BENEATH HER ASHES

Hours

obs – Poin

rm. My eyelids are heavy, my limbs even heavier. A soft beeping rhythm echoes in the background-a mon

ep hollow sensation radiating through my body like somethi

ain. The ambulanc

lil

cks

t breathe. I remember the hotel room, the lace lingerie, the smirk on

, I did not think I

oked to machines in a

rm, fuzzy feelings of new motherh

are my

noring the pull of pain at my abdomen. The ces

s walks in with a clipboard. She looks up a

tly, a warm smile blooming across

ers. There is something calming about her presence , her voice soft, her eyes kin

at matters slips past my

are my babi

ting the pillow

wo beautiful baby girls and one healthy b

A wave of emotion crashes into me ,

hisper. "You were in t

livery," she says. "And I

"You are a miracle. All three of them are. I will bring them to you

s hang in

husb

son. The man who shattered my world

r me holding my hand, whispering encouragement, crying h

ts, laughter, our parents waiting outside the delivery room, Jackso

woman I once called my sister became my husband's lover.

Minute

or swin

here h

r freshly styled. He is holding a bouquet of roses and my favorite Belgian cho

ests in his other han

stors and win over corporate sharks. He leans down, kisses my foreh

do not

e at him. Si

e ser

e a few flowers and a

upset about earlier. We are parents now. That is what matters.

htens. My p

call Delilah

ty. The she

ce sharp and cold. "Jack

first time. The color dra

at, slowly, "I. W

he just stands

e beggin

had kids. Our family think about our family.

"You call sleeping with my best fr

ns nothin

s wrapped around her li

and through his hair. "Look, I messed up. I know.

eir lives, Jackson. But

ear bassinet on wheels. Inside lie three perfect

ne handsome boy," she says cheer

aves the room, her presence

n for the first time and t

r. One of the girls stretches and yawns, her tiny mouth forming the

sible to feel so shattered a

each baby into my embrace. I cradle them close, pressing kisse

s face as he picks up our

re perfect. You gave me the most incredible gi

member the man I fell in love with. The man who used to wake me up with bre

the pain. The betra

w what I h

one," I say quietly. "You broke me, Jackson. You broke us

d with me, but

wyer as soon as I l

rce protectiveness surges through me

deserve

reaming down his face. "Just...

hisper. "But you

babies gently, whispering promise

w up loved. Sa

Delilah an

arn that betrayal