Page 114 of The Golden Hour

Honey nods, even though she does not like keeping something this large from Mason, even with everything between them cracked and bleeding. But she understands why.

Lorraine’s face shifts then, into something deeply compassionate.

“I want to warn you that they might want to settle,” Lorraine says, folding her hands on her desk. “And I would seriously consider it if they put forth something fair.”

There’s a long stretch of silence after that statement. Honey’s parents don’t react, but she can feel their eyes on her, waiting for her reaction. Because this is her life. Her decision. Her and her daughter’s trauma.

At first, Honey feels that sharp burst of anger and cannot stop the words rising in her throat from escaping.

“Settle?” Honey asks, her voice shaking. “Isn’t that just rewarding them for bad behavior? You said yourself, they have money, so they give me money, and it makes it all okay? Almost killing me and my daughter is all fine and good? There’s a dollar amount on our lives?”

Melissa lays a hand on Honey’s arm, calming her while Phil reaches out to tickle Daisy, making her smile around the elephant ear at her grandpop. Honey’s breathing is fast and uneven, her heart slamming against her ribcage as her mind twists the words into something sour.

Lorraine doesn’t flinch away, doesn’t try to backtrack.

She looks directly at Honey with kind eyes. “Honey, this trial could take years.”

Lorraine glances down at Daisy in her arms.

That’s the thing that really puts things into perspective for Honey. The anger drops to a simmer. Still there, but allowing reason and logic to penetrate her maternal rage.

This trial could take years.

Years eating up Daisy’s young life when she needs Honey the most.

Years of her having to relive the most traumatic moment of her life over and over again, painting Honey as unstable.

Years of sitting in offices like this, courtrooms, deposition rooms, answering questions about almost dying.

Years that could instead be spent enjoying her life with her daughter and her family.

Years that could potentially turn her into the resentful, traumatized mother she’s scared to turn into.

“If they bring forth a settlement—a fair and generous one—I would seriously consider it,” Lorraine continues. “Not because you both don’t deserve justice, but because justice should not come with a cost to your mental and physical health, Honey. Time is something we cannot buy more of.”

Honey presses a kiss to Daisy’s hair, inhaling her sweet scent.

“The ugly reality is that this case is not going to bring down St. Mary’s Hospital. This is a systemic issue, and your case is not going to clear out the rot of this healthcare system,” Lorraine says gently. “But making sure you are given what you deserve, getting Dr. Mortimer out of that hospital and having them face consequences while they are already dealing with the nursing strike and the horrible patient satisfaction scores—is a good start.”

“It just feels like surrender,” Honey admits quietly. “It feels like I’m letting them off the hook.”

Honey doesn’t want to examine too closely why it feels like she’s talking about the suit and her marriage. She also doesn’t want to examine why Lorraine’s words can fit for both.

“Settlement doesn’t mean forgiveness, nor surrender,” Lorraine says. “It’s taking what you’re owed so you can move on with your life.”

“Alright, what do we think, baby girl…” Honey smiles at Daisy, who is lying on the changing table, and holds up the two onesie options. “Lilac or baby blue?”

Daisy smiles at Honey's exaggerated movements and reaches out her right hand toward the lilac side.

Honey gasps and beams. “That’s the one I was thinking of. Excellent choice, my baby!”

She tickles Daisy’s belly, making her giggle and babble.

It’s nearing the time Mason will be home from work.

Her parents are down in the kitchen preparing dinner, and Honey had excused herself and Daisy when her father pulled her mother into his arms to slow-dance. Not an unfamiliar scene to her, as her father is still as obsessed with Melissa Hayes as he was the day they met.

They had gone from empty nesters to having a full house in such a short amount of time. Honey wants to give them some privacy, so she decided to change Daisy while they waited for Mason.