The By Request Collection. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ I was seventeen weeks, I went in for an ultrasound. The doctor’s office had a new machine, one that had top-of-the-line imaging. I was so excited to see that little face, to find out what I was having.”

      When her voice broke, Eve bit her lip. She wanted to hold it together. She wanted to show Graham that she was strong, but all those past emotions threatened to strangle her and end this conversation. Tremors racked her body as her eyes filled. There was no stopping the wave of memories and feelings as she relived the horrid day.

      “Eve, don’t—”

      “No. I’ve come this far and you need to know.” On a shaky breath, she continued, “The tech kept searching the screen and moving the device over my stomach almost frantically, and I knew something was wrong. Her face wasn’t bright like when I’d first come in. At one point she excused herself and stepped out into the hall to ask someone to find the doctor. I knew. In my heart I knew something was wrong with my baby.”

      “What happened?”

      “In simple terms, the cord came away from the amniotic sac. I don’t know how far along I was when that happened. The doctor said my body still thought I was pregnant, so my uterus was still stretching.” Eve sniffed, wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I could’ve lost the baby a month earlier or I could’ve lost her that day. I honestly don’t know. But I know I never want to live through that again. I can’t.”

      “Oh, baby.” Graham kissed the top of her head. “I don’t even know what to say.”

      “Nothing can be said,” she said. “People told me how sorry they were. They tried to say the right thing, but there isn’t a right thing. I lost a piece of myself that day and the following days are a blur. I will never know that face. That’s all I kept thinking. What did she look like?”

      “She?”

      Eve shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t ask. They had to perform a D&C the next day to remove all the tissue. I was getting prepped for surgery, wondering how things had gone from the highest mountain to the deepest pit I’d ever known, when the nurse had me sign a paper. It was a paper stating I gave them permission to dispose of any remains. Dispose of.”

      “Eve, stop, please.”

      Tears slid down her face. “How could I sign a paper saying that was okay?” she asked, ignoring his plea. “This was my baby. I know I wasn’t far enough along to have a funeral, but the wording was just so cold, so heartless. I’ll never forget it.”

      Graham reached a hand up to wipe her wet cheeks, then smoothed her hair away from her face. “No more. Don’t do this to yourself. I’m such a jerk for asking, but I thought I deserved to know. I should’ve thought of your feelings.”

      “No.” Eve shifted in his arms to face him. “You did deserve to know. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want to kill our mood here. I want you to know everything about me.”

      “I don’t want you hurt,” he murmured against her lips. “I can’t stand it, Eve. Never again will you hurt like that.”

      Reaching up to cup his face, Eve tipped her head back. “I hope I don’t. I hope this baby is delivered full-term and healthy. I’m so afraid of how my family will react, how your brothers will take the news. I can handle quite a bit, but I won’t let our child be in the cross fire.”

      Graham slid his thumb along her bottom lip. “Nobody will harm you or our child so long as I’m in the picture.”

      “And how long will that be?” she dared to ask.

      In lieu of an answer, Graham kissed her gently. Eve instantly opened to him. He never had to ask, never had to persuade her. She was always ready for more contact, more of anything that had to do with Graham. He’d listened to her, he’d hurt for her and he was trying to make her forget if only for a short time.

      When his hand trailed down to the hem of her shirt, she shifted. Without words, without the usual rush and frenzy, they were undressed and somehow ended up settled right back in the chair.

      Eve rested a knee on either side of Graham’s hips. “I love you.”

      She didn’t mean to let loose with the words, but there was no holding them back.

      “Eve—”

      “No.” She held a finger to his lips. “I don’t need anything said in return. I’ve been completely open with you tonight and I wanted to get it all out. I needed to. Now show me how you were going to make me forget the rest of the world.”

      * * *

      Graham couldn’t get those words out of his mind.

      She loved him. Loved. Him.

      No other woman, save for his mother and Gerty, had ever uttered those words to him before. He wasn’t sure what to do, what to say. Had she not cut him off, what would’ve come out of his mouth in reply?

      As he put breakfast together the following morning, Graham tried to pull himself together. This was what he’d been waiting for. She’d fallen in love with him and now all he had to do was make this relationship more official.

      But after all she’d shared before her declaration of love, he didn’t feel right about using her state of vulnerability to complete his plan. He needed to see what happened today, when they could talk more, explore the area together and just be themselves. Maybe...

      What? Nothing had changed. He still wanted this child to have his name.

      His cell vibrated on the counter. Brooks’s name lit up the screen. Graham slid the casserole into the oven and answered his phone.

      “Hello.”

      “Roman has a major lead. He thinks he has a name, but he’s going to make a quick trip before he tells us to be sure.”

      Could this be it? After all this time could they have found their father?

      Since Eve was still in bed where he’d left her, Graham put his phone on speaker so he could start cutting up the fruit.

      “How soon will we know?” Graham asked, pulling out various bags of produce from the refrigerator.

      “He’s heading there today. Hopefully soon.”

      Graham slid a knife from the block on the counter. “I’m going to be nervous all day.”

      “Me, too,” his brother said. “You ready to tell me where you are?”

      “I’m at the cabin.”

      Brooks made a humming sound, one that mocked Graham and made him sorry he’d even admitted that much.

      “With?” Brooks asked.

      “None of your concern.”

      “It’s my concern if you’re sleeping with our enemy’s daughter.”

      Graham glanced over his shoulder, thankful to see the living area still empty, which meant she was still in bed. “I’m with Eve, yes. But—”

      “What СКАЧАТЬ