Page 112 of The Light to My Darkness (The Light to My Darkness 1)

She stepped out and walked over to me. "He's going to make it. He's strong."

My throat felt dry.

"What's his name?"

"My wife liked the name Liam." Why did I say "liked" instead of "likes"?

"Ah. Strong-willed warrior."

I turned toward her. "What?"

"I hear so many names. I started looking up all their meanings. That's a good name for him. Because he has to be strong to get through this. Are you sure you don't want to hold him?"

I ran my fingers through my hair. "I'm sure."

"Do you have any other kids?"

I wasn't sure why she was pretending she didn't know who I was. She knew which son was mine. She clearly recognized me from tabloids. "A little girl. Scarlett."

"The one with the red hair?"

I smiled. "That's the one."

"She's very cute. She's already been in to see him. Some older siblings don't realize how gentle they need to be with a newborn. But she was very good at holding him."

My daughter had held him. Who else had? The question didn't matter. What mattered was the fact that I couldn't seem to make myself hold him. What happened to my wife wasn't the baby's fault. I was putting blame on him. But he was fighting for his life too.

I stared at his dark hair. And his nose. He definitely had my nose. God, he was so small. I stepped away from the window. "Is Dr. Nelson still here? I haven't gotten the complete update on my son's condition."

"I can page him if you want to go in the waiting room. He just finished a delivery so he'll need a few minutes."

She didn't point out a baby as proof. Dr. Nelson had probably just delivered a healthy baby. With a mother that could hold him. With a father that wanted to. A baby that wasn't in the NICU.

"Thank you. I'll be in the waiting room."

"James?"

She had finally admitted to knowing my name.

"I'm sorry about your wife. To try to take your own life when you're pregnant...I just can't imagine what your family is going through right

now."

My whole body turned cold. "Who told you that?"

She opened her mouth and then closed it again. "Just...word travels around the hospital."

"That's a lie. My wife would never do that."

The paper in my pocket made it seem otherwise. The doctor made it seem otherwise. My lawyer made it seem otherwise.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she stammered. "I didn't mean..." her voice trailed off.

No one could know. No one could think less of her. Because I didn't want her memory to be tainted by this. I was angry, but I still loved her. I loved her with every fiber of my being. Please don't let anyone else know. I pushed through the doors to the waiting room. I needed to keep Penny's secret. I had to.

Rob looked up at me as I walked in. He wasn't looking at me like he hated at me. He was looking at me like he knew.

I stood frozen in the waiting room.

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