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Chapter 11

Auteur: Cold Storm
last update Dernière mise à jour: 2025-05-21 03:47:18

The conference room walls seemed to close in as I stared at the mockups across the table. Thomas leaned over my shoulder, his cologne something woodsy with hints of citrus invading my space in a way that wasn't entirely unwelcome.

"What do you think about the color scheme?" he asked, his voice low enough that only I could hear, despite three other team members sitting across from us.

I shifted slightly, creating an inch of distance between us. "The blue is too corporate. The Wakefield account needs something more approachable, something that speaks to families."

Thomas nodded, reaching across me to slide one of the boards closer. His arm brushed against mine, and I forced myself not to react. This was becoming a pattern of these small, probably innocent contacts that sent unwanted electricity through my veins.

"Maybe something warmer?" He studied my face rather than the mockup.

"Exactly." I pulled my notepad closer, scribbling down alternatives. "Amber tones, maybe with accents of dee
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  • Divorcing my dead sister’s husband    Chapter 39

    I was cutting Sam's chicken when my water broke.We were having dinner at the kitchen table—nothing fancy, just baked chicken and mashed potatoes—and I was telling Sam to eat his vegetables when I felt a sudden warm gush between my legs."Oh," I said, looking down at the puddle forming on the chair beneath me.Thomas looked up from his plate. "What's wrong?""I think..." I stood up carefully, feeling more fluid trickling down my legs. "I think my water just broke."Sam's fork clattered to his plate. "Right now?""Right now."Thomas was on his feet immediately, his chair scraping against the floor. "Are you having contractions?""I don't think so. Not yet." I gripped the back of my chair as another gush of fluid confirmed what I already knew. "But this is it.""Okay. Okay." Thomas ran his hands through his hair, and I could see him switching into crisis mode. "Hospital bag?""By the front door.""Car seat?""Already installed.""Sam—""I'm coming with you," Sam said firmly, pushing bac

  • Divorcing my dead sister’s husband    Chapter 38

    At thirty-four weeks, Dr. James finally cleared me to spend more time out of bed."Your cervix has stabilized," she said, studying my chart. "And the baby's growth is excellent. I think we can ease up on the restrictions."Thomas, who had been holding his breath through the entire appointment, finally exhaled. "So she can go back to normal activities?""Modified normal. No heavy lifting, no long walks, but she can move around the house, go up and down stairs, even make short trips if needed."I wanted to cry with relief. Three months of bed rest had felt like a prison sentence, and the idea that I could participate in getting ready for this baby felt like a miracle."Does this mean I can finish the nursery?" I asked.Dr. James smiled. "As long as you're not painting or moving furniture, I don't see why not."That afternoon, I stood in the doorway of what would be our baby's room, really looking at it for the first time since Thomas had painted it. He'd done an amazing job, but it stil

  • Divorcing my dead sister’s husband    Chapter 37

    I changed my mind about testifying three days before the sentencing hearing.Thomas found me on the phone with Rivera at six in the morning, still in my pajamas, sitting on the edge of our bed."What are you doing?" he asked, but I could tell from his voice that he already knew."I'll be there Tuesday morning," I said into the phone. "Whatever accommodations you need to make, make them.""Daniela—" Rivera started."I have to go." I hung up and looked at Thomas.He was standing in the doorway, fully dressed for his morning run, looking at me like I'd just announced I was planning to rob a bank."You promised," he said quietly."I promised I'd talk to you first. I'm talking to you.""No, you're telling me. There's a difference."I struggled to stand up, my belly making everything awkward at twenty-eight weeks. "Sarah's evidence wasn't enough. The prosecutors are still offering him a plea deal. Eight to ten years instead of fifteen to twenty.""That's still a long time.""It's not long e

  • Divorcing my dead sister’s husband    Chapter 36

    The call came on a Tuesday morning while I was half-asleep, trying to get comfortable with a pillow between my knees. Thomas had taken Sam to school and I'd finally drifted off when my phone rang.Detective Rivera's name flashed on the screen."Hello?""Daniela, I hope I'm not waking you.""No, it's fine." I struggled to sit up against the headboard. "What's going on?""We need to talk. Can I come over?"Something in her voice made my stomach tighten. "Is everything okay? Did something happen with the case?""I'd rather discuss this in person. Are you available this morning?"I looked at the clock. Thomas wouldn't be back for an hour. "Sure. I'll be here.""Good. I'm bringing someone with me."She hung up before I could ask who.An hour later, I heard Thomas's key in the door, followed by Rivera's voice and another woman's voice I didn't recognize. I'd managed to get dressed and make it downstairs to the living room, even though I was supposed to stay in bed."Daniela," Rivera said as

  • Divorcing my dead sister’s husband    Chapter 35

    Coming home from the hospital felt like stepping into a different life. Thomas had spent the two days I was there rearranging everything, and I could see the changes the moment I walked through the door."Careful on the stairs," he said, hovering behind me as I made my way up to our bedroom. "Dr. James said—""I know what he said." I was trying not to be irritated by his constant worry, but two days of bed rest in a hospital bed had left me feeling like a fragile piece of glass everyone was afraid to touch.Sam bounded ahead of us, then stopped at the top of the stairs. "can I show her now?""Show me what?"Thomas's face went slightly red. "I may have done some reorganizing while you were gone."He led me past our bedroom to the spare room at the end of the hall. The room that had been serving as Thomas's home office and a catch-all for Sam's outgrown toys. He opened the door, and I froze.The room was completely transformed. The walls, which had been a boring beige, were now painted

  • Divorcing my dead sister’s husband    Chapter 34

    The pain started at three in the morning.I'd been having what I thought were Braxton Hicks contractions for the past week, but this was different. This was the kind of pain that made me grip the sheets and hold my breath until it passed. When it happened again ten minutes later, I knew."Thomas." I shook his shoulder gently, not wanting to panic him. "Thomas, wake up."He was alert immediately, the way he'd been since I'd been put on bed rest. "What's wrong?""I think we need to go to the hospital."The next hour was a blur of Thomas throwing clothes into a bag while calling Janet to come to stay with Sam, me timing contractions that were getting closer together, and trying not to think about what this meant at twenty-four weeks."Mom?" Sam appeared in our doorway, rubbing his eyes. "What's happening?""The baby's trying to come a little early," I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. "We're going to see the doctors so they can tell the baby it's not time yet."Sam's face crumpled. "I

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