Page 87 of The Song We Lost

“I felt her kick,” she says immediately, hand pressed to her stomach.

I close my laptop slowly.

“Really?”

She nods, eyes wide. “Up until now it only felt like a flutter. Or maybe gas,” she laughs. “But now, it’s stronger, it’s her.”

Her.

Sadie walks into the kitchen and starts pulling out cereal like she isn’t dying.

“Did you sleep?” she asks casually.

“Some,” I lied.

She narrows her eyes at me.

“You don’t get to fall apart before I do,” she says teasingly.

I don’t respond, what do you say to that…

Later, I’m back at the table with printed reports spread everywhere. Cole sits across from me, elbows on the table.

“They all say the same thing,” he says quietly.

“I… I’m just not asking the right people,” I reply.

“Bailey.”

“There has to be someone who’s seen this before. Someone who knows something different. Some trial.”

“Bails,” he says gently.

I shake my head. “No. We’re not accepting this.”

From the hallway, I hear Noah’s voice low and frustrated.

“I’ve been trying,” he says. “I keep getting Dave.”

My body goes still.

“What does he say?” Rose asks.

“That Luke doesn’t want to talk. The fucker is saying, Bailey walked away and we chose her side. So Luke doesn’t want contact.”

My chest tightens.

“That’s not true,” Rose argues.

“I know that,” Noah snaps. “But that’s what he’s being told.”

I stand abruptly and walk outside before anyone can see my face. The air is colder today. The leaves are turning faster now. More gold than green.

I haven’t spoken to Luke.

I haven’t asked about him.

I haven’t pushed.