Chapter 17 - The Night Everything Came Full Circle
At thirty-five weeks, Alina woke at 2:17 a.m.
“Dorian.”
He sat upright instantly.
“My water broke.”
For perhaps the first time in his adult life, Dorian Cross panicked.
He put on two different shoes.
Alina laughed so hard she had to sit down.
“This isn’t funny.”
“You’re wearing one loafer.”
He looked down.
The second shoe was a sneaker.
He stared at it as if betrayed.
At the hospital, labor lasted fourteen hours.
Dorian never left.
At one point Alina squeezed his hand hard enough to make his knuckles crack.
“This is your fault.”
“I accept full responsibility.”
“I hate you.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Probably not.”
Even Dr. Hale laughed.
Then, shortly after sunset, the room filled with a newborn’s cry.
Dorian stopped breathing.
Their daughter was placed against Alina’s chest.
Tiny.
Warm.
Perfect.
Dorian stood beside the bed with tears running openly down his face.
Alina had never seen him cry without trying to hide it.
“What should we call her?” he whispered.
They had argued about names for months.
Now Alina knew.
“Hope.”
Dorian looked at her.
“Hope Cross?”
“Too obvious?”
“Perfect.”
He touched one finger to his daughter’s tiny hand.
May you like
Hope grabbed it.
The most feared man in the city completely fell apart.
