One Winter's Night. Susan Meier

two must be some big-time donors.”

      “We’re on the board.” He sucked in a breath. “How’s Olivia?”

      She winced. “Not in labor. The doctor’s keeping her overnight just to be sure, but she’s fine.”

      He breathed a sigh of relief, so glad Tucker and Olivia’s baby would be okay that for several seconds he couldn’t function. Finally, he ran his hand across the back of his neck and forced his muscles and brain to relax. “That’s good.”

      She looked around. “It’s so quiet here.”

      “That’s normal in the children’s ICU.”

      He expected a question or two. She’d earned the right to ask them. He felt her curiosity like a living, breathing thing. Still, she said nothing.

      His respect for her grew. He’d told her he didn’t want her to know his past, his pain, because he didn’t want her to treat him any differently—or, worse, to pity him. And if the casual way she behaved around him was anything to go by, she hadn’t looked him up on the internet and hadn’t asked his friends for information.

      It boggled his mind that she hadn’t investigated him. If the tables were turned, he would have been driven crazy until he gave in to his curiosity, but he would have given in. She’d been a rock. She was probably the most trustworthy person on the planet.

      “Good evening, Mr. Langley.” Regina walked up to them, giving Eloise a quick once-over. “And who is this?”

      He looked from Regina to Eloise, who met his gaze with as much curiosity about how he’d answer as Regina had.

      Their gazes locked. She’d gone to all his parties with him, always kept up the charade and always looked pretty for him, even though it probably meant working like a Christmas elf to get that party’s dress altered. He’d refused to tell her his secrets and she’d accepted it.

      He couldn’t think of her as nothing but a fake date anymore. He might not be her real boyfriend, but she was more than a partner in a charade.

      He caught her hand and squeezed it. “She’s a friend.”

      Eloise smiled.

      Regina said, “Well, it’s quiet up here tonight. Stay as long as you like.”

      It didn’t seem right to stand with Eloise at the window to the room where his son had died. He didn’t want her to see his grief. Plus, with Olivia fine and the baby out of danger, there was no reason to stay.

      “Actually, we were just on our way out.”

      “Good night then.”

      “Good night, Regina.” He directed Eloise to the elevator. “I sent Norman home. We’re going to have to get a taxi.”

      “A taxi! Do you know how expensive taxis are?”

      He laughed, then realized that’s exactly what she’d intended for him to do. But the sights and the sounds of the hospital kept him grounded in reality, and he suddenly felt guilty for those three seconds of happiness.

      No matter how much Eloise lifted his spirits, in his heart he knew he didn’t deserve to be whole.