Chapter 11 - The Interview
Daniel took the boys to a nearby park.
Anna sat alone at the dining table with her laptop open.
Her navy dress was smoothed over her stomach.
A glass of water sat beside the computer.
At exactly 9:30, the screen connected.
Dr. Melissa Grant appeared.
She was the hospital’s director of patient services.
Anna had researched her the week before.
“Anna Mercer?”
“Yes.”
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
The interview began normally.
Experience.
Leadership.
Why she had left nursing.
Why she wanted to return.
Then came the question Anna had feared.
“Why Denver?”
Anna paused.
Two days ago, the answer had been simple.
My sister lives there.
My husband is leaving again.
I need somewhere stable.
Now the truth was changing in real time.
“My sister is there.”
Dr. Grant nodded.
“And my family may be relocating to Colorado.”
“Colorado Springs?”
“Possibly.”
“That’s not close.”
“I know.”
“Would you still want this role?”
Anna looked at the camera.
“Yes.”
The answer surprised her.
Dr. Grant smiled.
“Good.”
The interview lasted forty minutes.
When it ended, Anna sat quietly.
She felt something she had not expected.
Excitement.
Not about leaving Daniel.
About herself.
Daniel returned at 10:25.
Caleb carried a leaf.
Noah carried two sticks.
Daniel carried three drinks and looked exhausted.
“How’d it go?”
“Well.”
“Just well?”
Anna smiled.
“Really well.”
Daniel’s face brightened.
“That’s great.”
He meant it.
She could tell.
That mattered.
“What did they say?”
“They’ll call this week.”
Daniel set the drinks down.
“You want it?”
“Yes.”
Again, the answer came easily.
Daniel nodded.
“Then we figure out the distance.”
Anna watched him.
“You’re not threatened by this?”
“Why would I be?”
“Because if I get it, I’ll have something in Denver that isn’t about you.”
Daniel stared.
Then his expression changed.
“Anna.”
“What?”
“That’s what I want.”
She blinked.
He sat across from her.
“I don’t want every move we make to be my move.”
Anna looked down.
Daniel continued.
“I think that’s how we got here.”
The boys ran upstairs.
Silence settled.
Daniel took out his phone.
“Holloway needs an answer by tomorrow.”
Anna nodded.
“What do you think?”
“Fort Carson is possible.”
“Possible isn’t yes.”
“I know.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“What scares you?”
Anna thought.
“That we move.”
“You take the position.”
“I take the hospital job.”
“The boys start over.”
“And six months later, you get another offer.”
Daniel nodded.
“And I become the difficult wife again.”
“You were never difficult.”
“Your mother thought so.”
“My mother thought wrong.”
Anna looked at him.
“What if you do too one day?”
Daniel took time.
Then he answered carefully.
“Then we talk before either of us decides anything.”
“That sounds simple.”
“It won’t be.”
“No.”
Daniel reached across the table.
“But simple and easy aren’t the same thing.”
Anna allowed him to take her hand.
The warmth felt familiar.
Not automatic.
Chosen.
Later, Daniel made lunch.
He burned the grilled cheese.
Caleb announced it loudly.
Noah refused the blackened edges.
Anna laughed.
Daniel defended himself with military seriousness.
“Operational conditions were unfavorable.”
“You used too much heat.”
“Hostile equipment.”
“It’s a stove.”
“Exactly.”
For fifteen minutes, the house felt normal.
Then Anna doubled slightly.
Daniel stood immediately.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
His face changed.
“That wasn’t nothing.”
Anna placed one hand on the counter.
“Probably Braxton Hicks.”
“How long?”
“It stopped.”
Daniel stared.
“Sit.”
“Don’t command me.”
“Please sit.”
Better.
Anna sat.
Another tightening came ten minutes later.
Then another.
Daniel watched the clock.
“Anna.”
“I know.”
“How far apart?”
“About nine minutes.”
His face lost color.
“It’s too early.”
“It might stop.”
Daniel reached for his phone.
Anna caught his wrist.
“Don’t panic.”
“I’m not panicking.”
“You look like you’re about to evacuate a building.”
“That’s planning.”
“Daniel.”
He took a breath.
“What do you want?”
The question surprised her.
“I want to call my doctor.”
“Okay.”
Anna called.
Her doctor listened.
Asked questions.
Then said the sentence that changed the afternoon.
“Come in and get checked.”
Daniel had the hospital bag in the car within six minutes.
Anna looked at him.
“You knew where it was?”
“I saw it by the closet.”
“You looked inside?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I almost did.”
She smiled despite the fear.
The boys sensed the tension.
Caleb asked, “Is the baby coming?”
Anna knelt as much as her body allowed.
“Probably not today.”
Noah looked worried.
Daniel crouched beside them.
“Mom and I are going to the hospital.”
“Are you leaving?”
Noah asked.
Daniel looked at him.
“No.”
The word came firmly.
“I’m going with her.”
Noah nodded slowly.
Anna felt tears threaten.
Rachel’s friend agreed to take the boys again.
They drove to the hospital.
Daniel held Anna’s hand at every red light.
The contractions continued.
Not stronger.
But not gone.
At admissions, the nurse asked Daniel to wait outside while Anna changed.
He looked offended.
Anna laughed.
“You’ll survive.”
“I’ve faced less intimidating situations.”
“Go.”
Twenty minutes later, he sat beside her monitor.
The baby’s heartbeat filled the room.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Anna watched him.
“You okay?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“Me neither.”
The nurse checked the readings.
Then left to get the doctor.
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
He ignored it.
It buzzed again.
Anna looked.
“Answer.”
“No.”
“It might be Holloway.”
“It’s my mother.”
Anna’s expression changed.
Daniel turned the phone facedown.
“She can wait.”
A few minutes later, the doctor entered.
Her expression was calm.
That helped.
“Good news.”
Daniel exhaled.
“The baby looks strong.”
Anna closed her eyes.
“And?”
“You’re having contractions.”
“We noticed.”
The doctor smiled.
“But you are not in active labor.”
Daniel’s shoulders dropped.
Anna asked, “Why are they happening?”
“Exhaustion.”
“Dehydration.”
“Stress.”
The doctor looked between them.
“Your body has had a difficult couple of days.”
Anna almost laughed.
Daniel did not.
The doctor continued.
“I want you resting.”
“Really resting.”
“No airport floors.”
Anna looked at Daniel.
He looked guilty.
The doctor smiled.
“That wasn’t an accusation.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Anna whispered.
“He does that.”
The doctor left.
Daniel sat beside her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he put his forehead against Anna’s hand.
“I’m sorry.”
She touched his hair.
“For what?”
“All of it.”
Anna looked at him.
“Then help me change it.”
Daniel lifted his head.
She continued.
“Don’t apologize for the past if you’re going to recreate it.”
“I won’t.”
Anna shook her head.
“Don’t promise.”
Daniel understood.
“Okay.”
May you like
She squeezed his hand.
“Show me.”
