His work finally done, Daniel pushed aside the suture tray, tossed his gloves and scooted his stool up to the edge of the bed where she sat. He was level with her, and he cupped her face with his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. Rough calluses rubbed against her skin, and it was all she could do to not melt into his tender touch right there.

“No, you were not stupid. He was.” Daniel moved closer. She could see the small brown flecks in the green of his eyes. She was so moved by the determination in them that she believed him.

“I felt like such a failure.” Tears were free-flowing. “I lost my baby, not to mention the man I thought I—” It was ridiculous to say the word love here, because she could see clearly that what she and Steven had had was nowhere near love. She swallowed hard, and her next words came out of the sadness she’d been feeling for these past months. “You know, I didn’t even know I wanted to be a mother. I was always all about my career. Family would come in time, I kept telling my parents. But when I found out I was pregnant, I wanted that baby so bad. I wanted to be a mother. Then, when it was...all over, it was like the world continued and I was standing still. Stuck in that moment.” She could still feel that pit of despair in her belly from time to time.

Something flashed in Daniel’s eyes: recognition, sympathy, understanding? It was as if he knew how hollow she’d felt.

“It sounds ridiculous, I know,” she sniffled. Out of nowhere, Daniel handed her a tissue with his free hand. She half smiled her gratitude as she dabbed at her eyes.

“No.” His voice was low and gruff, as if he fought off emotion. “No, it’s not ridiculous. A loss...is a loss.”

Something in his voice—a hitch, or a momentary heaviness—made her catch his eye. “Did you lose somebody?”

He met her gaze with such sorrow Annika caught her breath. The slightest flick of his eyes and the moment was gone. “Just something I learned in my line of work.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m dumping all this on you now. We hardly know each other, and I know I should be past this by now.”

“That’s not true.” Daniel tipped her face up from where he still held her. “We know each other. We’re...friends, right?”

She nodded, but her heart sank just a bit. Sure. That was what they were. Friends.