Chapter 6: House Rules

"The baby is fine," the doctor said, and my whole body went loose on the paper sheet.

I had been listening to her heartbeat for ten minutes, a fast, stubborn flutter on a monitor.

I would have listened for an hour.

"Contractions that don't open anything are common this late," the doctor went on.

She tapped the chart.

"Add stress and no water all day, and your body panics. Nothing's wrong."

She looked at the man in the chair by the bed.

"Your husband can take you home. Rest. Two days off your feet, at least."

Rafe looked at me.

I looked at him.

He opened his mouth to correct her, and I shook my head, just slightly.

It was easier.

I told myself it was only easier.

"Thank you, Doctor," Rafe said, in a voice so steady it made my throat hurt.

When she was gone, he sat down heavily and pushed both hands through his hair.

His knuckles were split and swollen from Boone's jaw.

"You scared me," he said.

"I scared myself."

"I thought..." He stopped.

I waited, but he only looked at his hands.

"You carried me four hundred feet," I said.

"Closer to two hundred."

"I counted."

That got a real laugh out of him, short and surprised.

I saw him wipe his eye with his thumb and pretend he hadn't.

Something in my chest turned over once and stayed.

I looked at the ceiling.

"We need to talk about where I sleep," I said.

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