Page 42 of Through the Storm

BEN

Katy sits at the kitchen table in her party dress, mascara smudged, looking small in a way that has nothing to do with size.

“What the hell happened?” she whispers. “Who was that guy?”

I run a hand over my face. “A guy from the hockey team grabbed her. Then said something he shouldn’t have.”

Her eyes sharpen. “What did he say?”

I hesitate. “Katy… Come here. Sit with me.” I pull her into my lap and meet her gaze. “Ella lost a baby. Declan’s baby. Back in high school.”

The room tilts.

“What?” Her voice cracks. “No. Ella… she never said…”

“She didn’t tell anyone,” I say, my voice soft. “Just her dad. She was already well into the pregnancy when she lost the baby. I found out after it happened.” I swallow. “She almost died.”

Katy presses a trembling hand to her mouth. “Oh my God.” Her voice breaks. “I can’t believe I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah,” I say solemnly.

“She was just a kid. And oh, Declan…” Tears fill her eyes. The kind that come from realizing how cruel the world can be. “I’m sad,” she whispers.

“I know. Me too.”

Her hand drifts to her belly. “What if…”

I kneel in front of her, steady. “Hey. Look at me.”

She does.

“You and the baby are safe right now.”

Her lip trembles. “You don’t know that.”

I shake my head gently. “No. But I know I’m not going anywhere.And I’ll keep showing up and making sure you’re not alone in this.”

That’s when she breaks, sobbing into my shoulder. I hold her without saying anything else, because this isn’t a moment that needs promises. It needs presence.

She’s asleep on the couch later, curled against me, her hand resting protectively over her belly.

I text Declan.

Me

I’ve got Katy. She’s home and calm.

Declan

Thank you. She knows?

Me

Yeah. She had to hear it somehow. I made sure she heard it right.

I stare at the screen for a long moment before adding:

Me