Across the small room, Ellie pretended not to hear as she increased the volume of her humming and the vigor of her rocking.
As if in answer, the baby girl lifted one weak arm and rested it on Ellie’s warm breast.
“I like to bet on long odds.” Nora touched her stomach again. “She looks like a fighter to me.”
***
Nora adjusted the blanket over her lap one more time, deciding the best position for her arm to appear casual, unrehearsed. She must tame her smile…
Daniel had promised to be gone no more than three hours, and it was over two and a half now. Her ears strained so hard for the sound of his voice or footsteps that her temples began to twinge.
Thumbing a book, she pretended to review tropical plants of the equatorial regions until at last the door budged. She sucked in her cheeks, schooling her lips, her heart jumping sideways in her chest.
Daniel stepped in slowly, haggard and burdened.Had he looked that way this morning?
His forehead wrinkled. “Your color is better.”
No doubt from her happy flush. She needed to calm herself or she’d ruin the moment.
“Are you warm?” He approached, his hands still damp from washing, and felt her cheek.
“No.” She patted the empty spot beside her. He’d already changed clothes, as he always did after cholera visits, and shewanted to press her face against his clean, soft waistcoat. “I just missed you.”
“I missed you as well.” With a quiet groan, he lowered himself onto the worn cushions, his tense muscles loosening as he collected her closer. He released a long breath.
For once she didn’t want to ask about his visits—the protocols or treatments, who lived or didn’t.
“You will not believe who came to clinic today,” she began.
His eyebrows lifted.
She plunged into the entire account of Aunt and the orphan in the carpet bag. It took a quarter hour to dole out the details and satisfy his questions. She gestured and laughed, glad for the excuse to vent some of her pent-up excitement.
“You have money for your hospital and a salaried staff.” Daniel grinned in pride and shook his head. “Amazing. But pleasing my aunt—that’s a feat for the history books.”
She nestled her head into his neck, burrowing in as if she never intended to leave, and inhaled the familiar smell of soap and medicants. Her lips found the spot against his throat where his pulse fluttered.
She’d not gotten far enough in her imagination to rehearse the actual words—the best way to tell him. Nor did she need to know yet, because his mouth found hers, his lips tasting of relief. He kissed her until she understood. He’d held her pain for so many days, wishing for the hour her smile would reappear. Fearing it never would.
Releasing his lips, she drew back several inches. “Something else happened today.” She didn’t muster enough volume, and the words cracked. Instead of speech, she took his hand andguided it to her waist, watching him as she placed it below her belly button, wishing her skirt wasn’t so thick so he could reach her bare skin.
He froze. She saw him trying not to guess, waiting for her next words.
“I felt it,” she whispered.
His eyes widened, flexed at the corners as if in pain. She knew he couldn’t let himself believe until…
“More than once,” she reassured. “I’m certain. Our baby’s alive.”
The breath fell out of him as he closed his eyes.
She thought she’d be too giddy to get through the announcement, but now she found her throat too closed and her eyes too hot. The misery that sloughed from his face fell into her stroking hands. She’d had no idea how much it hurt him.
“Alive,” he breathed, his cautious hands finding her waist, as if frightened to disturb the fragile life.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
The last words she expected.
