Caden’s smile softened. “So I’m the remedy for your cramps?”

“Absolutely,” Alicia replied.

Weary from a demanding day, Caden longed only for the comfort of home. “Did you eat?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. “Let’s shower and rest.”

After an exhausting day and night, Caden showered and settled beside Alicia, his eyes fluttering closed. Alicia lovingly caressed his hair and face. As he rested his head near her stomach, he murmured, “It’s like I can hear two heartbeats when I’m this close to you.”

Alicia’s heart fluttered with apprehension. Feigning calmness, she whispered, “Why would you hear two? Perhaps you’re just tired and imagining things.”

Caden didn’t argue; exhaustion overwhelmed him. If only he’d looked at her then, he might have noticed the faint blush beneath her eyes, and known he was about to become a father, sparing them both future regrets.

His hand rested gently on her stomach. “Are you still feeling pain there?”

Her voice raspy with tiredness, Alicia murmured, “Just try to sleep.”

Caden shifted, and they held each other. He opened his eyes long enough to set a 5 a.m. alarm.

Alicia’s heart ached. “Will you be busy again tomorrow?”

“Yeah, it’s been chaotic lately. When things settle down, I’ll take you to Crystalline to see the aurora for a few months. How does that sound?”

Alicia wasn’t in the mood. She hesitated before asking, “Caden, what’s actually happening with your business?”

With a casual shrug, Caden replied, “Just the usual yearly hurdles.”

Alicia managed a strained smile and closed her eyes, trying to sleep. When consumed by work, Caden became unreachable, and she avoided bothering him.

Later, after beginning medical treatment to sustain the pregnancy, Alicia administered one dose herself. The fine needle piercing her abdomen caused her to wince in pain, a cold sweat breaking out on her skin. She had to repeat this three times daily.