Chapter 24: Two Weeks

Diana's POV

The unit on the fourth floor of the county hospital had two sets of doors and a nurse behind glass.

Connie and I sat in the waiting area on the wrong side of the second set.

Dean stood at the end of the hall by the window, with his back to us and his hands in his pockets.

He had not asked to come in.

"Mrs. Ruskin?" the nurse said. "She's ready."

I stood.

Connie squeezed my hand, and I walked through the doors alone.

Delilah sat on the edge of a narrow bed in a gray sweatshirt that wasn't hers.

She had a plastic wristband on, and the baby was asleep against her shoulder in a hospital blanket.

Her eyes were swollen almost shut.

"You came," she said.

"You asked."

"I didn't think you'd say yes."

"I didn't either."

I didn't sit.

She looked at the door behind me.

"Is he out there?"

"At the window."

"Good," she said. "He shouldn't see this."

"See what?"

"Me asking."

She stood, slowly, and held the baby out.

I took him.

He was warm through the blanket, and he turned his face into my sweater without waking.

My arms knew what to do before I did.

"I'm staying here two weeks," Delilah said. "I signed myself in."

"Good."

"They've got a doctor who talks to me. Nobody leaves a room without a nurse. I said that was exactly what I needed."

"Okay."

"I can't leave him with Dean. Dean doesn't know how to do this. He barely sleeps in a bed."

"He's learning."

"And I can't leave him with the club."

"Why not?"

"Because they'd raise him to keep quiet." Her mouth twisted. "I'm asking you to take him. For two weeks, and not for me."

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