Page 70 of Stone Vows

“It’s my day off, you know, the day you get released.” I push some food around with my chopsticks. “I was hoping you’d let me take you home. Get you settled.”

She shakes her head sadly. “No, Kyle. I don’t want you to take me home.”

“I don’t care where you live, Elizabeth. Don’t you know that by now? You don’t have to be embarrassed. But you’re going to need someone to help you. Do you have stairs? You can’t possibly navigate them with the baby in your condition.”

“No, Kyle. I can’t. I’m sorry. Don’t worry. There’s an elevator.”

I’m not sure why that makes me feel better. Maybe because I’ve imagined her living in a building without electricity and running water. Still, even slums have elevators.

“If you won’t let me take you to your house, then let me take you to mine,” I say, my heart thundering in my chest.

She looks at me in surprise. “Why would you do that, Kyle? You’ve only known me a few weeks. I have a baby. A baby that will cry a lot. And spit up everywhere.”

“Because I want to. Because I have a spare bedroom for the baby—foryou. Because I believe we were meant to meet, Elizabeth. Because I . . .”

I can’t bring myself to say it. I’ve never said it before. Plus, I think I’ve already freaked her out enough for one day.

“Thank you, but no,” she says, picking at her food.

“Why, Elizabeth?”

She pushes what’s left of her dinner away. “Because everyone wants something in return.”

“What?”

“Well, hello, Mommy,” the nurse says, pushing the bassinet through her doorway. “Ready to feed this little one?”

“Just think about it, please, Elizabeth?” I ask as I clear away her dinner.

The nurse hands her the baby and then glances at me. “Would you like some privacy, Elizabeth?” she asks.

Elizabeth looks up at me shyly. “Uh, I don’t know, I’m . . .”

“I’ll go wash up in your bathroom,” I say, getting up to cross the room.

I stay in there longer than necessary, giving her time to get the baby situated. I hope she knows she doesn’t have to be embarrassed to breastfeed in front of me.

When I come out of the bathroom, I see that the nurse has closed the door to give her privacy. I stand across the room, leaning against the wall to give her some space.

“I think I’m getting pretty good at this,” she says, looking down at her daughter.

“You’re a natural,” I say.

She nods at the chair next to the bed. “You don’t have to stay over there, Kyle. I was being silly. You’re a doctor. You see this all the time.”

I resume my seat in the chair next to the bed, trying not to stare at her as she feeds her daughter, but finding it completely mesmerizing at the same time.

“Tell me about your day,” she says. “Anything to take my mind off the fact that I’m half naked and you can see my boob.”

I laugh along with her.

“Well, I got to do my first solo C-section from start to finish. I guess Dr. Redman was impressed by what she saw when I helped out with you.”

“Kyle, that’s fantastic. I’m glad I could be your test case.”

I frown. “You weren’t my test case, Elizabeth. I never would have assisted in your surgery if I didn’t think I could do it flawlessly.”

“I know. That’s not what I meant. You’re a good doctor, Kyle. The best.”

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