Page 31 of Only ever you-Ana & Byron (Blindsided #2)

T he late afternoon sun slanted through the window as Cadi and Gray gathered their things by the door, Tomos at their heels, chattering excitedly about the playground they'd visit afterwards .

They'd been in touch with Ana and Byron through every test and every appointment, asking the right questions, "What's the chances of quadriplegia?" "What can we expect postoperatively?", taking notes, waiting patiently for every appointment.

Ana's parents had left earlier. They had done their best to appear cheerful and not show the worry that had drawn new lines of tension on their faces. They would be back early in the morning.

Today, the neurosurgeon, a woman who knew Gray from his own spinal surgery rotation, had spent nearly an hour with them.

They'd agreed the safest window was the second trimester, balancing the baby's development with the risk of the fragment shifting or causing infection in Ana's vertebrae if they waited until after birth. It was a relief to have a plan .

Weeks ago, Cadi had stormed off in anger, hurt that Ana hadn't confided sooner, only to then return in tears to hug her until both of them trembled with relief.

Ana lay awake beside Byron in the narrow hospital bed.

They had been instructed to come a day early for some tests.

In the darkness, she felt him smiling against her neck, though the faintest tightness of his shoulders betrayed his tension.

"Yer will be hungry tomorrow," he murmured in his slow drawl, voice half-laughing. "Too bad you've gotta wait till after tomorrow."

She cursed softly into the pillow. "Hey, shut it, will ya, you stupid fart?"

He chuckled and hugged her tighter. "I'm glad to have my foul-mouthed Ana back-none of that subdued nonsense from before.

Don't know why you ever thought I'd baulk at being with you over a bit o' shiny metal.

I want you any way I can get. Don't you know how long I've waited for you?

I even had to grow taller than you to get into your bloody pants. "

Ana grinned in the dark. She felt more herself than she had in months, bossing him about bedtime -"You need your rest, Mister Pacing-at-midnight!,” and teasing him.

The baby's ultrasound had been a dream. Byron's hand over hers as they watched the screen flicker. Then, the thunder of the baby's heartbeat, strong and steady, boomed through the room.

"That's fuckin' awesome," Byron whispered, voice cracking. He had stared at the print-out of the sonogram for the longest time before slipping it into his wallet like a sacred talisman.

Ana kissed his cheek. "No more secrets, right?" she said.

He nodded, eyes bright.

She took a trembling breath. "I need to tell you something, because no more secrets, yeah? If things go sideways... and well, it's my worst nightmare. Cadi and I talked about what should happen if things go wrong. And if I'm not in my right mind to make that call, she'll help."

Byron was silent for a long moment. His voice trembled as much as hers when he spoke.

"I'm terrified of losin' you now that I really have you," he said, brushing his lips across her hair.

"It won't happen, my love," Ana whispered against his collarbone. "It won't. I promise."

His tears dampened her gown, and he nodded against her neck. They snuggled there-her head on his shoulder, his arms her fortress, as dusk fell.

Her stomach growled, loud enough to make them both laugh.

"What are you craving tomorrow, eh?" Byron teased.

"Donuts," she said immediately. "Pancakes with crème fra?che and blueberries. French toast."

He placed his hand over the gentle curve of her belly. "We'll get you all that and more," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "It'll be fine."

Outside, the wind whispered through the trees, but inside that little room, they held onto each other and the promise of tomorrow.

***