章節 59: CHAPTER 58 NICK

The next day, when things were calmer, Noah told me everything that had happened in detail. My heart pounded as she went through each moment. It hurt, too, to learn that Briar had lost the baby when she was six months pregnant. I never found out. If I had… It must have been so hard for her to go through that alone. Her son had been mine, too, and I regretted not being able to be there for her when she miscarried. I felt like I should visit her. Michael could go to hell, but Briar… She was sick. Two weeks after the break-in, I went to the hospital where she was locked up. She was being treated for bipolar disorder. I'd always known she'd been struggling, but I didn't really understand. Her life had been like mine. She'd grown up alone, surrounded by caretakers who didn't love her. Her parents had ignored her until she showed up pregnant, and even then, they'd given her none of what she needed. I wanted her to get over everything that had happened, I really did. But I'd never forgive her for trying to steal my child. At the hospital, I learned she was doing better. She was taking her meds and seemed calmer. I found her sitting on her bed reading a book. Noah had told me she'd looked ragged and unwell. The Briar I saw before me now was anything but. She was wearing jeans and a blue cotton T-shirt. Her short hair was pulled back, and her beautiful eyes had an expectant expression when she saw me come in. She was waiting for me. They'd told her I was coming. "Hey, Nicholas," she said, closing the book and putting it on her nightstand. I asked her if I could sit down. "I don't want to take up too much of your time," I said, not knowing how to express my mixed feelings just then. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened with our child. I never knew; if I had, I would have supported you no matter what." She looked relaxed as she listened. "Fate didn't want that baby to be part of our lives," she said. Her eyes misted over. "He was beautiful, though…" I grabbed her hand. Her words hurt. "I'm so sorry," I said, and it was true. I adored my son and was counting the seconds to be back home with him and Noah. But that didn't mean my heart didn't crack when I learned my other son never had the chance to live. "I'm sorry for what I did, too," she said. "I don't know what happened… I… Michael… I thought he loved me, you know? He said things…about Noah…about you… I thought…" "Just focus on getting better, Briar," I said as I stood up. Her eyes widened. "Do you think one day I could be like you two? That I could find someone who would love me the way you love Noah…?"I chose my words very carefully. "I think there's someone for all of us. I never thought I'd love someone as much as I love Noah. You know better than anyone how damaged I was inside. So yeah, I think you've got a bright future ahead of you, Briar. One day you'll get up, and someone will turn your world upside down.… You've just got to wait for it." I turned around but stopped in the doorway, keeping my back to her. "I gave him your name," she said. "I just needed to tell you that." I took a deep breath and walked out.