I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 87

Nora took an instinctual step backward, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. Her chest felt as if it were being crushed under a boulder.

Up ahead, Finnegan's footsteps suddenly faltered. He glanced over his shoulder toward where Nora was hiding, a slight frown creasing his forehead.

He swore he had just seen a familiar face. Was he seeing things?

Seraphina looked up at him. "What's wrong, Finn? Did you see someone?"

Finnegan pulled his gaze away and shook his head. "No one. Just my imagination."

Seraphina didn't push it. She carefully folded the Ultrasound Report and tucked it into her purse. She slipped her arm through his. "Let's go. I need to call my cousin and tell her to come pick up her pregnancy report."

She looked up at him, a perfectly calculated look of apology on her face. "I'm so sorry for dragging you all the way out here for this, Finn."

Finnegan's smile was warm and indulgent. "It's no trouble at all. Your family is my family. Whatever you need, I'm here."

A rush of sweet satisfaction bloomed in Seraphina's chest. She tightened her hold on his arm, pressing herself a little closer against his side as they continued down the hall.

As they passed the maternity waiting area, a brightly colored poster of a smiling infant caught her eye. The burning desire she had been suppressing surged to the surface.

"Finn."

"Hmm?"

"When are we going to have a baby?"

In the past, whenever Seraphina had brought this up, Finnegan would expertly dodge the subject.

But today, the mood was perfect. Surely, he wouldn't brush her off again. She tilted her head, gazing up at him with raw hope.

Finnegan's brows slammed together. He pulled his arm free from her grasp, his features hardening into something far colder than usual. "Now of all times, Seraphina, you want to start this argument?"

Seeing genuine anger flare in his eyes, panic seized her. She lunged forward, grabbing his hand tightly. Her voice dissolved into desperate sweetness. "Finn, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you. I was wrong. I promise I won't bring up having a baby again, okay? Let's just go home."

Finnegan remained silent for a long moment, the dark tension refusing to fully leave his face.

As they walked out the main doors of the hospital, he threw one last look over his shoulder toward the empty corridor. There was nothing there. He could have sworn he had seen Nora standing by the wall earlier. Was it really just a trick of the light?

Only after they disappeared into the elevator bay did Nora finally step out from behind the corner.

She stood there, completely numb, staring blankly at the spot where Finnegan had just been.

They had been together for so long. They had survived so much together. She had convinced herself she was finally over him, that she didn't care anymore. But seeing that domestic scene play out right in front of her still twisted a painful knot deep in her chest.