1 was discharged yesterday, but the hospital still felt like home–or at least more of one than my own house did lately. Since leaving, I’d beenback almost every hour, staying by Liam’s side while the doctors ran test after best, desperate to find something that could explain everything. Nothing had surfaced yet, and the weight of that uncertainty sat heavy on my chest
The evening felt quietes than usual as I slipped back into the house, feeling the familiar warmth in the walls that I knew I should find comforting Ava had just been tucked in, and I’d asked Agatha, our housekeeper, to let me take over tonight, thadn’t beenamund enough, and Ava deserved the time I had to give, I hadn’t been giving her much attention lately. 1 quietly made my way to her rooms and settled in beside her, brushing the stray curls off her forehead as I read her bedtime story to her. But instead of sleeping,, she looked up at me with those wide, curious eyes.
“Mama,” she said softly, her voter sleepy but still insistent. “Where’s Lam? Why doesn’t he live here with us?”
My heart twisted, and I forced a small smile, hoping she wouldn’t notice how it wavered. If only she knew….
“It’s complicated, sweetheart,” I whispered, stroking her hair. “But I’m worlding on it, okay? We’re going to make sure he’s olory first. And then, once he’s better you’ll be able to play together all you want.”
She blinked, as if weighing my words carefully, before nodding in her small, solemn way. “Olay, Mama,”
1ldssed her forehead and tacked the covers around her. “Now get some sleep, darling. You’ve got school in the morning.”
Ava’s eyes finally drifted shut, and I stayed for a moment, just watching her breathe, the steady rise and fall that reminded me of a time when things were simple. If only I could protect both of my children from everything threatening to tear us apart.
1 closed the door softly behind me, ready to retreat to my own room, when I nearly walked straight into Faith. She looked as exhausted as I felt, leaning slightly against the wall, a soft smile on her face.
1, a little exasperated but more amused than anything. “What are you doing out of bed? You’re supposed to be resting; you’re about to
to go into labor
“Faith,” I said, a
any minute.”
She shrugged, trying to look nonchalant but failing miserably, “I got tired of lying down all day. Plus…I was craving lee cream.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Ah, Iser.”
As soon as Faith mentioned ice cream, I knew what she wanted. Without another word, I nodded, leading as down the hallway to the kitchen. This late–night ritual had become something of a lifeline for both of us, a comforting habit when sleep wouldn’t come. Since Talth moved into the house, we’d had countless nights lilue this, where we’d sit together in the quiet hours, just talking. No judgment, no holding back past two people sharing their thoughts over melting bowls of ice cream.
Tonight, though;, everything felt heavier. As I took the vanilla tub from the freezer, Lcould feel her eyes on me, her gaze warm and worried, as if she could see the turmoil beneath my calm tacade. I grabbed two spoons and slid her one, trying to focus on anything but the knot tightening in my chest. Faith didn’t say anything right away, just reached for her spoon, leaning on the counter beside me,
“Alright,” she said softly, hervoice steady. “Let it out.”
For a moment, I just stated down at the ice cream, letting the quiet fill the room. But as soon as I opened my mouth, the words came pouring out like water breaking through a dam. “I almost lost him today, Faith.” My voice was barely a whisper” “valmost lost Liam… because of Eliza.”
Faith’s hand shot out, covering mine. Her fingers were warm, grounding me, pulling me out of the whirlpool of my own thoughts, I hadn’t realized how much I nerded someone to just.. be there. Not to fix things or ask questions. Just be there.
Her voice was soft, but there was a hard edge to it. “Eliza? That vile woman. Haina, I… I can’t even imagine. Thank God Dominic was there to help. I don’t even want to think about what could have happened if he hadn’t been.”
Ipadded, swallowing against the sudden tightness in my throat. Her words hit me, one by one, each one heavy and terrible. Dominle had saved Liam. I hadn’t been there. How did I keep finding myself in situations where I wasn’t there to protect the people 1 loved? “I thought I’d moved past the worst of it, you know?” I said, fuscing out the words “And yet here I am, still somehow at hermenry.”
Faith’s hand squeezed mine, and she leaned a little closer, her gaze suitening. “Does Alexander know? Did you tell him?”
1 let out a bitter laugh, one that I couldn’t help but notice sounded harsher than I’d intended. “Even if I did, he wouldn’t believe me. Not without proof That’s always been the way with hian–words aren’t enough. He’d need undeniable proof, something he couldn’t ignore or twist. That’s why I need to find my phone, but
Her expression slitted to one of understanding, her eyes narrowing slightly. “so your phone, do you think it could have something on it? Something that might quake Him listen?!”
Inodded slowly. “There’s proof that Eliza did it on there. Hut 1 lost it, or maybe it was taken i don’t even know anymore. I just know that without it, 1 have
odling Just my wood–and that doesn’t hold much weight with him.”
Paul’s eyes narrowed slightly. “, you’re thinking of going after it alone?” She tilted her head, studying my face. “Raina, don’t even think about doing this without Dominic at rast knowing I can see it in your eyes. Don’t pretend.”
Tighed, giving hier a turful smile. Faith had always been able to read me better than most. She knew me too well.
I tried to brush it off, to laugh, but it came out thin, hallow: “Of course not. I’m not stupid.*
-25 Bonus
Faith arched an eyebrow, giving me a look that told me she didn’t buy it for a second. “You’re too stubborn for your own good, you know that? Don’t do this alone Rain. You have to at least bell Dominic”
My heart winged at the mention of him. Dominic had already done so much for me. He’d been there in ways Alex never was, and I hated the idea of putting more on his shoulders. “I just… I don’t want to drag him into this more than 1 already have. He’s got his own lite, his own worries.”
“Raina.” Faith’s voice was soft but tim. “You’re family to him. And he would do anything for you–1 don’t just think it, I know it. So don’t make this harderon yourself by shutting him out. You have people who love you. Lean on them.”
Her words hit me hard, like a truth I’d been avoiding for too long. I’d spent so many years fighting my own battles, trying to survive by myself, that I’d forgotten what it felt like to have someone in my comer Slowly, I nodded, letting her words sink in. Faith’s hand hadn’t left mine, and her warmth felt like a lifeline in the
For a few moments, we sat there in silence, the sounds of spoons clinking against bowls filling the coom as we ate thadn’t realized how much I needed this someone to share the weight, even if just for a moment. Eventually, Faith gave my hand a reassuring squeeze and leaned back
“I mean it, Raina. You don’t have to do this alone. Whatever you decide, I’ve got your back And so does Dominic.”
A small, tentative smile spread across my face. “Thank you, Faith, Really
She smiled back, a warm, comforting smile that chased away the shadows, if only for a moment. We finished our ice cream in silence, our words already spoken, and the quiet felt like a promise that I wasn’t alone in this. For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to believe that maybe.. maybe I didn’t have to do it all on my OwnL
We said goodnight, and as I lay in bed that night, Faith’s words echoed in my mind, agile reminder that I was stronger than I’d realized and maybe, just maybe, I didn’t have to face the darkness alone. But I also know what needed to be done first, I’d have to get my phone back And I’d be by Liam’s side as soon as the sun came up.
With a small sigh, 1 closed my eyes, letting Faith’s quiet strength seep into me as I drifted ott to sleep, but morning came too soon, bringing a fresh sense of urgency. I needed two things before work to find my phone–and to check on Llans. Every fiber of my being wanted to slip out quietly, to do this without drawing any attention. But as I made my way down the hall, Dominic’s voice stopped me in my tracks.
