The Nurse's Baby Secret

“Did you eat lunch?”

He thought back and couldn’t recall eating.

When he didn’t answer, Savannah shook her head. “No wonder you’ve lost weight.”

“A few pounds.”

“You didn’t need to lose weight. You were perfect as you were.” Realizing what she’d said, she backtracked. “I mean...you know what I mean.”

He gave a tired smile. “I do, and thank you. How’s the pain tonight?”

She s

hrugged. “Bearable.”

“I admire your resolve to not take anything for the baby’s sake.”

“It’s not worth the risk.”

“I hate to see you suffer.”

“I’m okay.” She was. Or at least she would be. Eventually. Her leg, that was. When she looked at Charlie she wasn’t so sure about other areas. Perhaps when you’d loved as deeply as she’d loved Charlie you never really healed.

After he’d eaten, he asked, “You want to watch a movie?”

Surprised at his suggestion, Savannah glanced up. “A movie?”

“I could rent something online for us to watch.”

“If that’s what you want to do.”

She’d obviously not hidden her reluctance because he asked, “You don’t?”

She laughed a little lamely. “I’m just sitting here with this leg propped up following doctor’s orders. Whatever you want to do is fine.”

“We could do something else if you’d like,” he offered; being that thoughtful guy again was making it so difficult to remember that he’d walked away from her so coldly. Walls began slamming up all around her and she shook them off. No, she wasn’t going to shut him out. Tonight she’d just pretend that all the negative hadn’t happened. She’d not question her motives too closely and she’d just do her best to relax and rejoice that she was alive, that her baby was alive, that she was with a man who once upon a time had made her feel like the luckiest woman in the world and that, for better or worse, she was going to have a baby with him.

She named a card game they’d played numerous times in the past, sometimes just the two of them, sometimes with friends.

He looked surprised. “You want to play cards?”

She nodded. She would rather play cards than watch a movie. Playing a game, she wouldn’t have to try to think of anything to say and yet they would talk. After all, if she was going to be here for a few more days, they needed some sort of truce.

“Yes, I’d like to play cards.” She smiled what was her first real smile at him for months. “I like beating you.”

Surprise flitted across his face and his brow arched. “You don’t beat me at cards.”

Good eyebrow arched, she tsked. “I might have been the one with a concussion, but it’s your memory failing. I always win when we play cards.”

He studied her a moment, his eyes intense in their darkness, his expression just as deep. Then his features softened and the corner of his mouth inched upward. “Right. You do.” His smile came on full force. “When you’re my partner.”

Savannah’s breath caught in her chest and she was grateful the pulse oximeter monitor was no longer monitoring her because the alarm bell would be sounding. Breathe, Savannah, breathe.

“Ooh, that was sneaky,” she chided, her gaze not leaving his. “And not true.”

“We’ll see.” His smile fell. “Or we would, except I don’t have any cards here.”

“Good thing for you I do.” She reached into the bag that Chrissie had brought her. Inside were romance novels, puzzle books, an adult coloring book and pencils, cards, a learn-to-knit kit, and several other occupy-her-time-while-recuperating items her friend had given her. She pulled out the card box and waved it in front of her. “Because I’m awesome that way.”