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I hesitated for half a second, then handed Seth over. Richard held him carefully at first, adjusting his grip, his hand moving along Seth’s back. Then Seth cried again. Louder.

Something in Richard’s expression shifted. His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked down at Seth like he was trying to solve something that was not making sense.

“He’s fed,” Richard said. “He’s clean. There’s no reason for this.”

My stomach twisted.

“Richard—“

“He’s fine,” he cut in, but his voice was colder now. “There’s no reason for him to be acting like this.”

Acting.

I stared at him, something uneasy settling in my chest.

“He’s not acting,” I said quietly. “He’s a baby.”

Richard’s gaze flicked up to mine, and for a second there was something there I didn’t recognize.

Something wrong.

Then it was gone.

He exhaled, his expression softening almost instantly, like he caught himself.

“He’s fine,” he said again, quieter now. “You’re just tired.”

The shift was so fast it made me question what I had just seen. He adjusted Seth in his arms, pressing a kiss to his head.

“You need rest,” he said, looking at me. “You’re running yourself into the ground.”

“I’m fine,” I said, but it sounded weak even to me.

“You’re not,” he replied. “You’re still grieving. You’re not sleeping. Of course everything feels worse right now.”

Part of me knew he was right. I was tired. I was grieving.

“Go lie down,” he added. “I’ve got him.”

I hesitated for a second then I nodded.

“Okay. I’ll try to rest.”

I walked past him slowly, my body heavy, my mind still turning over that moment, that look, that tone.

I slept for nearly three hours. I was so exhausted I didn’t even remember falling asleep. By the time I came back, Seth was quieter. Richard was standing near the bassinet, his back to me, reading a book.

“How’d you sleep?” he asked.

“Well,” I replied. “I feel a little better.”

Richard smiled and gave me a kiss as he passed. I walked over to pick Seth up once Richard stepped out of the room, pulling him close against my chest again. He settled almost immediately, his small body relaxing against mine.

“I got you,” I whispered into his hair.

He was still the only thing that felt completely right in my world. But something else was there too, something I couldn’t name yet.

I pressed my lips to his head, closing my eyes for a second.