Page 88 of Relentles
As soon as Jo got through her surgeries, he’d show Megan the texts and tell Torie to send any messages to his wife from then on. Megan would take over Jo soon anyway, so she’d expect to be the first to know about her.
“Your mind’s wandering,” Torie said.
He glanced at Jo.
“She hasn’t been maintaining the proper temperature,” Torie said softly. “I need to return her to the incubator and her warmers.”
Christopher hated to release Jo. It felt as if his heart was being torn out of his chest as he handed his daughter to the nurse.
Although he’d arranged for the overnight stay because of Christmas Eve and he thought Megan would want this, she’d gone to the room they’d sleep in and told him she was tired.
When he saw her, he’d kissed her. He tried not to put too much into the fact that she hadn’t kissed him back. She’d barely spoken to him or the kids.
For right now, he left her be, unable to invade her private thoughts while his were still so jumbled.
In silence, he watched as Torie placed Jo back in her incubator, then checked all her vital signs. Once Jo was settled, Torie removed her gloves and mask, documenting all of Jo’s information on her computer.
“She’s okay?” Christopher asked, nervous that another abnormality would be detected and further endanger her.
Torie nodded. “No change in the last thirty-six hours.”
Pressing his lips together, Christopher laid his hand on the top of the incubator, wanting to sit with her on the chair and hold her for more than a few minutes.
He removed his mask. “You gotta fight, Jo,” he said. “Your Grandpa was a fuckin’ fighter and your ma…your ma is a survivor. You got strong genes,” he told her, wishing he’d thought to say that while he held her.
“I want to thank you again for the money and for taking care of the remaining balance on my car’s repair bill.”
Megan should’ve been with him. They were shutting each other out, and that needed to stop. Beyond the latest medical emergency, they had to fucking talk. He wouldn’t feel so lost if hecould open up to her about all his feelings over Jo. Her surgery was on her mind. It concerned him how she’d cope with not only losing her ability to reproduce but also his taking care of the very last baby she’d give birth to.
Fuck. He’d never gotten as attached to any of his kids as he had to Jo. Except for CJ as his first born and Rebel as his only girl. Still, this was different in all respects.
“Your help is much appreciated,” Torie said.
“What?” He glanced at her and nodded. “Oh, yeah, babe.” He didn’t know what the fuck she’d said.
“You’re distracted.”
“A lot facin’ us.”
She patted his arm. “A lot’s facingyou.”
Her words floated over his head.
“I understand. You don’t feel like talking. It’s why you couldn’t get rid of me fast enough this morning. I was worried about you and wanted to make sure you got home to your family.” She gave his hand a sympathetic squeeze. “Worry made you brush me off, although my son was disappointed. He wanted to thank you for paying Santa.”
“Wasn’t brushin’ you off. I was home. I wanted to see my wife. Nothin’ else mattered.”
“My kid’s a small boy,” she said woefully. “He doesn’t understand adult dynamics.”
“You do,” he said irritably.
“Don’t be cross. He’s just a little kid and I’m all he has. I’m doing the best I can for him.”
“He shouldn’t know about bills and shit like that.”
“He had to know,” she said sharply. “He gave me a long list, none of which I could afford. He had to know it was because I didn’t have the money, not because I didn’t love him.”
“Money don’t equal love.”
