Page 14 of Say You'll Stay

“I’m not leaving. I gotcha, it’s okay,” Cole says, slipping an arm under her legs and one around her back to lift her up into his arms. Her head lulls against his shoulder, the weight of the baby still heavy on her chest.

He didn’t leave. She’s safe in his arms and that’s the last thought she has before the world closes in and unconsciousness calls her name in a soft lullaby.

* * *

‘…. not sure…. trust them…’

She fades in and out, only aware of Cole’s voice, the feel of a soft bed under her body, and a hard sting in the crook of her arm. Can’t understand what he’s saying. It’s all garbled, but her flailing hands can’t find her baby any longer.

‘Took her…. right across…. screaming…’

An older woman with white hair up in a bun sways gently a few feet away, her back to Olivia as she looks out the window toward a torn city.

“Lucy,” Olivia mumbles, feeling the pull of sleep nagging her again.

“She’s here,” he says, in the first clear reply she’s managed to hear since this began.

He hasn’t left them. He’s right beside her. She reaches forhim without thinking, her hand curling around his forearm where it rests against the white bed sheets. She asks for her baby again, certain he’ll offer a better answer, but the darkness pulls her under before she can hear it.

Chapter 5

If someone told him a week ago that he’d be at his wife’s bedside holding their baby in his arms, Cole would have laughed because that’s ridiculous.

It still is. He’s no one’s husband and Lucy isn’t his, but he claimed them anyway, thinking it might offer an additional level of protection. Now he’s getting the side eye from their hosts.

They saw the bruises on her skin when inserting the IV. They’ve assumed he’s the one who put them there. Haven’t said anything yet, but he’s boxed himself into a corner. When Olivia wakes up from her six-hour nap, after curling her hand around his arm like he’s some sort of security blanket, he’ll have to explain why they’ve become an instant family. The mixture of shock and disgust he knows he’ll see at that revelation isn’t something he’s in a hurry to prompt.

At least Lucy seems unbothered. He had to wrangle the baby back from the older ladies fussing over her. Hadn’t wanted to give her up at first, but needed to be free to defend them, and a bunch of grannies didn’t pose any threat.

“Momma’s gonna wake up real soon,” he says to Lucy, where she’s snuggled into the crook of his arm. Those clear blue eyes gaze up at him and her little hands grab his offered finger.

She’s a good baby. Olivia thinks he’d call her a hassle, but she only cries when she’s hungry or wet. Doesn’t carry on for no reason. Perfectly happy to be loved on by three grandmothers and even looks up at this dirty stranger like she knows him. Babies don’t know anything at this age, but she watches Cole like she watches Olivia, as if he’s important. She imprinted on him, perhaps, but she’ll learn soon enough that he’s no one and nothing.

“They think I hurt her,” he whispers to Lucy. “Probably think I’d hurt you, too.”

She makes a weird face, shoving half her fist in her mouth.

“Yeah, that’s what I think, but not like I can blame them. Said you both were mine. Your daddy left his mark behind, so now I look like the asshole. Don’t tell your mom I said asshole.”

He’s got to cut back on the cursing. He’ll feel terrible if her first word turns out to befuck.

“Need to explain soon or we won’t get to stay. Well, you two might. Don’t think they’d kick you out, but I’m not trying to leave yet. Sure as hell, don’t trust anyone new with you.”

She grabs his pinky finger again, giving it a squeeze.

“Seem decent enough, I guess. Too soon to tell, but they helped us. That’s something. What do you think?”

The string of drool down the corner of her mouth is all the reply he’s granted.

“Alright, well, if you get some opinions, feel free to let me know. Don’t be shy about it.”

Her face screws up in concentration and he winces. “Are you making one of those toxic shits again? Warn a guy.”

He’s already changed her twice and both times he felt the scent waft deep into his soul and nearly strangle the life out ofhim. He’s never changed a baby before, but one of the ladies shoved a diaper at him with a hard glare as if he better earn his keep and he didn’t argue. She gave him instructions the whole time with a judgmental frown, as if he might chuck the entire baby out the window instead.

When he glances over at Olivia, he’s surprised to find her awake, watching them both with a hooded gaze and that warm half-smile he’s growing fond of.

“Hey,” she says, reaching out to run her fingers over Lucy’s blonde hair.

---