The Secret That Broke Us novel · Chapter 16 of 32

Chapter 16: The Porch

June's POV

I had a full minute to see Ben's face before the car reached the top of the hill.

I used it.

I put Anders in his carrier on the porch swing and clicked the strap.

Then I walked down the last two steps and stopped in front of Ben.

He was crying, a little.

He hadn't wiped it, and I think he'd forgotten.

"What happened?" I said.

"A baby on the Lakeshore. Three months. Not breathing."

He drew a breath.

"He's screaming his head off. I counted. I counted the way you do."

"Ben."

"It was fine. It was fine, June. It came back."

I put my hand against his jaw.

It was rough, just shaved, still warm from the sun in the truck.

He closed his eyes and leaned into my palm.

I had meant to say something wise.

I said, "Come here."

He bent down.

I kissed him.

It started careful and stopped being careful in the first breath.

His mouth was salt and coffee.

His hand came up and slid into my hair at the back of my neck, and my whole spine lit up.

I took two handfuls of his shirt and pulled him against me.

He made a low sound into my mouth that I felt in my knees.

Ten days after a birth I was in no shape for what my body wanted.

It wanted it anyway.

I wanted his weight on me, and his mouth on my throat.

I wanted his hands under the cardigan, finding out I still had skin.

I got my own hands up under the back of his shirt.

His skin was hot and tight over his ribs.

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