Emilia woke to the quiet weight of Rafael’s arm and the thin gold of morning pushing past the curtains. For a few breaths she let herself take the win—no alarms, no calls, only his warmth and the soft rasp of his stubble when she kissed his shoulder.
“Hospital,” he murmured without opening his eyes. “You still want to meet him on his favorite ground?”
“I want to take it away from him,” she said.
He smiled, small and sure. “Then we’ll do that.”
They dressed without hurry. He straightened her collar; she smoothed his tie with a thumb that lingered at his throat. A glance, a little heat passed back and forth. No words needed.
Nora met them at the door with coffee and a plan. “Pediatrics atrium at noon. He’s staging a ‘thank-you’ to donors—cameras, balloons, a new plaque. The examiner’s d
