Defining Moments (A Moments In Time Love Story 2) Read Online Free Page B

she’d be just as guilty.
    “Honey,” Carlene said during her third visit. “Heat chose you because he loves you. One of you wasn’t going to survive the procedure. I know this is hard. I know you’re hurting. I’m hurting for you too.”
    Melisa knew that was true. When she’d told Carlene about the baby, they’d cried together for a long time. Carlene knew how much Melisa had wanted that child.
    “He had no right to make that choice alone.”
    “Sweetie, you were unconscious. Decisions had to be made immediately or he would have lost both of you.” Carlene stroked Melisa’s hair. “It couldn’t have been an easy decision for him. He told me that choosing between two people he loved almost killed him.”
    Melisa didn’t respond, just stared into space as she did a lot lately, wondering how her baby would have looked, worrying that she could have been their last chance at a family.
    “Do you know when you can go home?”
    “Maybe next week…or the week after.” Melisa didn’t recognize the sound of her own voice. She felt like she was outside her body.
    “That’s great,” Carlene attempted to be cheerful in case it rubbed off on Melisa.
    “No. No, it’s not. I need to be alone…for a while. Maybe I can ask the doctor to extend my stay.” She couldn’t go home, where she’d be forced to speak to her husband about what had happened. Or stumble upon the baby’s belongings. The pink and cream nursery was so beautiful. She had spent months perfecting every detail. Now the baby would never get to see it.
    Melisa would never listen in the doorway as their baby girl cooed inside her crib, would never lie with her on the sheepskin rug, tickling giggles out of her. She would never get to comfort her daughter, show her the world. How would she face the constant reminders of how they’d failed to save her?
    “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you and Heat to live apart. You’ve both suffered a major loss.”
    “Deep down I understand why he did it, but there’s a part of me that’s furious with him. I can’t switch it off. I want to, but I don’t know how. When I look at him, I ache inside.”
    “Why don’t you come and stay with us for a while? You’ll have all the space you need.”
    “No, I can’t intrude.” The truth was, she would have to be around sweet Daria and she didn’t know if she was ready to be near any babies yet. Not even her godchild.
    Carlene read between the lines and nodded. “How about staying in a hotel? We could reserve a room for you at the Lux.” The Lux was one of a large chain of worldwide luxury hotels owned by Carlene’s husband.
    Melisa laughed for the first time in days. “We’d be broke by the time I left.”
    “You’re my best friend. We won’t take money from you. I don’t think Nick would have a problem with it at all.”
    “Okay, I’d like that.” Melisa sat up in bed and hugged Carlene. “Thank you so much, for everything you’ve ever done for me.”
    “Anything for you. Just promise you’ll try hard to make things right with Heat. He loves you so much and he’s suffering just as much as you are.”
    “I promise to try.” She did love her husband—that wasn’t the issue. She just needed time to come to terms with everything on her own first.
    ***
    After two weeks in the hospital, Heat drove Melisa to the Lux in a rented car while theirs was being repaired. Earlier, he had shown up with a bag filled with some of her clothes and other things she might need. She had wanted to take a taxi, but he had insisted on making sure she arrived safely at the hotel.
    When she’d told him she needed time to herself, he had been quiet for a long time, then swiped the back of his hand across his eyes. He nodded. His eyes were damp and she could see her grief mirrored in them. He, too, had lost a child. She wanted to reach out and merge her sorrow with his, to make it something they had to get through together, but she couldn’t. She felt