When There Is Nothing Left But Love

Before I could ask Ashton what pressing affairs he was attending to, he’d already gotten out of the car and shut the door behind him. I reclined in my seat, feeling the warmth of the radiator suffuse the car.

Memories of the baby and what had happened then crowded my mind, and Ashton’s business at the police department was set aside. After a while, I picked up my phone and dialed Cameron’s number.

She picked up almost immediately. “Scarlett, didn’t you say you were coming back soon? Why aren’t you back yet? Where are you? I’ll get your Dad to go over and pick you up,” she answered anxiously.

“There’s no need! I’m with Ashton. I don’t think I’ll be heading back tonight,” I replied.

Cameron grunted in acknowledgment, then asked, “Why did he suddenly come back? How are things going in Moranta? Zachary said that Boris was getting news about the Murphys and how difficult they were to handle. Why did Ashton come back at this crucial point in time?”

I sucked in a breath of warm air and felt it settle in my lungs before exhaling gently. I then said uneasily, “Hannah’s getting married. Ashton was worried that I wouldn’t be comfortable going alone and came along to accompany me. He was needlessly worried.”

“That’s good! I was thinking anyway that if you could come over a little later, I’d whip up a light supper for you. I can’t rest easy not knowing if you’ve been taking good care of yourself nowadays,” Cameron fretted.

There was no malice in Cameron’s tone, merely an infinite supply of concern and tenderness.

and replied slowly, “Mom, did the doctor say whether I would still be able to

She hesitated for a long while before saying, “My dear, Summer is doing fine now. She’ll recover with enough care. Mr. Fuller treats you well. When he’s back from Moranta, the three of you can be reunited as a

doggedly. I already knew what the answer was but had to hear it spoken out loud. My hope for a miracle had gradually faded along with each day

about being able to have babies. Your womb was the only thing that was affected. With technology being so advanced these days, you can

In vitro fertilization?

I quickly said into the phone, “Mom, there’s something I have to do. I’ll be hanging up

call, breathing rapidly. My mind raced feverishly. Gazing at the police department entrance where Ashton had vanished into and I wondered.

The frosty wind immediately gnawed at my exposed face. Shivering slightly, I kept my arms tucked tightly against

front desk and was about to ask for him when I heard a loud roar from behind the metal screen. “I don’t want to stay here, Ash! I didn’t do it! Please don’t leave me

high voice sounded

guard sitting in front of the door jumped up

him politely, then informed him, “My husband’s in there. He came in

thunderous. When he caught sight of me, his