“I wondered if that was it.”

She poked his belly. “Quit reading my mind.”

Chuckling, he said, “I speak Samantha fluently. It’s been a while since there was a baby pang, huh?”

“Yeah. Caught me by surprise. It’s your fault because you were so damned cute with her.”

“She’s adorable.”

“Yes, she is. And what you said to Ang about Spence was perfect. She needed to be reminded of the good times.”

“There were a lot of them.”

“I feel so sick inside for Ang and the kids,” she said.

“I know. I do, too.”

“What you said was all true, but I’m so angry with him for putting her through this. And yes, I know that’s irrational. It’s not like he could help that he got addicted.”

“There’re a lot of complicated emotions at a time like this.”

“Yeah, for sure.”

Sam’s phone rang, and she rolled toward her bedside table to check the caller ID. “It’s Lindsey. I have to take this.”

“Go ahead.”

“Hey, Linds. What’s up?”

“Sorry to call so late, but I thought you’d want to know that we completed Spencer’s autopsy, and you were right about opioid overdose. The peripheral blood morphine concentrations were consistent with fatal intoxications that could’ve come from fentanyl or heroin. We won’t know for sure which until we get the full tox screen back, but I thought you’d want to know this much.”

“I’m surprised you’re able to know that so quickly.”

“Morphine in the brain is a telltale marker for opioids.”

“I see.”

“We also determined that he asphyxiated on vomit because he was lying on his back when he was found. That’s what actually killed him.”

“Not the drugs?”

“He wouldn’t have asphyxiated without the drugs.”

“Thanks for the info. This helps.”

“How’s Angela?”

“Not good at all.”

“I saw the GoFundMe. That’s a great idea. Terry and I donated.”

“Thank you. That’ll mean a lot to her.”

“We wish there was more we could do.”

“I know. Same here. But she’s getting through it one minute at a time.”

“She’s in our thoughts and prayers. You all are. I’ll let you get some sleep.”

“Thanks for the update. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“See you then.”

Sam closed her phone, put it back on the table and then returned to Nick’s embrace to update him on what Lindsey had told her. “I’m going to hunt down the person who gave him those pills and make them pay for taking him from my sister and her kids.”

Nick ran his hand up and down her arm. “Try to put it out of your mind for now so you can get some rest.”

Sam took a deep breath and blew it out slowly but didn’t feel even slightly relaxed.

“I can see I’m going to have to employ a special effort to ensure you get some sleep.”

“What sort of special effort?”

“The most special kind.”

Nick shifted them so she was on her back, looking up at him gazing down at her with love and concern in his gorgeous hazel eyes.