“I know. I was, too, but you turned away from me rather than toward me. That was almost worse than losing the baby, because I lost you, too.”

“I won’t let that happen again. I promise.”

“Even if the worst possible thing happens with this new baby we’re talking about having?”

“Even then.”

“You gotta promise me.”

“I do. I promise.” She sealed her sweet words with an even sweeter kiss.

“In that case, it’ll be my extreme pleasure to try to knock you up again.”

Her laughter filled him with unreasonable joy and hope on a day that had been filled thus far with sorrow.

“And this time,” he said, nuzzling her neck, “it’ll be entirely on purpose with no booze involved and no little eyes catching us in the act.”

“I never want to forget about the night Connor was conceived.”

“Neither do I, honey. That was one for the ages.”

“Yes, it was. Maybe someday we’ll be able to think of it and laugh at how funny it was without our hearts breaking over what was lost.”

“We’ll get there. And in the meantime, we get to make new memories and a new baby to love.”

“Could we maybe start on this project of ours now?”

“They said you had to wait.”

“Until I’d had a regular period. I’ve had one.” She ran her finger down the front of him, over his chest and stomach. “So what’re you doing this afternoon?”

“I thought I was going to work, but apparently I have to help my wife with something at home.”

Her caramel-colored eyes sparkled with delight as he kissed her. “Yes, you do,” she said, “and no one else will do.”

“No one else had better do anything to you, Mrs. McCarthy.”

“I don’t want anyone but you, Mac. Take me to bed.”

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

As they did most evenings after work, David Lawrence and his girlfriend, Daisy Babson, stopped by so Daisy could spend some time with Marion. Tonight, David came with information about the in-patient evaluation he was arranging for Marion.

Hope paid close attention to the paperwork the hospital had sent, outlining the various tests that would be performed and the timing of everything.

“You can expect her to be there for at least one night, possibly two,” David said. “They’ll let you know after the first day how it’s going.”

Hope tried to remain professionally engaged in what David was saying, but in the back of her mind was the thought of at least one night—possibly two—alone with Paul. After what’d happened between them the other night, that might make for an awkward couple of days.

“If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to call me,” David said. “Even when you’re on the mainland. I can listen in to the meeting with the doctors, too, if that would help.”