Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
We were all clustered around Elizabeth that we didn’t even see Lars appear until he said, “It’s a girl!”
We straightened ourselves the best that we could and followed Lars to the room they’d been transferred into. Lark waited outside as we all entered. Candice held a tiny bundle in her arms. She looked so young and so happy in that moment. As if her entire world had been flipped on its axis.
“She’s precious,” I told her.
“Isn’t she?” Candice said. “We named her Carrie… after my mother.”
“That’s beautiful, dear,” Elizabeth said.
“A good tribute,” Camden agreed.
“Carrie Sparrow,” Candice added. “So that she can have wings.”
I laughed softly. That was so Candice. But somehow, it was perfect. Fitting.
We all needed wings right now.
* * *
Candice and Lars were simply exhausted. We couldn’t stay long but promised to come back later to see Carrie more. She was the cutest, squishiest little ball of joy that I’d ever seen. A part of me actually hoped that Candice stopped traipsing around the universe long enough for me to get to know my niece.
As soon as we left, Elizabeth rushed out of the hospital. I didn’t know what her plans were, but I was sure she’d figure it out on her own. Lark squeezed my shoulder once we were outside the hospital and gave me a hug.
“I see you’re in good hands,” she said.
Camden nodded at her. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
She squeezed me one more time. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I told her before she left.
Camden bundled me up into the limo and took me home. We had a lot to discuss, and I was exhausted. I’d barely slept a wink the night before in the hospital. Too much anxiety. Now, it was all catching up with me.
I couldn’t sleep yet though. I needed answers.
“So, tell me what happened,” I told Camden once we were inside the penthouse.
He gestured for me to follow him upstairs. “I want to get out of this tux first.”
“Why didn’t you change last night?”
“It’s part of the story.” He stripped out of his tuxedo and left it in a heap on the floor. Then he pulled on jogging pants and a T-shirt. The whole thing seemed to completely transform him.
He sat on the edge of the bed and told me everything. About Hank’s and his mother and her confession. About her fear of telling him who she was and losing him again. How he’d confronted his father and his claim that he wasn’t his son. All of it up until the punch.
Halfway through, I’d dropped into a chair and stared at him in shock. “That’s… crazy, Camden.”
“I know. I’ve been looking for her for years, and she’s been there all along.”
“And your father…”
“He’s a bastard,” Camden swore. “A right bastard.”
“Are you actually going to press charges?”
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said honestly.
“Good.”
He assessed me then. “You’re not frightened that I’d do that?”
“Frightened? Me?” I laughed. “You know who you married. Let’s take him down together.”
“God, I love you,” he said, sweeping me to my feet and planting a kiss on my lips. He pressed his forehead against mine and sighed. “Katherine, I’m sorry.”
I froze at those words. “You… you don’t apologize.”
“I know.”
“Why now?”
“Because I was wrong, and you need to hear it. I’m sorry for taking you to the hospital the way that I did. I shouldn’t have done it.”
“Oh, Camden,” I said, bringing my hand up to his jaw.
“I almost lost you. I did it, knowing I might, but I just couldn’t imagine life without you anymore. I’m so sorry I hurt you.”
“It’s okay,” I told him, drawing him in for another kiss. “It’s going to be okay. I still hate that I was in the hospital at all, but I realize now it was your only option.”
He nodded. “It was. Or it felt like it was.”
“My mother came to see me in the hospital. She actually… expressed emotions and told me about the first time I went. I realized her fears were the same as yours. I hate that I put you in a position to even have to worry about me like that. And I’ve agreed to go back to therapy.”
“I’m so glad, Katherine,” he told me. “And shocked by your mother.”
I laughed softly. “Me and you both.”
“I want to see you healthy. I don’t want to lose you.”
“You’ll never lose me,” I told him confidently.
And I meant it.
He gently tugged my ponytail out, and my hair spilled down around my shoulders. Our eyes connected. I knew that we had a long way to go from here. That neither of us was completely healed from the ordeal of this weekend. But this was a promise of moving forward. That we’d do this together from now on.
His lips met mine. His tongue delved into my mouth. Tasting me, touching me, claiming me. I wanted this from him. I wanted to relinquish control to the man who I knew would catch me when I fell. Even when I didn’t want him to.