Page 67 of The Lonely Hearts Guide

“If something happens to me, I need you to promise to look after her. If they take me from you, don’t let them take her, too.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to you. I promise,” Alexander said. While Elliot enjoyed the sentiment, he didn’t need to be placated. He needed assurance. Alexander must have realized his words hadn’t soothed Elliot the way he’d hoped, because he turned his hand over, weaving their fingers together, and added, “If anything happens to you, I’ll keep her safe. I’ll raise her the way we’ve been planning to. Honey will be fine. You have my word.”

Though the threat of removal from Alexander Davenport’s life hung over their heads like a rain cloud, Elliot refused to let it damper their time together. They snuggled in bed while watching old episodes ofI Love Lucy. Elliot loved the way she could get herself into the biggest conundrums, only to solve her nightly dilemmas within a thirty-minute timeframe. He wished his problems could be solved in under half an hour.

There was movement in his belly. Acting on impulse, Elliot lifted his shirt, his heart fluttering as color drained from the skin of his stomach, revealing their ever-growing daughter. She was asleep, and Elliot basked in the look of complete peace stretched across her face.

“There’s our girl,” Alexander whispered, leaning in to kiss Elliot’s see-through stomach. Behind the baby, machinery worked inside Elliot, keeping his body functional. “She looks happy, doesn’t she?”

Elliot observed her for a while, taking in the way her little fingers curled around her umbilical cord. Her other hand was lifted to her face, and she was sucking her thumb. Elliot couldn’t remember ever witnessing anything as adorable as Honey Davenport lounging in his belly.

“She looks very happy,” Elliot finally agreed.

Honey’s eyes opened slowly, and pink lights flickered in the corner. She removed her thumb from her mouth and pressed her hand against Elliot’s tummy, never breaking eye contact. Elliot touched his hand to hers, only a thin layer of processed skin separating them.

“I love you very much,” he whispered. “I can’t wait to hold you.” Honey smiled, nuzzling her face against the place where Elliot’s hand was resting, leaning into her father’s touch. Her eyes closed, and color returned to Elliot’s skin, hiding her away. He didn’t want the color to return. He wanted to stare at her. To study her expressions for hours, so he knew them all by heart.

Alexander turned off the television and hugged Elliot close to him, promising, “You’re going to be an incredible father, Elliot.” He rubbed Elliot’s tummy. “We’re going to figure all this out, and then we’ll start our lives together.”

Elliot sniffled, missing the connection with Honey already. “We haven’t talked about what we’ll do next. Our living situation, I mean. I know Duck and Goose live here to keep them safe from Mother, but do you plan to do the same with me? Will you live on the mainland and visit once a week?” Elliot’s lip trembled. He didn’t want that. He wanted them to be together. Always. “Your entire life is in Dallas.”

Alexander shook his head, cupping Elliot’s cheek. “My entire life is right here in front of me.”

“But, the company,” Elliot argued. “Your family legacy—”

“This is my legacy,” Alexander interrupted, his words firm but filled with love. He wasn’t reprimanding Elliot for speaking out of turn, he was making a choice. He was making an unbreakable oath. “You’re my legacy. You and Honey.” He kissed Elliot gently on the lips, his thumb brushing back and forth against Elliot’s cheek. “Would you like to live here? My place back home is a lot bigger, but this village feels like the right place for us, doesn’t it?”

Elliot nodded. “It’s my favorite place in the world.” Professor Plum climbed up his arm and rested on Elliot’s tummy, staring up at him. “Are you ready to meet her, too?”

Professor Plum nuzzled his face into Elliot’s chest. He knew the fieldmouse and Honey would be fast friends. Professor Plum had always been a gentle soul, so Elliot had no fear of how he would treat their baby. He reached forward and stroked the top of the fieldmouse’s head.

“We’re going to be fine,” Alexander said before turning off the lamp on the nightstand. “No matter what, we’re going to be okay.”

Ms. Broussard’s Home for Bountiful Beaus. Elliot knew the home by heart, having spent the majority of his first year of life in the luxurious New Orleans mansion. From his bedroom in the Bountiful Beau wing, to the attic’s secret entrance, all the way down to the Creationist’s lair in the basement; Elliot knew every inch of the building. It had been four minutes since Elliot rang the doorbell, even so, no one had answered. It was odd, because Clarence usually greeted visitors within moments of the bell’s chime.

“Something’s wrong,” Elliot whispered. “I can feel it.”

Alexander squeezed his hand, his thumb rubbing against Elliot’s new engagement ring. Alexander purchased it before their trip, and Elliot had been beside himself most of the day. Looking over his shoulder, Alexander motioned toward the glorified armed militia he hired to ensure Elliot’s safety and freedom. There were ten men, each paid a hefty sum Alexander refused to disclose, telling Elliot his survival was worth all the tea in China. Elliot didn’t care for tea, though. He preferred Ms. Twylah’s decaffeinated coffee, brewed with little sticks of cinnamon in the coffee grounds.

Elliot placed the hand not holding Alexander’s against his back and sighed. Nine months pregnant, Elliot was forever exhausted. His achy ankles and a constant sensation of heartburn were relentless, never easing—not even when Elliot was in bed.

The door swung open, and Elliot tore his attention away from Alexander, expecting to see Mother’s butler, Clarence. Instead, Periwinkle Price stood in the doorframe with a smile stretched ear to ear.

“Thank God,” Periwinkle said, sounding relieved. “We’ve been waiting here for ages.” He took a step forward and tapped the tip of Elliot’s nose. “You need to learn how to answer your phone.”

Elliot arched an eyebrow. “Pardon?”

Periwinkle rolled his eyes. “I’ve been calling you for days, Elliot.”

Elliot blushed. “I dropped my phone in the sea. We were walking along the dock, and Alexander was wearing an outfit I thought would look much cuter clinging to every nook and crook, so I shoved him off the dock. I forgot he had my phone in his pocket.”

“I’m still a little annoyed about that,” Alexander said.

Elliot shrugged. “I got to look at your shorts clinging to your backside as we walked home. I have no regrets.” To that, Elliot snorted.

“For goodness’ sake,” Periwinkle groaned. “You’re due any day. If you waited any longer, she might have burst right through your skin.” He took a step back and poked his finger into Elliot’s chest. “I will forgive your inconsideration, because Arthur says you have pregnancy brain, but it’s still terribly rude.” Elliot opened his mouth, but Periwinkle didn’t give him a chance to speak. “Mother is waiting for you.”

Alexander’s eyes widened. “What?”

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