As if in a daydream, he followed the sunlit corridor toward the noise. The bright rays stabbed his eyes, coloring his vision a rusty shade, but he continued, hypnotized by the cries.
They led him to an open room with a broken plastic chair in the entrance. Laurent stilled, watching a slender shadow move back and forth over the resin floor, but when he took a final step and peeked inside the empty chamber a young woman looked up at him from above a blue bundle of fabric wrapped around a baby.
She wore velvety tracksuit pants and a tight T-shirt, but with her lush dark hair pinned loosely on her head creating a halo effect, she was like an entity from a distant world who appeared here to assist Laurent with her wisdom.
Marcel suddenly felt heavier, and no matter how long Laurent stared at the scrunched face of the baby cradled against the woman’s chest, he could see why Beast had pointed out the size of the egg earlier. Her child was tiny. Tiny, and it had already been born.
“E-excuse me, but who are you?” he asked, stepping into the room. For all he knew, the woman could be yet another menacing apparition. One could never be too careful in this godforsaken place.
She frowned, and her eyes almost disappeared in the puffiness under them. “I could ask the same thing, but I’m guessing you might be Beast’s boyfriend.”
“Husband.” But then he remembered he wasn’t even sure anymore with the way things had just unfolded, and added, “it’s complicated.”
The woman smiled, rocking the baby in her arms. “I’m Lana. Travis told me about you. I could tell it was you from the accent.”
“Travis? As in Knight? Are you friends?” Because he sure hoped this wasn’t Knight’s illicit child. Elliot wouldn’t take kindly to that kind of thing.
Lana turned around, so the light coming through the window lit up the crown of hair, leaving her face shadowed. “I’m his little sister. I’ve been having some trouble, and he said I can stay here until I get back on my feet. The guys are moving some of my stuff, but Xavier started crying, and I didn’t want him around all that noise.”
Laurent walked up to her, intimidated by the baby’s constant screaming. “I’m sorry to hear that, but the house is vast, so I’m sure you will have a pleasant stay here.”
She grinned at him. “Travis tells me you two also have a baby on the way. Xavier here is only seven months old, but if you have any questions, let me know.”
“Seven months? But… he’s tiny.” Laurent stared at the red face of the boy who was slowly calming down in his mother’s arms. Maybe Laurent had that kind of effect on children and didn’t even know it? He sure hoped so.
Lana sighed. “I know. He was born prematurely. I had a lot of stress when I was pregnant, and that’s not good for a developing baby. But now I’m here. We’re both gonna be fine.”
“What kind of stress? I don’t want to pry, but I would like to know for Marcel’s sake. That will be our son’s name,” he added with pride.
Lana scowled but met Laurent’s gaze. “I suppose you will all find out soon anyway. I don’t have the best taste in men, and his daddy? He got even worse when Xavier came into the picture. If only you knew who was your true love when you meet them, life would be so much easier. Wouldn’t have to waste your time on all the losers.”
“What if true love is not enough?” Laurent reached out to the baby’s face when it stopped crying, but then realized what he was doing and recoiled. He couldn’t just touch someone’s child at will. Lana smiled and encouraged him though.
“With true love, both people want to work through things no matter what obstacles are in the way.”
Laurent dared touch the soft skin on Xavier’s face, thinking of how Marcel would look . A creation of true love. “Beast and I… We have our differences, and only time will tell if they are reconcilable.”
Lana opened her lips and gently rubbed Laurent’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Will you be taking a new husband, or will your brother take care of you from now on?” Laurent asked, unable to keep his gaze away from Xavier’s shockingly blue eyes.
Lana gave a short laugh. “Oh no, I’m gonna give myself a man-detox. Don’t tell Travis. I know he’d love to just pay for everything and keep me here, but that’s not right. I need to be back on my own feet as soon as possible. I know it won’t be easy, but I’d rather be a single mom than go back to Ron and his assholish attitude.”