He sat down on the floor in front of her, leaning his back up against the desk.

“What are you here for?”

“To make sure you’re okay.”

“Shouldn’t you be with Bishop?”

“One thing I’ve learned about that boy, he can take care of himself.”

“And I can’t.”

“I didn’t say that. You and Bishop need different things. Right now, you’re hurting.”

“I hurt his feelings.”

“Again, he’s a guy.”

“I don’t want this to get all sexist,” she said.

“He hasn’t lost a baby and clearly is finding this hard.”

“So it’s all my fault?”

“Are you trying to be a bitch, or is this all part of your master plan to annoy everyone?”

“I don’t mean to annoy. I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m being a bitch, and I don’t mean to. I’m … I don’t know what I am.”

Tears fell down her cheeks.

He hated to see her cry.

“You’re hurting, Robin. You can’t take this pain out on anyone else.”

“You’re right.” She sniffled. “It’s just, everyone is happy. I get they’re happy. You know, you’re alive, and everything is going back to normal. Bishop doesn’t have to deal with me having another man’s baby, but even though things have gone back to normal, it’s not the same.”

“Nothing will ever be the same. I can’t tell you this will ever get better or her loss will ever mean anything. I honestly don’t know, Robin.”

“Do you ever think about her? About what she’d be like?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“I … I thought about naming her Bethany. I wanted to ask you about names, but you were always so busy.”

“I’m never too busy for you. You can come to me about anything ,and I do think about her. I wish I’d gotten the chance to hold her.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be.”

“It wasn’t, but you don’t need to feel guilty about this. About all of this.”

“I heard those men. They mentioned O’Klaren.”

He nodded.

“What are you going to do?”

“For that, you don’t need to worry. Do you want a hug?”

“Yes. I really do.” She crawled between his spread thighs, and he held her close, running his fingers through her hair, trying to calm her down. “I like this with you,” she said. “It’s nice.”

“You’ve got to give Bishop a break.”

“You think I should sleep with him.”

“If that’s what you want to do.”

“No, I know it’s what he wants.” She tilted her head back. “I’m not ready. I don’t see him as my boyfriend.”

“He’s not your boyfriend, Robin. He’s your husband.”