hand through my hair and exhale. “I always rely on you to keep me talking.”
Her mouth twitches.
I exhale. “Please come back to me, baby.” I touch her cheek for what seems like the millionth time today. “I love you so much. I need you.”
Her eye twitches.
“Sarah?”
She rustles.
“Sarah?”
Sarah’s eyes flutter open.
My heart slams against my sternum. “Sarah?”
“Jonas,” she says softly.
“Sarah.” My pulse is pounding so loudly in my ears, I’m not sure I’ll be able to hear Sarah’s voice if she speaks again. I try to sound calm and reassuring. “Hey, baby.”
“The babies?”
“Two little girls.” I’ve told her this before. Oh, God, my heart is slamming in my chest. “And they’re so beautiful.”
A weak smile spreads across her pale face. “They’re okay?”
I nod. “Sunny and Luna.”
“Sunny?”
This is the longest she’s stayed with me. And by far the most she’s talked. My heart is racing. “Yeah. Blame Josh. Marisol became Sunshine, and then Josh started calling her Sunny, and it stuck. Now everyone calls her that. Even your mom. She’s just... Sunny.”
One side of her mouth curls up.
“Josh did it. Blame Josh.”
Sarah grins. God, she’s so fucking pale. “I love it.”
“It fits her to a tee—wait ’til you see her. She’s a little light. And Luna is already hilarious.”
“Healthy?” Her voice is the softest of whispers.
I grab her hand and kiss it. I lean down and kiss her lips. “Yeah. Tiny but healthy. They just got off their ventilators. They’re breathing well.”
She melts with relief.
I kiss her lips again. “Sarah, I love you so much. I’ve been so worried.” My voice is cracking so I swallow hard to contain myself.
“The babies are gonna be okay?”
“Yeah, they’re gonna be okay. And so are you.” Another wave of emotion threatens to rise inside me, but I stuff it down.
“Is Luna our Crazy Monkey?”
I nod. “Yeah.” I bite my lip. “She’s my mini-me. I’ll apologize to her when she’s older.”
She smiles.
Tears suddenly fill my eyes. Shit. I didn’t want to do this.
“Jonas.” She closes her eyes, obviously fatigued.
I can’t hold back anymore. I lean down onto her chest and clutch her to me.
She runs her hands through my hair.
“Don’t leave me,” I whisper fiercely.
She makes a cooing sound.
“You’re gonna be fine,” I say. But I’m not sure if I’m reassuring Sarah or me.
A nurse bolts into the room and immediately begins checking Sarah’s vital signs. I get up and pace around the room, simultaneously electrified with hope and filled with inexplicable dread. Is she really here to stay this time? Or will this be the last time I get to talk to my wife?
“Can I see the babies?” Sarah asks the nurse.
“As soon as the doctor gives the thumbs up. You’re gonna need to stay in bed for another day, I’m sure.”
Sarah nods.
“In the meantime, why don’t I grab your mother from the waiting room? She’s been begging to switch places with Jonas.” She flashes me a look of chastisement.
I’m suddenly slammed with the most intense sensation of déjà vu I’ve experienced in all my life. Holy fuck, I’ve lived this exact moment before—and I know precisely what happens next: Gloria bursts into the room, throws herself onto Sarah’s prostrate body, sobbing, and promptly packs Sarah into her car to recuperate, without so much as a backward glance at me.
“No,” Sarah says to the nurse, her eyes fixed on me. “I want my Jonas.” She pauses. “My sweet Jonas.” Her face softens. “My mom can wait.”
My heart is bursting out of my chest. I know I should reply, “No, it’s okay, Sarah. Let your mom see you.” But I don’t say it. I don’t say a word.
Sarah twists her mouth and extends her hand, beckoning me closer.
“Would it be possible for us to be alone for a couple minutes?” I ask the nurse.
“Well, the doctor’s on her way,” the nurse says, looking at her watch. “She’s definitely gonna want to see her right away.”
“Just like two minutes? One minute? Half a minute?”
The nurse smiles. “Yeah, okay. I can do that. Two minutes.” She looks at Sarah. “Your vitals have taken a giant leap for the better, Sarah. Really, really good sign.”
The minute the nurse leaves, I kiss every inch of Sarah’s face. “I’ve got something to show you,” I mumble into her lips.
She looks at me expectantly. God, she looks so tired.
Wordlessly, I stand and pull off my T-shirt, revealing my new tattoo.
“Whoa,” she says. She surveys the tattoo inked across my chest, shoulder and bicep for a long beat, her eyes wide. “Wow,” she