“I’m not sure I want to see him, and what if Mom gets upset?”
“Wasn’t she the one who gave you the card?”
“Yes.”
“Then she must know you’ll contact him at some stage.” Newman slipped his hand under the heavy fall of her hair, and stroked her neck.
“Sure, but not that he’ll come here.”
“I’ll talk to her.”
She nodded, but sat silently resting against him.
“FYI, I still want to be with you, even if you are a criminal.”
“What? No, you don’t.”
“I do, Hope. I’ve felt empty inside since you lost the baby and wanted me to go away. I don’t like feeling that way. I like how I feel when I’m with you. You make me stronger.”
She turned to look up at him.
“You’re already strong.”
“Not really, I just put on a good act.”
She smiled.
“I-I felt empty inside too. I don’t know how that’s possible, because we never met the baby, or even had a chance to adjust to the thought of parenthood.”
“It was our baby, Hope.” He touched her cheek. “We’re allowed to grieve its passing.”
She nodded, and then Newman pulled her close and for the first time, he really allowed himself to grieve for the child they’d lost, with the woman who understood, because she was hurting too.
“Newman?” She said the words into his chest.
“Mmm.”
“I’m not big on sharing emotions, but I’m going to say it because I believe it’s important we be honest with each other.”
“By all means, be honest.” Newman stroked his fingers down her hair. It felt like silk.
“You were the first person I thought of when Cubby came to get me, which should mean something, right?”
“It means you realize what a catch I truly am.”
Her laugh was more a tired sigh, so he continued to stroke her hair. Slowly her body grew lax until he was sure she was sleeping. Easing them both sideways on the narrow cot until they lay on the pillow, he pulled her back to his front, and closed his eyes. Peace settled over him for the first time in days. Hell was about to rain down on her, but he’d face it too, and make sure she knew he was there for her. For now, he wanted to hold her for however long he could.
“They look cute though, don’t you think?”
“This is not a hotel room, Macy, it’s a jail cell.”
Newman woke to a conversation going on outside the cell, but chose to keep his eyes closed and hold Hope a while longer.
“I know, but look at them. All snuggled up. He’s protecting her, Cubby, even in his sleep.”
“He really is.” Newman identified that voice as Katie McBride’s.
“Someone snap a picture. It’ll piss him off, and we’ll put it up on the Howling Facebook page that Walt and Lizzie have just started.” That was Buster.
