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hospital. Julie had already been here, pacing—the slippers on her feet a testament to her need to get to her friend as soon as possible.  
    Nick had barely even noticed that his own feet were bare until Julie had pointed them out. Thankfully, Julie’s husband had been kind enough to bring him socks, shoes and a shirt before heading into work. Nick and Julie now sat in the waiting room, and in between jerking their heads up every time they heard a noise, they talked in soft, low tones about the damn cruelties of life.  
    A nurse had come by a half hour ago and given them the somber news that they were doing everything they could to save the baby but it wasn’t looking good. When he’d asked about Kennedy, the woman had just shrugged and repeated the same words: “We’re doing everything we can.”
    Nick gazed down at the paper cup of cold coffee in his hand. Hell, he didn’t even remember how it got there. His total focus was on Kennedy. What was she going to do if she lost the baby? What if she didn’t make it?
    He shoved a hand through his hair, guilt eating at him like a ravenous beast. “Dammit, I should have insisted on staying with her last night.”
    Julie shook her head. “I’ve experienced Kennedy’s stubbornness. Once she makes up her mind about something, talking her out of it is almost impossible.”
    “But why didn’t she call me…or you? Why the hell would she drive herself to the hospital?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe she wasn’t thinking straight.”
    Nick rubbed his tired, bloodshot eyes. No matter what Julie said, he blamed himself. If he had stayed, both she and the baby might have been fine. They might die because of his carelessness.
    “Does she know you’re in love with her?”  
    Flinching at the question, Nick twisted his head around to stare at Julie. “What the hell are you talking about?”  
    “Kennedy. Does she know?”  
    Hell, was he that obvious? Nick shook his head. “You got it wrong. She’s Thomas’s wife and my friend. Yeah, I care about her. I don’t love her…at least not the way you’re implying.”  
    She gave a small knowing smile, shrugged. “My mistake. But just so you know, it’s not a crime to love a woman.”  
    “Might not be a crime, but it’d be damn wrong. Thomas was my best friend.”  
    “You don’t choose who you love.”  
    “No, but you can make sure the love you have doesn’t hurt someone else.” Nick pushed up from the chair. “I don’t even know why we’re having this conversation. Kennedy is my friend. Nothing more.”
    “She’s going to need you more than ever now.”  
    “And she has me for as long as she needs me. I’ll be there for her. Don’t worry about that.”  
    “And what happens to what Nick needs?”  
    He shrugged. His needs were way down on his list of priorities right now. “She’s my only concern.”  
    The sound of a throat being cleared had them both turning. A middle-age man wearing blue scrubs stood a few feet away. The deep furrows in his brow and grim set to his mouth made Nick tense up even more.
    Almost afraid to ask, he said gruffly, “How is she?”  
    “You’re her family?”
    Before Julie could respond, Nick said, “Yes, we are.”
    “Mrs. O’Connell is stable. She lost a lot of blood, but she’s going to be fine.”
    “And the baby?”
    “I’m sorry, he couldn’t be saved.”
    Nick closed his eyes. He was beyond grateful that Kennedy would be okay, but how in the hell was she going to survive losing both Thomas and their baby?
    “She’s been under a tremendous amount of stress,” Julie said. “Her husband was killed three days ago.”
    The doctor nodded. “I saw that on her chart.”  
    “Does she know about the baby?” Nick asked.  
    “Not yet. She’s still under.” The doctor lifted his shoulder in a tired, resigned shrug. “These things happen. She’s a healthy young woman and should be able to have successful pregnancies in the future.”  
    “Can we