Chapter 5

I asked, "Edward, who sewed this seam?"

He hesitated for a couple of seconds.

Mother Carter snapped, "Are you really going to embarrass yourself here over a ripped shirt?"

Samantha handed the shirt to me. "Mrs. Carter, if it bothers you, just take it back."

She let go.

The shirt dropped to the floor.

The pointed toe of her high heel came down on the cuff with deliberate pressure.

Those seven stitches ended up right under her shoe.

Edward saw everything.

He said, "Samantha, cut it out."

He didn't ask her to move her foot.

I bent down and picked up the shirt.

Dust stuck to my fingertips.

I didn't cry.

Those seven stitches had simply ended up in the wrong place.

That afternoon, I went to the hospital alone.

The doctor frowned after reading the report.

"Honestly, it's not looking good. You'll need to stay in the hospital to make sure the baby stays safe," he said.

I was about to nod when my phone rang.

Edward was calling.

He sounded icy.

Edward asked, "Grace, did you make Samantha cry?"

I looked out the window.

My pale face was reflected in the hospital glass.

Edward continued, "Come back and apologize to her."

I held the test results and said softly, "I can't come back right now."

Edward paused. "Don't use the baby to threaten me."

The doctor urged, "Could a family member sign the forms so we can admit her?"

I closed my eyes.

"Edward, I might lose the baby," I said.

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.

Then he said, "That's enough, Grace. You've changed. This isn't the Grace I used to know."

I let his words sink in, then slowly hung up.

The doctor asked, "Is your family coming?"

I shut off my phone, cutting myself off completely.

I said quietly, "No one's coming."

*****

The next day, Edward came to the hospital.

When he walked in, I was hooked up to an IV drip.

His eyes landed on the IV bag, and he frowned.

"Why didn't you tell me you were actually in the hospital?" he asked.

I looked at him. "I told you already."

He paused.

I didn't say anything else.

He walked over to the bed and set down a bag of oatmeal. "Mom can be harsh, but don't take it to heart. As for Sprout & Bloom, I'll leave it alone for now."

For now.

He always says that.

Just borrowing the shirt for now.

Just managing the project for now.

Just making me suffer for now.

It was as if, by calling it temporary, all the pain he caused me suddenly didn't matter at all.

I asked, "What about Samantha?"

Edward's tone softened a bit. "She wasn't in a good mood, so I had someone take her home."

I smiled. "So when she's upset, you come running to me?"

"Grace," he said.

His voice grew heavy. "I'm here, what more do you want from me?"

I looked up at him.

He honestly had no clue.

He never realized that what I wanted wasn't the leftovers of his attention, tossed my way when he felt like it.

The nurse came in to change my IV and, seeing him, said casually, "Good, you're here. She can't handle any more stress right now. She checked in alone yesterday, and she looked so pale it was scary."

Edward looked at me.

I turned my head away.

After the nurse left, he sat down next to me and reached for my hand.

His hand was warm.

My body reacted before I could stop it, my fingertips twitched.

Edward noticed my reaction, and his voice softened.

"Grace, stop freezing me out. Once things are stable with the baby, I'll take you to the beach for a few days to relax," he said.

For a split second, I almost nodded.

He always knew how to make me give in, just like this.

One soft "Grace" from him, one bit of tenderness, and I could forget so much.

But then his phone buzzed.

It was his.