Chapter 12: Ask Chase

Eliza's POV

At six in the morning the children's ward corridor was quiet except for the squeak of a cart.

Otto was asleep in a high-sided bed with a line taped to the back of his left hand.

I had held that hand while the resident slid the needle in.

I had looked at the small finger and the curl at the joint, and I had said nothing.

Greer sat in the vinyl chair by the window with her knees pulled up.

She had on yesterday's cardigan, and she hadn't stopped trembling since I arrived.

"Thank you," she said. "I'd have lost my mind."

"The fever's down. He'll sleep a few hours."

"I don't know what I'd have done without you."

"Greer."

She looked up.

"Where is Chase?"

"He had a dinner. His phone was off. He's on his way." She wiped her nose. "His mother's coming too."

"Good."

I sat down in the chair beside hers.

I had rehearsed this in the elevator and in the ladies' room.

I had rehearsed it while a needle went into my son.

I corrected myself. Into Otto.

"Tell me about the pregnancy," I said.

She blinked.

"What?"

"You were in Singapore. Who delivered him? Which hospital?"

"Eliza, it's six in the morning."

"Humor me."

"Mount Elizabeth," she said, too quickly. "A very nice doctor. Chase flew out for the birth."

"Then you have his birth record."

"It's at home."

"I've read a hundred birth records, Greer. What was the doctor's name?"