Page 42 of Zone Protection

“The happiest, but she was born with pulmonary atresia, which is a congenital heart defect. What happens is the pulmonary valve, which is the one that carries blood flow to the lungs, doesn’t develop properly and forms a solid sheet of tissue, forcing blood flow through other parts of the heart. Surgery is necessary in order to fix it. She had her first surgery when she was just a baby. The cardiologist successfully repaired it, and she did continue to develop fairly normal, but when she was five, she started getting winded easily just from running around the house or in the yard.”

She looks at her hands in her lap and twists them.

“After they ran tests, the doctors determined she needed a new valve. From what I remember and what I’ve been told since, she got an infection likely before the surgery. When they went in, her immune system was too weak, and the infection spread. They put her on medications, but it was too late. She died days after her second surgery.” I pull in a deep breath and exhale. “My dad’s younger brother had the same defect, but he didn’tlive past two months old. Medicine wasn’t as advanced in the ’70s as it was when Sunny was born.”

A tear has fallen, so I reach over and wipe it with my thumb.

“We don’t have to talk about it anymore, darlin’. But I’m glad you told me so I know more about you and why you would want to talk about it with the doctor. I’m sure it’s a little scary, but just know that no matter what, I’ll always be here for you and the baby.” I wipe another tear from her cheek and then tuck a loose piece of hair behind her ear.

She looks up at me. “No, I’m glad you asked. I don’t talk about her enough. None of us do really. Sometimes, I feel so guilty that I’m here and living a pretty nice life, but she’s gone. My parents didn’t cope well with her death for a long time. They grieved, and in turn, they essentially ignored me. It might not make sense, but being the perfect daughter was important to me, so my parents didn’t have anything else to worry about. You know what I mean?”

“Did they ever consider having another baby?” Maybe I shouldn’t have asked that, but I’m curious since I come from a large family.

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. My guess is, they were too worried that the same thing could happen with another baby. I was lucky and never had any medical issues. Not even a broken bone.”

“But she was happy in the time she was here?” My hand rubs her knee.

Emma smiles and looks up at me. “Yeah, she was. Even though we were three years apart, we were really close. When she was born, I didn’t want anyone else to hold her. Then as she got bigger, she was my little shadow.”

She shakes the Stanley in a circular motion, making the ice clink around inside. “In the summer, we would go visit my grandparents, and they had these huge sunflowers that grew super tall. She and I would go sit in the middle of one of the rows and look up. She loved it and would say we were in a tent.The last time we visited, I remember looking over at her, and with the shadows of the flowers, it looked like she was wearing a halo. I will never forget it. And when I think back, she always seemed older, if that makes sense. Like she was an old soul or something.”

She shakes her head, making some of her hair fall over her shoulder, and she takes a piece between her fingers and twists it. “Sunny used to call me Emma Bean. And the last thing she said to me was that she would wait for me in the sunflowers.”

I place my other hand over hers that’s resting on her knee. “I like Emma Bean. Maybe I’ll start calling you that.”

“Don’t even think about it, Archie. Besides, I kinda like when you call me darlin’.” She smiles at me, then leans forward and kisses me.

When she pulls back, her head rests on the back of the couch again.

“Why don’t you get some rest? I can sit here with you until you fall asleep.”

“I was hoping you would stay with me tonight. As much as I want some naked time with you, I am really tired.” She laughs.

“I can stay with you, but I have to leave early, and I should probably go to bed soon myself. Do you still want to watch a movie or just head to bed now?” I really am tired too.

“Let’s go to bed. I think I have an extra toothbrush somewhere. Let me find it for you. I forgot to look the other night, but you were already asleep anyway.”

She gets up and holds her hand out to me. I follow her to the bathroom, where she looks in a drawer. Then she hands me a packaged toothbrush.

“Thanks, darlin’.” I lean in and kiss her cheek.

We brush our teeth at the same time, taking turns to rinse.

“I’ll go get my bed ready if you want to use the bathroom first?” she says.

“Thanks.” I wink at her.

When I’m done, I walk across the hall to her room. She’sleaning over the bed, and I take a minute to just watch her. She’s so beautiful, and the person I’m getting to know makes her even more beautiful. And I can’t lie—I’m also tempted to walk up behind her and push her down onto the bed and slide into her tight heat.

But I won’t. She needs rest.

After she’s done organizing her pillows, she stands and turns around. “I’ll be right back.” She pauses to give me a kiss on her way out.

I move to the other side of the bed and pull off my shirt first, then take my phone out of my pocket and set it on the nightstand. As I’m pushing my sweats down, Emma walks back into the room.

“You’re wearing boxers tonight?” She looks surprised.

“Ha! You disappointed?” I shoot her a smile.

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