Page 73 of Stone Vows

I take her hand, wanting to console her for a brother I never knew she had. Because I know nothing about her. Her family. Her past. But it occurs to me that it doesn’t really matter. It occurs to me that what happened in her past is just that, the past. The only thing I want from her is her future.

“Have you thought about what I asked you yesterday?” I ask.

Her eyes open and with the way she’s looking at me, I already know what the answer is. And damn it if it doesn’t make my heart ache.

“Elizabeth, before you say anything, just hear me out. Leave here with me tomorrow. Let me take you to my place. Just so you can see it. Check it out. See if it would work for you and the baby. You don’t have to make any commitments today. And I promise, if it’s not what you want, I’ll put you and the baby in a cab and send you back to your place.”

She looks over at the baby and studies her. I can see the struggle going on behind her eyes. She’s wondering if I’m doing this just for the baby. Out of pity. But then she’s probably wondering that even if sheisa charity case, shouldn’t she do what’s best for her child?

I squeeze her hand. “I want this. I want you. I wanther. And, Elizabeth, based on that kiss, I’m pretty sure you want me, too. But we can take it slow. I’ll give you all the space you need. I’ll be working most of the time anyway. My building is nice. It’s safe. Please, just come take a look.”

She looks down at our entwined hands and slowly nods. It’s not a happy nod. It’s not an excited nod. It’s a nod of acceptance. Defeat even.

“Okay,” she says. “I’ll come for a look. But no promises.”

I want to jump off the bed and pump my fist in the air. But I don’t. Because although this might be a fist-pumping moment for me, it looks to be anything but that for Elizabeth.

Instead, I lean down and place a kiss on her forehead. “Thank you,” I say. “It will all work out, Elizabeth. I promise.”

The door to the room swings open and Abby walks in with a folder of papers.

“Your discharge papers,” she says, handing them to Elizabeth. “And the mother/parent worksheet you need to complete for the birth certificate. If you can get them all filled out today, it will help things run smoothly for your discharge tomorrow afternoon.”

Elizabeth stares at the paperwork long after Abby leaves the room. She leafs through the pages looking carefully at each one. She holds up one of the discharge forms. “Is thisyouraddress?”

I look at it. “Yes. They got that from the admissions form. Remember?”

“Oh.” She rifles through a few more pages. “This is a lot of stuff.”

“It’s mostly after-care instructions for you and the baby. Abby or one of the other nurses will go over it all with you before you leave. Those are just reminders.”

She looks down at the application for a birth certificate. “Do I have to fill this out?”

“Yes. The baby needs a birth certificate. But if you still haven’t picked a name, that’s okay, leave it blank. Once you pick a name, just come back and tell the hospital and they can submit it for you without charge for up to one year.”

“There are so many questions,” she says, looking it over.

“You can use my address if you want. It’s fine. Even if you don’t end up staying with me.”

She nods.

“You really haven’t thought of a name yet?” I ask, lacing my fingers through hers.

“It’s not easy,” she says. “It needs to be perfect.”

Someone clears their throat behind us and we turn to see Gina standing in the doorway.

“Why don’t you let Dr. Stone pick the name? After all, he’s paying for all this,” she says, waving her hand around Elizabeth’s hospital room.

Oh, fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Elizabeth drops my hand like it burned her. “He’swhat?”

“Oh, sorry,” Gina says, not looking it in the least. “I figured with you being discharged tomorrow, he’d have told you.”

“Gina, get out,” I say. “And close the door behind you.”

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