“Why the frown?” Jeremy asks.

Today I seem to have spent more time with him than I have in a long while.

“I’m just wondering where Sawyer disappeared to.” I shrug, trying to act as though I don’t care when I’m hurt. “He hasn’t responded to any messages either. Not since I replied in the coffee shop after he’d seen me with you.”

“Maybe he’s busy.”

“I don’t know.” I tap my phone on my bottom lip. “I think it’s more than that. He never stands me up without messaging me. I’m worried.”

Jeremy wraps his arm around my shoulders and gives me a quick hug. “Talk to him Andie. Don’t just presume, okay? And now, I have to go.” He winks, followed with a grin. “I have a date.”

I return his smile because I’m happy that he isn’t still hung up on me, if he ever really was.

As I watch him go, I wonder what’s really going on with Sawyer because it’s so out of character for him to be out of contact. I don’t want to seem like an obsessed girlfriend, but I need to know what’s going on with him and why I’m getting the silent treatment. Surely it can’t be because of earlier in the coffee shop. I won’t believe that unless he tells me otherwise.

There is something though and it won’t stop eating at me that something is wrong. Really wrong.

While I’m contemplating my next move, my cell starts buzzing against my lips.

I don’t even look to see who it is because I know it won’t be Sawyer.

“Hello?”

“Andie, it’s Kasey.” He pauses. “You need to come home.”

My heart drops at hearing those words. “My mom?”

“She’s gone into labor and there are a few complications. I think she’d like you there.”

“Oh God!” I cry and sob into the phone.

“Listen to me. I know it’s a shock but there is so much that they can do. The baby is eight weeks early and has a good chance of survival. You’re mom’s age isn’t on her side right now, okay? But I think having you here will help her.”

Pulling myself together, I whisper, “I’ll get a flight.”

“Text me your flight details and I’ll come get you.”

“Thanks, Kasey.” Hanging up, I stare off into space before I suddenly realize that I need to get moving.

* * *

Darkness surrounds us as Kasey drives me to the hospital in Great Falls. It isn’t far from the airport and worry eats at me.

We haven’t said a lot to each other, but Kasey said that my mom has improved since he called. I never thought I’d see the day when she’d have another baby. As a child I used to ask Santa for a baby sister, eventually I stopped when I discovered how babies actually got inside their mother.

She’s all I had growing up and I’ll always be grateful for everything she’s done for me and the decisions she made so that I would have the life that I do today. No way is her life going to end while she’s giving birth to a child that she wants so badly with Diego. No way could God be so cruel.

Turning into the hospital parking lot, I spot a man with his head down and shoulder’s stooped in the shadows of one of the lights at the main entrance to the hospital. I watch and I can’t move my gaze away and then his face is caught in the light and I realize that it’s Diego. I’ve never seen him so distraught before.

My fear rises.

“Kasey, let me out,” I beg, unsnapping my seatbelt. “Kasey, please. It’s Diego.” I point in the direction of the entrance and Kasey brakes.

“I’ll park,” he shouts as I slam the door and race to where Diego is.

“Diego!”

He stills and slowly turns, just in time to catch me as I fly into his arms. “What is it? Please tell me she’s okay?” I plead as I search his tearful eyes.

He nods. “She’s going to be okay, Andie.” He inhales and slowly exhales. “It was touch and go,” he composes himself, “but she’s strong. She needs lots of rest and looking after, but she’s going to be alright.” His tears flow as do mine, so I do the most natural thing and hold him. He cries into my shoulder just like I do him.

I think Diego’s tears are a mixture of relief and exhaustion, because the poor guy looks haggard—older than his years.

“Is everything okay?” Kasey asks, unable to hide the fear in his voice.

Nodding, I reply, “She’s okay.” I smile.

Diego moves away slightly and drops his ass to one of the benches. “You go in and see your mom.” He beams a smile at me. “She’s excited for you to meet your brother.”

“What?” I ask in shock and slowly my smile spreads across my face. “I have a brother?” I whisper as my tears come back and slowly slip down my face.

“Emile Luca was born a couple of hours ago.” Tears hover as he continues, “The doctors delivered him while doing a hysterectomy. She started bleeding during the birth and they rushed her to surgery...he’s premature so they’re keeping him in an incubator, but he’s a tough little guy, just like his momma.”

“Oh,” I place my hand over my mouth, “I should have been here.”

“You’re here now, Andie, and that’s all that matters.”

I nod and slightly smile. “He’s named after your parents. What a beautiful name.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I love it, Diego.” I throw my arms around his neck and give him a quick hug, whispering, “Congratulations,” as I pull away. “I’m going in.”

Once Diego directs me, I head inside thanking God that the emergency is over and that my mom and brother are doing fine.

I’ve never been so worried about her before and it’s made me realize that she’s all I have. Well, not exactly because I have Diego and Kasey, and the others, I guess. But she’s my mom. She’s the one person who has always been there for me no matter what—the one person who always will. That thought of course has Sawyer jumping back into my mind although he hasn’t been far from it.

Still no word from him. Nothing.

He gets shoved out of my thoughts when I walk into my mom’s room and see her lying back in the bed, flat out asleep. She looks pale and tired and her red hair is limp around her, but she still looks beautiful.

“How about a hug?” she whisper, her voice sleepy. “Just careful around the middle.”

“Oh Mom!” I drop my purse and jacket onto the chair beside the bed, and leaning over, I wrap my arms around her while I fight not to blubber all over her shoulder. “Are you really okay?”

“Rest the doctor said, and I’ll be good as new.”

“What happened? Kasey called me, but no one has said what was wrong.”

“Sit.” She points to the chair and takes my hand after I’ve dropped into it. “I went into early labor and the shock of it gave me high blood pressure. Really high. The doctor was worried for a time, but they managed to get it down and then everything went to shit when I started bleeding out and they couldn’t stop it.” She shrugs. “I’ve never been so scared, and the thought of leaving you and Diego . . .” she can’t continue and shakes her head. “Everything worked out in the end though.”

“Oh! I bet that wasn’t half of what happened to you, but I’m so glad there was good news when I got here.” I grin. “Where’s my brother?”

“You spoke to Diego?” She smiles softly. “I asked him to keep Emile’s arrival to himself until we’d told you.”

“He was outside when we arrived.”

She chews her lip. “Is he okay?”

I wish I could lie well, so instead, I admit, “He was relieved and exhausted.”

“He was so strong through everything, even though I could see the distress on his face.” When she adds, “He told the doctor that if there was a choice to be made, then he had to do everything possible to save me,” she has tears in her eyes.

“He was upset when we arrived, but he was smiling when I left to come inside to see you.”

She glances at the door.

“He’ll be up soon,” I reassure.

“I hope so. I hate that he went outside so I wouldn’t see him break.”

“Mom, he’s the strongest guy I know and he loves you so much. Let him have five minutes to recharge so he can continue to be strong for you and Emile.”

She offers me a wry smile. “How did my daughter become so grown up?”

“I had the perfect role model.” I chuckle as she blushes.

“I wondered sometimes. It wasn’t always easy raising a daughter on my own.”

“I have no complaints...Why isn’t Emile in here with you?”

“He has to stay in the special care unit until they’re sure he’ll be okay without the incubator.” She wipes at a tear. “They’re going to be bringing him in again soon.”

“What color hair does he have?”

“Black, just like his father.” She smiles. “He looks just like Diego, but has my nose.”

“So we already have that in common, huh?”

“You do...Isn’t Sawyer with you?”

I shake my head and try to avoid looking at her, but she’s having none of it and captures my face in her hands. “Talk to me, honey. He seemed so sincere in his feelings for you.”

“I don’t know what’s going on. He’s not been replying to my text messages or emails all day, and the last one I sent was telling him that I needed him, after Kasey’s call. But nothing.” Inhaling, I smile and try not to cry. “Things are complicated and one of the other Professor’s knows about us, or at least suspects. I don’t really know what’s happening anymore.”

“Oh honey...I wish I had some wonderful words of wisdom for you, but I don’t right now. I think I’m too tired to think. But I’m sure Sawyer hasn’t given up on what you both have. Anyone could see how in love he is with you.”

“I thought so.” I shrug just as Diego and Kasey walk into the room.

The change in my mom is amazing as she watches her husband prowl toward her. I move out of the way and let them have a moment together as they put their heads together and whisper.

Kasey nudges me and indicates with his head to follow him outside.

“Is Diego okay?” I ask as soon as we’re outside of the room.

“Yeah. He thought he was going to lose the woman he loves, but he’ll be okay. It kind of brings it home with Felicity, you know?”

“Oh Kasey. With the worry over my mom, I’d forgotten about Felicity. You need to go and be with her. Not just for her but you as well, and she’s got so much going for her. Remember that. She’s half my mom’s age, just don’t tell my mom that I said that.”

He chuckles. “I wont.”

I hug him goodbye and check my cell but there’s nothing from Sawyer.