Page 285 of A Matter of Time

“Jory,” Dana said, smiling at me, “you and Sam make a beautiful couple.”

“Thank you.”

“You do,” Roxanne chimed in. “And I don’t want this to be taken the wrong way, but he’s very much a man’s man, and you’re prettier than most women I know. It fits. It makes sense that if a man like that is gay, a man like you would be his partner.”

I wasn’t sure how to take all that, and I meant to correct the gay to bi, but it didn’t seem necessary at five thirty in the morning.

“Like I said,” Dana said softly, “you make a striking couple. He so obviously adores you, and it was very fortunate he was with you. Both of you are such a blessing.”

I thanked her for that.

Sam returned with hot coffee for everyone, with lots of sugar and creamer, which everyone appreciated. And it wasn’t from the hospital cafeteria, but from a diner he knew around the corner, which meant it was so much better, and the cups were huge. When he took his seat beside me again, he slouched down low, laced his fingers with mine, and closed his eyes.

“Sam, they’ll be out any minute,” I assured him.

“It’s her first baby, right?”

“Yeah.”

He chuckled. “Wake me up when she delivers.”

“Wait, what?”

I glanced around, and James and Martin both nodded in agreement.

“Sam’s right,” Dana said. “This may take a bit.”

Roxanne looked as confused as I was.

“Really?” I asked Sam.

He snickered, raised my hand, kissed the palm, then settled back and sighed deeply. I thought maybe they were all putting me on, but no. Not at all.

It was still faster than it could have been, and six hours later Micah James Greer was born. He was wrinkled, he had a lot of hair, and I could see his Japanese ancestry very clearly. Dylan pointed out that all babies were born looking Japanese. When I looked at Sam as he held the baby, he nodded.

“Okay, so I get it.” Dylan sighed, watching Sam hold her son before passing him off to her father as I sat beside her in the hospital bed. “He’s absolutely beautiful and every other word you wanna use, but seriously, you need to watch yourself and not get too involved too fast. Go slow.”

“I can’t,” I said seriously. “I’m already in love with Micah.”

She rolled her eyes. “Please don’t make me smack you. I don’t have the energy.”

“Okay.” I smiled at her. She was radiant. I had never seen her look better.

“We both know I’m talking about Sam Kage.”

I grunted.

“Jory, honey…please take it slow with him this time.”

Too late, I thought, but said nothing.

She sighed heavily, her head on my shoulder, her hand in mine. “Thank you for rescuing me. I was a little out of it.”

“It was Sam.”

“Make no mistake.” She kissed my cheek. “You make him like this.”

Like she could know what effect I had on Sam Kage was. He had somehow gotten Micah back and then passed him off to Akiko before his eyes were on me.