She pushes the door wide open and gives me a big smile that shows all her teeth as she hurries to hug me even tighter than she had at the hospital. I hear her sniffle and rub her back.

“I’m so glad you’re safe and home,” she says, voice quiet so only I can hear her.

“Me too.”

I look at Santiago over her shoulder and gesture to the door. I know he understands I’m asking him to give me a minute with my sister, but he just carries on talking to the doctor like he doesn’t, so I clear my throat as Eva pulls away.

“Can you give us a minute?” I ask outright.

The doctor smiles. “Of course. I need to be going. If you need anything, just call.”

“Thank you,” I say and shift my gaze to Santiago, who just keeps on standing there. “Why don’t you walk the doctor out? I promise I’ll be right here when you get back.”

He shifts his gaze to Evangeline, who I can see is smiling, then back to me. “Fine,” he says, but he sounds far from fine. “I’ll be right back.” They head out a moment later, Santiago making a point to leave the door open.

“He’s sweet, I guess. In his own weird way,” Eva says.

I’m confused. “Santiago?”

She nods.

“Sweet?”

“You should have seen him when you were missing. He was really worried about you.”

That makes me smile. I want to believe it’s true.

“I came for you.”

A thought niggles at the back of my mind. Did he just say that because I’m pregnant? Because he doesn’t want to upset me for fear of something happening to the baby? I can’t forget the days leading up to the hospital. I can’t pretend they didn’t happen.

“Hey, are you okay?” Evangeline asks, dragging my attention back to the present.

I try to smile and nod. “What are you doing here?”

“Your husband took me as collateral,” she says hesitantly.

“He did what?”

“It’s not as bad as it sounds. I mean, what’s the alternative? Being at home with Mom? At least here, there are people to talk to like him or Antonia. She’s nice. She was super worried too, Ivy.”

“You talk to him?”

“Mm-hmm. He’s crazy in love with you, you know.”

My mouth falls open, and I’m about to ask what she’s talking about when Santiago is back standing in the doorway. “Antonia has dinner for you in the kitchen, Evangeline. French fries and some other crap you should enjoy tonight because you won’t be having it anymore. Not under my roof.”

Eva looks at me, rolls her eyes, and gets to her feet. “Want me to bring you some?”

“Ivy will not be eating that. Thank you,” Santiago answers for me.