Page 52 of One Night Only

“Thank God that’s over,” Martha says with a theatrical exhale. “Because I’ve found a hot nurse for you. And he could help you study, you know.” She taps her fingers against my wrist playfully, as if anyone could miss her meaning.

I laugh, but it sounds hollow to my own ears. Again, I’m hyperaware of Dr. Cross, of the way his body goes still beside me. Especially at the mention of the nurse she wants me to meet.

The weight of our stolen, reckless night presses against my ribs. And it hits me, in Martha’s bright presence, that I’ve been framing it all wrong in my head. I didn’t steal the night from anyone. Spending those hours with the most wonderful, considerate man I’ve ever met isnotreckless.

This is my life and my happiness. What I do with him doesn’t hurt anyone. In fact, the idea of our not being together, I’m sure, will shatter us both.

I swallow hard, inhale deeply and squeeze Martha’s fingers. “Actually… I met someone.”

Martha pulls back, adjusts herself on the bed. Then she reaches out, her hand hovering slightly until I guide it back into mine. “Come here, darling,” she says, voice softer, more attuned.

In the periphery of my vision, I can see Dr. Cross frowning.

Martha fully takes my hand in hers, and she runs her fingers lightly over mine, her touch slow and careful, as if searching for something. Then she stills. “I noticed something different about you the moment you came close,” she murmurs. “But I assumed it was the drugs talking.”

I laugh, my heart overflowing at the warmth in her voice. She can’t see me but somehow, she knows. Like her son, she’s always been good at reading me. Accepting me. “Show off,” I say, and she bursts into laughter.

Her voice softens again, almost knowing. “There’s something lighter about you already. Which means he must be really good.”

I giggle while Dr. Cross stiffens.

Martha’s fingers trace my wrist. “Who is he? Does he live nearby? Because that means I will get to see more of you.” In one second, her voice turns thick with emotion. “I will miss you, darling. If Jonah wasn’t so madly in love with his girlfriend, I would totally set you two up—”

“What? Jonah is in love?” Dr. Cross interrupts, shock etched into the lines on his face.

“Yes,” Martha says with a broad smile. For a few seconds, I’m forgotten and I’m more than happy for the reprieve. “Last time I talked to him, he said he was planning to propose soon. Asked me if I had any family heirlooms for the big occasion. Apparently, the girl’s family’s quite influential and impressive. I said I have a plastic promise ring from when I was sixteen.” Martha cackles at her own joke.

“Oh.” Dr. Cross’s chin rears down, as if he’s taken an invisible hit.

My heart aches to hold him through the disappointment. And I promise myself right there that I would do everything I can to smooth things between them. Which is only possible when Dr. Cross tells Jonah about us. Given their relationship, it might not be for a while though.

But I draw hope from the fact that Jonah’s basically a decent guy, and he’s been putting the effort, along with Dr. Cross, on connecting better with each other. Martha’s recommendations aren’t easy to come by.

“Jonah’s never even asked me to meet her,” Dr. Cross says in a soft voice.

“Sophie met her. And she approves,” Martha says, making it sound like a miracle. “I figured the girl must be an angel and a unicorn all rolled into one, for your ex-wife to like her.”

“He told me it was serious but nothing more,” Dr. Cross says, stuck on Jonah not confiding in him.

“Give him time, Ethan. He confided that much in me because I threatened to write him out of my will if he stays a lifelong bachelor like you.” Martha blinks and reaches her hand back toward me. “I’m so sorry, Annika. I interrupted you, didn’t I? You and Jonah are two of my favorite people in the world.” Dr. Cross’s curse word rings in the silence and Martha laughs. “Tell me about this man you met. Although, I must insist on meeting him early on this time, Ani. We need to make sure he’s good enough for you. Right, Ethan?”

Dr. Cross sighs.

I don’t know whether to laugh or to run away from the room. Then my gaze lingers on the displeasure—whether to do with Jonah being in love or Martha talking about setting me up— in his eyes. And the one thing I do know is that I can give him a sliver of the happiness he gave me in one night, back.

Patting Martha’s hand, I squeeze it to get her attention. Before my courage deserts me again, I say, “It’s someone you know.” My voice wavers slightly, but I push forward. “In fact, I’ve heard you sing his praises for eleven months, and I must say, you were right about everything.”

Martha frowns slightly, then tilts her head in the direction of Dr. Cross, piecing it together already. Slowly, she reaches out toward where he stands. “Come closer, Ethan.”

He obeys, stepping forward until she can brush her fingers over his jaw. Her touch is searching, as if mapping out importantdetails. Her voice dips into something softer, hushed. “What’s going on?”

I stiffen, every cell in me instantly triggered by terrible memories I tried very hard to run from. Her tone is curious rather than confrontational, but it doesn’t seem to matter to my nervous system. I just can’t bear it if another person is disappointed in me. If another person, especially Martha, thinks I’ve messed up. Again.

Moving closer, Dr. Cross wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his warmth. His touch is gentle, but firm—the exact combination I need—and I know it’s because he can feel the tremors in my body. He presses a soft kiss to my temple, lingering just long enough to ground me.

Then, he takes Martha’s hand in his and says, with quiet certainty, “All your prayers that I meet someone special have come true, Mom. I’ve fallen in love with this girl of yours.”

My heart expands, as if it might burst right out of my chest. I gaze at him, full of wonder. It’s the first time he speaks of his love for me, and I have a feeling he wanted to share it with Martha first. Which is why he asked me for this.

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