My fingers twitched, and I felt the metal of my wedding band cold against my thumb. He had never offered to take a full week off during the peak of the autumn market.
“Madison would like the creek,” I said, my voice barely reaching past the collar of my gown.
“She would love it,” he said, nodding quickly. “And Chloe can splash in the shallows. We will get that cabin with the wrap-around porch.”
He looked toward the curtain, his thumb rubbing the back of my hand in a slow, rhythmic circle.
“We just need to get through the paperwork here,” he said. “The sooner we sign the discharge sheets, the sooner we can get the girls packed.”
A nurse walked past the curtain, her rubber-soled shoes squeaking against the tile. Daniel stood up, letting go of my hand, and stepped out into the hallway.
Through the gap in the curtain, I could see him intercept her near the central desk.
“Excuse me,” Daniel said, his voice carrying that easy, expansive tone he used at charity dinners. “I was just speaking with Dr. Morris about the pediatric wing.”
The nurse stopped, holding a plastic clipboard against her chest.
“I know you all work incredibly hard here,” Daniel said, leaning slightly against the counter. “My family has been looking for a local program to support, and your children’s wing seems like the perfect fit.”
“That is very generous of you, sir,” she said, her voice polite but tired. “The foundation office is on the first floor, right next to the lobby.”
“I would like to discuss a significant contribution,” Daniel said, reaching into his pocket for his card case. “Something that could help update the play therapy room.”
The nurse looked down at the card he handed her, her expression softening.
“Mr. Vance,” she said, reading the name. “I can certainly have the director call you this afternoon.”
“Please do,” Daniel said, giving her a small, confident nod. “We believe in supporting the community where we build. Especially the institutions that take such good care of our families.”
He stood there for a moment, watching her walk away toward the elevators. He did not go down to the foundation office. He turned back toward my bay, his chin tilted up.
He stepped back through the curtain and pulled his phone from his pocket, his thumb sliding quickly across the screen.
