Page 73 of Billionaire Temptations

“I want you to go home, Max. You need to get some proper sleep in your own bed.”

“I’m fine, Emma.”

“Seriously, Max. Go. I’m fine, and you can come back first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll wait for you to go and see her.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.”

“All right then. I’ll be here first thing in the morning.” He leaned over and kissed my head.

As soon as he left the room, I lay down and buzzed the nurse for some more pain meds. Max and I had a long road ahead of us as far as Sarah was concerned. He was so attentive to me andmy needs that a feeling of confusion settled inside me. I kept thinking about my father and how he just left us without any explanation at all. As I lay there, I heard the sounds of the crying babies who were with their mothers in their rooms.

I stayed in the hospital for a couple of more days, and on my last day there, I was able to hold my little girl for a few minutes. When the nurse put her in my arms, I began to cry when she opened her eyes and looked at me. Dr. Cooper had walked over to us and told us how well she was doing and that tomorrow, they would be taking her off the ventilator. The hardest part was yet to come—the moment I had to step outside the hospital doors and leave my daughter behind. My mom stayed with me the entire day yesterday and then had to catch a flight back to Miami to go back to work at the diner. They were down a waitress because Maureen’s husband had passed away.

Max and I went back to my room, and the nurse brought in the discharge papers for me to sign.

“Since you don’t have any insurance, we’ll need a partial payment today,” she spoke.

“I will pay for Emma’s stay, but my daughter is covered under my insurance plan through my company.”

She nodded and left the room.

“Max, you don’t need to do that.”

“Yes, I do. Now, no arguing. Are you ready to go home?”

“No. I’m not,” I replied as I walked over to the window and stared out into the courtyard.

He walked over and placed his hands on my shoulders. “I know how hard this is because I’m feeling it too, but we have no choice.”

I sighed. “I know.”

Darren came up and took the flowers my friends sent me down to the car while Max grabbed my bag. We were supposedto wait for a wheelchair, hospital policy, but I didn’t want to go down in one. I was more than capable of walking.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Maxand I looked like ordinary people walking out of the hospital. We didn’t appear to be new parents, holding our baby and putting her in her car seat for the first time. We left holding only the bag Max had packed for me. I gulped as I watched a new mom smiling down at her baby as she handed him to his father to be put in the car. Tears started to fill my eyes, and the overwhelming feeling of loneliness crept inside me.

“Come on, Emma. Get inside the car.”

I slid inside and wiped the tear that fell from my eye. Max took hold of my hand and kissed the side of my head without saying a word.

I stepped inside my apartment first while Max followed behind with my bag, and Darren carried up the flowers. I walked straight to the nursery and looked at the empty crib that was waiting for Sarah.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I was supposed to bring her home and show her how beautiful her room is.” I wiped another tear that fell.

“I know, sweetheart, but you will be bringing her home, and we need to be thankful for that.”

“Every new mother is supposed to bring her baby home. Not leave her alone in a hospital!” I yelled.

“She’s not alone, Emma. She’s being well taken care of and looked after.” He lightly gripped my shoulders, and I jerked away from him.

“I’m her mother. She’s supposed to be with me! With me.” I began to cry.

Max cautiously wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into him, holding my head tightly against his firm chest as I continued to sob. We both slowly fell to the ground, and he continued to hold me without saying a word. Once I calmed down, Max told me he had something for me. He got up and said that he’d be right back. A few moments later, he walked back into the room and handed me a long, red velvet box with gold trim. I slowly opened the lid, and inside sat a silver bracelet with three dainty silver charms. One of the charms was round and had a baby’s footprint and Sarah’s name engraved underneath. The other round charm said “Mom,” and the third charm was of a beautiful silver butterfly.

“Max, it’s beautiful.”

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