Louise pulled a chair so close their legs pressed against each other as she sat beside him and held the cup as he sipped from it.
A bit later, Linette touched his neck. “His body temperature is rising.”
“I’m fine,” he croaked.
Louise didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the familiarity of his words. “That’s what I always say.”
“Even when it’s not true.” Color had returned to his face.
She looked deep into his eyes, wanting to tell him something that was very true.
His gaze searched hers. She hoped he saw what she couldn’t say with all these people clustered around.
He turned to Eddie, who stood nearby, hovering as if afraid Nate might not make it.
Louise knew he would. She’d seen the flash of fierceness in his eyes.
“You suppose you could get me some clothes?” Nate asked him.
“Buster is bringing you some,” Eddie answered.
“Good.” Nate sighed and emptied the cup. His fingers rested against hers as she still clutched it, not wanting to lose this bit of contact.
Buster stepped into the room, a bundle of clothes in his arms. He stared at Nate. “You going to be okay?”
“I sure am.”
Eddie thanked Buster and took the clothes to Nate.
“If you’ll all give me a moment of privacy...” he said.
No one moved.
“Allow a man to retain a shred of pride.”
“I’ll stay,” Louise said.
But he shook his head. “I don’t want you to remember me at my weakest.”
“Very well. Eddie, will you stay?” She couldn’t think of him alone in his present state.
Eddie nodded. “I’ll make sure he’s okay.”
Louise reluctantly followed Linette to the sitting room, where Missy rocked Chloe and Jonathan slept in his cradle.
In a moment, Eddie stepped into the room. “He’s decent and would like a few minutes alone with his wife.” He held the door for her and closed it behind her as she returned to the kitchen.
Nate had never looked so good.
All the words she wanted to say fled her mind.
He pushed to his feet and she hurried to his side, afraid he was too weak to stand on his own. He draped his arms around her and pulled her close.
“When I was out in the storm there was one thing that kept me from falling asleep. Something I needed to tell you.”
She clung to him, afraid he would say he wanted to move on. “I have things I need to say to you, as well.”
“Let me go first. Louise, I love you and have since we met. I don’t want to end our marriage. I want it to be real. Now, I know I have nothing to offer you. But somehow we can make it work. I know we can. If you want to.” He held her so close, she couldn’t see his face, but she could feel the beat of his heart.
She smiled against his shirtfront. These were exactly the words she wanted to hear. She stayed in the shelter of his arms for the space of two heartbeats, then pushed back enough to look into his face. “Nate, for too long I’ve tried to hold on to the past when what I really wanted all the time was to share a future with you. I love you. I don’t want to end our marriage. We’ll work out something. All that matters is we are together.”
“Louise, my wife and joy.” He bent his head and claimed her lips and the love she freely gave.
She clung to him, unwilling to end the kiss. Only Chloe’s demanding cries gave her the strength to draw back.
“Let’s go find that demanding child of ours,” he said. “I think it will take both of us to raise her.”
They joined the others in the living room and Louise took her baby from Missy and sat in the rocking chair. Nate pulled a chair close to them and draped his arm about her shoulders.
* * *
Nate watched Louise and Chloe, feeling as if he’d finally reached home, even though he had nothing to offer them but his love. For now it was enough that Louise loved him. Together, they would face the future. He’d be happy to live in a hovel so long as they could be together, but despite what she’d always said, Louise deserved so much more. She’d told him stories of how she and her father had lived in tents, in tar-paper shacks, and she hadn’t cared so long as she could stay with her pa. Still, he wanted to give her a proper home.