Page 91 of The Secrets We Built Together

She gave us a small smile. "And given what I've observed today, I suspect there's genuine feeling there."

Amelia began to fuss in her high chair, and Blake automatically stood to lift her out, settling her against her shoulder and swaying gently. The baby's small hand curled into the fabric of Blake's shirt, her eyes heavy-lidded as she fought against sleep.

Susan watched them for a moment, something soft passing over her features. "Look, I want to be honest with you both. I don’t see this going the way we want it to. We have a backlog at the office right now. I'm going to try and shuffle your file to the bottom of the pile to buy you some more time. Perhaps you could reach out to Amelia's mother, explore other legal options. I'll let you know as soon as any official decision has been made."

She closed her briefcase with a snap and stood up. "In the meantime, keep doing what you're doing. Build your case. Show that you're providing a stable, loving home for Amelia. We'll fight for this, if that’s what we have to do. Because that's exactly what this will be—one hell of a fight."

I walked her to the door, feeling like I was moving through molasses. "Thank you for being straight with us," I said as she stepped onto the porch.

Susan looked back at me, her eyes kind but serious. "Take care of them, Dr. Farrington. And take care of yourself, too. Recovery is a day-by-day journey."

I nodded, unable to form words around the lump in my throat. Then she was gone, the sound of her car engine fading as she drove down the gravel driveway.

When I turned back to the living room, Blake was sitting on the couch, Amelia cradled against her chest. The baby had finally succumbed to sleep, her tiny mouth slightly open, her chest rising and falling with each breath. Blake's eyes were fixed on Amelia's face, but I could see the tears streaming silently down her cheeks.

I crossed the room and sank down beside her, but before I could say anything, Blake spoke.

"I ruined it," she whispered, her voice thick with tears. "I said it too soon, didn't I? When I was sick. I scared you off, and now you need a way out before it gets any worse. My feelings are going to cost us Amelia."

My heart clenched at the pain in her voice. "Blake, no. That's not—"

"I should have kept my mouth shut," she continued, still not looking at me. "I should have waited, been more careful. But I was sick and scared and I just... I couldn't keep it in anymore. And now you're freaking out about what I said and wonderinghow to let me down easy, and meanwhile we're about to lose our daughter because I couldn't control myself."

"Blake, stop." I reached for her face, gently turning her to look at me. Her cheeks were wet with tears, her eyes bright with unshed ones. "You didn't ruin anything. You didn't scare me off. And your feelings aren't going to cost us Amelia."

She searched my eyes, hope and fear warring in her expression. "But you haven't said anything. Since I told you I loved you, you've barely looked at me. I thought—"

"You thought wrong," I said firmly, my thumb brushing away her tears. "Blake, I've been desperately in love with you since the moment you asked me to take my clothes off in public. Maybe even before that, if I'm being honest. Every day I watch you with her, every smile, every laugh, every time you sing her to sleep—I fall deeper in love with both of you."

Her breath caught, her free hand coming up to cover mine where it rested against her cheek. "Then why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I was terrified," I admitted. "You were sick, running a fever, and I thought maybe it was just the delirium talking. I didn't want to presume, didn't want to put pressure on you when you were vulnerable. I was waiting for you to bring it up again when you were feeling better, but then you didn't, and I started thinking maybe you regretted saying it."

Blake let out a shaky laugh, leaning into my touch. "I've been terrified you regretted hearing it."

"Never," I said, leaning forward to rest my forehead against hers. "I love you, Blake Mitchell. I love your strength and your kindness and the way you make everything better just by being in the room. I love watching you with Amelia, seeing how naturally you've stepped into being her mother. I love that you fight for the people you care about, and I love that somehow, impossibly, I get to be one of those people."

Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, but these were different—tears of relief and joy rather than fear. "I love you too," she whispered. "So much it scares me sometimes."

I kissed her then, soft and sweet, tasting the salt of her tears on her lips. When we broke apart, Blake shifted Amelia gently in her arms so she could wrap her free arm around my neck.

"We're going to get through this," she said, her voice steady with newfound determination. "Whatever it takes, whatever we have to do. We're a family, Xander. You, me, and Amelia. And families don't give up on each other."

"No, they don't," I agreed, wrapping my arms around both of them. "We'll find Madison, we'll get every character reference in town if we have to. We'll fight for this."

"Together," Blake said, and it wasn't a question.

"Together," I confirmed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm not going anywhere, Blake. Whatever comes next, we face it as a family."

"Can we not tell everyone just yet?" Blake asked.

"You mean Delaney and the others?"

"Yeah, it's just that everyone else will be so happy for us and telling us how they always knew we should be together, and it will come with all the pressure of being perfect. And for now, I just want this. I want the magic bit where I wonder if you'll kiss me again. The happy bubble where we get to figure it all out without feeling like everyone is watching us all the time."

I kissed her again, and she smiled against my lips. Her hand came up to rest against my chest, right over my heart. "I'm always going to kiss you again," I murmured, and then I did just that.

This kiss was deeper, a slow exploration that sent warmth spreading through my body. Blake's lips parted beneath mine, inviting me in, and I deepened the kiss, savoring the small sigh that escaped her. One of my hands slid into her hair, cradling theback of her head as I angled her face to fit better against mine. There was something almost desperate in the way she kissed me back, like she was drawing strength from me, or maybe giving me hers.

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