"You’re beautiful." She grew quiet as we stared into each other’s eyes. "You’re still the same woman I fell in love with." I smiled at her and gently wiped the tears from hercheek.
"Did they catch him?" she asked, looking up at me with tiredeyes.
"I'm not sure yet, baby. Elliott is outside with Jen. They were calling to find out. We will make sure that once he is caught he stays lockedaway."
"Elliott's here as well?" She closed her eyes as a small sob came from her throat. "Does he knoweverything?"
"Yes, but you don't need to worry about anything. You just need to concentrate on healing and getting stronger so that..." I rested my hand on her abdomen and squeezed her hand with myother.
She closed her eyes. "They told you?" she asked in a barely audiblewhisper.
"They did." I smiled down ather.
"I was afraid that they would tellyou."
"Why would you be afraid of that?" What came next almost knocked me to my knees and took my breathaway.
"I wanted to be the one to tell you. I wasn't sure you would want it. I wasn't sure you would even want to be with me after everything thathappened."
I felt the air being sucked from the room. My heart ached for this beautiful woman who lay before me. I had wanted her for years, and I had never given up hope that she would find her way back to me. She owned my heart and would until the day I ceased toexist.
I rested myself on my opposite arm and bent down to place a long, gentle kiss on her mouth. "I've always wanted you. Always. even after you walked away from me the first time." I kissed her again. "Close your eyes, baby, and get somerest."
I sat down in the chair beside her and held her hand, watching as she closed her eyes. It wasn't long before she fell into a soundsleep.
We had talked extensively overthe couple of days that he stayed by my side in the hospital. Talked right into the wee hours of the morning both nights. Things turned serious when we started talking about thebaby.
Parker leaned back against the chair he was sitting in, his feet up on the bed. I could see he had the weight of the world on his shoulders at that moment. I hadn't seen that look on his face since the day we went our separateways.
"What is it?" I askedquietly.
"What?"
"You look like you have something on your mind. Talk to me." I raised the bed up a littlehigher.
"It’snothing."
"I don't think it’s nothing. Talk tome."
I watched as Parker swallowed and turned his eyes down to the floor. "I'm still a little shocked. We're going to have a babytogether."
"Yes. But I gave it some thought last night. If you don't want to be involved, then just say thewords."
I couldn't help it. I was nervous. I was pissed that the doctor had told him. I didn't want him to feel obligated to stay with me. I couldn't seem to get it through my head that someone would want to be with me after everything that hadhappened.
"I'm not him,Tatum."
My head snapped up, and I locked eyes withhim.
"I'm not him. Stop doubting what we have. I can see it written all over your face. I'm in love with you, no matter what you have been through. I'm here, and this time I am not going anywhere, no matter how long it takes you to realizeit."
I felt a tear slip down my cheek. "Why did I ever let you go?" I covered my eyes with my hands. I didn't want him to see me cry again. I had shed enough tears in the lastweek.
"Move in withme?"
I slowly lowered my hands and looked at him. I studied the look on his face and could tell he was serious. He stood up from the chair and sat down beside me in the bed and took both of my hands into his, his warm touch sending a pulse through mybody.
"Move in with me?" His deep voice soothed my nerves almostinstantly.