She already knew the answer before she even asked, but she couldn''t let it go- she had to hear it out loud. And now, after asking, her heart ached unbearably. The way Finnian had rejected her, not a moment''s hesitation, shed through her mind; her eyes were rimmed red. What was she supposed to do now?


    After leaving the hospital, Finnian rubbed his temples, feeling that familiar wave of exhaustion crash over him.


    Liliana had lost the baby. He couldn''t quite put his emotions into words.


    At first, he hadn''t wanted the child. But Liliana did, and she yed the "you owe me" card, reminding him of how she''d once saved his life. So he agreed to keep the baby.


    Once that decision was made, the reality of impending fatherhood crept in, and with it, a sliver of attachment-if he was honest with himself, he''d started to care, or at least to take the idea of the child seriously.


    Now, finding out so suddenly that the baby was gone, he felt strangely hollow inside. At the same time, though, there was a faint sense of relief.


    That relief made him feel guilty-guilty for the child who would never be born.


    If that child could know that his own father hadn''t wanted him toe into this world, wouldn''t he be heartbroken?


    Finnian knew this line of thinking was absurd.


    The baby was lost at just over two months-still only a cluster of cells, not even remotely human, incapable of thought or feeling. How could there be any heartbreak?


    Yet, even knowing all this, he couldn''t help but dwell on it.


    This strange mix of emotions followed him into the next evening. Amara had just finished dinner when her phone rang. It was Finnian. "Amara, are you at home right now?"


    "I am," she replied. "Is something wrong, Mr. Everly?"


    "I''m downstairs. Could youe with me somewhere?"


    Amara was startled, replying instinctively, "I''m sorry, it''s not a good time for me "


    "I just... I want to go somewhere.


    Would youe with me?" he interrupted. He was always soposed, but right now his voice was quiet-so quiet she thought she heard a plea in it if


    a plea in it if she listened,


    closely.  s


    Her heart softened in that instant, and she didn''t answer right away. Before she could say anything else, Finnian continued, "I''lle up and get you."


    And with that, he hung up.


    Amara hadn''t expected him to be so insistent; she stood there for a moment, stunned.


    Half a minuteter, she heard urgent knocking at her door. When she opened it, Finnian was standing there his gaze fixed on here with me for a bit. I''ll bring you back in an hour. It won''t take long."  s


    "...Alright."


    He''de all the way up to get her-she couldn''t say no. She followed him out.


    Amara had assumed Finnian needed her help with something, but instead, he drove her out to an empty patch of ground on the edge of Wyer The area was deserted, and the night air bit with cold. As soon as they got out of the car, a chill swept over her.  s


    It was past eight, the sky pitch-ck. Being out here alone in the dark with a man built like Finnian made Amara uneasy. She asked, "Mr. Everly, why are we here?"


    What could possibly need to be handled on a deserted lot? The whole thing seemed bizarre.


    "Remembrance," Finnian said quietly.


    He went to the car''s trunk, pulled out a package, and carried it to the roadside.


    Amara watched as he opened the bag. Inside was a small bundle of white flowers and a few candles.


    No wonder Finnian had mentioned remembrance. She asked, curiosity getting the better of her, "Who are you here to remember, Mr. Everly?"


    Finnian didn''t answer right away. Instead, he knelt down, arranged the flowers, and lit the candles one by one, the mes flickering in the wind.<fnb1b0> For more chapters visit find[?]ovel</fnb1b0>