Chapter 5 - The Call at Midnight
Three weeks later, Julian and I were home.
Nathan hadn't disappeared.
But he hadn't pushed either.
He brought groceries once.
Fixed a broken cabinet hinge.
Held Julian while I showered.
And every time he left, he asked the same question.
“Do you need anything else?”
Every time, I said no.
Until midnight on Thursday.
Julian had been crying for forty minutes.
Nothing worked.
Then his breathing changed.
I touched his forehead.
Hot.
Too hot.
I called the pediatric emergency line.
“Bring him in.”
My hands started shaking.
I opened my contacts.
Marcus first.
Voicemail.
Again.
Voicemail.
I typed:
Julian has a fever. I'm taking him to Mercy.
No response.
I stared at the phone.
Then scrolled.
Nathan.
This time, I didn't accidentally press his name.
I chose it.
He answered before the second ring.
“Elena?”
“Something's wrong with Julian.”
“Where are you?”
“Home.”
“Stay there.”
“Nathan—”
“I'm twelve minutes away.”
He arrived in nine.
We drove to Mercy General together.
Nathan carried Julian through the emergency entrance while I handled registration.
The doctor examined him.
“It's likely a viral infection, but because of his age, we'll observe him overnight.”
I nearly collapsed with relief.
Nathan caught my elbow.
“He's okay?”
The doctor smiled.
“He looks very good.”
At 2:13 a.m., Julian finally slept.
Nathan sat beside me.
“You should sleep.”
“So should you.”
“I don't have a newborn.”
“You basically do lately.”
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Nathan looked at me.
I looked away.
“Sorry.”
“Don't be.”
My phone buzzed.
Marcus.
Finally.
Just saw this. Is he okay?
I stared at the message.
Nathan noticed.
“Marcus?”
“Yes.”
“Answer him.”
“You don't mind?”
“He's Julian's father.”
That answer told me everything about Nathan.
He wasn't trying to replace Marcus.
He wasn't using Julian to reach me.
He simply kept showing up.
Marcus arrived thirty minutes later.
He looked exhausted.
“I'm sorry.”
I stood.
“Where were you?”
“My phone was off.”
“Why?”
He hesitated.
I already knew.
“Chloe?”
“Elena.”
I closed my eyes.
Marcus looked at Julian.
“Is he okay?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God.”
Then he noticed Nathan.
“Of course.”
Nathan stood.
“Don't start.”
Marcus laughed.
“You enjoy this, don't you?”
“Enjoy what?”
“Being the hero.”
Nathan's expression changed.
“You think sitting in emergency rooms with a frightened mother and sick newborn makes me feel heroic?”
Marcus stepped closer.
“You want my family.”
Nathan's voice became cold.
“You walked away from your family.”
Marcus shoved him.
I stepped between them.
“Enough!”
Both men stopped.
I looked at Marcus.
“You don't get to do this.”
“He's trying to replace me.”
“No.”
My voice shook.
“You keep leaving empty spaces, Marcus.”
Silence.
“And Nathan keeps standing in them.”
Marcus stared at me.
His anger disappeared.
For the first time, he seemed to understand.
This wasn't about Nathan stealing anything.
It was about Marcus repeatedly failing to protect what had already been his.
He looked toward Julian.
“I love him.”
“I know.”
“And I want to be his father.”
“Then be his father.”
Marcus nodded slowly.
“What about us?”
I looked at the man I'd once planned to grow old beside.
“We ended before Nathan came back.”
Marcus swallowed.
Then nodded.
“I'll sign the divorce papers.”
I felt sadness.
But also relief.
“Thank you.”
Marcus walked toward Julian.
“Can I hold him?”
“Yes.”
Nathan quietly moved toward the door.
“Nathan?”
He stopped.
“Where are you going?”
“You two need time.”
I looked at him.
“Will you come back?”
His eyes met mine.
“If you ask me to.”
This time there was no accident.
“Come back.”
Nathan smiled.
May you like
“I will.”
---
