Page 116 of State of Suspense

“Me, too.”

“Tonight, after all the hoopla, let’s you and me have a date in the loft.”

“Yes, please.” She’d be dead on arrival tomorrow, but so be it. “I really gotta go.”

“See you in a couple of hours.”

“Good luck with the PM.”

“Good luck with the PM’s wife.”

Sam smiled up at him as he kissed her and then reluctantly released him to go change for tea.

Shelby had waited hours for the chance to see Avery. Thank goodness Ginger had come to help with the baby because she never could’ve done it on her own while being so consumed by worry. Even after they’d told her Avery would make a full recovery, she wouldn’t be able to breathe properly until she saw him for herself.

“What’s taking so long?” she asked Ginger. “They said I could see him soon.”

“They’re taking good care of him. That’s what we want. Come sit for a minute. You’ll wear yourself out.”

Already long past worn out, Shelby sat next to Ginger and took the sleeping baby from her. “How could this have happened? Who would want to shoot Avery?”

“I keep thinking about the people who broke into the house. Could it be related?”

“I don’t know how. They’re in jail.”

“I’m sure the FBI and others are working to figure out what happened. He’s one of their own. They’ll be all over it.”

“I know.” Shelby blinked back tears that had threatened for hours. She was trying to be strong for Avery and their children, but it wasn’t easy. Her hormones were still out of whack from pregnancy and childbirth, not to mention the lingering trauma from the home invasion. Now she’d nearly lost the love of her life. It was all too much to bear.

A nurse came into the waiting room. “Mrs. Hill?”

Shelby stood quickly and then winced from the aches and pains that remained from the baby’s birth. “That’s me.”

“Would you like to see your husband?”

“Very much so.” She handed the baby to Ginger. “Thank you.”

“No worries. Take your time.”

The nurse gestured for Shelby to come with her. “Right this way.”

She had to remind herself to keep breathing as she followed the nurse through the doors to the recovery area. “How is he?”

“He’s doing very well.”

“That’s such a relief.”

“All he wants is to see you. And he asked about the baby.”

“We just had her a few days ago.”

“That’s what he said. He said he loves being a daddy.”

Shelby swiped at the tears that came despite her fierce desire to be strong for him. “He’s a very good daddy.”

She was in no way prepared for the sight of him attached to machines with tubes and wires everywhere.

He held out his hand to her. “Come here, sugar.”

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