Page 155 of Halo

He ... He left me.

My stomach rolls. I swallow hard, pressing a hand against it.

Rachel steps out onto the porch, cradling Chloe close, her voice low but firm. “Leah, please. Stop making a scene and come inside.” Her eyes dart toward the street before returning to me. “We need to talk about this, but not out here.”

“Rachel, I—I don’t understand. What did he mean?”

“Come inside,” she says again, quieter now. “I’ll explain.”

I try. I make it one step toward the porch before another wave rolls through my stomach, stronger this time. Heat crawls up my neck, and my mouth suddenly floods with saliva.

Oh no.

I clamp a hand over my mouth.

I think I'm gonna be sick.

***

I have a nephew.

Grady, my thoughtful and imaginative paleontologist-in-training, is my nephew. I always, always felt such a strong connection to him. I chalked it up to seeing his spark through the cracks, to being his teacher and wanting to help him reach his full potential.

It turns out we share the same DNA.

We also share a love for a certain doctor with a drawl and a cowboy hat to match.

A doctor who is deeply wounded by the people I love.

The elevator dings as I arrive at the pediatric floor and Gulf Waters. The secretary grants me access onto the unit, and I hurry down the main hallway.

I turn a corner, and there he is, standing in the hallway, finishing a conversation with a gray-haired doctor, but Nick's eyes are downcast. He won’t even look up.

“Nick,” I gasp, rushing toward him. “Please, baby … I didn’t know. I swear to you, I didn’t know.”

He won’t meet my eyes as he works his jaw.

My chest tightens as I reach for him. “Please look at me.” My voice cracks. “I’m so sorry, but please don't shut me out.”

Slowly, he lifts his gaze.

And it all breaks.

His shoulders sag as his face crumples. Trembling, he sinks down onto the nearest chair.

I drop down beside him, wrapping my arms around him before I can think twice.

For a second, he’s still. Rigid. Cold to my touch.

Then he unravels.

He grabs me, clinging to me like a life preserver as he buries his face in my neck, his tears warm against my skin. Through heavy sobs, I tighten my arms around him and let him fall apart against me.

His breathing is uneven, but he tries to speak through the tears. “What am I supposed to do, Leah? I … I don’t even know what to do next.”

“I don’t know,” I whisper.

We sit there in the silence, both of us worn down and unsure. I gentle press soft, tender kisses against his forehead