He pointed at the document.
“Signing also gave me legal standing to challenge any attempt to move her into Silvercrest Residence.”
I stared at him.
“So you signed the page that prevented them from sending her away.”
“Yes.”
“But you still took the deal.”
“Yes.”
“You could have told me.”
“I should have.”
“You could have exposed them.”
“I was afraid they would isolate Gracie before we could protect her.”
Noah lowered his head.
“And part of me believed I could repair everything quietly.”
Gracie Knew
I looked at the contract crushed between my hands.
“Did Gracie know?”
Noah nodded.
“I told her about a year into our marriage.”
Marriage
My breath caught.
“What did she say?”
“She cried.”
He gave a broken little smile.
“Then she laughed.”
“Why?”
“She said she always knew something about the wedding was strange because your parents were far too pleased.”
Despite everything, that sounded exactly like Gracie.
“She asked whether you loved her?”
“Yes.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That I loved her before either of us even understood what marriage meant.”
Noah pressed his hands together.
“She said she wanted to keep me anyway.”
I almost laughed through my tears.
“Why didn’t either of you tell me?”
“Gracie asked me not to.”
“Why?”
“She knew you would go to war with your parents.”
“She was right.”
“She was afraid the entire family would fall apart.”
Family
“The family was already built on a lie.”
“I know.”
I looked at Noah.
“I hated you for about two full minutes.”
He gave a miserable smile.
“I would have hated me longer.”
The Truth I Could See
We both looked toward the surgical doors.
I remembered the flowers Noah brought Gracie every Tuesday for no reason.
The way he knew every line from her favorite movie.
The morning calls when she complained that he had burned the toast but ate it anyway.
Their marriage had never been a performance.
Marriage
The contract was real.
But so was their love.
Then footsteps approached.
The doctor appeared at the end of the hallway.
Noah and I stood.
Before he reached us, the elevator doors opened.
My parents stepped out.
Their coats were perfect.
Their expressions controlled.
Mom hurried toward us.
“How is Gracie?”
The doctor looked between all of us.
“She is stable.”
My knees nearly gave way.
“The babies are both breathing independently. Grace remains weak, but the immediate danger has passed.”
