There were lots of Marriotts in Dallas, but Blaire would probably be staying in the one closest to our apartment because it was also close to Evan and the hospital. Maybe I should just knock on room fifteen on every floor. Unless…

“Carrie, does Mommy let you push the buttons in the elevator?”

She nodded her tiny head proudly. “Yep, she doesn’t even have to tell me which one now. I remember to push eight every time.”

Well, alrighty then. Now we were getting somewhere. Room 815 at the Marriott.

“You’re so smart, baby girl. Daddy is so proud of you,” I said, hugging her to me.

“Daddy, can we go to the bookstore? There’s a new book about puppies I wanted to get.”

“Sure, we can,” I said. I’ll buy you the whole stinking bookstore, you magnificent little girl. “Just let me get all these bows out of my hair.”

51. Blaire

Blaire

I stopped by Evan’s and visited with Carrie for a little while on Tuesday evening. I had to be at the hospital by six in the morning, so Evan was going to take her to school on Wednesday. Carrie chattered on about everything she had done with her daddy that day, and while it hurt to talk about him, I was pleased he had made time to see her.

I gave Carrie her bath, glad that I was able to be a part of her nighttime routine, even though she was staying at Evan’s. Then I headed back to my hotel.

I’d looked at an apartment for me and Carrie today. The apartments in the building where we used to live with Evan were way too expensive, but this one was close to Carrie’s school and the hospital. It was a small one bedroom, and the rent would be tight on my resident’s salary—especially with my med school loans to think about—but I thought I could swing it if we were frugal.

Evan had offered to let us move into our old apartment with him and Steve, but I knew we needed our own place.

As soon as I got into my hotel room, I kicked off my shoes and ordered pasta primavera from room service. I took a quick shower and dressed in a T-shirt and pajama shorts before wrapping my robe around me and belting it.

That was fast, I thought when I heard a knock on my door. I was starving because I hadn’t had time for lunch today. I had already lost a few pounds from the stress of this week, so I knew I needed to eat a decent meal tonight. I swung open the door, expecting Julian, the room service waiter who usually brought my food. But instead, I found the person I longed to see but had been avoiding.