pte

's

er hands as if trying to scrub away an invisible stain, or pacing back and forth to review files she already knew by heart. It

marked by a desperation I recognized in myself, and all dismissed with a single sha

the table, my movement

nutes," I announced, my v

Jorge ordered, no

rts," I said firmly. Part of my job was to curb his

exhausted, almos

thout you, this wou

was elsewhere. I wasn'

had felt twice its normal weight, like lead pumping throu

at three in the morning, the ring pi

d another crisis. We nee

s gasping for air, clinging to the bed rails, to life, to me. Her eyes had been wide and pleading, begging for something she couldn't articulat

s, and listening to Jorge reject the tenth can

he declared, slappi

e out," Camila pleaded, her v

our last attempt

idly, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. I understood them m

nto my bag the day before. About the contract I'd glimpsed out of the corner of my eye-the advance, the

t. My throat burned. Something snapped insid

date," I blurted out,

turned to

ed, his voice sh

ulse pounding in my ea

I re

yes widene

up, as if he hadn't

eat

as I crumbled inside. "I meet every requirement. I don't have childr

al, almost tangible-a heavy

, his expression ha

ely inappropriate. It would compli

"I'm talking about capability. I know exactly what this

bewilderment and deep compassion

you do something l

act moment I finally stopp

ery first time. "She had another crisis last night. I can't afford h

hand, stifling a gasp. Jorge fro

clinical. "It's a pregnancy. There are risks, obligations, emoti

n't simple for anyone in this room. But I know I can do it. And I kn

ortable, and sharp as a scalpel

rry a child that isn't yours? To hand the b

itation. "But it hurts more to watch my moth

r husband, her voic

lease. List

steps, thoughtful, weighing the risks as i

he finally said. "If a single thing is off,

wave of relief collidi

my hands, her cold fing

know if this is bravery o

or the first time in days, I finally saw a way