Page 76 of Merciful Lies

I hold her closer, kissing her teary cheeks.

“I know you’re busy and you were on an important trip, and I shouldn’t have let them call you,” she says and I can’t take it.

“Hey, hey, no. Hush, Rosebud. Hush now. I’m the one who’s sorry. You needed me and I wasn’t here. I’m so fucking sorry, Baby,” I tell her and rock her gently in my arms.

I thought I was going to have to fight to keep her here. That I was going to have to beg and plead, and don’t get me wrong, I would have.

I will.

But my beautiful Anna isn’t talking about leaving me. She’s clinging to me, and I feel about ten feet tall.

This woman. This good, beautiful woman.

I don’t know what I did in this life to deserve her. Truth is, I don’t.

God knows, I don’t.

But I’m not letting her get away from me. Not now, not ever.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you got scared. But I will be. From now on, I will be,” I tell her, and I mean every word.

My anger at Sanchez and O’Doyle triples as I hold my wife’s hand throughout the checkout process. The doctor says we can leave, and I am more than ready. I want her home.

Safe and sound. Where I can protect her.

“Ready?” I ask, and Anna nods.

She looks tired, but content. And always so pretty. To me, she’s the most beautiful thing in the world.

I don’t wait for the wheelchair, I just scoop her up in my arms. Anna lets out a weak protest.

But she’s starting to know me by now, and instead of repeating her objections, she just wraps her arms around my neck and lays her head on my shoulder.

Leaning on me.

Trusting me.

And it is everything.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE-ANNA

“So, how’s the second round of bedrest treating you?”

Giselle comes into the bedroom with a tiny stuffed elephant in hand.

“Hey, Sisi,” I reply with a tired smile.

“Can I get you two ladies anything before I head out?” Nico asks from the doorway.

“I’m okay,” I whisper, and he dips his chin, waiting for Giselle to answer.

“I’m good too.”

I’m having a difficult time believing I could be this lucky. Ever since we came home from the hospital, he’s been right by my side, or he’s had one of my friends come over to sit with me. And our housekeeper, Mrs. Pirillo, has basically moved in.

Either way, I’m never alone. And the doctor has been making house calls.

I feel so pampered. Protected. And it doesn’t even matter if it’s for the baby or for me, because knowing how much Nico wants our son makes me love him all the more.

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