Riley glanced between us, sensing something was off. I forced a smile—for her, for the moment, for the fragile joy we had just created.
“Go get some water,” I said gently. “This is it. Our babies are here… our lives start now.”
For a second—just one second—he almost smiled.
But it never fully reached his eyes.
Instead, he leaned down, pressed a kiss to my hand, and whispered, “Stay with the girls.”
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I frowned. “What does that mean?”
Before I could get an answer, a nurse walked in, breaking the moment apart.
“Go grab something to eat while they’re asleep, Eri,” Riley murmured. “I promise, I’ll be right here.”
Sam lowered his gaze back to the folder again.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “I won’t be long. I’ll grab us food and be right back. Text me if you need me.”
I came back with a paper bag full of food.
Still warm.
Still ordinary.
Still believing everything was about to begin.
But Sam was gone.
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At first, my brain refused to understand it.
Bathroom. Parking lot. Phone call. His mother.
