Chapter Thirty-One

The monitor betrayed what Jim's carefully blank expression wouldn't, its rhythm slightly elevated despite his outward calm. He pulled his hand away from Rory's, the movement casual but deliberate.

"You should go find Sam," he said, his voice steady. "He probably has a million doctor questions about the baby now."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with everything they couldn't say. Jim focused on his breathing, on maintaining the careful mask he'd perfected over years of hiding harder truths than this.

"Jim," Rory started, but he cut her off with a slight shake of his head.

"It's fine," he said softly. "Everything's fine."

But his heart monitor told a different story, its rhythm becoming more erratic with each passing second. He could feel it - the dangerous flutter in his chest, the……