couldn'

teady, his little hands clenched into fists as he nestled into her. She should have put him down in the crib

ight of him was a comfort

eyes never leaving her. He had been watching her all nig

woul

hispered, "Wha

lightly, like he hadn't ex

e

ngely fitting. She glanced down at the baby-Leon.

ather, are you?"

his answer came with

Leon's cheek. She already knew the answer, but hearing it

s his

ce. Then, "It d

rply. "It does if

e first time, she saw something cra

t," he sa

d yet, something about his voice unsettled her. There was m

weighed heavily on her. Instead, she looked bac

she murmured, mo

didn't

tension between them was thick, suffo

ere. Hated that despite everything, sh

nally, her voice barely above a whisper.

arkened. "That's

l I'm gi

line, but he didn't argue. He

in

g in her chest. She had bought herself time-tim

he would

ha

that the hardest part wou

be leav