Chapter 10 - TWENTY-FIVE WEEKS
Daniel arrived in Oregon without security.
No assistant.
No driver.
No private jet waiting on standby.
He flew commercial.
Amy noticed all of it.
She also hated that she noticed.
He waited outside the clinic wearing a simple dark coat.
When Amy approached, Daniel looked at her stomach first.
He went completely still.
Until that moment, the pregnancy had been photographs and paperwork.
Now their daughter was visibly there.
Amy stopped several feet away.
“Hi.”
Daniel’s eyes lifted to hers.
“Hi.”
Neither moved to hug.
Daniel seemed to understand without being told.
Inside, they sat beside each other in the waiting room.
Their shoulders did not touch.
Daniel kept his hands clasped together.
When the nurse called Amy’s name, he stood too quickly.
Amy almost smiled.
During the scan, Daniel watched the monitor like nothing else existed.
The technician pointed toward the baby’s face.
“She’s moving.”
Daniel laughed quietly.
Amy looked at him.
There was no phone in his hand.
No watch-checking.
No distracted glance toward the door.
For forty-five minutes, he was entirely present.
It should not have felt extraordinary.
That made Amy sad.
After the appointment, they walked outside.
Daniel held the new ultrasound images.
“Can I keep one?”
“Yes.”
He handled it carefully.
“Thank you.”
They stood beside the parking lot.
Daniel looked toward the ocean.
“Could I buy you lunch?”
Amy hesitated.
“It’s just lunch.”
“I know.”
They chose a small café near the harbor.
Daniel recognized Ruth when she entered halfway through the meal.
Ruth looked him up and down.
“So you’re the husband.”
Daniel stood.
“Yes.”
Ruth did not offer her hand.
“You made her cry in my apartment.”
Amy nearly choked on her tea.
“Ruth.”
“What?”
Daniel nodded.
“She’s right.”
Ruth narrowed her eyes.
“At least he’s trainable.”
Then she walked away.
Amy laughed for the first time all afternoon.
Daniel smiled.
“I deserved that.”
“Yes.”
After lunch, they walked along the waterfront.
Daniel stopped near a railing.
“I want to tell you something.”
Amy’s expression changed.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
“Okay.”
“I’m not asking you to come home.”
She waited.
“I’m selling the apartment.”
Amy blinked.
“Why?”
“Because I finally understood something.”
Daniel looked toward the water.
“I kept thinking home was a place you would eventually return to.”
He met her eyes.
“But you were the home.”
Amy’s throat tightened.
Daniel continued.
“And I treated you like furniture I assumed would always be there.”
“Daniel.”
“I know.”
He stepped back.
“That was too much.”
Amy looked away.
“No.”
Her voice softened.
“It was true.”
They stood in silence.
Then Daniel said, “I’m going back tonight.”
“You don’t have to.”
The words escaped before Amy could stop them.
Daniel looked surprised.
Amy corrected herself.
“I mean, you can stay in Newport another day if you want.”
Hope appeared in his face.
He controlled it immediately.
“I’d like that.”
For the first time since she left Manhattan, Amy chose to give Daniel one day.
Not forever.
Not forgiveness.
May you like
Just one day.
And for once, Daniel understood the difference.
