“Takes after you, that’s for sure,” Shane said.
Chase looked into his brother’s eyes. The same eyes he’d looked into as a hurt and angry ten-year-old boy and had seen the man he’d once wanted to be someday. But that man had walked out on him. Left him alone and in the hands of strangers.
Reaching into his pocket, Shane withdrew a cigar and offered it to Chase. “Congratulations, man.”
“Thanks.” Chase didn’t smoke, but he took the cigar.
“How’s Lily?”
“Good.” He glanced toward the hall and he wondered how things would go between them. “I’m about to see her.”
“Tell her I said congratulations.”
“I’ll do that.”
Shane stuck out his hand. His dark eyes burned into Chase’s. “I’m happy for you, man.”
Chase hesitated for an instant, then grasped his brother’s hand and shook it hard. “Thanks.”
“I thought maybe I might be a real uncle…and a brother.”
“I think maybe you could.” Chase knew the old wounds would not heal overnight, but this was a step in the right direction. “See you around.”
“Bet on it.”
Chase slid the cigar into his pocket and started toward Lily’s room.
He found her standing near the window, looking out at the city beyond. Her hair was down, the red tresses curling around her shoulders. If he didn’t know better, he never would have believed she’d had a baby just hours ago.
She turned then, and the sight of her face struck him like a punch to his solar plexus, literally taking his breath away. Her green eyes widened when she noticed him standing in the doorway of her room. Her lips parted, but it was as if his presence had rendered her speechless.
“Chase,” she whispered.
He entered the room and stopped. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Really good.”
“How’s Chassidy?”
“The doctor says she’s just fine.” She fumbled with the collar of her robe. “Any word on the blackout?”
“The city is still without power,” he said. “The damage at the power stations was pretty extensive. It’s probably going to be a while.”
She looked strong and capable as she stood there, contemplating him. But he’d seen her at her most vulnerable. The image of her bringing their baby into the world flashed in his mind’s eye. It was the most profound moment of his life. One he would never forget for as long as he lived.
“You look good,” he said.
“So do you.” She sent a pointed look to his bandaged hand. “How is it?”
“No permanent damage.”
“I’m glad.” She fiddled with her collar again.
“I stopped in the nursery and looked in on Chassidy,” he said.
Her full lips curved into a smile that made his heart stumble in his chest. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Just like her mom.”
“Her dad’s not too bad to look at, either.”
Chase laughed outright at that. He was a lot of things, but he’d never even conceived of the idea of beautiful.
“How’s Ben?” she asked.
A shadow of grief passed over Chase’s heart. While his daughter had come into the world, Ben Parker had passed away from the gunshot wound. Grimacing, he shook his head. “He didn’t make it.”
Lily’s hand went to her mouth. Her eyes filled, but she didn’t cry. “I’m sorry.”
“He died a hero. That’s the way he would have wanted it.”
“That’s so unfair. He saved our lives.” She blinked back tears, a breath shuddering out of her. “So did you.”
This was the moment he should bring up the harsh fact that he had also been the one to bring danger into their lives. For the life of him, Chase couldn’t do it. He loved Lily. He loved Little Chassidy. He wanted to be part of their lives. God knows it was going to kill him to walk away.
As if realizing there were too many things that had been left unsaid between them, Lily turned back to the window. “I didn’t know if you’d come.”
“I tried to stay away.” Taking a deep breath, he crossed to her. “I couldn’t do it.”
Even from two feet away he could smell the soft scent of her. Something warm and floral and sweet that titillated his senses. He wanted badly to reach out and touch her. He wanted even more to pull her into his arms and never let her go.
Finally, she turned to face him. For an interminable moment, they stared into each other’s eyes, a hundred thoughts zinging between them.
“I came to say goodbye,” Chase managed after a moment.
An emotion he couldn’t identify flashed in Lily’s eyes. Relief? Pain? Willingness to face the hard facts even when he wasn’t?
“Chase…”
“I’d like to support Chassidy financially, if it’s all right with you.” Before he lost his nerve, he cut off the protest he saw in her eyes and continued. “It’s important to me, Lily. I can set up a trust for her. For college, maybe. Med school. Law school. Whatever she wants. I’ll make everything anonymous so it can never be traced back to me.”