I cross my arms over my chest and turn back to Joshua. “Thank you again. Lily will let me know if anything changes, won’t she?”
He nods and leans in, kissing my cheek before leaving.
I close the door and go straight to Molly’s bedroom. Marcus is on his knees, staring at her, his fingers stroking the hair away from her face.
He hears me approach and peers over his shoulder. “Rachel, I’m so fucking sorry,” his words catch, and a lump lodges in my throat.
My nose tickles, on the verge of tears. “I know,” I croak out. And I do know, regardless of his faults and his indiscretions, he does love her.
I sit cross-legged next to him, stroking the back of her hand. We both watch her chest rise and fall, whistles of soft, contented snores escaping her mouth.
I’m unsure how long we’ve been watching her when he turns his head towards me. “I’m getting myself some help. I don’t want to be this person anymore,” he whispers. I nod, because this version of him isn’t who he is, and I want more for our daughter. “How is he?”
I let out a sigh. “He’s been better. He had to have surgery—they removed part of his spleen.” The thought makes me sick to my stomach.
“How am I meant to compete with that?” he says, half-serious.
“There is never a competition where Molly is involved,” I reply, and it’s true—she is the most important person in my life.
He nods. “And you?” His eyes search my face.
“We’ll always have a bond, Marcus. We created her,” I say, angling my head towards Molly. “But we didn’t work as a couple, and I want to be a better example for her.”
His face drops. He looks wounded, but he knows I’m right. “I’m going to go see him when he’s well enough. Thank him in person.” I eye him sceptically. I don’t doubt he’s genuine. However, he is still Marcus. He holds up his hands. “I’ll be a saint, I swear,” he says, crossing his fingers over his heart.
“You better. That man is the reason our daughter is safe and well in her bed.”
“I know.” His fingers seek out mine, and he squeezes it once before I pull my hand away.
“Can I come by in the morning? I’ll bring her breakfast.”
“Yes, of course.” I’m a little surprised he didn’t ask to stay, not that I would have allowed it. I have to draw boundaries where he’s concerned.
Leaning over Molly, he kisses her forehead before I see him to the door.
I lock up once he’s gone, grab myself a glass of water, and then go back to Molly. Kicking my shoes off, I manage to climb in her tiny bed beside her. I don’t care if it’s cramped. Tonight, I need to hold my baby girl and know she’s safe in my arms.
Olly saved her, and in doing so, he saved me in every other way humanly possible. I could have lost them both today. I let my tears fall silently.
I know I need to tell Olly how I feel, but after what happened, I don’t want him being with me out of some hero complex. He helps people; he takes something that’s shit and turns it into something beautiful. I don’t want him to feel obligated, to do that with me.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
OLLY
I’ve been going out of my mind in this hospital room. I know I’d heal just as quickly at home. It’s only been two days, but it feels like weeks.
There’s a knock on the door, and in walks Marcus. He holds up his palms as he comes into the room. “I just wanted to stop by,” he says, hovering by the door.
I nod, and he walks in until he’s beside my bed.
“Firstly, I can’t thank you enough for what you did for Molly-Mae.” He grips the railing of the bed. “It’s made me realise now more than ever how much I don’t deserve her or Rachel. But I do love them.”
It’s not lost on me how he saysthem, and honestly, I can’t blame him because I’m right there with him. “They’re both great, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“I know, and it’s part of the reason why I’m here.”
Here we go.“Okay.”
