Chapter 12 - THE FATHER WAITING OUTSIDE THE DELIVERY ROOM
Labor began at 3:42 a.m.
A sharp contraction woke me.
Then another.
Rachel drove me to the hospital.
Michael called Alexander.
He arrived four hours later.
I saw him standing outside my room.
Black coat.
Tired eyes.
A man who looked nothing like the untouchable mafia boss I'd once known.
He approached slowly.
“Claire.”
I looked at him.
“Alexander.”
His eyes filled.
“How are you?”
I swallowed.
“Scared.”
He nodded.
“I'm sorry.”
I looked away.
He continued.
“I know that doesn't fix anything.”
I closed my eyes.
Then whispered, “You can stay.”
He froze.
“Really?”
I nodded.
“But if I ask you to leave, you leave.”
“Of course.”
He took a seat beside the bed.
Didn't touch me without asking.
Didn't make promises.
Didn't try to explain himself.
May you like
He simply stayed.
And when the contractions became unbearable, he held my hand because I asked him to.
