Page 103 of Thin Lives

Anything but fight with her.

He missed this woman more than he could explain. For almost a year, he had felt like he was lost in some sort of haze, all the while knowing that he was without something important, even if he didn’t know exactly what it was.

She had been that important thing.

Calisto loved her.

Entirely.

Wholly.

Crazily.

He loved her.

How he had forgotten the one soul made for his, he didn’t know.

“I will figure it out,” Calisto said, taking a step toward her. “I will get Cross to you—to us—the very second I can.”

Emma opened her mouth to say something, but he beat her to the punch.

“I will, Emmy. I promise.”

“You don’t seem to understand, Calisto,” Emma said as his palm came up to cup her jaw with a gentle touch. “This isn’t a question—there is no choice here, and you can’t make me stay based on a promise.”

“I wouldn’t let anything happen to our son.”

“I’ve been his only one, Cal!”

Calisto quieted, surprised by her outburst.

Emma squeezed his wrist, stepping closer as she said, “I have been the only person loving and protecting that little boy from the moment I knew I was pregnant with him. He only had me, just me. You didn’t even know I was pregnant before the accident, but I was still left alone to keep him safe. You can’t snap your fingers and make that disappear for me, Calisto. Don’t ask me to sit and wait. Not for my baby.”

“Mine, too,” he said softly.

“Please.”

The idea of allowing Emma to go back into what he considered a dangerous situation was out of the question for Calisto. He didn’t even want to consider it.

But he knew Emma, too.

She seemed compliant from afar.

Sweet, even.

Fragile, maybe.

The woman was stronger than anyone knew. She had strength that was built upon by years of feeling alone. She had fire in her soul.

And he loved that.

It wasn’t such a surprise to him that Emma refused to leave Cross behind, even for a short time with the knowledge that he would be brought to her as soon as possible—and safely. She was their son’s one person to count on, to love and comfort him. When his father hadn’t even known him, he had his mother.

She wouldn’t leave Cross behind.

Not like she had been.

“Emma, just consider—”