Page 73 of The Hotel Room

Before she could respond, the nurse called her name.

James stood first, instinctively helping her to her feet. His hand hovered near her lower back, never quite touching—butthere.

And despite everything—despite the ache in her chest—she didn’t pull away.

The exam was routine. Blood pressure, measurements. The gentle press of the fetal doppler against her stomach, the rhythmicwhoosh-whooshsound filling the room as the nurse confirmed the steady heartbeat of their child.

It wasn’t the first time they’d heard it. But James still reacted like it was.

His eyes softened, his lips parting slightly, and Kate caught the way his chest lifted with a shaky breath he tried to hide.

But he wasn’t looking at the monitor.

He was looking ather.

And for a split second—

It felt like the past.

The version of James she had trusted with her whole heart.

The man who had held her hand during Noah’s birth, who had whispered encouragement in her ear when Lily had come too quickly, staying calm while she panicked.

The man who had beenhers.

Except now, it was different.

Because that James hadhurther.

And as much as she wanted to believe the man sitting next to her was still the same, a quiet voice in the back of her mind whispered,What if he isn’t?

The appointment ended with standard instructions. Kate pulled her shirt back down over her stomach, feeling exposed in a way that had nothing to do with the checkup.

When James helped her with her coat again, his hand brushed hers, lingering for just a heartbeat longer than necessary.

She didn’t pull away.

But she didn’t lean into him either.

The silence followed them out to the parking lot, heavy and unspoken as he opened the car door for her.

When he finally spoke, it was so quiet she almost missed it.

“I’m really glad you let me be here today,” James said quietly, his voice softer than she expected.

Kate exhaled sharply, the words hitting her wrong—so wrong.

He spoke like he deserved praise for showing up. Like it was some kind of favor she was granting him, after everything.

Afterhertrust had been shattered.

After he’d been unfaithful toher, not the other way around.

The rage boiled up so fast it almost knocked the breath from her lungs.

You think this is enough?

You think sitting in a doctor's office, hearing the heartbeat ofthisbaby, suddenly makes you a better man?

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