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“And you can’t bear her disappointment.”
Amara’s shoulders slumped. “I can’t. I was going to tell her tonight, before I came here, but I chickened out. God, I’m simply —”
“A good girl,” Quint finished for her. “Nothing wrong with that. I think it’s admirable that you feel so guilty about lying to your mother. You must be very close to her.”
“I am. I was. I don’t know if I will be in the future when I tell her the truth about our bargain, about all the lies of omission, and all that stuff about an adoptive couple. You should have heard her tonight, trying to get me to bring Hampton’s father into his life. I didn’t know what to say. She says a boy needs a father, and I can’t argue with that.”
“Perhaps if you tell her about me she’ll be reassured because her grandson will, indeed, have a father.”
“True. Maybe. I don’t know. I can’t seem to make up my mind or find the best approach.”
“There’s no hurry,” Quint said. “You can tell her when you’re ready.”
“But what about you? If you come strolling into her house tonight and see Hampton and hold him like he’s yours, which you will, she’ll catch on. I’m sure of it.”
Quint lit up as she finished. “I could wait and hide out in the car. She wouldn’t see me.”
“You wouldn’t mind sneaking around, for a little while anyway?”
“I don’t want to make things any harder for you than they already are, Amara.”
Without another word, she reached over to grab her purse. “There’s no reason to wait, then. We can head back to Momma’s place and pick him up. Then you can finally meet the best baby in the whole world.”
Quint laughed. “The best baby in the whole world?”
“That’s right. And don’t tell me I’m biased. I won’t hear it.”
“Oh, I would never. I wouldn’t dare.”
“Let’s go then,” she said.
He nodded eagerly. “Yes, of course. After you.” He shifted in his chair before sliding it back, standing somewhat unsteadily.
Amara moved to his side, offering him her arm for support. “Let me call someone over to help you.”
He breathed deeply, as if in a considerable amount of pain. “I only need to take a moment. Your arm will be fine, if I’m not too heavy.”
She assured him he wasn’t, though true to form, his touch made her kind of tingly. Maybe it was just the wine, though.
Quint winced after a few steps and stopped abruptly, his eyes cast downward.
Amara looked up to him, unconsciously lifting her hand to take his gently. “Quint, are you sure you should be out right now? You look like you could use some extended care. I know a lot went on, and it’d be insane to think you’d still look the same after all that, but it’s pretty bad.”
He managed a soft chuckle and shake of his head. “I know I look like shit.”
“You’re handsome, as always,” she said.
“Am I?”
“Quit begging for compliments. Really, though, I bet they didn’t want you checking out of the hospital so soon, did they?”
He began walking again, taking his time. “It doesn’t matter what they wanted. I couldn’t wait any longer.”
She understood that, so she let him be.
“Really, though, I’m fine,” he said. “A few things are still bruised, my shoulder had to be adjusted and put into place properly, and a few ribs had to be reset, but I’m going to be fine. In a few days, I’ll be getting around much easier. I’m surprised you took my arm like that. I didn’t ask you to.”
It was Amara’s turn to laugh then as they slowly made their way to the ballroom doors. She ignored all the others in the room and the way they rudely stared at Quint. Well, he was a celebrity, of sorts, and she supposed staring went with the fame territory.
