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We just need to get thisthe bed of its sheets Vaughn oversees this and says, "No, this is no good The whole mattress is ruined"

"Where’s lassy and distant Tears and sweat roll down her face

Her breaths rattle in her chest

"We’ll see him soon, love," Linden says, and kisses her

For thelike a child If I didn’t know either of them, I would almost believe that they were a normal mother and father in a normal hospital under nor as noro, like a research lab with my parents inside

Cecily looks so weak and exhausted, her face drained of color, and other worries start to take over What if she loses toobirth was too traumatic for her shn would take her to a hospital, even if it had to be the hospital he owns in the city Someplace well lit, and full of other doctors

I don’t say any of this out loud I knoould be futile Vaughn never lets us leave, and suggesting it ht even scare Cecily I brush the hair from her sweaty face, and instead I say, "You should rest now; you’ve really earned it"

"You’ve earned it, love," Linden echoes, and kisses her hand and presses it to his cheek There’s an almost sht Cecily sleeps deeply and without snoring

Thinking of hn after the hurricane, when I was too weak to defend myself, I check in on her periodically She barely moves, and I’m relieved to see that Linden is faithfully at her side

Jenna goes to bed even before dinner is served But Vaughn is constantly arriving at our floor with excuses to check on the randchild And it’s abundantly clear that I won’t be able to make it to the baseiven this key card I don’t want to have it confiscated I try to console hts that Gabriel’s okay

After all, he was able to get that June Bean toabout that kiss Maybe Gabriel has only been assigned to clean ht of him alone in that less basement sets my stomach in flip-flops And on top of that, I haven’t seen the baby since it was carted away And every tihn’s insipid voice outsideto say that it didn’t survive

Gabriel, please look after the baby if you see it down there, okay?

So a cup of Earl Grey, Linden comes into rinning wildly "I’ve just been to see hi and he’s healthy"

"I’m so happy for you, Linden," I say And Ithe ottoh to eat? Do you need anything--anything at all?"

He’s over the stars right now, and I ad is really going to be okay

I smile and shake my head, look out the"Full ood luck" He reaches out and touches a lock of e beside me, and I curl my knees to my chest to

Gently he round, and he tilts my chin and kisses me

I allow it, because I’et--and because I promised him I’d be a better wife, and it would make him suspicious if I pushed hi in the world to kiss Linden Ashby

The kiss lingers for a while, and then I feel his fingers starting to unbutton own, and I draw back

"What is it?" he asks, his voice as hazy as his eyes

"Linden," I say, blushing, fixing the one button he’d ed to free I can’t think of a suitable explanation, so I look at the moon

"Is it because the door is open?" he asks "I’ll close it"

"No," I say "It’s not the door"

"Then, what?" He tiltsmy eyes to him "I love you," he says "I want to have a baby with you"