Page 30 of The Refiner

She slides the book off my lap and into hers. “I want to know if you’ll honor my sister’s wishes and name her daughter Tatum.” Her lips quiver. “Even though I’m struggling with finding joy, my sister didn’t. She wanted that little girl more than anything.”

I blow out a breath, fighting back my own emotion. Piper knew once I came to terms with the pregnancy, I would be overjoyed. I just wish that joy wasn’t overshadowed by grief. “It would be an honor to name her Tatum.”

A tear drips down Keagan’s cheek as she smiles. “What about her middle name? Do you have any ideas?”

I shake my head. “I haven’t had a chance…” It’s not that I don’t want to give her a full name, but everything has just happened so fast.

“You have time,” she lies, looking over at Kenny asleep in a chair. “At least until tomorrow.” When we let Piper go and leave the hospital. The neonatologist said Tatum was healthy and could be discharged as early as tomorrow.

“How long is Kenny staying with you?”

She offers me a sad smile. “He has a shift in forty-eight hours.”

“We don’t have to do this now,” I tell her, reaching out for her hand and then reconsidering. “You don’t have to rush this.” I don’t want Keagan to let her sister go before she’s ready because she won’t have anyone there for her. “I’ll be here if you want to wait.”

She side-eyes my hand. “I’ve waited long enough. It’s time my sister got some rest too.” She stands and points a finger. “Like you should be doing.”

“I told you—”

“Yeah, yeah,” she waves me off, “that’s not going to happen. I heard you the first billion times. But just know, we don’t have time for your fainting spells today. Piper and Tatum need us to be strong.” She says the statement like she’s trying to convince herself, too. “So, take a nap with Kenny. I’ll be back, and then you can take me to meet your daughter.” She swallows, the pain behind her eyes evident as she turns to leave. “Before we take her to see her mama.”

“Wait.” I grab her arm then quickly drop it. I don’t know what I wanted to say, but I just couldn’t let her go. “Stay.”

She turns back and offers me a sweet smile, continuing toward the door. “Get some rest, Dr. Potter.”

“It’s Dr. Astor.” She stops but doesn’t turn around. “Only my brother Vance goes by Dr. Potter.”

“I’ve heard people here call you Dr. Potter.”

“They do, but the ones who really know me call me Dr. Astor.”

“Are you saying I know you now?”

She hasn’t left yet. That’s a good sign. “I’m saying you know me enough to have the choice.”

“And if I prefer Dr. Douche?”

It’s like I can feel her smile from here. “Then I’ll learn to adapt.”

My answer must shock her because she still doesn’t leave. “You’d let me call you that in front of people?”

I take a breath. “If it made you feel better, yes.”

It takes her a moment before she answers with unsteady words. “And what will make you feel better, Dr. Potter?”

I stand and take her hand from behind. “You can.” I swallow, wading through this exchange carefully. “I’ll rest if you stay. I’ll be strong for Tatum and Piper.”I’ll be strong for you.

I can tell the moment she gives in. The moment she lets down her guard, lets go of her hate, and takes the comfort I’m offering. This isn’t about Piper or me. It isn’t even about the disdain Keagan has for me. This is about survival. Keagan may think she can handle this all on her own—and she probably can—but she doesn’t have to. We can put aside our differences, and I can give her what her sister gave me—a friend.

“Fine,” she whispers, “but only because I don’t want you falling in love with Kenny and taking him too.”

“I’ll never take anyone from you again. You have my word.” I pull her to the bed and pull the covers back.

Her eyes widen. “I agreed to stay, not sleep with you.”

I shrug. “The chairs don’t look all that comfortable.” Lying down, I scoot toward the edge, leaving her plenty of room, and close my eyes. “But don’t blame me if you wake up with a kink tomorrow.”

It’s so quiet, I think she’s left, but then I feel the mattress dip and her back touching mine. There’s a comfortable silence between us until she says, “Promise me you’ll be there tomorrow.”

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