I held Missy tight.

Why did bad things keep happening to us? My pregnancy had been a nightmare, with complication after complication popping up. I had spent a small fortune going to doctors.

And then, Emil had left us.

My paintings had failed to put food on the table.

Now, Missy was burning up. Her temperature was already 104, and she seemed to be getting hotter and hotter with each passing minute.

She was sweating through her blankets and shivering at the same time.

What was I supposed to do?

Ned reached across and grabbed my hand, taking his eyes off the road for a second to look at me. “Hey, there’s nothing to worry about, okay? Everything is going to be fine.” He squeezed my hand, our fingers locking as if they belonged together.

Truthfully, I was glad he was with me. I had no idea if I would have been able to handle this situation on my own. I was terrified. It was a relief to have someone to lean on… even if our relationship was just platonic.

And yet, as Ned looked at me, I couldn’t deny that there was something more to it. His eyes burned with an unspoken language that I understood.

We both liked each other.

It was obvious.

I looked away. I couldn’t admit it. Not yet. It was too soon. The wounds Emil had left behind were still too fresh.

So I didn’t say a word. I just looked out the window, praying that everything would turn out okay, just as he’d said.

Once we reached the hospital, Ned rounded the car to open the door for me. Even at a time like this, he still acted like the perfect gentleman.

Once inside, he hailed a nurse, explaining the situation. It didn’t take long for us to be guided into an exam room. Those few minutes before the doctor arrived were tense and full of anxiousness.

In my arms, Missy had tuckered herself out, but she was still burning up.

Knock, knock.

The doctor popped in his head before we could even answer. He was an older gentleman with a face full of lines and eyes weighed with experience. He sat down in front of us, his bones creaking. “So, what appears to be the problem?”

“She has a fever. 104 last time I checked,” I answered, doing my best to keep my composure, even though all I wanted to do was crumble into a heap and cry. All of this was just too much for me to handle.

He nodded his head. “Do you mind placing her on the exam bench?” He had a thermometer in his hand. “And when did you first notice she had a fever?”

“Well, she seemed fine when I put her to sleep, but then she woke up screaming. When I went to check on her, she was burning up.”

“When did this happen?”

“I don’t know… around eleven maybe.”

The doctor looked at his watch. I glimpsed at the time. Quarter to four.

“And why did you wait all this time to come to the hospital?” He withdrew the thermometer, narrowing his eyes at the number displayed. “104.4. Such a high fever can be lethal for an infant. How old is she?”

My heart froze.

Did he just say… lethal?

How could he say that so… casually?

“What are you going to do?” Ned spoke up for the first time. “There’s no sense in scaring Stacey to death if you don’t plan on doing anything to help.” There was an edge to his voice that I hadn’t heard before. Even his eyes seemed darker.

Was he angry?

“What kind of a doctor do you think I am?”

“One that needs to learn be kinder to his patients,” Ned snapped. “Now, I suggest you start doing something to help instead of interrogating this poor woman. She’s a fine mother.”

“And who are you?”

“A friend.”

“Oh, and where’s the father of the child?” There was clear judgment radiating from the other man.

“That’s none of your business.” This time, Ned’s words were a clear growl. He rose to his feet, towering above the doctor. “Now, are you going to help us or not?” Beside him, his fists shook like he was struggling with a surge of anger.

“I’ll see what I can do. Hopefully, it’s nothing more than a fever. In that case, a bit of Tylenol should suffice. I’ll be right back.” He quickened out of the room, almost as if he’d felt threatened by Ned’s sudden display of dominance.

I stared at him, feeling like I was looking at a totally different man.

He chuckled nervously. “Sorry, I hope I didn’t overstep my boundaries there. He was just really getting on my nerves.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

“No…” I whispered. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” Gently, he ran his finger across Missy’s cheek. “I just hope she gets better soon. Poor tyke has been through so much, hasn’t she?” As he said these words, he looked up, catching my eye.

In that moment, it felt like the world had come to a standstill. All I could do was stare into those beautiful blue eyes of his. I knew I’d said I wouldn’t do this – that I wouldn’t fall in love with another stranger, but Ned somehow felt different.

Without thinking about it, I walked over to him and sat down on his lap. My head rested on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

At first, he didn’t move, but then his arms wrapped around me, enveloping me in a protective embrace.

Instantly, I melted into it, my eyes closing, my anxiety soothed by the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. I clutched the fabric of his shirt, feeling like he would disappear at any moment if I didn’t hold on tight.

He rocked me gently before kissing the top of my head, his arms tightening around me. “Everything is going to be okay,” he promised.

And in that moment, I knew he was telling the truth.

Everything would be okay.