Page 32 of Mia

“She’s gone,” I whispered touching my stomach.

He bit his lip. “Shit fucked me up, man.” Tears brimmed his eyes as he looked away from me. “She was so tiny.”

“You saw her?”

Again, he nodded. He covered his face and for the first time since I met him, he cried. My father reached out and gripped his shoulder.

“She’s really gone, man,” he said through his tears.

His tears made me cry again. Even with him telling me, I underestimated just how much he wanted this baby. I didn’t think we were ready. I was terrified, and just when I was getting on board… she was gone.

“This is one of the hardest things you will go through,” Mrs. Deluca said. “I’ve been there. You’ll be angry. Bitter. You’ll place blame because someone has to be responsible for this kind of pain. It hurts like hell and it’s so unfair. I know you don’t wanna hear it, but this is gonna test your marriage like nothing else. When that anger sets in… things will get ugly. You’ll get through it, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Your families will be right beside you.”

“That’s right,” Daddy said. “Once we get you back home, everyone will be there to take care of you. Both of you.” He turned to Titan. “I guess you should start calling me Pop now too, huh? We’re gonna talk about how you went and married my daughter and not even ask for my blessing.”

Titan nodded. “I hear you.”

He turned to me. “And you. Where gonna talk about why you thought it was a good idea to bring your happy ass over here in your condition.”

“I know, Daddy.” I rested against the bed and blew a heavy sigh. “Did… are there any pictures of her?” I whispered regretfully.

Titan pulled out his phone. “You um, you were under anesthesia, but they allowed me to take a couple.”

He passed the phone. With a trembling hand, I took it from him. Tears immediately filled my eyes as I looked at the photo of my baby on my chest. There was another of Titan and one other by herself. She was so tiny, so helpless.

“I didn’t get to say goodbye,” I whispered. “I didn’t get to hold her or anything.”

My lip trembled as I touched the picture.

Why hadn’t I listened? Why hadn’t I stayed home? I was so dead set on running away from my problems that I put myself and my child in harm’s way. I was so sure I was being careful, that we had covered all the bases. I’d underestimated JacQues Dupont. In my mind, his attraction to me would be his downfall, but my cockiness was mine.

My baby was gone, and it was all my fault.

I wasn’t sure I could forgive myself for that.

“We can have a memorial for her,” my mother offered. “Something small and intimate.”

“I’ve arranged for her to be sent home,” Daddy said. “She’ll be right where she belongs. Quaid volunteered to handle everything for you two.”

The mention of Quaid made me think about my brothers. Surely, this whole thing would cause beef between them and Titan. They hadn’t been on good terms that long, and now the drama was about to unfold.

“Your brothers are worried about you, not how we got here,” Daddy said, as though reading my thoughts. He was always good at that.

“I can’t face them.”

“You have to. They’re gonna be waiting at your house when you get home. They wanted to come with me, but it would have been a madhouse. They didn’t like it, but they listened when I told them to stay behind.”

I shook my head. “I don’t wanna see anybody when I get home. I just wanna be alone. Please. I just… I just need some time.”

It grew quiet, and my father nodded his head and motioned for everyone to leave the room.

“We’re gonna go get something to eat and give you some privacy, but we aren’t going anywhere.”

He kissed my temple, then walked out of the room. My mother and Titan’s parents did the same. I looked over at my husband, regret and shame etched into my face.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

Gently, he slid me over so he could climb into bed with me. An arm came around my shoulder and he pulled me against him. Lacing his fingers through mine, he kissed my hand. Tears streamed down my face as silence fell upon the room.