Chapter 90

Maya

It was 4:00 in the afternoon, and after I picked up Axel from kindergarten, I stopped by Jess in the hospital to check on her. She and the kids were fine. Axel had done nothing but stare carefully at little Emma as if he was afraid that at any moment she would burst.

Jess and I laughed at that interaction between the two kids.

Luckily Jess was alone in the room and, when I came in, I found her on the bed, legs crossed, with leggings and a light T-shirt, while the children were lying in front of her, blissfully asleep with their fists clenched. I had placed Axel on the bed, who had immediately fallen asleep and had focused all his attention on Emma, watching her sleep peacefully.

I was with Jess for a couple of hours, which gave me a chance to be alone with her and the kids. I had picked up Liam who was the quietest of the two, while Emma did not let anyone near her except Jess without starting to cry desperately.

Jess was happy and radiant, so radiant that I would cry desperatel