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"Ev. I failed you."
"But the baby's innocent. Put him down."
She cried. "You think I'd hurt a baby? Is that what I am to you?"
She nuzzled the baby.
Looked at me.
"Liv. Take him."
Ethan nodded.
I walked forward.
Slow.
Reached out.
Evelyn kissed the baby's head. Handed him over.
Warm. Safe. Relief flooded me.
Turned to walk back.
Evelyn's shriek, "I won't hurt the baby! But youdie!!"
Whirled around.
Evelyn lunged. A knife glinted.
I curled over the baby. Braced.
No pain.
Looked up. Ethan. Clutching the blade. Blood dripping. Staining his white shirt.
The baby wailed.
Evelyn dropped the knife. Stared. Horrified.
"Sorry… sorry…" She crumpled. Sobbed.
Ethan hissed, "Zach. Take her. Now."
Zach looked at the bleeding hand. Nodded.
Evelyn was led away, weeping.
Hospital. Bandaging Ethan's hand.
I watched him.
"Was it true? What she said?"
He glanced up. "Which part?"
"That you… loved me?"
He paused. "Forgot."
I grabbed his good hand.
"Think!"
He winced. "Hurts."
Let go.
Sulked.
He nudged me. "Mad?"
Looked away.
He turned my face. Kissed me. Soft.
Deep.
Pulled back.
Whispered, "Eyes closed."
Kissed me again.
Harder.
Evelyn went to a Swiss clinic.
I stayed in Seattle with Leo (his new name - meant "brave lion").
Ethan brought up remarriage. I dodged.
He video-called "for Leo." Mostly me talking.
Him listening.
Told him Leo knew everyone's name. Except "Daddy."
Long silence. "Kid's got my attitude."
I laughed till tears came.
Next morning.
A knock.
Ethan stood there. Suitcase.
Leo toddled over.
Beamed. "Daddy!"
Ethan smiled. Wide. Real.
"Liv," he said, holding out his hand.
"I'm here. For you. For Leo. For our family. Come home."
(The End)
