The Remorseful Brothers Novel

At first, I hadn’t thought it was the only option. But as the doc explained the whole process, I wished I misheard him.

I left Alden’s life and moved on with mine only to have him show up in my life again. My life that was now perfect, a dream come true. I had a man who loved and cared for my daughter and I. Now, he’d have to watch me carry Aiden’s child another time.

A man could only be so strong.

I closed my eyes, willing away the image of me sitting before the doctor with Aiden by my side. But when I opened my eyes again, I was reminded of Amie’s small frame. In just a few days, she looked like she had lost tons of weight.

I could not watch her deteriorate when I had an option, neither can I watch Dennis hurt. But it was the only way to save my daughter, the doctor had made that crystal clear.

I’m going to have to do it, I made up my mind and with that, I made my way to the restroom where I let the tears stream down my face, carrying the pain in my heart, yet the ache in my chest lingered, refusing to ease.

After a while, I wiped my face. I went to see Amie who was still sleeping. I spent a few minutes with her, telling her the sacrifices that Dennis and I would have to make,

I told her that she would have to remain strong in case we end up losing both dads. I told her that she might have to be prepared to start to see me, once again, as her mom and dad.

I revisited the restroom after I left her room. I ensured that there was no trace of tears on n In the car. He didn’t k my way as I settled in the passenger seat in

ice before I exited the hospital and joined Dennis front.

“Did you see Amie?” He asked quietly as he started the car.

I nodded before I remembered that he was making an effort to keep his. gaze ahead and off me. “I did.”

“How’s she?” He asked as he moved the car out of the hospital premises.

I shrugged, my lips trembling as my tears struggled to start another downpour. I turned to the window. “She’s still the same. She was sleeping.”

There was silence as the car moved along the road then I felt the warmth of his palm as it wrapped around my clenched hands.

And my tears rushed out even more as I clutched onto his palm. I turned to him and found his gaze on me. His lips slanted in a small smile as if to say, “We would get through this.” I returned his smile, hoping he was right. But would we really?

It’s been several days, almost a week, since we left the hospital together. We had both been going to see Amie but at different times. I knew Dennis also went to see her because either Amie would tell me if she was awake, which was now rare or one of the nurses would.

“Your husband was here,” the nurses would gush. “He brought Amie some painting materials but she was asleep.” Then their eyes would. grow sad as it moved to Amie’s sleeping form, “She doesn’t paint so much anymore.”

—

He didn’t spend so much time at home anymore. He would come home after I’d gone to bed. Sometimes, he would come early and spend the rest of the day, buried in work. Dennis never worked at home.

But each time, when it was time for bed, he’d join me. He would wordlessly gather me in his warm embrace, taking away some of the fears that had ed to take root that I might lose him.

I’d tried to talk to him about it but he has said nothing.

Finally, I summoned up the courage, for Amie’s sake, and talked to him. The earlier we get started, the better.

With a deep exhale, he turned to me and took my hands in his. First, he wiped my tears off with his thumbs then he kissed him on the forehead.

Then he said, “I’m sorry for my behavior these past days.” His gaze fell on our joined hands, “It’s hard, y’know,” he punctuated his sentence with a sigh.

“I’m sorry.” Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

He shook his head. “It’s not your fault, neither is it Amie’s.” He

shrugged, “It’s beyond our control. And we have to do whatever we have to do to save Amie.”

My eyes welled up. Oh God. How did get so lucky?

I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight, “Thank you, Dennis. Thank you so much!”

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