They moved slowly toward the car. Margaret helped Nora buckle the car seats—three of them, stored in Adrian’s trunk “just in case,” his assistant had said when Adrian bought them months ago after a sleepless night spent searching Nora’s name online.
Adrian climbed in beside Nora. She kept distance between them, arms crossed.
“You bought car seats,” she said flatly.
“Six months ago.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve been looking for you for two years.”
Nora’s head snapped toward him. “What?”
“I hired investigators. I checked every social service agency. Every shelter. Nothing.”
“You… looked for me?”
“When I realized what I’d done. What I’d said. What I’d become.” Adrian’s voice dropped. “I wanted to apologize. To help. But you were gone.”
Nora’s eyes filled again. “I used my middle name. Moved to Jersey. Changed everything.”
“I figured.”
They drove in silence. At the hospital, a pediatrician examined all three babies while Nora answered questions with quiet exhaustion.
“They’re undernourished,” the doctor said gently. “But not dangerously. They need better formula. Regular meals. Consistent shelter.”
Nora nodded, shame coloring her cheeks.
Adrian stepped forward. “Whatever they need, bill me directly.”