Jay’s hands. I feel so fucking helpless. I don’t know what to do to comfort her, so I lay my hand on top of hers and Jayson’s.
Daniel continues, “You developed an infection. They had to take the baby out.”
“Where is she, Daniel?”
“We named her Elizabeth Ann after you and your mom. So she would have your name. We didn’t know what else to do. She’s buried in Seattle. We made sure she had a proper burial. We make sure fresh flowers are placed on her grave every week.” Daniel’s pleading eyes meet Elizabeth’s anguished ones. “I promise you, Elizabeth, I swear on my life, that we were going to tell you.”
“You had over a year to tell me, Daniel,” she replies, her voice cold and dead. “I need you to leave. Please just go. I can’t look at you right now.”
Daniel rises, as does Julien, who has been kneeling next to Elizabeth on the other side of his brother.
“Drew and I love you, Elizabeth. You’re like a daughter to us. We would never intentionally hurt you. You have been through so much, sweetheart. We didn’t want to add to your burden until you were strong enough. I hope that one day you’ll understand and be able to forgive us.”
Jay reaches around Elizabeth and buries his head in her lap as they both cry. I’m helpless to stop the tears from falling as well. Julien practically shoves Daniel to the door. The two officers are still standing outside and Daniel motions for them to follow. We don’t hear what’s said because Julien closes the door, presses his back up to it, and slides down to the floor, his blanched face etched with grief.
“We had a daughter, Liz,” Jayson whispers. “Just like I dreamed we would.”
